Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series featuring acclaimed jazz saxophonist, composer, bandleader, and creative visionary Maria Grand.

In this episode, we discuss her powerful and deeply personal 2026 release, Both Sides, along with her artistic journey, live performances, creative process, and perspectives on music and culture in 2026.

As her fourth full-length album, Both Sides explores duality in both structure and storytelling. One side of the project features Maria’s working quartet with bassist Rashaan Carter, percussionist Shakoor Hakeem, and drummer Miguel Russell, delivering the adventurous, expressive, and emotionally resonant music that has become her signature.

The album’s other side expands beyond traditional performance through audio liner notes narrated by Jasmine Wilson, featuring Maria on saxophone alongside acclaimed pianist Angelica Sanchez. The result is a unique listening experience that merges music, reflection, narrative, and personal history.

Throughout this conversation, we explore the inspiration behind Both Sides, the evolution of her sound, the importance of storytelling in jazz, the realities of performing and creating in today’s musical landscape, and her thoughts on America and the arts in 2026.

Maria Grand continues to emerge as one of the most compelling and original voices in contemporary jazz, and this interview offers a fascinating look into the mind of an artist unafraid to push boundaries while remaining deeply connected to personal truth and expression.

Get the album:
Both Sides on Bandcamp

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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.