Sep 3, 2025 12:02 PM
Keeping the Flame at Van Gelder Studio
On the last Sunday of 2024, in the control room of Van Gelder Studio, Don and Maureen Sickler, co-owners since Rudy Van…
Keiko Matsui’s new album, Euphoria, comes out March 31.
(Photo: Courtesy Shanachie)Pianist and composer Keiko Matsui plans to release her 30th album, called Euphoria (Shanachie), on March 31. DownBeat got an early listen to this star-studded affair, which includes Randy Brecker, Mike Stern, Grégoire Maret, John Beasley, Joel Ross, Lalah Hathaway and Kirk Whalum.
Check out the title track, featuring Ross on vibes and arranged by Beasley, by clicking on the image below.
“This album is about the hope that we all carry inside of us,” said Matsui, who has worked with everyone from Miles Davis and Stevie Wonder to Bob James and Hugh Masekela. “I have this dream where we can each cherish our own happiness and learn to accept and care for one another. When I tour around the world and witness how my music cuts through our differences and connects everyone, it makes me feel euphoric.” DB
Don and Maureen Sickler serve as the keepers of engineer Rudy Van Gelder’s flame at Van Gelder Studio, perhaps the most famous recording studio in jazz history.
Sep 3, 2025 12:02 PM
On the last Sunday of 2024, in the control room of Van Gelder Studio, Don and Maureen Sickler, co-owners since Rudy Van…
Trio aRT with its avalanche of instrumentation: from left, Pheeroan akLaff, Scott Robinson and Julian Thayer.
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Pat Metheny will perform with his Side-Eye III ensemble at Big Ears 2026 in Knoxville, Tennessee, next March.
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Big Ears has announced the lineup for its 2026 festival, which will take place March 26–29 and include 250…
Mark Masters, right, with Billy Harper.
Sep 3, 2025 12:00 PM
The Rising Star Category of this publication’s annual Critics Poll was once called Talent Deserving Wider Recognition…
