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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…
Herbie Hancock performs at the International Jazz Day “All-Star Global Concert” in Havana, Cuba, on April 30.
(Photo: International Jazz Day)The International Jazz Day “All-Star Global Concert” took place in Havana, Cuba, on, April 30, and is now archived at these two websites: jazzday.com or unesco.org/jazzday. Fans can stream this webcast, which is about two hours long.
Herbie Hancock and Cuban pianist Chucho Valdés served as the artistic directors for the concert, and John Beasley and Emilio Vega were the musical co-directors.
The announced lineup for the show included Ambrose Akinmusire (United States), Carl Allen (United States), Pancho Amat (Cuba), Marc Antoine (France), Richard Bona (Cameroon), Till Brönner (Germany), A Bu (China), Igor Butman (Russian Federation), Bobby Carcassés (Cuba), Regina Carter (United States), Kurt Elling (United States), Kenny Garrett (United States), Antonio Hart (United States) and Takuya Kuroda (Japan).
Other performers announced as part of the diverse roster included Ivan Lins (Brazil), Sixto Llorente (Cuba), César López (Cuba), Marcus Miller (United States), Youn Sun Nah (Republic of Korea), Julio Padrón (Cuba), Gianluca Petrella (Italy), Gonzalo Rubalcaba (Cuba), Antonio Sánchez (Mexico), Christian Sands (United States), Esperanza Spalding (United States), Ben Williams (United States), Tarek Yamani (Lebanon) and Dhafer Youssef (Tunisia).
The celebration in Havana marked the 70th anniversary of Cuba’s accession to UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) and the foundation of the National Commission for UNESCO. 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…
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“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.”
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