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…
Wayne Shorter had some thrilling surprises up his sleeve during his Friday night concert at the International Festival de Jazz de Montreal. His superb quartet—which featured drummer Brian Blade, bassist John Patitucci and pianist Geoffrey Keezer (substituting for Danilo Perez, who is recovering from a foot injury)—performed with the spontaneity and glee of children on a playground. Shorter projected with enormous tone on tenor and soprano saxes, filling Montreal’s Theatre Maisonneuve with unexpected blasts of sound reinforced by his band of aces. Keezer thrilled the audience as well with bursts of excitement and creativity that appropriately complemented Shorter’s in-the-moment vibe.
Tony Bennett turned in a classy, elegant show that touched on a couple dozen standards from his usual repertoire and featured short-and-sweet instrumental solos from his four trusty accompanists. A consummate performer, Bennett nailed the high notes, addressed his audience graciously and even did a couple of quick dance-spins on stage for dramatic (and slightly comical) effect. Earlier Friday evening, Le Large Ensemble got the weekend off to a loose and casual start with set of freeplay featuring some of Canada’s finest improvisers at L’Astral, a new club on the festival scene.
Saxophonist Joshua Redman began his three-night Invitation series on Saturday, July 4, with a quartet gig featuring Aaron Parks on piano, Matt Penman on bass and Eric Harland on drums. On Sunday, Redman’s show will be a quintet with fellow saxophonist Joe Lovano, pianist Sam Yahel, bassist Reuben Rogers and drummer Gregory Hutchinson. His residency concludes Monday night, July 6, with a daring double-trio concert (featuring various combinations of Hutchinson, Brian Blade, Rogers and Larry Grenadier) that will draw on material from his latest CD, Compass.
Other highlights from Saturday included performances by the historic Dave Brubeck Quartet (with son Matt Brubeck sitting in on cello), pianist Gerald Clayton’s highly accessible trio of dreadlocked mates and the always fresh-sounding Brian Blade Fellowship. —Ed Enright
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…
To the world, James Blood Ulmer was a legend, a visionary and a musical force whose sound was distinctive and unique. To his family, he was their teacher, their storyteller and a source of strength.
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Ava Preston, a 12-time DownBeat Student Music Award winner, is currently pursuing her master’s degree in jazz voice at Juilliard.
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