Sep 22, 2026 12:26 PM
Hyde Park Jazz Fest on Chicago’s South Side to Present 20th Edition
The Hyde Park Jazz Festival will take place for the 20th time on the final weekend of September 2026. Beginning half…
John Lee Hooker Jr., the son of one of the most prestigious names in blues, will release his debut album on the label, Cold As Ice, on June 27. The son of the man who brought the world “I’m In The Mood” takes elements from this old school and mixes them with something newer and younger that appeals to the 21st century audience. That mix earned Hooker a Grammy nomination and caught the attention on Telarc, a label that the musician is exited about joining. “We wanted a label with a family feel to it, a place that dealt with artists from a standpoint of honesty and integrity,” Says Hooker. “We found all those things in Telarc, and we feel fortunate and blessed to be with them.
Liquid Soul, the Chicago-bred combo that is known for mixing jazz, hip-hop, funk and hard-bop, will release their Telarc debut, One-Two Punch, on March 23.
The pioneers of the acid-jazz movement during the mid-1990s in Chicago, Liquid Soul expanded their musical style — a style that starts with jazz and embraces R&B, spoken word and more — that is now a compilation of sound that has evolved over the years. Led by saxophonist/composer Mars Williams, the eight-piece collective is looking forward to expanding their audience into to Europe with the help of their new label.
“Telarc is the kind of label that we wanted to build a relationship with,” says Williams. “They are pioneers of an awesome digital sound, and they have a worldwide distribution system that could enhance our exposure beyond North America.”
Not only are the artists happy to be at a new music home, but Telarc is more than happy to welcome them into the jazz family. President of Telarc, Robert Woods, said he is “excited about having Liquid Soul on board,” and “very proud to have John Lee Hooker Jr. on the Telarc Roster.”
A solo concert by saxophonist Joshua Redman will close the first night of the Hyde Park Jazz Festival on Sept. 26.
Sep 22, 2026 12:26 PM
The Hyde Park Jazz Festival will take place for the 20th time on the final weekend of September 2026. Beginning half…
“It was just that suddenly … I could hear it,” Ravi Coltrane said of an epiphany he experienced during his late teens regarding his father’s music. “And it was almost like a calling, like something saying, ‘Hey, man, come on. It’s time to get serious.’ And the first time you really tune in and dial in and focus like that, it can be very life-changing.”
Sep 22, 2026 1:39 PM
Editor’s Note: Tomorrow, Sept. 23, is the 100th anniversary of John Coltrane’s birth. In honor of the tenor and…
Camille Thurman took to the stage alongside bassist Kenny Davis and drummer Tommy Campbell for a rendition of Johnny Mercer’s “I’m An Old Cowhand” that recalled Rollins’ epochal 1957 trio outing Way Out West.
Oct 6, 2026 1:33 PM
As emcee Mark Ruffin noted at the commencement of an epic tribute to saxophonist Sonny Rollins at the Cathedral of Saint…
Kurt Elling, Katherine Russell and Emmet Cohen (host on the 2027 Jazz Cruise) share a laugh at sea.
Sep 8, 2026 11:52 AM
It began in 2001. A travel agent named Anita E. Berry had been booking clients on “partial” jazz cruises that took…
Sep 17, 2026 11:00 AM
The 2027 DownBeat College Guide is an invaluable resource for music students, especially jazz students, to find a school…
