Mar 30, 2026 10:30 PM
Flea Finds His Jazz Thing
In the relatively small pantheon of certifiable rock stars venturing into the intersection of pop music and jazz, the…
The Suoni Per Il Popolo Festival (Sounds for the People Festival), in its sixth year, will include international acts such as Sun Ra Arkestra as part of a four-week celebration of Liberation music.
The festival, running from June 1-25, will reflect elements of diversity with many musical genres being showcased, including: bent rock, noise, avant folk, free jazz, urban beats, experimental electronics and contemporary composition. Both established musicians as well as younger, emerging artists are scheduled to appear, including 1960’s New York minimalist Charlemagne Palestine, backwoods guitar picker Jack Rose, Scandinavian jazz trio The Thing, Montreal’s Ken Vandermark and Japanese underground artist Tetuzi Akiyama. The festival will also feature a special series on Middle Eastern music and a “Tools of the Trade” workshop series.
“Liberation music is inspired by freedom of expression, improvisation, and sonic exploration and appeals to music aficionados world wide,” said festival founder Mauro Pezzente. “Given the context in which much of this music is made and the reaction it provokes, it is also music that resonates with progressive social movements.”
Details: suoniperilpopolo.org
“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.”
Mar 30, 2026 10:30 PM
In the relatively small pantheon of certifiable rock stars venturing into the intersection of pop music and jazz, the…
“These days, with curated news, where people only get half the story, people can’t even speak to family members anymore,” Schneider laments.
Mar 10, 2026 1:43 PM
Maria Schneider is doing her part to try to fix what ails America. Which got her thinking about crows, specifically,…
Each of the 25 JAMs has delivered a poster featuring a jazz legend that is sent out to schools across the nation. This year’s poster features Tony Bennett.
Mar 30, 2026 10:20 PM
Every April for the past quarter century, something remarkable has happened across the United States and far beyond.…
Cécile McLorin Salvant busts out Jelly Roll Morton’s “The Murder Ballad” at Big Ears, here with pianist Sullivan Fortner.
Apr 7, 2026 1:21 PM
There’s pluralism, then there’s PLURALISM! — and then there’s Big Ears. Thurston Moore, who participated in…
“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.…