Ken Franckling's Jazz Notes

The journey back to jazz festivals performed to live audiences has many different approaches. No matter which on-ramp you choose, normalcy, ...

Singer Lisa Kelly and trumpeter JB Scott had a few surprises up their sleeves for their return performance at the Charlotte County Jazz Soc...

Trombonist Bill Allred knows how to honor the earliest jazz and the finest in big band swing without sounding dated in any way. He did so w...

Jon Batiste Here it is mid-January, and they've already got us thinking about - and planning for - this summer’s Newport Jazz Festi...

  Ellis Marsalis The November issue of Hot House is out. It includes my profile of pianist Ellis Marsalis, patriarch of today'...

Amid the tragedy and devastation of Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath, many of us found an even deeper appreciation for New Orleans mus...

Offbeat magazine, which covers Louisiana music and culture, has just published several more of my Newport Jazz Festival images. The focus w...

  Jazz Times has just posted Bill Beuttler's extensive review of last weekend's Newport Jazz Festival, along with 10 of my images...

More in the coming days on the 2012 edition of the Newport Jazz Festival, which took place over the weekend. As usual, the three overlappin...

Naysayers who claim jazz is dead or dying will find a lot of contrarians today at Congo Square in New Orleans and the United Nations Headqua...

 Dr. John There may be no better way to open the Newport Jazz Festival than what founding producer George Wein is doing this summer. ...

John Swenson, my music writing collaborator for many years at UPI, is out with a gem. “New Atlantis: Musicians Battle for the Survival of Ne...

Guitarist John Scofield was a great choice to open the New Orleans portion/final phase of the 2010 Montreal International Jazz Festival. Hi...

More often than not, one of the great aspects of the jazz festival format is a listener’s opportunity to hear fresh talent - players who for...

Once in a while, jazz and popular culture conveniently cross paths. And how fitting that it was on the sporting world’s biggest stage last w...

The three M’s headlined above are the prime ingredients in an exhibition that’s making its only North American appearance through March 14 i...

One of the most poignant moments at the Rock & R0ll Hall of Fame's 25th anniversary concert (night one, October 29) when Art Garfunk...

Larry Blumenfeld’s “Cultural Conversation” with TV producer David Simon in today’s Wall Street Journal is a highly recommended read. Simon, ...

Tony Bennett may have left his heart in San Francisco, but he leaves behind a significant monetary/cultural investment in New Orleans after ...

Another glimmer of hope and positivity among turtle-slow efforts to bring New Orleans back from the ravages of Hurricane Katrina occurred in...