Mar 30, 2026 10:30 PM
Flea Finds His Jazz Thing
In the relatively small pantheon of certifiable rock stars venturing into the intersection of pop music and jazz, the…
Blues singer and Alligator recording artist Shemekia Copeland, who recently picked up her 4th W.C. Handy Blues Award (for Contemporary Female Artist Of The Year), is currently finishing work on a follow-up to her Grammy-nominated CD, Wicked. The as-yet-untitled album is being recorded in New York and produced by Dr. John, and will be released in mid-September of this year. Copeland, along with songwriter John Hahn, shares some of the writing credits on the album. Dr. John also contributed songs, plays piano and sings a duet with Copeland. The album features members of both Dr. John’s and Shemekia’s touring bands.
On June 1, Copeland headlined the Chicago Blues Festival, singing in front of 100,000 ecstatic blues fans. At one point, Copeland stepped away from the microphone to sing the final verse of her father’s (the late Johnny Clyde Copeland) “Ghetto Child,” her voice carrying, unamplified, to the far reaches of the outdoor venue.
“Cerebral and academic thought is a different way to approach music,” Flea says of his continuing dive into jazz. “I’ve always relied on emotion and intuition and physicality.”
Mar 30, 2026 10:30 PM
In the relatively small pantheon of certifiable rock stars venturing into the intersection of pop music and jazz, the…
“These days, with curated news, where people only get half the story, people can’t even speak to family members anymore,” Schneider laments.
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Maria Schneider is doing her part to try to fix what ails America. Which got her thinking about crows, specifically,…
Each of the 25 JAMs has delivered a poster featuring a jazz legend that is sent out to schools across the nation. This year’s poster features Tony Bennett.
Mar 30, 2026 10:20 PM
Every April for the past quarter century, something remarkable has happened across the United States and far beyond.…
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.…
