Feb 3, 2026 12:10 AM
In Memoriam: Ken Peplowski, 1959–2026
Ken Peplowski, a clarinetist and tenor saxophonist who straddled the worlds of traditional and modern jazz, died Feb. 2…
Crowds chill at the John Coltrane Jazz & Blues Festival in North Carolina.
(Photo: Toni Shaw)If great art is made in chaos, get ready for some killer festivals this year. In digging into the 2025 festival scene while crafting this guide, one thing is for certain. There are many festivals wondering what’s going to happen, and maybe worrying what the effects things like trade wars — the realm of politics, not art — will play on the summer music travel season. But festival directors DownBeat spoke with have put up a unified front: Control what you can control, and put on an amazing show.
With that, get ready for some great tours and performances at festivals large and small. As the 120-plus festivals listed in the following pages can attest, each has its own charm and sparkle.
We’re continuing to witness the next generation of jazz expansion, local scenes and artists being promoted in dramatic ways in places where jazz interest, education and tradition are growing. Just look at the four festivals featured in this year’s guide. The Denver Jazz Festival will shine a floodlight on the great tradition of musicians who either came from or currently live in the Denver area. The same is true with the Vancouver International Jazz Festival, which has a fantastic DIY scene. Down at the Amelia Island Jazz Festival, Les and Bonnie DeMerle have fashioned a festival that perfectly vibes with the island life. And up in Massachusetts, the Northampton Jazz Festival offers a quaint, hometown touch to go with great music.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE COMPLETE 2025 SUMMER FESTIVAL GUIDE!
So, soak it up. It’s festival season, y’all! Time to get up, get out and get down! DB
Peplowski first came to prominence in legacy swing bands, including the final iteration of the Benny Goodman Orchestra, before beginning a solo career in the late 1980s.
Feb 3, 2026 12:10 AM
Ken Peplowski, a clarinetist and tenor saxophonist who straddled the worlds of traditional and modern jazz, died Feb. 2…
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…
Richie Beirach was particularly renowned for his approach to chromatic harmony, which he used to improvise reharmonizations of originals and standards.
Jan 27, 2026 11:19 AM
Richie Beirach, a pianist and composer who channeled a knowledge of modern classical music into his jazz practice,…
“I play what I want and what I like,” said Andrew Cyrille. “I use my knowledge artistically and professionally.”
Feb 3, 2026 12:15 AM
Midway through August, a few days after concluding a week at the Village Vanguard with the quartet that Andrew Cyrille…
Marsalis will, if he chooses to use it, have a strong voice in perpetuating his vision through a role in choosing his successors.
Feb 3, 2026 12:09 AM
For the better part of a year, rumors have been swirling that Wynton Marsalis was going to step down as artistic and…
