Apr 8, 2025 1:23 PM
Blue Note Jazz Festival New York Posts 2025 Lineup
Blue Note Entertainment Group has unveiled the lineup for the 14th annual Blue Note Jazz Festival New York, featuring…
Prince (1958–2016)
(Photo: Courtesy Warner. Bros.)Prince, a singer-songwriter who mixed r&b, funk, rock and jazz elements into a style all his own, has died at the age of 57. His publicist confirmed the news to the Associated Press, which sent out an announcement via Twitter. He passed away on April 21 at his Paisley Park home and studio in suburban Minneapolis.
Born Prince Rogers Nelson on June 7, 1958, in Minneapolis, he spent his entire career based in the Minneapolis area.
His debut album was the 1978 Warner Bros. release For You.
Prince reached the peak of his popularity with the 1984 film Purple Rain and the soundtrack of the same name. The album won a Grammy in the category Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal. The soundtrack score also earned Prince an Oscar.
A very prolific artist, Prince released albums frequently over the past 20 years, including 39 studio discs.
Famous for being a studio wizard who could play multiple instruments, Prince explored the artistic freedom that came along with being able to record whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted, in his extensive Paisley Park studio.
During past two years, his albums included Art Official Age, HitnRun Phase One and HitnRun Phase Two.
Neil Portnow, the president and CEO of The Recording Academy, issued the following statement: “Our GRAMMY family is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of seven-time GRAMMY Award winner Prince. Today, we remember and celebrate him as one of the most uniquely gifted artists of all time. Never one to conform, he redefined and forever changed our musical landscape. Prince was an original who influenced so many, and his legacy will live on forever. We have lost a true innovator and our sincerest condolences go out to his family, friends, collaborators and all who have been impacted by his incredible work.”
Prince was inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004. To visit his biography page at the museum’s website, click here.
The Blue Note Jazz Festival New York kicks off May 27 with a James Moody 100th Birthday Celebration at Sony Hall.
Apr 8, 2025 1:23 PM
Blue Note Entertainment Group has unveiled the lineup for the 14th annual Blue Note Jazz Festival New York, featuring…
“I’m certainly influenced by Geri Allen,” said Iverson, during a live Blindfold Test at the 31st Umbria Jazz Winter festival.
Apr 15, 2025 11:44 AM
Between last Christmas and New Year’s Eve, Ethan Iverson performed as part of the 31st Umbria Jazz Winter festival in…
“At the end of the day, once you’ve run out of differences, we’re left with similarities,” Collier says. “Cultural differences are mitigated through 12 notes.”
Apr 15, 2025 11:55 AM
DownBeat has a long association with the Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference, the premiere…
“It kind of slows down, but it’s still kind of productive in a way, because you have something that you can be inspired by,” Andy Bey said on a 2019 episode of NPR Jazz Night in America, when he was 80. “The music is always inspiring.”
Apr 29, 2025 11:53 AM
Singer Andy Bey, who illuminated the jazz scene for five decades with a four-octave range that encompassed a bellowing…
Foster was truly a drummer to the stars, including Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins and Joe Henderson.
Jun 3, 2025 11:25 AM
Al Foster, a drummer regarded for his fluency across the bebop, post-bop and funk/fusion lineages of jazz, died May 28…