May 26, 2026 11:08 AM
Sonny Rollins Passes Away at 95
Sonny Rollins, the iconic saxophonist, composer and improviser whose career stretched from the origins of bebop to 21st…
Pianist Jason Moran will commemorate the 90th anniversary of Thelonious Monk’s birthday with a series of events during October and November.
On October 27, Moran will debut “In My Mind: Monk at Town Hall, 1959” at Duke University in Durham, N.C., which is nearby Monk’s birthplace of Rocky Mount, N.C. The new piece will incorporate live performance by an eight-piece ensemble, video projections and recorded samples of Monk rehearsing. Moran will also take the project to George Washington University’s Lisner Auditorium in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 28, Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco on Nov. 2 and Chicago’s Symphony Center on Nov. 16.
On Monk’s birthday, Oct. 10, Moran will participate in a conversation with critic Gary Giddins and then perform a solo concert at Elebash Recital Hall at City University of New York.
Onstage, Rollins would move about restlessly, thrusting his tenor sax in the air as he blew.
May 26, 2026 11:08 AM
Sonny Rollins, the iconic saxophonist, composer and improviser whose career stretched from the origins of bebop to 21st…
“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.…
Dave King (left) and Reid Anderson offer insights into why The Bad Plus’ chemistry was cool, the accomplishments many and its longevity so fruitful.
May 12, 2026 11:42 AM
The scene still sticks with me. I had heard the oddball name of this new group being dropped around town, and…
Ava Preston, a 12-time DownBeat Student Music Award winner, is currently pursuing her master’s degree in jazz voice at Juilliard.
May 12, 2026 10:00 AM
Ava Preston, from Cleveland, Ohio, was named the winner of the ninth annual Ella Fitzgerald Jazz Vocal Competition on…
How best to mark Miles Davis’ centennial? By allowing the stories to flow, and cross-discussions to happen.
May 26, 2026 10:40 AM
Editor’s Note: The iconic trumpeter, composer and bandleader Miles Davis would have turned 100 today (May 26, 2026).…
