Jun 9, 2026 10:54 AM
In Memoriam: James Blood Ulmer, 1940–2026
With deep sorrow and profound love, we announce the passing of James Blood Ulmer, a boldly innovative guitarist,…
Jack DeJohnette’s 2016 solo piano album, Return, is a vinyl-only release offered by Newvelle Records. (Photo: © William Semeraro)
(Photo: )DownBeat has announced that it will introduce a new column titled Vinyl. This column, which will debut in the August issue, will focus on vinyl records—a segment of the music industry that has shown remarkable growth over the past few years.
The Vinyl column will appear every other month, alternating with DownBeat’s popular European Scene column.
“We’re going to recruit a rotating cast of the best journalists in the jazz world to write the column,” said Bobby Reed, editor of DownBeat. “The Vinyl column will include reviews, news stories and interviews with world-class jazz artists who are releasing their new music on LP. We’ll also spotlight vinyl releases by blues and Beyond artists.”
The growing popularity of vinyl releases and the global interest in Record Store Day makes this a perfect time for DownBeat to launch this column. The column will provide deep insight on all things vinyl-related, from archival recordings to limited-edition collectibles to new projects that are being released in both digital and vinyl formats.
According to Nielsen Entertainment, the resurgence of the LP has been dramatic, with 10 straight years of growth. Last year, vinyl sales hit 12 million units, a 30 percent increase over the prior year.
To read DownBeat’s guide to shopping on Record Store Day (April 16), click here.
To read about Newvelle Records, a vinyl-subscription service that is offering new music by Jack DeJohnette, Frank Kimbrough, Noah Preminger, Don Friedman, Ben Allison and Leo Genovese, click here.
To subscribe to DownBeat, click here.
—Bobby Reed
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.
Jun 9, 2026 10:54 AM
With deep sorrow and profound love, we announce the passing of James Blood Ulmer, a boldly innovative guitarist,…
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