# Stephen Parisi Jr. Interview | Buddy!, Debut Jazz Album, Chicago Bassist & His Career

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/neon-jazz-interviews-6570313/stephen-parisi-jr-interview-buddy-debut-jazz-album-chicago-bassist-his-career
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/neon-jazz-interviews-6570313/stephen-parisi-jr-interview-buddy-debut-jazz-album-chicago-bassist-his-career.md
Podcast: [Neon Jazz Interviews](https://stenobird.com/podcast/neon-jazz-interviews-6570313)
Published: 2026-06-26T11:47:05+00:00
Episode link: https://player.amperwavepodcasting.com?feed-link=https%3A%2F%2Frss.amperwave.net%2Fv2%2Fepisode%2F8507328_2026-07-13-223328
Audio file: https://pdcn.co/e/serve.castfire.com/audio/8507328/8507328_2026-07-13-223328.128.mp3?rssID=6594
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/neon-jazz-interviews-6570313/episodes/stephen-parisi-jr-interview-buddy-debut-jazz-album-chicago-bassist-his-career
Duration seconds: 1826

## Resource

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring Chicago-based jazz bassist, composer, and bandleader Stephen Parisi Jr. . On this episode, we dive into his outstanding debut 2026 album Buddy! , a deeply personal recording that pays tribute to the mentors, family members, musical communities, and experiences that helped shape his artistic voice. Originally from Buffalo , Stephen built a strong reputation as one of Western New York's most sought-after bassists before relocating to Chicago , where he continues to immerse himself in one of America's richest jazz traditions. Along the way, he developed a distinctive sound rooted in tradition while embracing the creative possibilities of modern jazz. Produced by Buffalo jazz piano legend and longtime mentor George Caldwell , Buddy! features an exciting ensemble of emerging musicians performing a collection of original compositions that showcase Stephen's abilities as both a bassist and composer. In this conversation, we discuss the making of Buddy! , mentorship, family influences, composition, the transition from Buffalo to Chicago, building a career in jazz, working with George Caldwell, and the importance of community in artistic growth. The result is a heartfelt debut that celebrates friendship, gratitude, artistic development, and the people who help shape a musician's path. We cover the whole story. Enjoy. Get the album: Buddy! on Bandcamp For More Neon Jazz: Shows via MixCloud: https://www.mixcloud.com/neonjazzkc/ Subscribe via Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/user/neonjazzkc Subscribe via iTunes/Apple - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/famous-interviews-joe-dimino/id546432639?mt=2 The Home of Neon Jazz: http://theneonjazz.blogspot.com/ Contribute to Neon Jazz via PayPal: https://www.paypal.com…

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