Dec 9, 2025 12:28 PM
In Memoriam: Gordon Goodwin, 1954–2025
Gordon Goodwin, an award-winning saxophonist, pianist, bandleader, composer and arranger, died Dec. 8 in Los Angeles.…
NBA’s All-Star game and festivities centered in New Orleans this year. The weekend activities took advantage of the wealth of musical talent in the Big Easy.
Harry Connick Jr. joined saxophonist Branford Marsalis to headline the bevy of New Orleans-themed musical performances featuring Jonathan Batiste, Marc Broussard and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Davell Crawford, Jonathan Dubose, Dr. John, Stephanie Jordan, Ellis Marsalis, Art Neville, Ivan Neville, Rebirth Brass Band, Kermit Ruffins, Amanda Shaw, Trombone Shorty and Allen Toussaint at NBA All-Star 2008 in New Orleans.
On Feb. 17, Connick and Marsalis hit the court at the New Orleans Arena. The Louisiana-born musicians collaborated on the evening’s performance lineup creating a musical set that gave a sampling of New Orleans jazz, funk and blues, but also celebrated the rebirth of the city in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Connick served as musical director for the halftime show featuring four original compositions.
Marsalis served as musical director for the player introductions featuring a set of high energy big band melodies composed by Marsalis and performed by the Rebirth Brass Band.
Goodwin was one of the most acclaimed, successful and influential jazz musicians of his generation.
Dec 9, 2025 12:28 PM
Gordon Goodwin, an award-winning saxophonist, pianist, bandleader, composer and arranger, died Dec. 8 in Los Angeles.…
Belá Fleck during an interview with Fredrika Whitfield on CNN.
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The fallout from the renaming of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to include President Donald…
The success of Oregon’s first album, 1971’s Music Of Another Present Era, allowed Towner to establish a solo career.
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Ralph Towner, a guitarist and composer who blended multiple genres, including jazz — and throughout them all remained…
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…
Rico’s Anti-Microbial Instrument Swab
Jan 19, 2026 2:48 PM
With this year’s NAMM Show right around the corner, we can look forward to plenty of new and innovative instruments…
