The Jazz Foundation of America has announced that its annual gala, “A Great Night in Harlem,” will take place on Thursday, April 4, at 8 p.m. at the Apollo. Harry Belafonte and Tony Bennett will be honored with lifetime achievement awards. The event, hosted by Danny Glover, will also feature performances by Patti Smith, Bettye LaVette, The…Read More
NPR has announced the return of its Tiny Desk Contest, which will be accepting submissions through Sunday, April 14. The contest is open to artists 18 years and older who live in the United States and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In order to qualify, musicians must perform and record one original song at a desk,…Read More
The San Jose Jazz Summer Fest 2019 has announced its preliminary lineup for the festival’s 30th anniversary set for Aug. 9-11. Artists announced for this year’s festival include Dianne Reeves, Gregory Porter, Pink Martini, The O’Jays, Orquesta La-33, Fred Hersch, Roberta Gambarini, Sons of Kemet, Monty Alexander and the Harlem-Kingston Express, Ivan Lins, Charlie Hunter…Read More
Jeff Andrews, an acclaimed and influential electric bassist whose virtuosic technique and fluid sound were a key component of the jazz fusion scene since the early 1980s, passed away in New York City on March 14, according to multiple trade publications and several musicians who were close to him. He was 59 years old. A…Read More
The lineup for the 2020 Blue Note at Sea luxury cruise has just been announced featuring performances from over 75 musicians, including Kamasi Washington, Christian McBride, Joey DeFrancesco and more. The cruise sets sail from Miami, Fla., and makes stops throughout the Caribbean. Reservations are now being taken for the Jan. 25 – Feb. 1…Read More
The 49th annual Next Generation Jazz Festival, which is presented by the Monterey Jazz Festival, will take place April 5-7 in downtown Monterey. The festival functions primarily as a competition for young performers who want to play at the Monterey Jazz Festival, which will celebrate its 62nd year when it returns in September. There are…Read More
The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon bandleader Questlove has a new sideline: vegetarian cheesesteaks. The classically trained Roots leader has been an investor in Impossible Foods Inc. since 2017. He recently announced his own take on Philadelphia’s signature sandwich, a meatless cheesesteak. The steaks are made using Impossible’s plant-based meats, which are made up of soy and…Read More
Jazz at Lincoln Center has announced the lineup for its 2019-2020 season, which begins on Sept. 12 with The South African Songbook: Celebrating 25 Years of Democracy, featuring a number of South African guests, such as trumpeter Feya Faku, saxophonist McCoy Mrubata, and pianist Nduduzo Makhathini. The orchestra will also travel to South Africa for the…Read More
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. In honor of the milestone, Smithsonian Folkways will release a five-disc box set of archival live recordings from the festival, Jazz Fest: The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, including performances by Trombone Shorty, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Buckwheat Zydeco, and the…Read More
Vermont isn’t often thought of as a hotbed for jazz, but the Vermont Jazz Center in Brattleboro is doing its best to change that perception. Now a going concern for more than 20 years, the Center has gained a reputation for great acoustics and savvy programming. And this April, it will host its third annual…Read More
