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…
Emmet Cohen is set to issue his first album on Mack Avenue, Future Stride, Jan. 29.
(Photo: Taili Song Roth)Emmet Cohen’s latest album, Future Stride, works to encompass the bounty of recorded jazz history.
Cohen, who in 2019 won the American Pianists Association Competition, taps bassist Russell Hall and drummer Kyle Poole for a take of “Dardanella”—a song popularized by bandleader Ben Selvin in a 1919 recording—which premieres below.
“Our version of ‘Dardanella’ is a modern take on the 20th-century gem, pioneered by the stride masters, such as Art Tatum and Willie ‘The Lion’ Smith,” Cohen said in a press release. “The form and organization here display a natural and free progression; an exploration of possibilities which exist when three people think, breathe and feel as a single unit.”
Saxophonist Melissa Aldana and trumpeter Marquis Hill also appear on Future Stride, which is set for release Jan. 29 on the Mack Avenue imprint. 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…
To the world, James Blood Ulmer was a legend, a visionary and a musical force whose sound was distinctive and unique. To his family, he was their teacher, their storyteller and a source of strength.
Jun 9, 2026 10:54 AM
With deep sorrow and profound love, we announce the passing of James Blood Ulmer, a boldly innovative guitarist,…
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…
How best to mark Miles Davis’ centennial? By allowing the stories to flow, and cross-discussions to happen.
May 26, 2026 10:40 AM
Editor’s Note: The iconic trumpeter, composer and bandleader Miles Davis would have turned 100 today (May 26, 2026).…
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…
