Jazz music news

Here are some recent jazz music news and updates:

Awards and Honors

• The 63rd Annual Grammy Awards took place on January 31, 2021, and jazz musicians won several awards, including Best Jazz Vocal Album for Cécile McLorin Salvant's "The Window" and Best Jazz Instrumental Album for Chick Corea's "Trilogy 2".
• The 2021 NEA Jazz Masters, the highest honor in jazz, were announced in February 2021, with the recipients being: Louis Hayes, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Norma Winstone, and Dianne Reeves.

New Releases

• Trombonist and composer Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah released his new album "Ancestral Recall" in February 2021, which features a blend of jazz, rock, and hip-hop.
• Pianist and composer Brad Mehldau released his new album "Finding Gabriel" in March 2021, which is a solo piano album that explores themes of faith and spirituality.
• Saxophonist and composer Kamasi Washington released his new album "Heaven and Earth" in June 2021, which is a double album that features a mix of jazz, funk, and hip-hop.

Festivals and Concerts

• The 2021 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival took place in April and May 2021, featuring performances by jazz musicians such as Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, and Cécile McLorin Salvant.
• The 2021 Montreal International Jazz Festival took place in June and July 2021, featuring performances by jazz musicians such as Chick Corea, Pat Metheny, and Diana Krall.
• The 2021 Newport Jazz Festival took place in August 2021, featuring performances by jazz musicians such as Wynton Marsalis, Joshua Redman, and Cécile McLorin Salvant.

Obituaries

• Legendary jazz pianist and composer Ellis Marsalis passed away on April 1, 2020, at the age of 85, due to complications from COVID-19.
• Jazz saxophonist and composer Jimmy Heath passed away on January 17, 2020, at the age of 93.
• Jazz trumpeter and composer Wallace Roney passed away on March 31, 2020, at the age of 59.

Other News

• The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) announced in February 2021 that it will provide funding to support jazz education and programming in schools and communities across the United States.
• The Jazz Foundation of America announced in March 2021 that it will provide financial assistance to jazz musicians who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History announced in April 2021 that it will launch a new exhibit on the history of jazz in the United States, featuring artifacts and interactive displays.