From Nonesuch
Nonesuch Releases Brad Mehldau’s Variations on a Melancholy Theme, recorded with Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, on June 11
Nonesuch releases Brad Mehldau’s Variations on a Melancholy Theme on June 11, 2021. The recording features the pianist/composer and Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, who commissioned this orchestral version of the work, which comprises a theme and eleven variations plus a cadenza and postlude; the album also includes an encore, ‘Variations ‘X’ and ‘Y.’‘ (Mehldau originally composed Variations on a Melancholy Theme for pianist Kirill Gerstein.) Mehldau and Orpheus toured Europe, Russia, and the US with the piece, including a 2013 performance at Carnegie Hall. Speaking to the combination of classical form with jazz harmonies in the work’s musical language, Mehldau wrote, ‘I imagine it as if Brahms woke up one day and had the blues.’
Mehldau continues, ‘The theme itself has a wistful character, perhaps a feeling of resignation. There is some... Read The Full Article
Posted Apr 16th, 2021 in News
From Blue Note
PIANIST JAMES FRANCIES RETURNS WITH PUREST FORM, HIS EXPANSIVE NEW BLUE NOTE ALBUM OUT MAY 21
Pianist, producer, and composer James Francies has released ’713,’ a vivid tribute to his Houston hometown that is the first single... Read The Full Article
Posted Apr 16th, 2021 in News
Congratulations to this year’s Jazz Journalists Association Awards nominees! Most especially to those in the IMN family:
Jazz Musician of the Year
Terri Lyne Carrington
Record of the Year
Hero Trio, by Rudresh Mahanthappa (Whirlwind Recordings)
Swallow Tales, by John... Read The Full Article
Posted Apr 16th, 2021 in IMN / Industry News
Joe Lovano: Finding New Adventures The loss of gig and the accompanying income stream, caused by the insidious and evil coronavirus, has hurt musicians across all genres. It has separated them from friends and band mates, from projects and from... Read The Full Article
Posted Apr 14th, 2021 in News
Join the celebration of the 2021 NEA Jazz Masters as the National Endowment for the Arts, in collaboration with SFJAZZ, presents a virtual tribute concert in honor of Terri Lyne Carrington, Albert ‘Tootie’ Heath, Henry Threadgill, and Phil Schaap (2021... Read The Full Article
Posted Apr 14th, 2021 in News
From Charleston Gazette-Mail
Kathy Mattea: WV Public Broadcasting, Mountain Stage vital to state
By: Kathy Mattea
I tell people I’ve lived my adult life as an expatriate. I grew up in West Virginia, lived in the same house in Cross... Read The Full Article
Posted Apr 8th, 2021 in News
SOUND PRINTS – OTHER WORLDS
The third full length album by Sound Prints, co-led by Joe Lovano and Dave Douglas, includes ten new compositions by the co-leaders and features Lawrence Fields, Linda May Han Oh and Joey Baron. Releasing May... Read The Full Article
Posted Mar 29th, 2021 in News
Congratulations to Kurt Elling & Danilo Perez on their Grammy Award win for Best Jazz Vocal Album! Listen here: Read The Full Article
Posted Mar 15th, 2021 in News
JOE LOVANO INTERVIEW: 'WE HAVE TO EMERGE FROM THIS WITH A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ON THE WHOLE PROCESS OF CREATING MUSIC, BUT NOT IN A COMMERCIAL WAY, IN A SPIRITUAL WAY', Click here to read the full article on Jazzwise Read The Full Article
Posted Feb 22nd, 2021 in News
Great feature on Gretchen Parlato in the March issue of DownBeat! Read The Full Article
Posted Feb 9th, 2021 in News
Terri Lyne Carrington is the definition of Black Girl Magic Anointed by jazz legends, literally, Carrington was destined for greatness. Four decades later, she's proven she is not only great, but groundbreaking. Click here to read more from AP Read The Full Article
Posted Feb 3rd, 2021 in News
From WBGO
Take Five: Joe Lovano’s Trio Tapestry, R+R=Now, Emmet Cohen, Theo Bleckmann and More
By: Nate Chinen
Joe Lovano’s Trio Tapestry, ‘Garden of Expression’
A few years ago, saxophonist Joe Lovano formally introduced Trio Tapestry, a telepathic ensemble with... Read The Full Article
Posted Jan 25th, 2021 in News
Deva Mahal and The Resistance Revival Chorus Join Official Live Stream Event Honoring Joe Biden’s Inauguration
The Event Will Unveil The Music Video For “Everybody Deserves To Be Free” From The Resistance Revival Chorus’ Debut Album This Joy
In the... Read The Full Article
Posted Jan 16th, 2021 in News
From NPR
The 2020 NPR Music Jazz Critics Poll
By: Francis Davis
9. Rudresh Mahanthappa
Hero Trio (Whirlwind)
Points: 120
Votes: 22
It’s a gamble for a horn player to record in a trio without a keyboardist or guitarist. You... Read The Full Article
Posted Jan 14th, 2021 in News
From The Recording Academy / GRAMMYs
Listen to jazz singer/songwriter Jazzmeia Horn’s inspirational performance of ‘Where We Are’ on this week’s Press Play At Home.
Performed At | MILTON’S PLAYHOUSE, Harlem, NYC Read The Full Article
Posted Dec 4th, 2020 in News
Congratulations to all of this year’s Grammy nominated artists! Most especially to those from the IMN family:
Best Improvised Jazz Solo:
PACHAMAMA
Regina Carter, soloist
Track from: Ona (Thana Alexa)
MOE HONK
Joshua Redman, soloist
Track from: RoundAgain (Redman Mehldau... Read The Full Article
Posted Nov 24th, 2020 in IMN / Industry News
Congratulations to newly named NEA Jazz Master Terri Lyne Carrington!
“This honor and distinction serve as a beautiful recognition of my dedication to preserving, promoting, and furthering this incredible art form of which I love dearly. I’m beyond thrilled to... Read The Full Article
Posted Oct 21st, 2020 in News
We’re looking forward to catching up with you at the virtual Arts Midwest + WAA conference! Be sure to drop by our online booth to say hello and check out both our virtual and touring rosters. Read The Full Article
Posted Sep 25th, 2020 in IMN / Industry News
Anat Cohen And Marcello Gonçalves: Tiny Desk (Home) ConcertThe Tiny Desk is working from home for the foreseeable future. Introducing NPR Music’s Tiny Desk (home) concerts, bringing you performances from across the country and the world. It’s the same spirit... Read The Full Article
Posted Sep 2nd, 2020 in News
Village Vanguard Live Streams
Joe Lovano Trio Fascination with Ben Street & Andrew Cyrille
August 14 & 15 starting at 9PM ET tonight through 9PM ET tomorrow
villagevanguard.com Read The Full Article
Posted Aug 14th, 2020 in News
From WBGO
Premiere: Watch Jazzmeia Horn’s Final Live Performance Before The Pandemic
For Jazzmeia Horn, this concert defined a moment.
This was The Appel Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center, after all, one of the most prestigious stages in the... Read The Full Article
Posted Jul 9th, 2020 in News
“This album shows how firmly each musician in the quartet has grown into his own identity, as an improviser, a composer and an accompanist… If ‘RoundAgain’ has anything notably in common with ‘MoodSwing,’ it is the feeling of musicians with... Read The Full Article
Posted Jul 9th, 2020 in News
Congratulations to this year’s DownBeat Critics Poll winners! Most especially to those in the IMN family of artists, including a triple crown for Terri Lyne Carrington – becoming the first female instrumentalist to win Jazz Artist of the Year:
Jazz... Read The Full Article
Posted Jul 6th, 2020 in News
Village Vanguard Live Streams
Joe Lovano Trio Fascination
July 3rd at 7PM ET & July 5th at 2PM ET
villagevanguard.com Read The Full Article
Posted Jun 30th, 2020 in News
From NPR
Brad Mehldau And His Piano Outline The Resolve (And Yes, The Anxiety) Of Our Moment
By: Nate Chinen
Every working musician has a story to tell about the upending jolt of this spring, when the pandemic officially took... Read The Full Article
Posted Jun 12th, 2020 in News
From NPR
‘Hope, Rage And Cries For Help’: 5 Essential Tiny Desk Concerts
By: Bobby Carter
As a black man on the Tiny Desk team, I’ve always felt a responsibility to amplify black artistry. In the aftermath of the death... Read The Full Article
Posted Jun 8th, 2020 in News
From WBGO
A TCM Series and a New Book Celebrate the Expansive Pleasures of Jazz in the Movies
By: Nate Chinen
…High Society is one of 40 films featured in Jazz in Film, a Turner Classic Movies series running Mondays... Read The Full Article
Posted Jun 8th, 2020 in News
From The Arts Desk
Album: John Scofield, Steve Swallow, Bill Stewart – Swallow Tales
By: Sebastian Scotney
Swallow Tales is a great album. It took three musicians fewer than five hours on one afternoon in New York studio in March... Read The Full Article
Posted Jun 8th, 2020 in News
From WBGO
Jazz Coalition Announces the First Wave of Awardees From Its Commission Fund
By: Nate Chinen
Organizers of the Jazz Coalition had a lot of phone calls to make this week.
The industry collective, which formed in response to... Read The Full Article
Posted May 22nd, 2020 in News
Congratulations to all of this year’s Jazz Journalists Association Jazz Awards winners! Most especially to those from the IMN family including:
Musician of the Year:
Terri Lyne Carrington
Multiple Reeds Player of the Year:
Joe Lovano
Tenor Saxophonist of the... Read The Full Article
Posted May 19th, 2020 in News
From JAZZIZ
JAZZIZ Daily Brunch: John Scofield
by BRIAN ZIMMERMAN
In this episode of JAZZIZ Daily Brunch, we are joined by modern jazz guitar great John Scofield. A multi-GRAMMY-winning artist, Scofield has played with many of the jazz greats throughout... Read The Full Article
Posted May 13th, 2020 in News
From WBGO
Can Rudresh Mahanthappa’s Hero Trio Save the World? Find Out in This Week’s Take Five
By: Nate Chinen
Rudresh Mahanthappa’s Hero Trio, ‘I’ll Remember April’
Hero Trio, the forthcoming album by alto saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa, was named in... Read The Full Article
Posted May 12th, 2020 in News
From PBS
Kandace Springs brings a stunning mix of beauty, jazz, soul and pop to The Kate. With her all-female band, she performs songs from her 2020 album “The Women Who Raised Me.” In a funky yet sophisticated set, Springs... Read The Full Article
Posted May 9th, 2020 in News
From JamBase
John Scofield Covers Grateful Dead’s ‘Standing On The Moon’ For Terrapin Crossroads
By: Scott Bernstein
John Scofield was among the performers who contributed to a Wednesday night livestream for San Rafael, California venue/restaurant Terrapin Crossroads. Scofield covered the... Read The Full Article
Posted May 8th, 2020 in News
From Mascot Label Group / Funk Garage
The legendary Maceo Parker annouces the inaugural album of The Funk Garage
Funk legend Maceo Parker is to release his first new studio album in 8 years. ‘Soul Food – Cooking with Maceo’... Read The Full Article
Posted May 1st, 2020 in News
From The Quietus
Heal Your Soul: Fatoumata Diawara’s Favourite Music
By: Adam Quarshie
Acclaimed Malian musician Fatoumata Diawara talks Adam Quarshie through her favourite records, explaining the influence of powerful female vocalists from both the United States and from Mali’s... Read The Full Article
Posted Apr 29th, 2020 in News
From JazzTimes
Mark Guiliana Meets Kneebody
Before a rare joint performance in New York, the five musicians sit down to talk about double drumming, standup MRIs, and animatronic teddy bears
BY: KEN MICALLEF
When the 2020 New York Winter Jazzfest... Read The Full Article
Posted Apr 28th, 2020 in News
Congratulations to this year’s Jazz Journalists Association Awards nominees! Most especially to those from the IMN family of artists:
Jazz Musician of the Year
Terri Lyne Carrington
Female Vocalist of the Year
Jazzmeia Horn
Large Ensemble of the Year
Anat... Read The Full Article
Posted Apr 27th, 2020 in IMN / Industry News
From JAZZIZ
Archie Shepp, Fred Hersch, Ramsey Lewis & More: The Week in Jazz
By: Matt Micucci
Fred Hersch and Anat Cohen Release New Duo Single: Pianist Fred Hersch has released a new single with clarinetist Anat Cohen titled ‘Child’s... Read The Full Article
Posted Apr 24th, 2020 in News
From Riff Magazine
SFJAZZ announces Fridays at Five streaming performance schedule
SFJAZZ has started a streaming performance schedule that will run each Friday at 5 p.m.
Each broadcast will include past performances at SFJAZZ Center’s Robert N. Miner Auditorium in... Read The Full Article
Posted Apr 15th, 2020 in News
From NPR
New Mix: More Music For The Here And Now
We seek comfort in the familiar, and I get that. But we all tend to love what we know and not know what we might love. And so on... Read The Full Article
Posted Apr 14th, 2020 in News
From Edition Records
Secrets Are The Best Stories is the new album from acclaimed vocalist and Grammy-winning artist Kurt Elling featuring renowned pianist Danilo Pérez. Released on the British label, Edition Records, this vibrant and adventurous new album not only... Read The Full Article
Posted Apr 3rd, 2020 in News
From UCLA Newsroom
Ladysmith Black Mambazo brings an uplifting message to UCLA
By: Avishay Artsy
To the viewer, being ‘safer at home’ and watching online, nothing would seem out of the ordinary. Ladysmith Black Mambazo took the stage at UCLA’s... Read The Full Article
Posted Mar 31st, 2020 in News
TRUMPETER AVISHAI COHEN RELEASES ‘BIG VICIOUS’ ON ECM
Charismatic trumpeter Avishai Cohen launched his exuberant, home-grown band Big Vicious six years ago, after relocating from the US to his native Israel, rounding up players to shape the music from the... Read The Full Article
Posted Mar 27th, 2020 in News