As the new leader of the Seattle-based nonprofit big band, Philadelphia piano-composer Orrin Evans plans to evolve SRJO's sound and foster a sense of community.

Herbie Hancock and Kurt Elling served as co-hosts of the 2026 International Jazz Day All-Star Global Concert at Lyric Opera of Chicago, proudly putting their city at the center of the frame.

The Doris Duke Artist Awards are the nation's largest prize dedicated to individual performing artists. This year, three of those artists are improvising musicians: Val Jeanty, Makaya McCraven, and Tomeka Reid.

Herbie Hancock presides over the International Jazz Day All-Star Global Concert in Chicago on Thursday, April 30 at 8 p.m. ET. Watch the video stream here at WRTI.

5 sets that WRTI Associate Program Director Julian Booker loved at the 2026 Big Ears Festival

One of the most celebrated classical artists of our time, pianist Víkingur Ólafsson opens a dialogue with Beethoven on his new album, 'Opus 109.' Before his concert in Philadelphia, he talked with Zev Kane about time travel, synesthesia, and the wonders of Icelandic moss.

Edward Gorey's classic children's book The Gashlycrumb Tinies inspired Carla Kihlstedt to create a song cycle for singing violinist and chamber orchestra. She's about to perform that piece, 26 Little Deaths, twice in the Philadelphia area, courtesy of Network for New Music.

A dozen distinguished artists have just joined the second cohort of Jazz Legacies Fellows, according to an announcement by The Mellon Foundation and the Jazz Foundation of America.

With his exceptional fluency on clarinet and tenor saxophone, Ken Peplowski was a prominent voice in straight-ahead jazz. He died on Monday aboard the Jazz Cruise.

Composers like Gabriela Ortiz and producers like Elaine Martone were among the classical artists who made pointed statements beyond the strictly musical at the 2026 Grammy Awards.