Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with acclaimed Canadian jazz pianist, composer, arranger, and bandleader James McGowan.

On this episode, we explore his stunning new 2026 album Threads of Fate, the tenth recording as a leader and the third featuring the acclaimed James McGowan Ensemble (JME)—a dynamic 14-piece group that seamlessly blends horns, strings, and rhythm section into a cinematic modern jazz experience.

Building on the ambitious musical vision established with Reaching In (2023) and Reaching Out (2024), Threads of Fate takes listeners even deeper into narrative composition. Inspired by the timeless Greek myth of the Three Fates, the project was developed alongside KingDom Theatre as part of an innovative physical theatre production that premiered at Canada’s National Arts Centre in Ottawa in 2025.

The album combines orchestral textures, contemporary jazz, dramatic storytelling, and expressive improvisation into a powerful artistic statement that bridges jazz, theater, mythology, and modern composition.

During our conversation, James discusses composing for large ensembles, collaborating across artistic disciplines, bringing mythology into contemporary jazz, leading a 14-piece ensemble, his creative process, Canadian jazz, and the evolution of one of today’s most imaginative large-group composers.

Whether you’re a fan of big band jazz, contemporary composition, orchestral jazz, or cinematic storytelling through music, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

Enjoy this interview.

Get the album and learn more:
https://jamesmcgowan.ca/threads_of_fate 

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Joe Dimino Podcaster/Artist

Joe Dimino has been writing & creating in a variety of capacities since his college days at the University of Missouri-Kansas City somewhere around 1993. If you are keeping score, that would be about 29 years+. It all began at UMKCs University News as a Sports Writer & turned into a myriad of expressive avenues. Inventing poems, art, video & audio has always been in the proverbial cards.