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Welcome to Episode 918 of Neon Jazz—a journey that kicks off in true style with the soulful synergy of Paris-based trumpeter Hermon Mehari and pianist Tony Tixier on their new organic duo project, Soul Song. Hermon, with his deep Kansas City roots, continues to illuminate the European jazz scene with grace and power. From there, we tip our hats and say a heartfelt farewell to the legendary Chuck Mangione, revisiting a classic cut from his iconic Feels So Good album—a timeless groove that reminds us why his sound will never fade. The episode flows on with stellar new music from veteran heavyweights like Joe Farnsworth, Cory Weeds, Sarah Wilson, Ron Blake, and Richard D. Johnson—all keeping the jazz flame burning bright in 2025. This summer has been a season of farewells, and we mark another with a genre-bending tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, as Scot Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox reimagines "Crazy Train" with swing and swagger. On the vocal front, we spotlight standout voices like Masha Campagne and Nanna Brine, adding depth and elegance to the mix. And as always, we keep the spirit of the game alive with our ongoing push to get MLB legend Dwight "Doc" Gooden back on the Hall of Fame ballot—serving up a slice of baseball jazz via Vince Guaraldi's iconic "Baseball Theme." So lean in, turn it up, and dig the jazz, my friends. This one's rich with soul, swing, and stories that matter.

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