Articles by Todd Steed

Interview

Donald Brown: Delaney Inspirations

by Todd Steed
July 17, 2026

Donald Brown--renowned pianist, composer, and longtime University of Tennessee professor--brings a deeply personal and culturally resonant vision to his recording Donald Brown and Knoxville Celebrate Beauford Delaney (Kendoray, 2026) inspired by the life and artistry of Knoxville-born painter Beauford Delaney. In partnership with the University of Tennessee Libraries' Boundless: Artists in the Archives program, Brown immersed himself in Delaney's archival materials and artwork, allowing the Boundless initiative to serve as both catalyst and creative framework for the project. In this ...

Interview

Vance Thompson's Reinvention

by Todd Steed
April 14, 2026

Vance Thompson wears a lot of impressive hats: composer, arranger, professor at the University of Tennessee, and founder of the Knoxville Jazz Orchestra. His main instrument was trumpet until a medical setback forced him to reinvent himself as a vibraphonist. This transformation is documented on his new album, “Lost and Found," featuring a high caliber quintet that can do just about anything it wants, from cooking on Thompson's original compositions to brilliant takes on music from Chick Corea ...

Journey into Jazz

Big Ears Gets Bigger: A Personal Perspective

by Todd Steed
April 4, 2026

Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN March 26-29, 2026 Big Ears is growing like a well-fed wild beast. At this rate, the festival might need a “Colossal Ears" rebrand in the next few years. The expansion of venues and options can be overwhelming until you learn the festival's most profound lesson: if you try to control your own festival experience, you will fail gloriously. Big Ears, it seems, has other plans for you. Forget FOMO. There is ...