Mar 2, 2026 9:58 PM
In Memoriam: John Hammond Jr., 1942–2026
John P. Hammond (aka John Hammond Jr.), a blues guitarist and singer who was one of the first white American…
Miguel Zenón will lead a benefit concert for victims of Hurricane Maria in Berkeley, California, on Oct. 8. The powerful hurricane was the worst storm to hit the island in almost a century.
(Photo: © Jimmy Katz)Puerto Rico was devastated by Hurricane Maria, the worst storm to hit the island in almost a century. Puerto Ricans lost power, homes were damaged or destroyed by massive flooding, and first responders scrambled to rescue people who were trapped. Relief agencies worked hard to get food and medical supplies to those in need. The recovery will be a long, difficult process.
In support of the hurricane victims, jazz artists on the West Coast will perform a benefit concert, Juntos por Puerto Rico, on Sunday, Oct. 8, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Freight & Salvage, 2020 Addison St., in Berkeley, California. Tickets are $60 premium advance, $40 general advance and $44 at the door. Additional information can be found at the Freight & Salvage website.
Event organizer Miguel Zenón, a DownBeat Critics Poll-topping alto saxophonist and Puerto Rican native, notes that the Juntos por Puerto Rico concert will be an opportunity to provide aid to a community in need and to celebrate Puerto Rico’s rich musical tradition. “I hope you’ll join us to help the people of Puerto Rico recover from this devastating catastrophe. It’s going to take years for the island to recover, but residents need immediate help,” said Zenón, who will also perform at the event. “We’re honored that so many incredible musicians have chosen to donate their talents to help raise badly needed resources, and that Freight & Salvage is providing a wonderful venue so that we can perform for everyone who wants to help.”
Performers will include Obed Calvaire, Marco Diaz, Robin Eubanks, David Flores, Jose Roberto Hernandez, Zakir Hussain, Sean Jones, Rebeca Mauleon, Javier Navarrete, Rico Pabon, Pedro Pastrana, Joshua Redman, David Sanchez, John Santos, Shefali Shah, Marcus Shelby and Saul Sierra.
For more information on the concert, click here.
To donate to Hurricane Maria relief via the Red Cross, click here.
To read a story about the Jazz Foundation of America’s relief efforts in Houston in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, click here. DB
Hammond came to the blues through the folk boom of the late 1950s and early 1960s, which he experienced firsthand in New York’s Greenwich Village.
Mar 2, 2026 9:58 PM
John P. Hammond (aka John Hammond Jr.), a blues guitarist and singer who was one of the first white American…
“Cerebral and academic thought is a different way to approach music,” Flea says of his continuing dive into jazz. “I’ve always relied on emotion and intuition and physicality.”
Mar 30, 2026 10:30 PM
In the relatively small pantheon of certifiable rock stars venturing into the intersection of pop music and jazz, the…
Vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater will be among the headliners at this year’s DC JazzFest.
Mar 2, 2026 9:48 PM
The first wave of artists scheduled to perform at the 2026 DC JazzFest have been announced. This year’s headliners…
Blindfold Test proctor Ted Panken, left, with the Grammy-winning Nicole Zuraitis.
Feb 24, 2026 12:00 PM
After earning the 2024 Best Jazz Vocal Album Grammy for her seventh album, How Love Begins (La Reserve), comprising 12…
“These days, with curated news, where people only get half the story, people can’t even speak to family members anymore,” Schneider laments.
Mar 10, 2026 1:43 PM
Maria Schneider is doing her part to try to fix what ails America. Which got her thinking about crows, specifically,…
