In Tribute To...
“In Tribute to…” is a recurring All About Jazz column in which musicians, writers and members of the jazz community honor artists, mentors and influential figures whose work helped shape the music and their lives.
Miles Davis At 100: A Global Perspective
by Ian Patterson
Miles Davis' centenary has arrived. The second century begins. What changes jazz has undergone in the 100 years since Miles Dewey Davis was born in Alton, Illinois on May 26, 1926! Davis was all about change, evolution, growth, and reinvention. A driving force behind many of the changes in direction jazz took during his 65 years on Earth, Davis was also a leader who inspired--one way or another--a host of young musicians who took wing in his various ...
Continue ReadingRemembering All About Jazz's Chris May
by AAJ Staff
With profound sadness, the All About Jazz family mourns the loss of Chris May (1946-2024), a luminous soul whose passion and dedication took AAJ to new heights during his 20 year tenure. Chris was more than a colleague--he was a beloved writer, a brilliant editor, and a cherished friend whose words dazzled with grace and insight. We invite our community to honor Chris's memory by sharing your stories and reflections that capture his remarkable spirit. Please email us your tributes ...
Continue ReadingRemembering All About Jazz's Dave Binder / John Kelman
by AAJ Staff
It is with great sadness that All About Jazz must announce the death of Dave Binder, better known to millions of readers as John Kelman. Dave died of a heart attack on August 10th, after a long bout of illness. For twenty years Dave was the most internationally renowned of all AAJ's contributors, penning over 2,700 articles which racked up tens of millions of page views. As senior editor for many years, Dave was a guide and mentor to numerous ...
Continue ReadingJazz Honors The Beatles
by AAJ Staff
All About Jazz is honoring The Fab Four in the year of the 60th anniversary of the release of their first album (Please Please Me). This collective tribute was originally published in September 2009--as a living document, we'll add more quotes & stories over time (see how-to in comments section). We also compiled a companion playlist and present it below. When The Beatles first emerged at the forefront of The British Invasion, few could have predicted the impact ...
Continue ReadingFrank Kimbrough: From Now to Forever—A Remembrance
by Ludovico Granvassu
On December 30, 2020, pianist Frank Kimbrough passed away at the age of 64. True to form, 2020 wreaked havoc until the end. The cause of death was not Covid-19, but the shock at the untimely loss of a revered artist was not any less powerful. Frank Kimbrough had the rare gift of touching lives with much more than his remarkable music. In order to pay tribute to his legacy, we have collected remembrances, anecdotes and ...
Continue ReadingAmarcord Hal Willner
by Ludovico Granvassu
The iconic producer Hal Willner passed away a little over a week ago, on Tuesday 7 April 2020. The same day, John Prine and Eddy Davis also took off. It felt like a COVID-19-induced Black Tuesday for the music world, but maybe Hal had simply invited them to join him for a follow-up to Lost in the Stars, together with Sun Ra, William S. Burroughs, Lou Reed, Allen Ginsberg, Jaki Byard, Hunter S. Thompson, Dr. John, Ken Nordine, Muhal Richard ...
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