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…
Pianist Marian McPartland isn’t slowing down for her 90th birthday March 20. Instead, she has a new disc, Twilight World, due out March 11 on Concord and plans to play a series of concerts. She continues to tape her weekly radio show, Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz for NPR.
Twilight World, her first studio CD in nine years, features her regular Piano Jazz trio of bassist Gary Mazzaroppi and drummer Glenn Davis and includes some of her originals and a handful of tunes she has yet recorded in her nearly 100 sessions. McPartland includes two versions of compositions by Ornette Coleman. She also interprets tunes by her songwriter friends Alec Wilder (“Blackberry Winter”) and Burt Bacharach (“Alfie”).
“I’m so happy to have done this album,” she said. “It’s nice to have something you’re this happy with at this stage of life.”
During her birthday week (March 19–23), McPartland and her trio will perform at Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York with special guests each night. These shows will be taped and highlights will be heard in a 90th birthday celebration edition of Piano Jazz. Among the artists paying tribute over the week’s shows will be Karrin Allison, Regina Carter, Jason Moran, Jeremy Pelt, Ken Peplowski, Chris Potter and others.
McPartland will again play Labor Day weekend at the Tanglewood Jazz Festival. This year will find multiple guests paying tribute and collaborating with McPartland onstage in another birthday bash.
More info: concordmusicgroup.com
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…
“The love from the jazz and music community restored my faith in humanity,” Walia wrote in an online post upon his release from detention at an ICE facility.
Aug 18, 2026 2:15 PM
Indian jazz guitarist and composer Pritesh Walia has been released after being unexpectedly detained by ICE and taken…
Percussionist Poncho Sanchez was among the artists scheduled to perform at the now-canceled inaugural LA Jazz Festival.
Aug 11, 2026 12:53 PM
The inaugural LA Jazz Festival, originally scheduled to run Aug. 7–23 with dozens of events across Los Angeles’…
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…
