Dec 16, 2025 1:30 PM
Kuumbwa Celebrates at 50
When reflecting on Kuumbwa Jazz’s mighty legacy during its golden anniversary year, consider its office equipment.
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The Kuumbwa leadership team, from left, Chanel Enriquez, Tim Jackson and Bennett Jackson.
Dec 16, 2025 1:30 PM
When reflecting on Kuumbwa Jazz’s mighty legacy during its golden anniversary year, consider its office equipment.
…
“I have a small label, I’d like to make some music with you,” is how producer/DJ Sonny Daze introduced himself to saxophonist Isaiah Collier. Cosmic Transitions, their first project together on Daze’s Division 81 Records, was a hit.
Dec 16, 2025 1:09 PM
Sonny Daze dubbed Division 81 after a thoroughfare in his home town of Chicago. His favorite record shop, Dusty Groove,…
Dec 11, 2025 1:21 PM
Throughout 2025, DownBeat published seven 5-star reviews for new records that were deemed masterpieces by our critics.…
Dec 11, 2025 12:31 PM
DownBeat published five historical reviews this year that were deemed 5-star masterpieces by our critics — three in…
Dec 11, 2025 11:00 AM
DownBeat presents a complete list of the 4-, 4½- and 5-star albums from 2025 in one convenient package. It’s a great…
Craig Taborn (left), Nels Cline and Marcus Gilmore turn a producer’s pet project into a jam for the ages.
Dec 9, 2025 12:16 PM
The art of the trio is a sturdy yet intimate, changeable and sometimes fragile phenomenon. Triangular geometry has its…
Lee Ritenour, right, with journalist Ashley Kahn, center, and pianist Greg Burk, who translated for the Italian audience.
Dec 9, 2025 12:04 PM
Genial and relaxed at 73, guitarist Lee Ritenour took time while on tour in Europe this summer to participate in his…
“Miles could hear so well that he could hear the future,” Bartz said..
Dec 2, 2025 2:10 AM
Resplendent in a shimmering gold jacket, his long gray locks kissed by the evening breeze, Gary Bartz was floating…
“Beyonce’s doing it great, and Rihanna,” says Braxton Cook of balancing family and the demands of a music career. “But we got to make that cool amongst the dudes.”
Dec 2, 2025 1:45 AM
Braxton Cook, an alumnus of jazz trumpeter Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah’s (formerly Christian Scott) band who went solo…
Souvik Dutta calls Abstract Logix his side hustle, one that allows him to work with some of the greatest fusion artists in the world.
Dec 2, 2025 1:44 AM
Growing up in Calcutta, Souvik Dutta had the usual exposure to Indian classical music in his home. “From the time I…
