Mar 2, 2026 9:58 PM
In Memoriam: John Hammond Jr., 1942–2026
John P. Hammond (aka John Hammond Jr.), a blues guitarist and singer who was one of the first white American…
Singer Natalie Cole recently signed a recording deal with Verve Records. The contract reunites her with Verve Music Group Chairman Tommy LiPuma, who produced Cole’s 1991 release Unforgettable.
“Working with Tommy again is like returning home,” Cole said. “He is so good with this kind of music. I feel very fortunate that he really understands what I do, which is evidenced by Unforgettable and the new album. We have grown together and we are very compatible. I am looking forward to more great work with Tommy and Verve,” she said of her move to the label.
“It is an honor to work with Natalie again after all these years,” LiPuma said. “I am thrilled that she has joined the Verve family and that she will be continuing in the great tradition of vocalists that have always been a cornerstone of Verve Records.”
Unforgettable earned six Grammy awards, including Album of the Year, and has sold over 14 million units worldwide. Cole and LiPuma are currently putting the finishing touches on Cole’s Verve debut, set for a fall 2002 release.
Hammond came to the blues through the folk boom of the late 1950s and early 1960s, which he experienced firsthand in New York’s Greenwich Village.
Mar 2, 2026 9:58 PM
John P. Hammond (aka John Hammond Jr.), a blues guitarist and singer who was one of the first white American…
“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…
Lettuce, from left: Eric Coomes, Adam Deitch, Ryan Zoidis, Eric Bloom, Adam Smirnoff and Nigel Hall
Feb 17, 2026 11:05 AM
They were Berklee misfits. Neither jazzy enough for the straightahead crowd at Boston’s highly prestigious College of…
New Orleans Trad Jazz Camp
Feb 19, 2026 10:39 AM
Jazz camps have exploded around the globe as a summertime tradition for working on your chops and making new friends.…
Vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater will be among the headliners at this year’s DC JazzFest.
Mar 2, 2026 9:48 PM
The first wave of artists scheduled to perform at the 2026 DC JazzFest have been announced. This year’s headliners…