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…
Jimmy Greene will perform at the Litchfield Jazz Festival, which takes place Aug. 6–7 in Goshen, Connecticut. Greene’s 2014 CD is titlted Beautiful Life.
(Photo: Courtesy of the artist)Saxophonists Jimmy Greene, Donald Harrison, Don Braden and NEA Jazz Master Jimmy Heath are among the headliners scheduled to perform at the Litchfield Jazz Festival, which will take place at the Goshen Fairgrounds in Goshen, Connecticut, Aug. 6–7.
This year’s edition will be dedicated to bassist Mario Pavone, a founding member of the fest and an advocate for jazz education in the community. He will open the festival with a performance with tenor saxophonist Tony Malaby and a quartet led by baritone saxophonist Andrew Hadro on the festival’s Main Stage on Aug. 6.
A key theme of this year’s festival is “Generations of Jazz,” with a roster that pairs up-and-coming musicians with veteran artists. Pianist Emmet Cohen will appear with Heath on Aug. 7, vocalist Nicole Zuraitis will appear alongside guitarist Dave Stryker on Aug. 6, and saxophonist Albert Rivera will join guitarist Paul Bollenback for a concert on Aug. 6.
The Curtis Brothers—bassist Luques and pianist Zaccai—will join Harrison on Aug. 7. Pianist Orrin Evans will perform with bassist Daryl Johns, the youngest headliner ever to appear at Litchfield, on Aug. 6.
This year’s programming also celebrates 20 years of instruction from the festival’s educational program, the Litchfield Jazz Camp. In recognition of this milestone, the Student Stage roster will feature young musicians who have participated in the camp in previous years performing alongside their mentors.
Each summer, the Litchfield Jazz Festival hosts clinics and artist lectures by festival headliners as part of its annual Artist Talks series, and this year’s events will be hosted by DownBeat Publisher Frank Alkyer. Artist Talks are open to festival ticket holders and Litchfield Jazz Campers free of charge.
For more information, visit the Litchfield Jazz Festival website.
“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…
“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,…
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.…
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…
“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.…
