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…
“Where the Future of Jazz Is Made” is the theme of Jazz-Con 2025.
(Photo: Courtesy Jazz-Con 2025)Jazz-Con 2025, a fully virtual, multilingual music business event designed specifically for independent jazz, classical and genre-crossing artists, will take place Sept. 15–16. Bringing together over 50 speakers from 11 countries across the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia, the conference will focus on streaming strategy, metadata, publishing, tech innovation and career sustainability. Its online format welcomes musicians, entrepreneurs, educators, executives and jazz advocates from across continents, time zones and backgrounds for two days of panels, keynotes, discussions and virtual networking.
Under a theme of “Where the Future of Jazz Is Made,” this year’s program includes sessions in English, Spanish and Japanese, with real-time captioning in 20-plus languages. It will feature voices from Youtube, Deezer, Pandora, Bandcamp and Virgin Music that have never previously participated in any jazz conferences, presented alongside jazz labels, working artists, festival directors and cultural advocates.
“Jazz-Con reflects the shifting economics of the jazz world — that why it’s being called ‘the South by Southwest for jazz and classical music,’” said Executive Director Jerald Miller. “The conference is reshaping how jazz and classical musicians engage with the global industry, and it addresses the urgent need for business literacy in jazz education and professional development.”
Jazz-Con is co-produced by Jazz Metroplex in Dallas and the Nu Jazz Agency in New York City, with support from artists, institutions and presenters worldwide.
For a list of confirmed speakers scheduled to make presentations during Jazz-Con 2025, CLICK HERE. To view a promotional video titled “Jazz-Con 2025 | The Turning Point That Re-Made Jazz Forever,” CLICK HERE. To register for this year’s conference, visit jazz-con.com. 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…
