Sep 3, 2026 10:44 AM
In Memoriam: Cassandra Wilson, 1955–2026
Cassandra Wilson, a singer, songwriter and producer who was one of the most acclaimed and successful jazz vocalists of…
Aaron Goldberg’s academic work might have influenced his music in more ways than he’s aware of, at least in a conceptual sense.
(Photo: Jack Vartoogian)In April 2020, Goldberg’s planning to participate in a panel discussion and concert with Alan Bern, the klezmer accordionist, and Christopher Taylor, a professor of piano at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, both of whom have studied under Dennett. The event is a rare instance in which Goldberg will have the opportunity to bridge two seemingly divergent worlds.
For now, though, jazz is winning out over academia. Looking ahead, Goldberg said that listeners can expect more work with Parker and Penman, a collaboration he wants to explore in greater depth. (The trio has scheduled U.S. tour dates in March and April.) Goldberg also recently recorded an album with his other trio—a collective called Yes!—featuring bassist Omer Avital and drummer Ali Jackson. The record, a follow-up to a self-titled 2012 release, is set for a spring release. The pianist also will appear on a forthcoming album by Redman, and in 2019, he’s slated to tour with the saxophonist’s quartet.
Goldberg currently is developing several side projects, too. In one, he’s collaborating with a Palestinian qanun player. In another, he’s working with numerous Haitian musicians, an extension of the time he spent in Haiti leading free workshops in the wake of the devastating 2010 earthquake. Additionally, Goldberg is active in many social and political causes. And on At The Edge Of The World, “Luaty,” one of two original compositions Goldberg wrote for the program, is a tribute to the Angolan rapper and activist Luaty Beirão, whom he considers a friend.
Goldberg’s dedication to social issues is just another instance in which he has managed, in ways that go beyond mere superficial engagement, to blend his commitment to jazz with his desire to be a well-rounded human being: “I get the sense that he’s an improviser in his life as much as he’s an improviser in his music,” Redman said. DB
Wilson’s ability to connect to audiences helped her to win two Grammy awards and multiple other accolades. She was named an NEA Jazz Master in 2022.
Sep 3, 2026 10:44 AM
Cassandra Wilson, a singer, songwriter and producer who was one of the most acclaimed and successful jazz vocalists of…
“The love from the jazz and music community restored my faith in humanity,” Walia wrote in an online post upon his release from detention at an ICE facility.
Aug 18, 2026 2:15 PM
Indian jazz guitarist and composer Pritesh Walia has been released after being unexpectedly detained by ICE and taken…
Bertoncini was a specialist and advocate for the nylon-string acoustic guitar, turning down high-profile opportunities that were unsuited to the sound and techniques that he used with that instrument.
Sep 1, 2026 11:06 AM
Gene Bertoncini, an esteemed jazz guitarist, composer, arranger and educator, died Aug. 29 at the Lillian Booth Actors…
A solo concert by saxophonist Joshua Redman will close the first night of the Hyde Park Jazz Festival on Sept. 26.
Sep 22, 2026 12:26 PM
The Hyde Park Jazz Festival will take place for the 20th time on the final weekend of September 2026. Beginning half…
“It was just that suddenly … I could hear it,” Ravi Coltrane said of an epiphany he experienced during his late teens regarding his father’s music. “And it was almost like a calling, like something saying, ‘Hey, man, come on. It’s time to get serious.’ And the first time you really tune in and dial in and focus like that, it can be very life-changing.”
Sep 22, 2026 1:39 PM
Editor’s Note: Tomorrow, Sept. 23, is the 100th anniversary of John Coltrane’s birth. In honor of the tenor and…
