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…
In celebration of Jazz Appreciation Month, XM radio will offer a unique programming schedule in April to pay tribute to the art form.
XM’s celebration of Jazz Appreciation Month will feature popular jazz artists of today, and honor some of the genre’s pioneers and legends. Highlights of the special lineup include a concert performance by Willie Nelson and Wynton Marsalis, special day-long musical tributes to jazz greats and weekly broadcasts of live concert performances, among other highlights.
The “Willie Sings The Blues” concert performance with Nelson and Marsalis premieres April 6 on Real Jazz (XM 70), with encore airings on April 7 and 8.
The music of Stanley Turrentine, Billie Holiday, Herbie Hancock, Lionel Hampton, Charles Mingus, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Percy Heath and others can be heard on the station throughout the month.
For more information, visit: www.xmradio.com/jazzmonth
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…
To the world, James Blood Ulmer was a legend, a visionary and a musical force whose sound was distinctive and unique. To his family, he was their teacher, their storyteller and a source of strength.
Jun 9, 2026 10:54 AM
With deep sorrow and profound love, we announce the passing of James Blood Ulmer, a boldly innovative guitarist,…
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).…
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…
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…