May 26, 2026 11:08 AM
Sonny Rollins Passes Away at 95
Sonny Rollins, the iconic saxophonist, composer and improviser whose career stretched from the origins of bebop to 21st…
Gearbox Records is set to issue Just In Time: The Final Recording by drummer and bandleader Buddy Rich (1917–’87) on Dec. 6.
(Photo: Stuart Nicholson)Few drummers in jazz history are as revered as Buddy Rich (1917–’87), who achieved fame as a musician, bandleader and frequent guest on TV shows.
On Dec. 6, Gearbox Records, in conjunction with the Rich Estate, will release Just In Time: The Final Recording, which captures a 1986 performance by Rich’s big band at Ronnie Scott’s jazz club in London.
The premiere of “Just In Time” is below.
Just In Time will be available digitally and in four physical formats. Along with the standard double LP and standard CD, there will be a collector’s edition of the album on triple-gatefold vinyl and double-gatefold CD, with more than 30 minutes of bonus content from the performance, including the extended drum solo from the show’s encore.
In a press statement, Matt Harris, who played on the album, said, “Like any of the road bands in that time period, it was always very exciting to record with the band. It made a lot of the other gigs worth it when you finally recorded, and it also documented the band in its true element. Recording studios can be very intimidating for musicians as opposed to a live gig, where you’re putting it all on the line. ... I think this recording showcases the band at its highest level. You cannot get great studio musicians to sound like this.”
The legendary drummer—who was voted into the DownBeat of Hall of Fame in 1974—also is the subject of a new book from Hudson Music, Buddy Rich: One of a Kind, written by Pelle Bergland and featuring a foreword by Max Weinberg.
For additional information about the release, visit the Gearbox website. DB
Onstage, Rollins would move about restlessly, thrusting his tenor sax in the air as he blew.
May 26, 2026 11:08 AM
Sonny Rollins, the iconic saxophonist, composer and improviser whose career stretched from the origins of bebop to 21st…
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.…
Dave King (left) and Reid Anderson offer insights into why The Bad Plus’ chemistry was cool, the accomplishments many and its longevity so fruitful.
May 12, 2026 11:42 AM
The scene still sticks with me. I had heard the oddball name of this new group being dropped around town, and…
Ava Preston, a 12-time DownBeat Student Music Award winner, is currently pursuing her master’s degree in jazz voice at Juilliard.
May 12, 2026 10:00 AM
Ava Preston, from Cleveland, Ohio, was named the winner of the ninth annual Ella Fitzgerald Jazz Vocal Competition on…
