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In celebration of Con Chapman's freshly minted 2025 release Sax Expat, we crack open the 905th episode of Neon Jazz with the timeless tones of Don Byas, taking us back to a smoky stop in 1944. It's the perfect prologue to a show steeped in innovation, homage, and the ever-expanding universe of jazz. From there, we launch into a stellar array of new sounds from the ever-inventive Ed Palermo, the deep and thoughtful Dave Bass, the groove-rich Quinn Sternberg, and the velvety vocals of Judy Whitmore. But we're not done yet—this ride includes sharp-shooting collectives like Detroit's fiery Planet D Nonet and the cosmic explorations of The Quantum Blues Quartet, featuring none other than the legendary Paul Shaffer. Things get delightfully strange with "Monk is Drunk," a quirky, brilliant offering from Chicago's own Joanie Pallatto and Bradley Parker-Sparrow—jazz with a wink and a wild edge. And to close it out, in reverence to International Jazz Day, we land in 1968 with the master himself—Herbie Hancock, and a cut from his lush, lyrical Speak Like a Child LP. So tune in, turn it up, and dig the jazz, my friends—this one's got spirit, swing, and surprises at every turn.

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