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…
Russian saxophonist Igor Butman is set to perform at the Jazz Across Borders forum&festival gala with
(Photo: Courtesy Jazz Across Borders forum&festival)The second installment of the Jazz Across Borders forum&festival in St. Petersburg, Russia, is set for Nov. 16-17 as part of the International Cultural Forum.
Five components make up the event: a conference (panel and roundtable discussions, master classes and meetings with members of the industry), music showcases, a series of performances in St. Petersburg clubs, an expo of jazz industry representatives and a gala concert with saxophonist Igor Butman, vocalist Patti Austin and the Moscow Jazz Orchestra.
“The first Jazz Across Borders forum&festival was visited by more than 1,000 people from 32 countries of the world,” Butman said in a press release. “Major promoters, prominent figures of the jazz industry, young musicians, representatives of big and small festivals, our teachers and students—all of us came together for the common goal: to show and prove to others that jazz art is being developed, loved and appreciated in this country, and that we want to continue developing and improving this genre of music. ... We’ve set a high standard and promise to aim higher every year.”
Butman—along with the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation—initially conceived of the festival. Additional information about the festival, including details on how to register register, can be found on the JAB website. DB
• On June 15, the U.S. Department of State issued an advisory saying that Americans should reconsider travel to Russia.
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,…
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).…
“I wanted to get into the real feeling,” Melissa Aldana says of studying the work of singers from Cuba’s filin tradition in preparation for her collaboration with pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba.
May 19, 2026 11:46 AM
Melissa Aldana is an investigator. She’s not comfortable resting on what she knows, instead seeking to learn more and…
“There was something about her tone and sound and phrasing — an intimacy, a vulnerability, an honesty,” says Joshua Redman, who produced Cavassa’s record after she toured with his band.
Jun 16, 2026 1:27 AM
Gabrielle Cavassa is an avowed perfectionist. So when she failed to place despite becoming a finalist in the 2018 Sarah…
