Jul 16, 2024 2:35 PM
Blindfold Test: John Clayton & Rufus Reid, Part I
When the International Society of Jazz Arrangers and Composers symposium hit Nashville in May, one of the most…
“I figured you’d get this one,” laughed John Clayton, left, after Rufus Reid guessed Billy Childs. “This one’s a little soft pitch.”
Jul 16, 2024 2:35 PM
When the International Society of Jazz Arrangers and Composers symposium hit Nashville in May, one of the most…
Saxophonist George Coleman, seated left, captivated a sold-out room at Smoke Jazz Club in April.
Jul 16, 2024 2:24 PM
In November 2022, Charles McPherson found himself in a familiar setting. Flanked on either side by his fellow artists,…
Finzer, second from left, with drummer Lewis Nash, left, bassist Rufus Reid, second from right, and pianist Renee Rosnes.
Jul 16, 2024 2:18 PM
J.J. Johnson (1924–2001) earned his rightful place in jazz history. But does he receive enough recognition? Fellow…
From left, BDR’s Cody Davies, Tyreek Jackson and Mike LaBombard. “There’s a long history and precedent for what we do,” says drummer and bandleader Joe Pignato.
Jul 16, 2024 2:08 PM
In a prior lifetime, back in the 1990s, Joe Pignato was a dedicated record company guy, first as the U.S. rep for Kurt…
Charles Lloyd, seen here at the 2024 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, makes DownBeat Poll history!
Jul 11, 2024 12:23 PM
The incomparable Charles Lloyd swept the 72nd Annual DownBeat Critics Poll, becoming the first artist ever to earn…
“Nicholas Payton is brilliant,” Tim Warfield said during his live Blindfold Test at Temple University. “He’s never ceased to surprise or amaze me. He’s a bad dude.”
Jul 9, 2024 11:36 AM
Saxophonist Tim Warfield doesn’t actually hail from Philadelphia — his roots are a couple of hours west, in York,…
Jim Rotondi was acclaimed for his wide, round trumpet tone, remarkable virtuosity and assured swing.
Jul 9, 2024 11:35 AM
Jim Rotondi, a renowned hard-bop trumpeter, composer and educator, died suddenly on July 7 at a hospital in France. He…
“All the musicians I admire are the ones that sound like their own vocabulary after a certain time,” Terrasson said about finding his own voice.
Jul 9, 2024 11:20 AM
Jacky Terrasson has always gone his own special way, finding expressive routes to accommodate both deep musical…
“I was burning through personnel because it’s a small island, and I wasn’t easy to get along with,” Hoy said of forming a band on Martha’s Vineyard in the late 1970s.
Jul 9, 2024 10:55 AM
It’s a typical Wednesday night in January at The Ritz Café in Oak Bluffs on Martha’s Vineyard, seven miles…
From left, BDR’s Cody Davies, Tyreek Jackson and Mike LaBombard. “There’s a long history and precedent for what we do,” says drummer/bandleader Joe Pignato.
Jul 9, 2024 10:50 AM
In a prior lifetime, back in the 1990s, Joe Pignato was a dedicated record company guy, first as the U.S. rep for Kurt…
