Latest Jazz News

Richard Gere helps Carnegie Hall raise money for Ukraine
NEW YORK (AP) — Actor Richard Gere hosted a benefit concert for Ukraine at Carnegie Hall that raised $360,000 for Direct Relief, a humanitarian organization providing medical aid. Soprano Angel Blue, mezzo-sopranos Denyce Graves and Isabel Leonard, pianist Evgeny Kissin, violinists...
Zac Brown Band replaces Willie Nelson at Jazz Fest
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Zac Brown Band will replace country legend Willie Nelson on the closing day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Nelson canceled his Sunday performance and postponed other shows after a positive case of the coronavirus in his band. The 89-year-old...

Coronavirus forces cancellations in Jazz Fest's 2nd weekend
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Willie Nelson is cancelling an upcoming performance at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage festival and postponing other shows after a positive case of the coronavirus in his band. The 89-year-old musician posted on his band's website on Friday that “due to a...

Feinstein, Midori, Perlman headline Carnegie Ukraine benefit
NEW YORK (AP) — Singer Michael Feinstein, violinists Itzhak Perlman and Midori and pianist Evgeny Kissin will perform at a Carnegie Hall benefit concert for Ukraine on May 23. Soprano Angel Blue, mezzo-sopranos Denyce Graves and Isabel Leonard, jazz vocalist Cécile McLorin...

Chili Peppers honor Foo Fighters drummer at Jazz Fest
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A cathartic return of music and culture to New Orleans' chief music festival after three years ended its first weekend with the Red Hot Chili Peppers honoring the late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins by closing out the show for his band. Hawkins died March 25...

Celebrity birthdays for the week of May 8-14
Celebrity birthdays for the week of May 8-14: May 8: Singer Toni Tennille is 82. Country singer Jack Blanchard is 80. Jazz pianist Keith Jarrett is 77. Actor Mark Blankfield (“Robin Hood: Men in Tights,” ″The Incredible Shrinking Woman”) is 74. Drummer Chris Frantz of Talking...

Jazz Fest remembers Wein, Dr. John, Neville brothers, more
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The memorial garden at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is about to get a lot more crowded as fellow musicians honor the many musical icons — known as “Ancestors” — who have passed since the festival was last held three years ago. Jazz Fest,...

Echoes of 2006: Jazz Fest returns to New Orleans for 2022
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Once silenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival opened Friday for the first time in three years — a long awaited 2022 revival that holds echoes of 2006 when the annual celebration of music and culture went on even after Hurricane Katrina....

Kurt Vile turns out 'fried or sizzled out' rock tunes
NEW YORK (AP) — Kurt Vile says he's always thinking about making catchy music — yet his attempts usually end up sounding fried or sizzled out. It's an apt description of this Philadelphia-based songwriter and guitarist's vibe, amiable and hypnotic, the songs alone seemingly...
Buckhannon, WVa, to host 2023 world marching band contest
BUCKHANNON, W.Va. (AP) — A West Virginia community will host an international marching band competition next year. The World Association of Marching Show Bands will hold the championship event in Buckhannon from July 17 to 24, 2023. “We are absolutely thrilled to...
