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.…
On the heels of his new Justin Time release, Gwotet, David Murray will play limited U.S. dates with the Gwo-ka Masters, his Gwotet collaborators from Guadeloupe.
The album, released June 8, explores Creole music traditions and features Pharoah Sanders.
Unfortunately, Sanders will not be with the band for their seven cross-country dates scheduled for late June and early July.
At the Central Park Summerstage in New York City on June 20, Murray will be joined by bassist Jaribu Shahid, drummer Hamid Drake, guitarist Herve Samb, trumpeter Omar Kabir, trombonist Craig Harris, and Ka-drummers/vocalists Klod Kiavue and Francois Ladrezeau.
For the rest of the dates, there will be no horn players, and the drummer will be Benjamin Sanz.
David Murray and the Gwo-ka Masters on tour:
June 23: Philadelphia; Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz
June 25: Atlanta; Variety Playhouse
June 27: Seattle; The Triple Door
June 28–30: Oakland, Calif.; Yoshi’s
July 1: Minneapolis; Dakota Jazz Club
July 2: Chicago; the HotHouse
For more information, visit www.justin-time.com
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…