What rhymes with torrents? There’s so much going on! Jazz Appreciation Month (now celebrating its 25th year) and International Jazz Day (hosted in Chicago on April 30) are of course the headliners. Not too far down the marquee, are JJA’s own Jazz Awards, as well as the new slate of JJA Jazz Heroes—this year including 40 honorees across 29 cities and for the first time, London!
We also welcome new members: Steve Foster, photographic live jazz from his home base in Cholsey, UK; Robert Levin, a veteran jazz journalist and author in Port Ewen, New York; and Neil Mattson, a journalist, guitarist, educator, and 2026 Jazz Hero as an advocate for the increasingly exciting scene in Portland, Oregon. We look forward to reading about their member activities to come!
Speaking of which:
Matty Bannond attended a concert by saxophonist Melissa Aldana and wrote about it for All About Jazz in March. His interview of guitarist Remi Harris was published on UK Jazz News and his interview of bassist Russell Hall appeared in the April issue of The New York City Jazz Record. In April, he is reviewing albums by Billy Childs, Andy Haas, Benjie Porecki, Alister Spence and Stan Zenkov for various outlets.
Jane Ira Bloom performed with her trio, including bassist Mark Helias and drummer Matt Wilson at the Soapbox Gallery in Brooklyn.
Lauren Deutsch, photographer; Jonathan Woods, filmmaker; and their Tangible Sound Collaborative present an immersive exhibition translating the energy of Chicago’s improvised music scene into color, movement, and visual form. The project celebrates the city’s legendary experimental music community. Through photography, video and installation, the exhibition explores how music can inspire visual expression while celebrating the artists and ancestors whose creativity continues to shape Chicago’s cultural identity.
Francisco Rocky Garcia has mounted a new website at http://www.franciscogarciafoto.com. Check it out!
Doug Hall has this month had guest jazz artist saxophonist, composer and bandleader Aaron Irwin on his The Jazz Journey podcast. Doug has also just interviewed renowned tenor saxophonist Javon Jackson for Jackson’s upcoming release Jackson Plays Dylan for his other podcast, Talk About Jazz with Doug Hall, to be posted this month.
Geoffrey Himes recently published his third book of poetry, Today I Am an Orphan: The Shorter Poems of Geoffrey Himes, with the Bunny and Crocodile Press. He also taped an episode of Sound Opinions on his recent book, Willie Nelson: All the Albums–The Stories Behind the Music. Himes’s coverage of the Big Ears Festival in Knoxville can be read at Jazz Times and Hard Rain & Pink Cadillacs.
Patrick Hinely wrote a farewell salute to Ralph Towner, with vintage photographs, for Cadence magazine. One of his photographs of Carla Bley will serve as the front cover for the upcoming album With Carla by France’s Orchestre National de Jazz, along with more in its booklet.
C. Andrew Hovan covered drummer Makaya McCraven and his recent performance at the Cleveland Museum of Art for All About Jazz. In addition, Hovan reviewed recent OJC reissues from Red Garland and Thad Jones, as well as a duo project from Vince Guaraldi and Bola Sete. In addition, Hovan has recently completed liner notes for upcoming SteepleChase releases from guitarist Matt Panayides and vibist Tony Miceli, and Jim Snidero’s The Best of the Trio Recordings on Savant.
Ellen Johnson‘s current writing integrates neuroarts, music, nature, and community on Sound Creativity Journal, with recent essays on the transformative power of singing and Black jazz musicians’ cultural contributions. Her podcast, Hodge Pod (also on Substack), launched with A Jazz Recipe: Mixing Improvisation, Neuroscience, Community, and Radical Resistance, featuring Marcus Shelby, Jordannah Elizabeth, and Dr. Martin E. Rosenberg. Her forthcoming Bloomsbury book, Healing, Harmony and the Voice, is projected for 2028.
Sanford Josephson, in the March issue of Jersey Jazz Magazine, interviewed drummer Kim Peralta, leader of Jazzwomen; tenor saxophonists Joe Lovano and Melissa Aldana about the Coltrane 100 tour; guitarist/vocalist John Pizzarelli about his Tony Bennett tribute at the Sarasota Jazz Festival; and rising star alto saxophonist Kristin Field.
Howard Mandel reviewed Tia Fuller and Shamie Fuller-Royston’s Dynasty for DownBeat, posted about the JJA Jazz Heroes on his ArtsJournal.com/JazzBeyondJazz blog and on Mandel’s Media Diet, and wrote liner notes for a 40-year-old live, all improv quartet recording by Mexico City cross-discipline artists including saxophonist-accordionist-radio show host-writer Alain Derbez and drummer-painter Jazzomoart.
Natalia Rikker took part in the International Scientific and Practical Conference, ”Modern Variety Music: Intercultural Communication and Development Trends” which took place in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Natalia presented her article titled “Turning to Russian Academic Classics: A Pathway to Self Identification within Jazz Practice, Exemplified by the Moscow Jazz Orchestra”. The jazz arrangement of Sergey Prokofiev’s symphonic tale Peter and the Wolf by Kristina Krit became the main example of the study.
Hilary Seabrook’s Harmonious World was in March 2026 listed in the top 15 jazz music podcasts by PodRanker. In honour of March’s status as International Women’s History Month, four episodes featured some of the inspirational female musicians making the world more harmonious: Rachel Sutton, Melissa Aldana, Kim Cypher and Aynur.
