Mar 2, 2026 9:58 PM
In Memoriam: John Hammond Jr., 1942–2026
John P. Hammond (aka John Hammond Jr.), a blues guitarist and singer who was one of the first white American…
Each year, The Jazz Journalist Association—a nonprofit that supports mediamakers in jazz—offers up a list of notable advocates of the genre who have worked to better their local scenes. This year’s honorees, which were announced Saturday, are below.
Ann Arbor, Michigan: Deanna Relyea
Atlanta: Gwen Redding
Baltimore: Sean Jones
Bay Area, California: Richard Hadlock
Birmingham: Leah Tucker
Boston: Ran Blake
Brooklyn, New York: Matthew Garrison & Fortuna Sung
Capital Region, New York: Susan Cohen Brink
Charlotte, North Carolina: Lonnie & Ocie Davis
Chicago: Harriet Choice
Cleveland: Terri Pontremoli
Denver, Colorado: Norman Provizer
Fort Lauderdale, Florida: Dr. Ronald B. Weber
Hartford, Connecticut: Ed Krech
Indianapolis: Albert Coleman
Los Angeles: Billy Mitchell
Minneapolis: Patty Peterson
New York: Roberta Alloway
Philadelphia: Anthony Tidd
Portland, Oregon: Ron Steen
Seattle: Jay Thomas
St. Louis: Gene Dobbs Bradford
Tallahassee, Florida: Jan & Mark Pudlow
Washington, DC: Sunny Sumter
JJA’s full announcement can be read here. DB
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…
“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.”
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In the relatively small pantheon of certifiable rock stars venturing into the intersection of pop music and jazz, the…
Vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater will be among the headliners at this year’s DC JazzFest.
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The first wave of artists scheduled to perform at the 2026 DC JazzFest have been announced. This year’s headliners…
“These days, with curated news, where people only get half the story, people can’t even speak to family members anymore,” Schneider laments.
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Maria Schneider is doing her part to try to fix what ails America. Which got her thinking about crows, specifically,…
“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.…
