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…
Sting, seen here at a performance in Bucharest, will release 57th & 9th on A&M Records on Nov. 11
(Photo: Andrzej Strzelczyk)After successful forays into symphonic music and musical theater, Sting, a musician of vast breadth, is returning to familiar ground. A&M/Interscope Records will release 57th & 9th, the singer’s first rock/pop project in over a decade, on Nov. 11.
Now available for pre-order, 57th & 9th represents a wide range of Sting’s musical and songwriting styles, from the ferocious, Road Warrior-style imagery of “Petrol Head” to the anthemic “50,000” to the raucous, guitar-driven single “I Can’t Stop Thinking About You,” which the artist premiered on the radio station KROQ Aug. 31.
The album was recorded with Sting’s longtime collaborators Dominic Miller (guitar) and Vinnie Colaiuta (drums) and includes contributions from drummer Josh Freese (Nine Inch Nails, Guns n’ Roses), guitarist Lyle Workman and the San Antonio-based Tex-Mex band The Last Bandoleros.
57th & 9th came together impulsively, said Sting, with sessions completed in just a few weeks.
“It happened very quickly, very spontaneously,” he said. “My idea always is to surprise myself and the people I’m working with—and, hopefully, the listeners.”
The album, produced by Martin Kierszenbaum, takes its title from the Manhattan street corner that Sting crossed each day as he walked to the Hell’s Kitchen studio where the album was recorded. Motion and travel are recurring themes of the album, Sting acknowledged.
“It’s about searching and traveling, the road, that pull of the unknown,” he said. “On this album, we ended up with something that’s energetic and noisy, but also thoughtful.”
The single “I Can’t Stop Thinking About ” is available for streaming now. To hear a preview, click here.
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…
“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.…
Dave King (left) and Reid Anderson offer insights into why The Bad Plus’ chemistry was cool, the accomplishments many and its longevity so fruitful.
May 12, 2026 11:42 AM
The scene still sticks with me. I had heard the oddball name of this new group being dropped around town, and…
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).…
Ava Preston, a 12-time DownBeat Student Music Award winner, is currently pursuing her master’s degree in jazz voice at Juilliard.
May 12, 2026 10:00 AM
Ava Preston, from Cleveland, Ohio, was named the winner of the ninth annual Ella Fitzgerald Jazz Vocal Competition on…
