Jazz Articles

Our daily articles are carefully curated by the All About Jazz staff. You can find more articles by searching our website, see what's trending on our popular articles page or read articles ahead of their published dates on our Coming Soon page. Read our daily album reviews.

Big Band in the Sky

Sonny Rollins Blows His Last At 95

by Ian Patterson
May 29, 2026

Sonny Rollins, the world-renowned tenor saxophonist who lit up the jazz world for nearly seven decades, has died at the age of 95. Hailed in many quarters as the greatest improvising musician in jazz, his passing feels like the end of an era. In a career that began in the 1940s, Rollins played with Miles Davis, Bud Powell, Thelonious Monk, Clifford Brown and Max Roach. Several of his compositions, among them “St. Thomas," “Doxy," and “Airegin," became jazz ...

Interview

Eliane Elias: Lively and Live

by R.J. DeLuke
May 28, 2026

Eliane Elias is a jazz musician of the highest order. Her skills as a superlative pianist became known not long after she arrived in New York City from her São Paulo, Brazil, home in 1981. She drew notice as a member of Steps Ahead, a groundbreaking fusion group of the early 1980s that included Mike Mainieri and Michael Brecker, among others. As her career grew, she became a prolific composer and interpreter of songs across a broad spectrum ...

Live Review

Festival International de Musique Actuelle de Victoriaville 2026

by Mike Chamberlain
May 28, 2026

Festival International de Musique Actuelle de Victoriaville Victoriaville, QC May 11-17 2026 The theme of the 42nd edition of the Festival International de Musique Actuelle de Victoriaville was change. This was the third edition of the festival under the artistic and general direction of Scott Thomson. The 40th edition in 2024 was very much like a typical Victo schedule, and 2025 saw a drastically cut-down edition due to unforeseen manpower issues. Consequently, this was the first ...

Album Review

Lakecia Benjamin: We Dream

Read "We Dream" reviewed by Mike Jurkovic

by Mike Jurkovic
May 28, 2026

Lakecia Benjamin is clearly pulling no punches on We Dream. Not that she ever has, given a discography that includes 2020's Pursuance: The Coltranes (Ropeadope Records); 2012's intoxicating, groove-crazy Retox (Motema) or the spellbinding sister releases Phoenix (Whirlwind, 2023) and the super stoked Phoenix ReImagined (Live) (Ropeadope Records, 2024). We Dream drops the mic and leaves the rest up to the listener: What are you going to do to make the world a better place today? Excitable and ...

Album Review

Altin Sencalar: Natural Rhythm

Read "Natural Rhythm" reviewed by Andrew Schinder

by Andrew Schinder
May 28, 2026

Rising trombonist Altin Sencalar has positioned himself at the top of a new generation of trombone virtuosos. The trombone may not have the widespread popularity of its brass brethren, but is nevertheless a deeply compelling and versatile instrument. Sencalar has, over the past decade, proven himself as one of the instrument's finest practitioners. Having studied with, and then worked for, trombone star Michael Dease, he combines deep respect for the instrument's legacy with a raw need to muscle it into a ...

Album Review

Kyle Rowland: Not Holding Back!

Read "Not Holding Back!" reviewed by Ron Kalb

by Ron Kalb
May 28, 2026

Blues fans concerned about the next generation of harmonica virtuosos can take heart with Not Holding Back!, the 2026 release from Kyle Rowland on the The Little Village Foundation label. At 32, Rowland suggests he may be ready to step into a lineage shaped by masters such as Charlie Musselwhite, Billy Branch and Rick Estrin. A prodigy at age 10, Rowland took harp lessons from Estrin and counts legends James Cotton and Lazy Lester among his mentors.

Radio & Podcasts

Exclusive jazzahead! recordings featuring the Sol Jang Trio and the Peter Somuah Group

by Co de Kloet
May 28, 2026

In this June 2026 edition of the international edition of the injazz podcast, we bring you something truly special. This month, injazz proudly presents two outstanding Dutch showcases recorded live at this year's jazzahead! in Bremen, in collaboration with Radio Bremen: the Sol Jang Trio and the Peter Somuah Group. From intimate, expressive moments to energetic, groove-driven performances, both artists showcase the depth and diversity of the Dutch jazz scene, captured live on one of Europe's most important jazz stages. ...

Radio & Podcasts

Barry Greene, Blue Moods, Sharon Minemoto, Judith Owens and more

by Benjamin Boddie
May 28, 2026

Today's Music--Right Now! Fantastic music by Barry Greene, Jared Hall, Jesse Davis, Faye Carol, Abate Berihun & The Addis Ken Project, Ray Obiedo, Shunzo Ohno, The BLCK Madonna, Dave Schumacher & Cubeye, Ben Markley Big Band, Blue Moods, Bobby Broom, Billy Childs, Catherine Russell, Erica Von Kleist, Mike Clement, Nat Reeves, Judith Owens, Taylor Roberts, Bobby Matos Heritage Ensemble, Sharon Minemoto, Sean Imboden Large Ensemble, Tumbao Bravo With Paul Vornhagen, Eliane Elias, Arturo Sandoval, Ray Obiedo, Paul Silbergleit Trio, Brian ...

Radio & Podcasts

New Music From Harry Skoler, Joe Syrian, Emie R Roussel, Ava Mendoza And More

by Bob Osborne
May 28, 2026

This selection offers a sophisticated journey through the contemporary jazz landscape, balancing melodic tradition with rigorous avant-garde exploration. The sequence moves seamlessly from the elegant, Goodman-inspired tones of Harry Skoler and the rhythmic drive of the Motor City Jazz Octet into the more abstract, adventurous territories of Ava Mendoza and Joel Futterman. Featuring a rich blend of international voices and experimental improvisations, this collection celebrates jazz's capacity for both quiet reflection and exhilarating, boundary-pushing energy.Playlist Harry Skoler “Waiting ...

Radio & Podcasts

Refractions Of Miles Davis At 100

$Read "Refractions Of Miles Davis At 100" reviewed by Lawrence Peryer$

by Lawrence Peryer
May 28, 2026

This episode pays tribute to Miles Davis on the 100th anniversary of his birth. Our tribute focuses on musicians who live with the repercussions of and were in dialogue with Miles and his work.Playlist John Coltrane Quartet “Miles' Mode (Live At The Village Vanguard, November 3, 1961)" from The Complete 1961 Village Vanguard Recordings (Impulse!) 00:00 Grateful Dead “Spanish Jam (Live)" from Dick's Picks Vol. 12: 6/26/74 (Providence Civic Center, Providence, RI) & 6/28/74 (Boston Garden, Boston, MA) ...