Some great jazz albums were released in 2025. Some are brand new, others are older recordings recently discovered, and a few are updated reissues. Here are some of my favorites. After the Last Sky – ...

Chicago-based trumpeter-vocalist-composer Rob Mazurek will lead his 10-piece Exploding Star Orchestra, Friday, December 5 at 7:30 at the Walker Art Center. Inspired by the sounds of “meta-versal ...

On Double Exposure Paul Chambers plays piano on four tracks and drums on only two with Larry Young playing B3 organ on all but one track. Although known primarily as a jazz drummer, Chambers’ first ...

Producer and music sleuth Zev Feldman launched his new label venture, Jazz Detective, with the release of two double albums, Emerald City Nights: Live at the Penthouse Volume 1 (1963 and 1964) and ...

All over Fort Adams State Park there were signs in tribute to George. Before the beginning of the first day’s concerts, the Jumbotron at the Fort Stage showed an early interview with Wein discussing ...

Saxophonist/composer Kenni Holmen and Ethiopian bassist/composer Yohannes Tona, bandmates in guitarist Cory Wong’s touring combo, will team up in a different setting, Friday-Saturday Feb. 6-7 at ...

In 1975 alto saxophone legend and former Monk bandmate, Charlie Rouse, made a recording with Brazilian musicians melding modern Brazilian music with jazz. This reissue tells another tale of two ...

At the 2024 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, clarinetist and bandleader Doreen Ketchens finished her set in the Economy Hall tent and announced her next gig: “We’ll be back on the street ...

The 2024 TD James Moody Jazz Festival took place from November 7 to 24 at New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC). In the Festival brochure, it says “I’ve always said the best has yet to be heard.” ...

Note: Again, EP replaces The Lead Sheet, offering a look back at some great performances last month and looking ahead to some recommendations for the new month. Not exhaustive, not objective, there’s ...

The end of 2023 was so busy with music that I forgot to start the Lead Sheet in time for New Year’s Day! The Phil Hey Quartet at kj’s Actually that is the tip of the iceberg of holiday gigs in the ...

Alto saxophonist extraordinaire Miguel Zenón is releasing his longstanding quartet’s first-ever live album featuring pianist Luis Perdomo, bassist Hans Glawischnig, and drummer Henry Cole. Vanguardia ...