“The first Blues Deluxe album took seven days to finish, this one took five,” Joe Bonamassa says of Time Clocks, a tribute to, and continuation of, his first hit album 20 years ago.

A great Chicago blues night at SPACE, from left, Mike Wheeler, Roosevelt Purifoy, Cleo Cole, Bob Stroger, Billy Boy Arnold, Dave Specter, Sheryl Youngblood, Tad Robinson, Julia Miller, Larry Williams, Dick Shurman and Elbio Barilari.

​Christmas With You by Norah Jones and Laufey is one of numerous new holiday-themed releases to emerge in celebration of the season.

Follow the link to check out the 4-, 4.5- and 5-star album reviews published in DownBeat in 2023!

From left, first runner-up Darynn Dean, winner Tyreek McDole and second runner-up Ekep Nkwelle at his year’s “Sassy Awards” on Nov. 19.

Bill Frisell and writer Ashley Kahn at this year’s North Sea Jazz Fest.

​A roundup of recent Latin releases celebrates vibrant new music that’s deeply rooted in cultural histories, geographies and legacies.

“I like the idea of being able to sort of daydream a little bit about something for a while,” says bassist Todd Sickafoose about making his new recording, Bear Proof.

An opening-weekend high point came in the form of Chicago drummer Makaya McCraven’s show at the Barbican with the London Contemporary Orchestra.

“The more sophisticated the lyric, the easier the melody should be,” Lins offered as a songwriting guideline.