Jun 10, 2025 4:13 PM
Theo Croker’s Dream … Manifested!
Partway through his early set at Smoke Jazz Club, Theo Croker blinks the room back into focus. He leans over the piano.…
Donald Harrison is among the headliners at the Quantum Leap Music Festival, to be held Aug. 14–17 on Long Island.
(Photo: Faena)It’s festival season in the world of jazz, blues and beyond. And as updates come in to DownBeat, we’ll send them out to you. Here’s this week’s batch!
Donald Harrison’s Quantum Leap Music Festival
North Fork, Long Island, New York
Aug. 14–17
The Quantum Leap Music Festival has announced its full lineup with headliners Donald Harrison, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Leo Nocentelli of the Meters, The Preservation Hall Legacy Band, The Headhunters plus Cyril Neville, Zaccai Curtis and more. Go to nola2nofo.com for more info.
Englewood Jazz Festival
Hamilton Park, Chicago
Sept. 18–20
The Englewood Jazz Festival has announced that it will be celebrating the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM). Festival founder and saxophonist Ernest Dawkins will open the fest with a new work titled Great Black Music–Ancient To The Future. The piece is dedicated to the founders of the AACM. Go to englewoodjazzfestival.org for more info.
44th Annual Savannah Jazz Festival
Savannah, Georgia
Sept. 19–21
The Savannah Jazz Festival offers 15 free events including Spyro Gyra, Kirk Whalum, a celebration of James Moody’s centenniel, Anat Cohen, Jocelyn Gould, Rodney Jordan, Tony Monaco and more. Go to savannahjazz.org for more info.
Monterey Jazz Festival
Monterey, California
Sept. 26–28
In addition to a killer lineup that includes Gregory Porter, Christian McBride & Ursa Major, Marcus Shelby, John & Gerald Clayton, Dianne Reeves, Ledisi, Mr. Sipp, Keyon Harrold, Delfeayo Marsalis, Cory Wong and more, the fest has announced a special collaboration whereby SFJAZZ will sponsor acts in the Pacific Jazz Café. Acts include Benny Green, Sullivan Fortner, New Jazz Underground, Tyreek McDole, Brandon Woody, Caity Gyorgy, Christian Sands, Camille Thurman & Darrell Green and more. Go to montereyjazz.org for more info.
Jazz@ThePoint
Somers Point, New Jersey
Oct. 16–18
Hosted by the South Jersey Jazz Society, Jazz@ThePoint will highlight artists from the Garden State under this year’s banner of “Jersey Fresh.” Performers include John Pizzarelli, Howard Paul, Michael Pedicin, Paul Jost and Matt Cappy. Go to southjerseyjazz.org for more info. DB
To record Dream Manifest (Dom Recs), Croker convened artists from his current and recent past ensembles, plus special guests.
Jun 10, 2025 4:13 PM
Partway through his early set at Smoke Jazz Club, Theo Croker blinks the room back into focus. He leans over the piano.…
“There’s nothing quite like it,” Springs says of working with an orchestra. “It’s 60 people working in harmony in the moment. Singing with them is kind of empowering but also humbling at the same time.”
Jun 17, 2025 11:12 AM
When it came time to pose for the cover of her new album, Lady In Satin — a tribute to Billie Holiday’s 1958…
James Brandon Lewis earned honors for Artist of the Year and Tenor Saxophonist of the Year. Three of his recordings placed in the Albums of the Year category.
Jul 17, 2025 12:44 PM
You see before you what we believe is the largest and most comprehensive Critics Poll in the history of jazz. DownBeat…
Galper was often regarded as an underrated master of his craft.
Jul 22, 2025 10:58 AM
Hal Galper, a pianist, composer and arranger who enjoyed a substantial performing career but made perhaps a deeper…
Chuck Mangione on the cover of the May 8, 1975, edition of DownBeat.
Jul 29, 2025 1:00 PM
Chuck Mangione, one of the most popular trumpeters in jazz history, passed away on July 24 at home in Rochester, New…
