The bows at the end of the star-studded event featured a ridiculous collection of jazz artistry including Helen Sung, Herbie Hancock, Robert Glasper, Tiger Okoshi, Dianne Reeves, Kurt Elling, Buddy Guy, James Reedus, John Beasley, Jacob Collier, Lizz Wright and many more.

While writer Ted Panken, right, didn’t play Ella Fitzgerald for the Blindfold Test with Janis Siegel, the vocalist passed with flying colors!

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania will jointly serve as the partner country for next year’s edition of jazzahead!

Charles Tyler in New York, 1974.

“If you’re creative, then it means that you can approach anything with a creative spirit and just do your best at it,” says Shabaka.

“The secret is to surrender to the music and let it take you where it wants to go,” says Marquis Hill. “Understanding and vulnerability are key. It’s bigger than just you.”

“If we travel to Europe or if we go play gigs around the States, I call it a ‘playcation,’” says guitarist Steve Masakowski, center, of his family band with daughter Sasha, left, and son Martin.

Pianist John Beasley and trumpeter Marquis Hill onstage during the Unlimited Miles sextet’s set at the Newman Center.

Montreux Jazz Festival at night.

“The goal was never just scale, but density: to offer a complete, panoramic overview of jazz and related art forms in a single weekend,” says Irene Peters, North Sea’s director.