Sep 3, 2026 10:44 AM
In Memoriam: Cassandra Wilson, 1955–2026
Cassandra Wilson, a singer, songwriter and producer who was one of the most acclaimed and successful jazz vocalists of…
Legendary guitarist Les Paul celebrates his 90th birthday with an upcoming album, Les Paul & Friends featuring a slate of guitar talents who learned a thing or two from the master artist. Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Steve Miller, Keith Richards and Kenny Wayne Shepherd are among the artists who show up on the nonagenarian’s first album in 26 years.
Paul, who still plays a weekly gig at New York’s Iridium Jazz Club, doesn’t possess the nimble fingers of his heyday, he is battling arthritis, so on the album he lets the younger guns take on the lead and solo parts, while providing some signature riffs, trill and staccato exclamations to the arrangements during post production.
Paul’s birthday is marked with other releases as well in the form of music, text and hardware. Capitol Records reissued Les Paul With Mary Ford: The Best Of The Capitol Masters on June 7. Hal Leonard Publishing is set to release The Les Paul Legacy in October, and Russ Cochran Publishing released Les Paul In His Own Words, a limited-edition autobiography by the guitar innovator. Gibson Guitars, which distributes the famous Les Paul guitar line will release 12 special edition guitars, one for each month of the year, to commemorate Paul’s 90th.
Wilson’s ability to connect to audiences helped her to win two Grammy awards and multiple other accolades. She was named an NEA Jazz Master in 2022.
Sep 3, 2026 10:44 AM
Cassandra Wilson, a singer, songwriter and producer who was one of the most acclaimed and successful jazz vocalists of…
Bertoncini was a specialist and advocate for the nylon-string acoustic guitar, turning down high-profile opportunities that were unsuited to the sound and techniques that he used with that instrument.
Sep 1, 2026 11:06 AM
Gene Bertoncini, an esteemed jazz guitarist, composer, arranger and educator, died Aug. 29 at the Lillian Booth Actors…
A solo concert by saxophonist Joshua Redman will close the first night of the Hyde Park Jazz Festival on Sept. 26.
Sep 22, 2026 12:26 PM
The Hyde Park Jazz Festival will take place for the 20th time on the final weekend of September 2026. Beginning half…
“It was just that suddenly … I could hear it,” Ravi Coltrane said of an epiphany he experienced during his late teens regarding his father’s music. “And it was almost like a calling, like something saying, ‘Hey, man, come on. It’s time to get serious.’ And the first time you really tune in and dial in and focus like that, it can be very life-changing.”
Sep 22, 2026 1:39 PM
Editor’s Note: Tomorrow, Sept. 23, is the 100th anniversary of John Coltrane’s birth. In honor of the tenor and…
Camille Thurman took to the stage alongside bassist Kenny Davis and drummer Tommy Campbell for a rendition of Johnny Mercer’s “I’m An Old Cowhand” that recalled Rollins’ epochal 1957 trio outing Way Out West.
Oct 6, 2026 1:33 PM
As emcee Mark Ruffin noted at the commencement of an epic tribute to saxophonist Sonny Rollins at the Cathedral of…
