May 26, 2026 11:08 AM
Sonny Rollins Passes Away at 95
Sonny Rollins, the iconic saxophonist, composer and improviser whose career stretched from the origins of bebop to 21st…
Jazz vocalist Allan Harris, who has recorded six jazz albums to date including The Music Of Duke Ellington, has recently completed the first 10 songs of his musical trilogy entitled Cross That River. The album features songs written by Harris that reflect on life as a slave, as well as songs that tell of joyful expressions of freedom and compassion. Through these songs listeners encounter a group of free African American characters during the 1850s.
Harris combines jazz and country, both genres that have greatly influenced him and his music, to create a musical work that attempts to answer questions about the African American experience in this country. In response to what the artist calls the “negative portrayal of our culture in America’s history,” Harris writes music that he hopes will be “a source of pride for all Americans.”
Cross That River will be available in February 2006 through ArtistShare, which allows artists to connect with their fan base during the artistic process. Harris has debuted the title song from the collection during “Jazz at the Lincoln Center’s Rose Hall” and will debut the complete work at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., in March as part of Country Music Week.
For more information, go to www.allanharris.com.
Onstage, Rollins would move about restlessly, thrusting his tenor sax in the air as he blew.
May 26, 2026 11:08 AM
Sonny Rollins, the iconic saxophonist, composer and improviser whose career stretched from the origins of bebop to 21st…
To the world, James Blood Ulmer was a legend, a visionary and a musical force whose sound was distinctive and unique. To his family, he was their teacher, their storyteller and a source of strength.
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With deep sorrow and profound love, we announce the passing of James Blood Ulmer, a boldly innovative guitarist,…
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How best to mark Miles Davis’ centennial? By allowing the stories to flow, and cross-discussions to happen.
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Ava Preston, a 12-time DownBeat Student Music Award winner, is currently pursuing her master’s degree in jazz voice at Juilliard.
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Ava Preston, from Cleveland, Ohio, was named the winner of the ninth annual Ella Fitzgerald Jazz Vocal Competition on…
