As emcee Mark Ruffin noted at the commencement of an epic tribute to saxophonist Sonny Rollins at the Cathedral of Saint John ...

After two years of flux following the departure of artistic director Tim Jackson, the 2026 Monterey Jazz Festival roared back ...

Like much of the United States, New York officially marked the nation’s semiquincentennial in July with grandiose displays of one-dimensional patriotism.But over at the Jazz Gallery, a modest space ...

Reinforcing modern jazz’s interaction with other genres associated with Black American music remains a hallmark of the ...

What would a 200-piece orchestra including three contrabass saxophones, five tarogatos, solovox, bass marimba, electric ...

Immanuel Wilkins, an alto saxophonist, composer, bandleader and Blue Note recording artist based in Brooklyn, New York, is ...

In 1968, Geordie Hormel purchased the 22,000-square-foot Masonic Temple in West Los Angeles for $125,000. He was the heir to the giant Hormel meatpacking company, yet he had no interest in pursuing ...

Count Basie’s is the most-represented orchestra on the new Mosaic V-Disc set. (Photo: DownBeat Archive) The V-Disc program lasted less than six years (1943–’49) but it documented quite a bit of ...

The DownBeat Critics Poll provides a wonderful snapshot of the jazz scene today, with much to explore and many great artists to discover. Completing the task this year were 226 participating critics, ...

There’s an old joke about how the drummer is usually the first player to arrive at the gig and the last to leave due to the mechanics of setting up their respective instrument, while the rest of band ...

Everything about pianist Ben Markley’s new large ensemble project feels classic. (Photo: Courtesy Ben Markley) A recent caller to my radio show expressed surprise that big band was music still being ...

“There was something about her tone and sound and phrasing — an intimacy, a vulnerability, an honesty,” says Joshua Redman, who produced Cavassa’s record after she toured with his band. (Photo: Roeg ...