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…
Tour dates have been announced for this year’s Zappa Plays Zappa tour, featuring Dweezil Zappa playing the music of his father, Frank Zappa
The tour follows the recent release of a live DVD shot during the course of last year’s tour. Details are available at zappa.com.
Dates are as follows:
July: 18 - Winnipeg, Manitoba - Centennial Concert Hall; 19 - Detroit Lakes, MN - 10,000 Lakes Festival; 20 - Chicago, IL - Centennial Concert Hall; 21 - Milwaukee, WI - The Rave; 22 - Indianapolis, IN - Egyptian Room; 24 - Cincinnati, OH - Moonlite Gardens; 25 - Erie, PA - Warner Theatre; 26 - Columbus, OH - LC Pavilion; 27 - Detroit, MI - Meadow Brook Festival; 28 - Cleveland, OH - Cain Park; 30 - Toronto, Ontario - Hummingbird; 31 - Montreal, Quebec - Metropolis
August: 1 - Quebec City, Quebec - Albert Rousseau Hall; 2 - Hampton Beach, NH - Hampton Beach Casino; 4 - Boston, MA - Fleet Boston Pavilion; 5 - Red Bank, NJ - Count Basie Theatre; 6 - Westbury, NY - North Fork Theatre at Westbury; 8 - Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory; 9 - Baltimore, MA - Ram’s Head Tavern; 10 - Norfolk, VA - NorVa; 11 - Asheville, NC - Thomas Wolfe Auditorium; 13 - Tulsa, OK - Cain’s Ballroom; 15 - Albuquerque, NM - Kiva Auditorium; 16 - Tucson, AZ - Fox Theatre; 17 - Phoenix, AZ - Dodge Theatre; 18 - Las Vegas, NV - House of Blues; 20 - Berkeley, CA - Berkeley Community Theatre; 21 - San Diego, CA - House of Blues; 22 - Anaheim, CA - House of Blues; 23 - Los Angeles, CA - Wiltern Theatre
September: 25 - London, UK - Shepherds Bush Empire; 26 - Tilburg, Netherlands - Koncerthus; 27 - Amsterdam, Netherlands- New Melkweg; 29 - Fribourg, Switzerland - Le Fri-Son; 30 - Munich, Germany Circus Krone
October: 1 - Frankfurt, Germany - Jahrhunderthalle; 3 - Stuttgart, Germany - Beethovensaal; 4 - Erfurt, Germany - Messehalle; 5 - Paris, France - Grand Rex; 6 - Antwerp, Belgium - Elisabeth Hall; 8 - Arhus, Denmark - The Music House; 9 - Stavanger, Norway – Koncerthus; 10 - Bergen, Norway - Peer Gynt; 12 - Oslo, Norway - Sentrum Scene; 13 - Lund, Sweden - Olympen; 14 - Stockholm, Sweden - Cirkus
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…
Cécile McLorin Salvant busts out Jelly Roll Morton’s “The Murder Ballad” at Big Ears, here with pianist Sullivan Fortner.
Apr 7, 2026 1:21 PM
There’s pluralism, then there’s PLURALISM! — and then there’s Big Ears. Thurston Moore, who participated in…
“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…
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…
