May 13, 2025 12:39 PM
Sasha Berliner: A Prodigy Fulfilled
Part of the jazz vibraphone conversation since her late teens, Sasha Berliner has long come across as a fully formed…
“What did I want more of when I was this age?” Sasha Berliner asks when she’s in her teaching mode.
May 13, 2025 12:39 PM
Part of the jazz vibraphone conversation since her late teens, Sasha Berliner has long come across as a fully formed…
“As much as I may want to get away from the legacy of The Meters, it’s such a fundamental part of my musical upbringing that I’ll always have that,” says George Porter Jr.
May 13, 2025 12:13 PM
Any discussion of the origins of funk music would necessarily begin with James Brown but must also include The Meters,…
“We’re part of the British jazz scene, but we don’t play London jazz,” says Knats bassist Stan Woodward. “We play Newcastle jazz.”
May 5, 2025 10:07 PM
Let’s get one thing perfectly clear: Though Knats currently live in London, they do not play London jazz. They’re…
“I am a musician born and raised in this country with the sound of the seas and landscapes that I carry with me,” says Giannouli of her Greek upbringing.
Apr 29, 2025 11:24 AM
While virtually unknown in the U.S., Tania Giannouli, born and based in Athens, stars as a genre-defying jazz piano…
“It’s really nice to have some kind of vision and feel like it has come to life,” says Vasandani.
Apr 22, 2025 12:09 PM
It was just another week in the organically genre-blurry life of singer Sachal Vasandani. On a Tuesday night in…
“At the end of the day, once you’ve run out of differences, we’re left with similarities,” Collier says. “Cultural differences are mitigated through 12 notes.”
Apr 15, 2025 11:55 AM
DownBeat has a long association with the Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference, the premiere…
“I’m certainly influenced by Geri Allen,” said Iverson, during a live Blindfold Test at the 31st Umbria Jazz Winter festival.
Apr 15, 2025 11:44 AM
Between last Christmas and New Year’s Eve, Ethan Iverson performed as part of the 31st Umbria Jazz Winter festival in…
“In terms of what a singer is capable of making you feel, she is as good as it gets,” Cavassa said of Mahalia Jackson during a live Blindfold Test with DB’s Frank Alkyer.
Apr 1, 2025 8:30 AM
At the end of last summer, over the Labor Day weekend, vocalist Gabrielle Cavassa took time out from preparing for her…
“I love the fact that when some people think about my music they think of it as joyous, but there is darkness inside,” Anat Cohen says. “We are complex humans.”
Mar 25, 2025 12:10 PM
Anat Cohen, in conversation, is disarmingly present and fully invested. One gets the feeling that in most interactions…
“Why, being a classically trained musician, do I have to only play the obvious themes?” asks Kristin Lee.
Mar 25, 2025 11:44 AM
Kristin Lee was just 7 years old and didn’t speak a word of English when her family left Seoul, Korea, emigrating to…
