2026 NEA Jazz Masters (clockwise from top left) Airto Moreira, Carmen Lundy, Rhonda Hamilton and Patrice Rushen will be honored in a concert later this year. Dates and location will be announced over the summer. Check arts.gov for updates.

In honor of its 70th, Verve is releasing music by the legends, including Archie Shepp, Dizzy Gillespie and Ella Fitzgerald.

​Sound & Gravity showcases a diverse range of musical genres, including jazz, experimental, contemporary classical and indie music.

“I love compositions by jazz musicians,” says vocalist Samara Joy. “There’s a different touch, a different foundation.” She put lyrics to a song each from Brian Lynch (right) and Charles McPherson for Torch Bearers.

Cécile McLorin Salvant busts out Jelly Roll Morton’s “The Murder Ballad” at Big Ears, here with pianist Sullivan Fortner.

Walter Smith III joins a lofty group of new releases from Blue Note that includes recordings from Ron Carter, Bill Frisell and Immanuel Wilkins.

Jones said that actively pursuing a Grammy nomination gave her “the means by which I launched my music to a wider world,” a win even though the Grammy nod did not come her way.

“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.”

Each of the 25 JAMs has delivered a poster featuring a jazz legend that is sent out to schools across the nation. This year’s poster features Tony Bennett.

The Jerome Sabbagh Quartet: from left, Nasheet Waits, Joe Martin, Ben Monder and Sabbagh.