Sep 3, 2026 10:44 AM
In Memoriam: Cassandra Wilson, 1955–2026
Cassandra Wilson, a singer, songwriter and producer who was one of the most acclaimed and successful jazz vocalists of…
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
Wilson’s ability to connect to audiences helped her to win two Grammy awards and multiple other accolades. She was named an NEA Jazz Master in 2022.
Sep 3, 2026 10:44 AM
Cassandra Wilson, a singer, songwriter and producer who was one of the most acclaimed and successful jazz vocalists of…
Bertoncini was a specialist and advocate for the nylon-string acoustic guitar, turning down high-profile opportunities that were unsuited to the sound and techniques that he used with that instrument.
Sep 1, 2026 11:06 AM
Gene Bertoncini, an esteemed jazz guitarist, composer, arranger and educator, died Aug. 29 at the Lillian Booth Actors…
A solo concert by saxophonist Joshua Redman will close the first night of the Hyde Park Jazz Festival on Sept. 26.
Sep 22, 2026 12:26 PM
The Hyde Park Jazz Festival will take place for the 20th time on the final weekend of September 2026. Beginning half…
“It was just that suddenly … I could hear it,” Ravi Coltrane said of an epiphany he experienced during his late teens regarding his father’s music. “And it was almost like a calling, like something saying, ‘Hey, man, come on. It’s time to get serious.’ And the first time you really tune in and dial in and focus like that, it can be very life-changing.”
Sep 22, 2026 1:39 PM
Editor’s Note: Tomorrow, Sept. 23, is the 100th anniversary of John Coltrane’s birth. In honor of the tenor and…
Camille Thurman took to the stage alongside bassist Kenny Davis and drummer Tommy Campbell for a rendition of Johnny Mercer’s “I’m An Old Cowhand” that recalled Rollins’ epochal 1957 trio outing Way Out West.
Oct 6, 2026 1:33 PM
As emcee Mark Ruffin noted at the commencement of an epic tribute to saxophonist Sonny Rollins at the Cathedral of…
