Mar 2, 2026 9:58 PM
In Memoriam: John Hammond Jr., 1942–2026
John P. Hammond (aka John Hammond Jr.), a blues guitarist and singer who was one of the first white American…
On August 28, Concord Jazz will release Anthem, trumpeter Christian Scott’s follow-up to his critically acclaimed debut, Rewind That.
The album is a collection of 12 tracks teeming indie-rock, neo-soul, hip-hop and jazz, and it features an appearance by Brother J of X-Clan. The album presents a taste of Scott’s hometown, New Orleans, and the havoc wreaked by Hurricane Katrina. It also reflects the many changes Scott has undergone since releasing his his debut album in 2006. “My life changed completely,” he said in a news release. “There’s something here for everybody so that everyone can hear their own personal anthems.”
Scott’s sophomore album comes on the heels of rave reviews from last year’s Rewind That, which was a nominee for Best Contemporary Jazz Album at this year’s Grammy Awards. In a DownBeat interview, fellow trumpeter Chris Botti said, “Lately I’ve been listening to a lot of CDs by new trumpeters. The only one I like is Christian’s. He’s the new voice in jazz trumpet. I love his point of view. He doesn’t sound like any other young trumpet player.”
Scott’s other recent credits include session work with Prince and Randy Jackson for their upcoming albums. In addition, he is slated to appear and perform in the new Steven Soderbergh film “Leatherheads” starring George Clooney and Renee Zellweger.
Hammond came to the blues through the folk boom of the late 1950s and early 1960s, which he experienced firsthand in New York’s Greenwich Village.
Mar 2, 2026 9:58 PM
John P. Hammond (aka John Hammond Jr.), a blues guitarist and singer who was one of the first white American…
“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…
Vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater will be among the headliners at this year’s DC JazzFest.
Mar 2, 2026 9:48 PM
The first wave of artists scheduled to perform at the 2026 DC JazzFest have been announced. This year’s headliners…
Blindfold Test proctor Ted Panken, left, with the Grammy-winning Nicole Zuraitis.
Feb 24, 2026 12:00 PM
After earning the 2024 Best Jazz Vocal Album Grammy for her seventh album, How Love Begins (La Reserve), comprising 12…
“These days, with curated news, where people only get half the story, people can’t even speak to family members anymore,” Schneider laments.
Mar 10, 2026 1:43 PM
Maria Schneider is doing her part to try to fix what ails America. Which got her thinking about crows, specifically,…
