jazz

Previously unheard recordings of saxophonist John Coltrane, captured by saxophonist Frank Tiberi, are being released by Impulse Records as part of celebrations marking the Coltrane centenary. The so-called Tiberi Tapes offer new material from one of jazz's most influential figures, and the news is drawing wide attention from jazz fans and musicians reflecting on Coltrane's enduring legacy.

British singer Raye took the stage at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards to perform 'Where Is My Husband?', a song about her ongoing search for romance. The performance drew attention as one of the talking points of the night, with the humorous yet candid track showcasing her distinctive blend of jazz-influenced pop and personal songwriting.

Tribute posts are circulating about Bernard 'Buddy' Rich, the American jazz drummer, songwriter, conductor and bandleader born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. Rich is widely regarded as one of the most influential drummers of all time, and music fans continue to celebrate his technique and legacy, keeping his name prominent in jazz circles.

Saxophonist and composer Immanuel Wilkins is the subject of a new profile examining his dual role in New York City jazz: honoring the city's deep jazz traditions while pushing the music in new directions. The piece frames the young bandleader as both custodian of a historic scene and one of its most forward-looking voices.

DJ Hairy Larry is hosting a Gamer+ Events Chat on Saturday night at 10:00 CDT, with listeners invited to tune in to Something Blue. The announcement also lists a regular weekly schedule, including tob's Dubious Goals Committee daily at 2:30 PM CDT, Something Blue on Fridays at 3:00 PM CDT, and MixRemix Creative Commons Jazz on Mondays at 3:00 PM CDT.

A live recording of Ella Fitzgerald performing at the Falkoner Theatre in Copenhagen is drawing attention among jazz listeners. The material highlights the legendary singer's stage work at the Danish venue, reviving interest in her classic performances and prompting fresh discussion of her enduring influence on jazz vocal music.

The death of jazz saxophonist Wayne Shorter, who died in 2023 at age 89, has prompted musicians and fans to share his advice and reflections. One widely shared remark urges players not to tap their foot, arguing it locks them into the era of swing and hinders imagination. People are posting tributes recalling his influence on modern jazz and post-bop, alongside mentions of his Blue Note legacy and collaborations with Herbie Hancock.

The Louis Armstrong Center for Music and Medicine has announced singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega as this year's Phoebe Jacobs Award honoree. The award, named after the longtime Louis Armstrong associate and jazz advocate, recognizes figures whose work connects music with healing and public service. Vega, known for songs like 'Luka' and 'Tom's Diner', is being celebrated for her lasting contribution to American songwriting.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater is staging 'Play On!', a musical that blends the comedy of 'Twelfth Night' with the music of Duke Ellington. The production reworks Shakespeare's classic story of mistaken identity and romance, setting it to Ellington's celebrated jazz songbook. Local coverage highlights the unusual pairing as a fresh take on the Bard, drawing attention from theatergoers in Chicago.

Participants in the ThursdayFiveList hashtag game are naming five songs whose titles use rare and unusual words. One widely shared entry lists 'Otomo' by Bonobo, 'Likufanele' by Zero7, 'Karmacoma' by Massive Attack, 'Mysterons' by Portishead and 'Music for Shattering Supermarkets' by Michael Garrick Trio, spotlighting trip-hop and British jazz with cryptic titles.

Jazz singer Stella Cole, who rose to fame through online performances, will take on the role of Gil Brentley in the Broadway musical Maybe Happy Ending. Her recording of the show's song 'Why Love' has been released, giving audiences a first listen ahead of her run in the Broadway production.

South African group iPhupho L'ka Biko have released their first EP, Azania. The band describes themselves as "children of Biko", referencing activist Steve Biko, and their sound as Afrikanist Experimental Jazz. The EP features collaborations with Siyabonga Mthembu and Kinsmen, and is being shared and discussed by listeners of experimental African music.

Musicians Jim Rattigan, Liam Noble and Thomas Gould are drawing attention with their track 'Dreamer', shared on Spotify and tagged in jazz circles. The song has been recommended as a goodnight tune in small music communities, with listeners highlighting pianist Liam Noble. Interest appears limited to niche jazz audiences rather than broader public discussion.

Final Boss Big Band is performing big band jazz arrangements of classic video game music, blending nostalgic game soundtracks with swing-era instrumentation. The ensemble's approach gives familiar gaming themes a fresh orchestral treatment, tapping into growing mainstream interest in video game music as a concert and performance genre.

The Los Angeles Times profiles Black Nile, a collective credited with rewriting the L.A. jazz story for younger audiences. The piece argues that TikTok is helping save jazz by introducing the genre to a new generation of listeners and pushing Black Nile's reimagined take on the city's jazz tradition into the mainstream conversation.

The Jazz Repertory Ensemble performed a concert of classic jazz, drawing an audience described as mesmerized by the music. The student ensemble, affiliated with the University of Iowa's music program, presented well-known standards from the classic jazz repertoire. Coverage is limited to a single campus report with no additional details yet on the program, venue or audience reaction beyond the performance's strong reception.

KPBS Public Media has published its roundup of the top 10 arts events to catch in San Diego this weekend. The list highlights a mail art exhibition, a performance by Mexican singer-songwriter Julieta Venegas, and cross-border jazz programming connecting artists on both sides of the US-Mexico border. It serves as a weekend guide for locals looking for cultural activities across the region.

Indianapolis Jazz Fest has wrapped up with its Grand Finale, and local coverage is looking back on the closing night as a joyful, celebratory send-off. The event marked the end of the festival's run, bringing together performers and audiences in the city for a final showcase of jazz music. Writing in NUVO, a reviewer reflects on the highlights and atmosphere of the finale.

A photograph from the early 1960s shows jazz pianist Thelonious Monk napping with a Siamese cat at the New Jersey home of his patron, jazz baroness Nica de Koenigswarter. The Weehawken house, which Monk nicknamed 'Catville', was occupied by more than 300 cats, and Nica was also an amateur photographer.

A retrospective record review revisits Traffic, the British rock band formed in 1967, arguing that despite their jazz and psychedelic leanings they were a rock band at heart. The piece reassesses the group's catalogue and legacy for readers discovering or rediscovering their music decades after the band's heyday.

Circle Theatre in Fort Worth is staging a revival of 'Ain't Misbehavin'', the Tony Award-winning musical built on the music of Fats Waller. The production brings the celebrated jazz-era revue back to local audiences, offering the theater's take on a show first praised for its performances and its tribute to the Harlem stride piano tradition.

The Daily Northwestern's 'Reel Thoughts' column has published a positive review of the stage musical 'Hadestown', declaring it was worth the wait. The piece adds to ongoing praise for Anaïs Mitchell's Tony-winning show, which retells the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice through a folk and jazz-inflected score. Coverage like this reflects continued student and critic enthusiasm for the production's music and staging.

A photograph dated September 30, 1952, showing jazz pianist Dave Brubeck and alto saxophonist Paul Desmond outside Philadelphia, posing with a 1949 Kaiser Vagabond car, is being shared among jazz and photography enthusiasts. The image captures the two musicians early in their partnership, years before the Dave Brubeck Quartet's landmark success with Time Out in 1959.

Quincy Jones and Phil Woods formed one of the most enduring musical partnerships in jazz history. They met in New York in the early 1950s, and Woods went on to become Jones's go-to alto saxophonist for decades. Musicians and fans are revisiting the collaboration and friendship, calling it among the deepest and most productive in the genre's history.

Musician Luiz Santos is promoting his new instrumental track 'Royal Exaltation', which blends classical, art and jazz influences. The piece is available to stream on his personal website, where listeners are invited to enjoy the full recording. The release is being shared with fans of instrumental and art music.

The Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe in Sarasota, Florida, has opened its new season with a production of 'Sophisticated Ladies', a musical tribute to jazz legend Duke Ellington. The show celebrates Ellington's songbook through jazz, dance and performance. It marks the start of the company's season and highlights its focus on Black artists and stories.

The Swedish metal band Meshuggah's 1995 album Destroy Erase Improve is being shared and linked to on music streaming platforms, with listeners pointing to it as a landmark of extreme metal. The record, known for fusing death metal with complex, jazz-influenced rhythms, is widely regarded as one of the band's defining releases and a milestone in progressive heavy music.

A new documentary honoring the late jazz trumpeter Marcus Belgrave is drawing attention in Detroit. Belgrave, who died in 2015, was a towering figure in the city's music scene, mentoring generations of musicians while performing with jazz greats. Local coverage highlights the film as a tribute to his lasting influence on Detroit jazz.