Ken Franckling's Jazz Notes

Steve Kuhn, Mostly Coltrane (ECM) Pianist Steve Kuhn has teamed up with saxophonist Joe Lovano for this exquisite recording, which captures...

In a year when more than a few jazz-related entities have been on the ropes, closed their doors or reinvented themselves, it is interesting ...

Art Pepper, The Art History Project (Widow’s Taste) The alto saxophonist Art Pepper spent 15 years in and out of prison and/or rehab becaus...

I got an e-mailed announcement today concerning the lineup for Jazz Apen Snowmass’s annual Labor Day Weekend festival. One hopes to see jazz...

Daryl Sherman, Johnny Mercer – A Centennial Tribute (Arbors) The great lyricist Johnny Mercer would have loved this tribute from charming s...

50, 30, 55. The numbers have been all over the lot this year with significant anniversaries for historic recordings, jazz festival founding...

You never know where or when the music is going to catch you off guard. The surprising moments stick with the psyche. We had to bail out ear...

Frank Glover, Politico (Owl Studios) Indianapolis-based clarinetist Frank Glover released Politico locally in 2005 and it is for our benefi...

There was something to cheer about for readers and contributors alike, as Ben Ratliff reported in today's New York Times that JazzTimes...

Here's a promised link to my Marvin Stamm profile that was published this month in Hot House magazine.Marvin had a milestone birthday i...

Just a day after George Wein announced that CareFusion will be the title sponsor for his jazz festivals in Newport starting this year and Ne...

Yes, there is life for George Wein's New Festival Productions operation beyond his commitment to stage both jazz and folk festivals this...

I've just filed my review of Freihofer's Jazz Festival in bucolic Saratoga Springs NY, held June 27-28, to allaboutjazz.com . I'...

What a way to kick off the Montreal International Jazz Festival’s 30th edition, a 13-day programming marvel that opened June 30 and runs thr...

6 - major award winners in 2009. (Bruce Lundvall, Stevie Wonder, John Pizzarelli, Ornette Coleman, Susie Arioli, Toots & The Maytalls)...

Here’s a dose of CDs of interest, as I head out for a week of travels to Freihofer’s Jazz Festival in Saratoga NY and the Montreal Internati...

If you want to find Kodachrome after this fall, you’ll have to go see Paul Simon in concert or dig out an album. Kodak announced today that ...

One of these years, I am truly tempted to go to the Montreal International Jazz Festival strictly for its free, outdoor concerts. The great ...

Grant Geissman, Cool Man Cool (Futurism Records) With the fun-filled spirit, wide stylistic range of original material and plethora of gues...

All companies and nonprofits great and small are reassessing their viability and putting creativity to the test as they weather the effects ...

With the assistance of several nonprofits, First Lady Michelle Obama will use jazz on Monday June 15 to open the White House Music Series. T...

I just spotted this fresh posting today on JazzTimes' Web site, jazztimes.com. An Important Message From JazzTimes Management To ou...

These are indeed troubling times for the general economy – and the spillover to the jazz world was inevitable. Just as some companies and so...

When most of us outside of Canada think jazz and Montreal, we think early summer. Equipe Spectra, the organization that produces the Festiva...

Bobby Sanabria conducting the Manhattan School of Music Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra, Kenya Revisited Live!!! (Jazzheads) The mouthful of a ti...