Sep 21, 2021 11:08 AM
A Jazz Education Initiative To Strengthen Jazz at HBCUs
One of the clear victories for jazz is in the field of education. Many predominantly white institutions of higher…
Sep 21, 2021 11:08 AM
One of the clear victories for jazz is in the field of education. Many predominantly white institutions of higher…
Brian Bromberg
Sep 7, 2021 11:25 AM
Brian Bromberg, Arizona-born but long California-based, has often resided in smooth jazz circles. But the bassist, now…
Ches Smith (center, seated), with the cross-cultural octet We All Break, explores his fascination with Vodou drumming on Path Of Seven Colors.
Sep 7, 2021 11:21 AM
Drummer/composer Ches Smith got into Vodou drumming almost by accident. As a graduate student studying music at Mills…
Joy’s heroes range from Cécile McLorin Salvant, Jazzmeia Horn and H.E.R., to Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan.
Sep 7, 2021 10:51 AM
Samara Joy is a self-possessed, deeply emotive vocalist, with power that usually takes a lot of living to master. But…
Ikonen combines his artistic creativity with a curiosity that led to inventing the Maqiano, a device that creates microtonal effects on an acoustic piano.
Sep 7, 2021 10:46 AM
In a stylish Helsinki apartment with high-vaulted windows that ushered in the sunlight from the auroral Scandinavian…
Corea was named Artist, Pianist and Keyboardist of the Year for the final time in the 69th Annual DownBeat Critics Poll.
Aug 27, 2021 2:14 PM
Editor’s Note: This article is from the August 2021 DownBeat Critics Poll issue.
At the time of this writing,…
Michael Dease is the Trombonist of the Year in DownBeat’s 69th Annual Critics Poll.
Aug 27, 2021 2:04 PM
Michael Dease took a circuitous route to discovering his chosen instrument. He started out as an alto saxophonist…
Gerald Clayton was named Rising Star Artist of the Year and his trio won Rising Star Jazz Group.
Aug 24, 2021 12:01 PM
Editor’s Note: This article was written to commemorate some of the Rising Star winners in DownBeat’s 69th Annual…
Carla Bley, the 2021 critics’ choice for the DownBeat Hall of Fame
Aug 17, 2021 10:50 AM
Given the tenor of the times, Carla Bley’s extraordinary career shouldn’t have happened. What were the chances…
Yusef Lateef, 2021 Veterans Committee choice for the DownBeat Hall of Fame
Aug 17, 2021 10:43 AM
Yusef Lateef came out of the jazz continuum to pursue a career driven by his curiosity and desire to move beyond…
