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…
Vocalist and bandleader Fay Victor is set to release Barn Songs on Nov. 15.
(Photo: Chris Weiss)Vocalist and bandleader Fay Victor—who’s worked with folks like Anthony Braxton, Ab Baars and Roswell Rudd—is prepping her latest album, Barn Songs (Northern Spy), for release on Nov. 15.
The album, comprised of songs Victor wrote while living in Amsterdam more than 20 years ago and brought to life here by cellist Marika Hughes and alto saxophonist Darius Jones, works as a reassessment of the singer’s past. It’s one with an undeniably timeless feel, touching on the intricacies of self-discovery. “Talk Talk (pt 2),” a tune off the album, premieres below.
“‘Talk Talk (pt 2)’ is some commentary on one feeling ‘stuck.’ Stuck in their jobs, relationships and in their lives. Stuck in this political farce we’re currently in. We all feel that sometimes,” Victor wrote in an email. “So, the commentary is on how much power we have to change that paradigm, if we choose to do so.”
In addition to readying the new recording, Victor’s set to perform at the Whitney Museum of Art as a part of Jazz on a High Floor in the Afternoon, a series orchestrated by pianist Jason Moran and the museum’s performance curator Adrienne Edwards.
For more information about Victor’s work, visit her 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…
“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…
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).…
