Mar 30, 2026 10:30 PM
Flea Finds His Jazz Thing
In the relatively small pantheon of certifiable rock stars venturing into the intersection of pop music and jazz, the…
Duke University will present concerts on Feb. 26 and 27 at New York’s Town Hall to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Thelonious Monk Orchestra at Town Hall, the first time Monk’s music was ever played by a big band. These concerts are produced by Duke Performances and the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University.
Two generations of musicians will pay homage to Monk. On Feb. 26, Charles Tolliver and his tentet play note-for-note arrangements of Monk’s 1959 show. On Feb. 27, Jason Moran and his octet present his mixed media concert that incorporates recordings and images captured during rehearsals and arranging sessions by photographer W. Eugene Smith, who lived in the “Jazz Loft” building, where, in 1959, Monk and his tentet rehearsed for the Town Hall concert.
WNYC Radio (93.9 FM and wnyc.org) is the exclusive broadcast partner of Thelonious Monk at Town Hall. WNYC will air a live broadcast of the Tolliver concert on Feb. 26, and will tape the Moran concert on Feb. 27 for later broadcast. Later this year, WNYC, in partnership with the Duke Center for Documentary Studies, will broadcast a 10-part series documenting stories from the Jazz Loft, drawing on thousands of hours of material taped there, including highlights of the rehearsal sessions for the original Thelonious Monk/ Hall Overton 1959 Town Hall concert.
Details: the-townhall-nyc.org.
“Cerebral and academic thought is a different way to approach music,” Flea says of his continuing dive into jazz. “I’ve always relied on emotion and intuition and physicality.”
Mar 30, 2026 10:30 PM
In the relatively small pantheon of certifiable rock stars venturing into the intersection of pop music and jazz, the…
Cécile McLorin Salvant busts out Jelly Roll Morton’s “The Murder Ballad” at Big Ears, here with pianist Sullivan Fortner.
Apr 7, 2026 1:21 PM
There’s pluralism, then there’s PLURALISM! — and then there’s Big Ears. Thurston Moore, who participated in…
Each of the 25 JAMs has delivered a poster featuring a jazz legend that is sent out to schools across the nation. This year’s poster features Tony Bennett.
Mar 30, 2026 10:20 PM
Every April for the past quarter century, something remarkable has happened across the United States and far beyond.…
“We thought it’s important that Ronin has a new statement,” said Nik Bärtsch of his band’s latest album, Spin. “The sound is differently produced, so it reflects more of who we are.”
Apr 21, 2026 10:00 AM
Nik Bärtsch cuts an imposing figure on stage. He’s unmistakable with his soul patch, shaven head and black attire.…
Bollani demonstrates at the piano during a live Blindfold Test in Umbria, Italy, while writer Ashley Kahn, right, and translator Greg Burk look on.
Mar 24, 2026 11:42 AM
Raconteur, bon vivant and popular television host Stefano Bollani is also one of Italy’s best-known pianists, a rare…
