Jul 17, 2025 12:44 PM
DownBeat’s 73rd Annual Critics Poll: One for the Record Books
You see before you what we believe is the largest and most comprehensive Critics Poll in the history of jazz. DownBeat…
Trumpeter Steven Bernstein’s Millennial Territory Orchestra will release its first disc, MTO Volume 1 (Sunnyside) on Aug. 1.
Bernstein became intrigued with the sound of 1920s territory bands while he was working on the score to the film Kansas City .
“I was wondering what would happen if you played this music live again,” Bernstein said. “Because any version of this music that we have is like a three-minute bad recording. We know what it looks like because there’s all these great pictures of guys in tuxedos holding their instruments. But it’s almost like there’s more pictures of the music than there are recorded documents of the music. I wanted to bring this music back to life.”
Along with Bernstein, the band features guitarist Matt Munisteri, violinist Charlie Burnham, trombonist Clark Cayton, clarinetist/tenor saxophonist Doug Wieselman, saxophonists Peter Apfelbaum and Eric Lawrence, bassist Ben Allison and drummer Ben Perowsky.
James Brandon Lewis earned honors for Artist of the Year and Tenor Saxophonist of the Year. Three of his recordings placed in the Albums of the Year category.
Jul 17, 2025 12:44 PM
You see before you what we believe is the largest and most comprehensive Critics Poll in the history of jazz. DownBeat…
Galper was often regarded as an underrated master of his craft.
Jul 22, 2025 10:58 AM
Hal Galper, a pianist, composer and arranger who enjoyed a substantial performing career but made perhaps a deeper…
Chuck Mangione on the cover of the May 8, 1975, edition of DownBeat.
Jul 29, 2025 1:00 PM
Chuck Mangione, one of the most popular trumpeters in jazz history, passed away on July 24 at home in Rochester, New…
“Hamiet was one of the most underrated musicians ever,” says Whitaker of baritone saxophonist Hamiet Bluiett.
Jul 8, 2025 7:30 AM
At 56, Rodney Whitaker, professor of jazz bass and director of jazz studies at Michigan State University, is equally…
Jul 17, 2025 11:35 AM
The DownBeat Critics Poll provides a wonderful snapshot of the jazz scene today, with much to explore and many great…
