Matt Otto Interview | Kansas City Jazz, New 2026 Album Ephemeral & More

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring Kansas City jazz saxophonist, composer, educator, and bandleader Matt Otto. On this episode, we discuss his highly anticipated 2026 album Ephemeral, scheduled for release on June 26, 2026. Even before its release, the project has already received recognition for its stunning album artwork created by acclaimed visual artist Philip Burke. Ephemeral is a deeply personal and artistically ambitious recording that showcases Matt's distinctive compositional voice while celebrating family, friendship, creativity, and the rich musical community of Kansas City. The album includes a special piece written as a 50th birthday gift for his sister-in-law, along with musical acknowledgments to legendary creative music pioneer Wadada Leo Smith and other important influences. The recording also features an impressive lineup of Kansas City jazz talent, including Peter Schlamb, Roger Wilder, Ben Leifer, and many other outstanding musicians contributing to the project. In this conversation, we explore the making of Ephemeral, the Kansas City jazz scene, composition, improvisation, collaboration, artistic inspiration, album artwork, and Matt's ongoing journey as one of the Midwest's most respected modern jazz voices. We also discuss life in Kansas City, creative growth, and the future of jazz. Enjoy this interview. Learn more about Matt Otto and Ephemeral: Matt Otto Official Website Ephemeral Album Artwork Feature For More Neon Jazz: Shows via MixCloud: https://www.mixcloud.com/neonjazzkc/ Subscribe via Youtube -    / neonjazzkc   Subscribe via iTunes/Apple - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/f... The Home of Neon Jazz: http://theneonjazz.blogspot.com/ Contribute to Neon Jazz via PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_...