Jul 22, 2025 10:58 AM
Pianist, Educator Hal Galper Dies at 87
Hal Galper, a pianist, composer and arranger who enjoyed a substantial performing career but made perhaps a deeper…
The North Texas Jazz Festival will celebrate its eighth year at a new location.
The Crowne Plaza Hotel in Addison, Texas, will serve as the new location for the three-day invitational featuring more than 50 big bands, combos and vocal jazz groups representing universities, community colleges, high schools and middle schools from across the United States. The event closes with a private performance by David Binney.
Wednesday’s concert includes a private performance from the Two O’Clock Lab Band. The North Texas Jazz Singers and the One O’Clock Lab Band will perform Thursday evening. Student performers selected as “outstanding” will appear on stage, along with saxophonist Binney, who will also perform on Friday night as part of the event’s finale.
Although the evening concerts are exclusive to the festival attendees, the public is invited to participate in several activities throughout the North Texas Jazz Festival. On Thursday, master classes with UNT staff will be held. On April 4, Binney will present a Question and Answer session. Throughout the entire festival, the public is invited to attend any of the school performances. Additionally, noted jazz film collector Hal Miller will be presenting rare jazz films from his personal archive.
More info: ntjazzfest.unt.edu
Galper was often regarded as an underrated master of his craft.
Jul 22, 2025 10:58 AM
Hal Galper, a pianist, composer and arranger who enjoyed a substantial performing career but made perhaps a deeper…
Chuck Mangione on the cover of the May 8, 1975, edition of DownBeat.
Jul 29, 2025 1:00 PM
Chuck Mangione, one of the most popular trumpeters in jazz history, passed away on July 24 at home in Rochester, New…
Jordan was a dyed-in-the-wool bebopper whose formative musical experiences were with Charlie Parker.
Aug 12, 2025 10:24 AM
Sheila Jordan, a vocalist who was celebrated for her scatting and lyric-improvising abilities, died Aug. 11 at her home…
“I don’t guess I’m going to excite you; I know I’m going to excite you,” Palmieri said in an August 1994 DownBeat feature.
Aug 12, 2025 10:33 AM
Famed Latin jazz composer, bandleader and pianist Eddie Palmieri passed away in his New Jersey home on Aug. 6. He was…
“What I got from Percy was the dignity of playing the bass,” Buster Williams said of Percy Heath.
Aug 26, 2025 1:53 PM
Buster Williams, who at the age of 83 has been on the scene for 65 years, had never done a Blindfold Test. The first…