Michael J. West's Entries Authors

Michael J. West

Michael J. West's news entries:

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    ​Peplowski first came to prominence in legacy swing bands, including the final iteration of the Benny Goodman Orchestra, before beginning a solo career in the late 1980s.

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    Richie Beirach was particularly renowned for his approach to chromatic harmony, which he used to improvise reharmonizations of originals and standards.

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    The success of Oregon’s first album, 1971’s Music Of Another Present Era, allowed Towner to establish a solo career.

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    Actor and jazz advocate Wendell Pierce delivers the keynote address at this year’s Jazz Congress on Jan. 7 in New York. “This music was born of the contradiction of a people creating beauty out of pain,” he said.

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    Vibraphonist Chuck Redd found himself in the midst of a political firestorm after canceling his gig Dec. 24 at the newly renamed Trump Kennedy Center.

    Jan 6, 2026 2:39 PM

    What’s in a Name? Cancellations

    The Board of Trustees at Washington, D.C.’s Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts voted on Dec. 18 to rename the…

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    Rachel Therrien’s Latin Jazz Project will play at this year’s JEN Conference.

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    Goodwin was one of the most acclaimed, successful and influential jazz musicians of his generation.

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    ​Jack DeJohnette boasted a musical resume that was as long as it was fearsome.

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    ​Craig Taborn joins recent jazz-musician MacArthur Fellows Tomeka Reid (2022), Cécile McLorin Salvant (2020), Mary Halvorson (2019) and Tyshawn Sorey (2017).

    Oct 14, 2025 2:38 PM

    Craig Taborn Named MacArthur Fellow

    Pianist, keyboardist and composer Craig Taborn has received many accolades over his 30-plus-year career, but none quite…

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    ​D’Angelo achieved commercial and critical success experimenting with a fusion of jazz, funk, soul, R&B and hip-hop.

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    Marcus Miller and band hold down the main stage at District Pier during this year’s DC Jazz Festival.

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    Jordan was a dyed-in-the-wool bebopper whose formative musical experiences were with Charlie Parker.

    Aug 12, 2025 11:58 AM

    Vocalist Sheila Jordan Dies at 96

    Sheila Jordan, a vocalist who was celebrated for her scatting and lyric-improvising abilities, died Aug. 11 at her home…

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    Galper was often regarded as an underrated master of his craft.

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    Foster was truly a drummer to the stars, including Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins and Joe Henderson.

    Jul 9, 2025 10:50 AM

    In Memoriam: Al Foster, 1943–2025

    Al Foster, a drummer regarded for his fluency across the bebop, post-bop and funk/fusion lineages of jazz, died May 28…

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    Concert images from this year’s jazzahead! conference, clockwise from top left: Schubert NOW, Nils Kugelmann Trio, Kasiva Mutua, Benjamin Jephta Sextet.

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    ​Davis was a two-time Grammy winner for liner notes.

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    Rudresh Mahanthappa Hero Trio performs at Loove Labs Annex during Winter Jazzfest’s Brooklyn Marathon on Jan. 11.

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    ​A photo collage promoting artists slated to perform at this year’s jazzahead! showcase concerts.

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    Queen Latifah extols Harlem and the Apollo Theater at this year’s Kennedy Center Honors.

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    Robertson had a penetrating, pliant sound with a remarkable softness at its center.

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    McNeil’s virtuosity as a player was unimpeachable and his imagination as an improviser was vast.

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    In addition to his work with Snarky Puppy, Martin freelanced as a keyboardist, producer and music director with prominent gospel and R&B musicians.

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    Jim Rotondi was acclaimed for his wide, round trumpet tone, remarkable virtuosity and assured swing.

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    ​Swedish-born bassist Palle Danielsson (1946–2024) played with a deep, resonant and endlessly warm tone.

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    ​Albert “Tootie” Heath (1935–2024) followed in the tradition of drummer Kenny Clarke, his idol.

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    Benjamin possessed a fluid, round sound on the alto saxophone, and he was often most recognizable by the layers of electronic effects that he put onto the instrument.

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    ​Vijay Iyer (left) and Nicole Mitchell perform music by Andrew Hill at Harlem Stage’s Gatehouse on March 1.

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    From left: Mike Bindraban from Good Music Company moderates a panel on the universality of jazz with Nduduzo Makhathini, esperanza spalding and Shabaka during Jazz Congress.

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    McCann’s deep roots in gospel and the blues gave his music a gritty, earthy quality and a large supply of soulful licks.

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    EFG London Jazz Festival brought three acts of its popular “Moment’s Notice” performance series to Enjoy Jazz on Oct. 9.

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    Gayle (1939–2023) became a force in free-jazz after decades of indigence.

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    The collective trio ​New Jazz Underground consists of saxophonist Abdias Armenteros, bassist Sebastian Rios and drummer TJ Reddick.

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    Davis (1930–2023) was remarkable for his ability to adapt to seemingly any style.

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    “I definitely want to find a way to put together different disciplines in the arts going forward,” Fava says.

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    Brötzmann worked with nearly every major name in free-jazz within Europe.

    Jun 27, 2023 1:19 PM

    Peter Brötzmann: 1941–2023

    Peter Brötzmann, a German saxophonist and clarinetist whose music charted a provocative, uncompromising new course for…

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    The crowds were as welcome a sight as the diverse lineup of artists who appeared on the 19th annual D.C. Jazz Festival’s multiple stages.

    Sep 14, 2021 1:02 PM

    DC Jazz Fest Triumphs

    It was weeks off its usual schedule, cut back to a single weekend, yet the D.C. Jazz Festival, which held its 19th…

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    Carr Keys performs with vocalist Christie Dashiell.

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    The music on Monty Alexander’s new live album, Love You Madly, was recorded in 1982.

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    The George Coleman Quintet In Baltimore, a concert recording from 1971, is in essence a blowing session helmed by the saxophonist.

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    The Nels Cline Singers has occupied the space between free-jazz and indie rock since guitarist Nels Cline formed the group in 2001.

    Dec 10, 2020 1:55 PM

    Nels Cline Double-Sizes The Singers

    He’s perhaps best known as a member of the band Wilco. But those with a fuller picture of Nels Cline’s career know…

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    Bassist Luke Stewart is among the 25 artists DownBeat thinks will help shape jazz in the decades to come.

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    Dan Weiss’ Natural Selection appeals to the drummer’s penchant for conceptual continuity.

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    Art Hirahara’s latest album, Balance Point, includes original compositions and one Duke Ellington tune.

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    On his new album, Ambrose Akinmusire includes original compositions that pay tribute to Roscoe Mitchell and Roy Hargrove.

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    “Color Of Noize is what someone makes of it,” says bassist Derrick Hodge while discussing his new Blue Note release.

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    Mark Guiliana performs during Winter Jazzfest, which ran at various venues in Manhattan and Brooklyn between Jan. 8 and 18.

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    Willie Jones III has worked on a pair of releases for the newly established Night Is Alive imprint, helmed by Kathy Moses Salem.

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    Joe Lovano’s Trio Tapestry—with pianist Marilyn Crispell and drummer Carmen Castaldi—perform Nov. 13 at Guimarães Jazz in Guimarães, Portugal.

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    Saxophonist Matana Roberts has been working on the multipart COIN COIN project since at least 2011. Its latest installment COIN COIN Chapter Four: Memphis is out now.

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    Drummer and bandleader Antonio Sánchez recently performed music touching on the crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border in Canada at the International Festival de Jazz de Montreal.

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    Steve Gadd performs June 27, the opening night of International Festival de Jazz de Montreal.

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    Georgia Anne Muldrow performs June 8 at a CapitalBop showcase during the DC Jazz Festival.

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    Todd Barkan, who owned the original Keystone Korner in San Francisco, stands outside the new Keystone Korner Baltimore.

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    Sunny Sumter, DC Jazz Festival executive director, speaks Wednesday at The Pillsbury Law Firm Conference Center in Washington D.C., detailing the event’s programing.

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    Pianist Jason Moran (left), flutist Cleve Guyton, cellist Noah Jackson, trumpeter Terence Blanchard and drummer Terri Lyne Carrington perform April 15 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.,during the 2019 NEA Jazz Master tribute honoring Stanley Crouch, Bob Dorough, Abdullah Ibrahim and Maria Schneider.

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    Pianist Amy K. Bormet founded the Washington Women in Jazz Festival in 2011. The festival returns March 10-31.

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    ​At New York’s Winter Jazzfest on Jan. 12, Allison Miller co-leads an ensemble with pianist Carmen Staaf at Subculture.

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    Saxophonist and 2018 Kennedy Center Honoree Wayne Shorter delivers a speech Dec. 1 at a State Department dinner in Washington, D.C.

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    Maceo Parker heads up the “no jazz” portion of Zürich, Switzerland’s Jazznojazz festival.

    Oct 15, 2018 10:26 AM

    Jazznojazz Fest Celebrates 20 Years

    Johannes Vogel had a vision for Jazznojazz from the moment in 1998 when the Zürich newspaper Tages-Anzeiger, then the…

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    Joe Chambers (right) leads M’Boom in a Sept. 13 performance at the City Winery in Washington D.C. during the 33rd Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s jazz concert.

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    Selim Selçuk performs on the second night of the Vitrin Contemporary Turkish Music Showcase at the Zorlu Center in Istanbul, Turkey.

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    Selim Selçuk performs on the second night of the Vitrin Contemporary Turkish Music Showcase at the Zorlu Center in Istanbul, Turkey.

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    Drummer Justin Brown’s leader album features two keyboardists.

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    Pharoah Sanders performs June 10 at City Winery during the DC Jazz Festival in Washington, D.C.

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    Rez Abbasi’s Invocation performed Saturday at Zinc Bar as part of 2018’s Winter Jazzfest.

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    Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee speaks at a Dec. 13 press conference in Washington, D.C. Looking on are, from left, Herbert Scott, Executive Director, Capitol Hill Jazz Foundation; and Aaron Myers, Chair, Board of Directors–Capitol Hill Jazz Foundation.

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    Mike Stern’s latest album, Trip, was released Sept. 8.

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    Edmar Castañeda

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    Amina Claudine Myers performs at The New School’s 12th Street Auditorium on Jan. 6 during Winter Jazzfest.

    Jan 17, 2017 3:55 PM

    WJF Artists Address Social Justice

    For all its eminence on the New York scene—the first jazz festival of the year, with over 150 acts across a dozen…

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    Guillermo Klein celebrates the 20th anniversary of his band, Los Guachos, with the release of Los Guachos V (Sunnyside), the group’s sixth album.

Michael J. West's reviews:

On Sale Now
March 2026
Maria Schneider
Look Inside
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