Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band shared their spiritual brand of jazz with San Diego Tijuana International Jazz Festival audiences.
(Photo: Courtesy San Diego Tijuana International Jazz Festival)Nov 3, 2026 4:08 PM
It’s challenging to pinpoint a defining element of this year’s San Diego Tijuana International Jazz Festival (SDTJ Jazz), which was held over an elongated weekend Oct. 1–4…

Sonny Rollins: a very conscientious blindfoldee.
(Photo: DownBeat Archive)Sep 1, 2026 12:29 PM
Editor’s Note: In tribute to the late Sonny Rollins, who passed away on May 25 at age 95, we present his first DownBeat Blindfold Test with Leonard Feather, creator of the column, from our Dec. 12, 1957, issue.
The significance lies in Sonny’s having been able, during the past year or two, to practice what he preaches. More than any other tenor player of the younger generation, he has succeeded in developing a sound and style that can be called original rather than derivative.
Sonny has been important in another area of jazz development.…