Sep 3, 2026 10:44 AM
In Memoriam: Cassandra Wilson, 1955–2026
Cassandra Wilson, a singer, songwriter and producer who was one of the most acclaimed and successful jazz vocalists of…
Banjo player Béla Fleck, harpist Edmar Castañeda and drummer Antonio Sanchez will make their world premiere as a trio during a special run at the Blue Note in New York City Sept. 10–15. Tickets are on sale now.
“I’m so excited to see what happens next in this new combination, with two musicians I am thoroughly in awe of,” says Fleck, who performed with Castañeda in 2019 at the Big Ears Festival, and with Sanchez in Mexico. “I love playing with folks that have a lot to teach me, and this is certainly one of those times. We have already begun building our collaboration and my take is that we are onto something truly unique.”
“Collaborating with Béla and Edmar on this project has been nothing short of inspiring,” says Sanchez. “The combination of sounds and textures we can achieve is so different from any other band I’ve been in.”
“I never imagined blending my harp with a banjo, and even less with Béla, the finest in the world,” adds Castañeda. “Antonio’s groove and colors creates a bridge between the strings of my harp and the banjo. Together, we’ve forged an unforeseen trio, a union that is truly magical.”
The group will perform two sets each night during its six-day run at the Blue Note. For more information and to purchase tickets, CLICK HERE. DB
Wilson’s ability to connect to audiences helped her to win two Grammy awards and multiple other accolades. She was named an NEA Jazz Master in 2022.
Sep 3, 2026 10:44 AM
Cassandra Wilson, a singer, songwriter and producer who was one of the most acclaimed and successful jazz vocalists of…
Bertoncini was a specialist and advocate for the nylon-string acoustic guitar, turning down high-profile opportunities that were unsuited to the sound and techniques that he used with that instrument.
Sep 1, 2026 11:06 AM
Gene Bertoncini, an esteemed jazz guitarist, composer, arranger and educator, died Aug. 29 at the Lillian Booth Actors…
A solo concert by saxophonist Joshua Redman will close the first night of the Hyde Park Jazz Festival on Sept. 26.
Sep 22, 2026 12:26 PM
The Hyde Park Jazz Festival will take place for the 20th time on the final weekend of September 2026. Beginning half…
“It was just that suddenly … I could hear it,” Ravi Coltrane said of an epiphany he experienced during his late teens regarding his father’s music. “And it was almost like a calling, like something saying, ‘Hey, man, come on. It’s time to get serious.’ And the first time you really tune in and dial in and focus like that, it can be very life-changing.”
Sep 22, 2026 1:39 PM
Editor’s Note: Tomorrow, Sept. 23, is the 100th anniversary of John Coltrane’s birth. In honor of the tenor and…
Camille Thurman took to the stage alongside bassist Kenny Davis and drummer Tommy Campbell for a rendition of Johnny Mercer’s “I’m An Old Cowhand” that recalled Rollins’ epochal 1957 trio outing Way Out West.
Oct 6, 2026 1:33 PM
As emcee Mark Ruffin noted at the commencement of an epic tribute to saxophonist Sonny Rollins at the Cathedral of…