Barbecues and fireworks, flags and parades, Independence Day evokes so many images of the American summer. Its original purpose to celebrate the birth of the American nation on July 4th, 1776 has given way to festivities that celebrate both America and the lives and freedoms that the accomplishments of American Independence have allowed. The commemoration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence is a time not only to reflect on what happened at America's founding but also to look again at the nation's values and recommit oneself again to those ideals.
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July gives us the opportunity to celebrate the birthdays of two remarkable pianists whose artistry helped shape modern jazz.
NEA Jazz Masters Billy Taylor (July 24) & Joanne Brackeen (July 26) each found a distinctive voice at the keyboard -- from Billy Taylor's timeless elegance to Joanne Brackeen's fearless musical imagination.
NEA JAZZ MASTER BILLY TAYLOR
Few musicians have done more to share the joy of jazz than NEA Jazz Master Billy Taylor (July 24, 1921 – December 28, 2010). A celebrated pianist, composer, educator, and broadcaster, Taylor believed the piano could "sing," bringing warmth, elegance, and swing to every performance.
Whether on the concert stage, television, or in the classroom, he spent a lifetime helping audiences discover the richness of jazz.
Get an AUTOGRAPHED copy of Billy Taylor's Music Keeps Us Young CD -- only 12 available, so act now!
On Music Keeps Us Young, Taylor performs at the peak of his powers with longtime collaborators Chip Jackson and Steve Johns.
Blending inventive originals with timeless standards such as Body and Soul, Up Jumped Spring, and his own enduring anthem, I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free, the trio plays with effortless chemistry, grace, and unmistakable swing.
More than an album title, Music Keeps Us Young feels like Taylor's philosophy — one that celebrates curiosity, joy, and a lifetime devoted to the music.
Few pianists have expanded the language of jazz as boldly as NEA Jazz Master Joanne Brackeen. The first woman to hold the piano chair in Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, Brackeen built a career that bridges tradition and innovation with remarkable originality.
Her music refuses to stand still, blending lyrical beauty, fearless improvisation, and an ever-changing palette of colors, rhythms, and moods.
On Pink Elephant Magic, Brackeen surrounds herself with an extraordinary ensemble featuring Nicholas Payton,
Chris Potter, John Patitucci,
Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez,
Dave Liebman, and Kurt Elling.
Together, they bring her imaginative compositions to life. From the playful title track and Beethoven Meets the Millenniumin Spain to What's Your Choice, Rolls Royce?, every piece reflects Brackeen's belief that music should never stand still, unfolding with the same sense of curiosity and discovery that has defined her career for more than five decades.
Few melodies have crossed the boundaries between classical music and jazz as gracefully as JoaquĆn Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez.
In this elegant interpretation, the Modern Jazz Quartet pairs John Lewis's lyrical piano and Milt Jackson's shimmering vibraphone with the warmth of a full string orchestra, creating a performance that is both intimate and expansive.
Experience the album The Golden Striker arriving July 17.
Driven by layered percussion, hypnotic grooves, and Manu Dibango's
unmistakable saxophone, Waka Juju captures the joyful energy and rhythmic imagination that made him one of Africa's most influential musical voices.
From its infectious rhythms to its expressive improvisation, the track is an irresistible invitation to discover one of the great innovators of African music.
Insights that deepen and enhance your understanding of Jazz.
Jazz Secrets is a comprehensive multi-media initiative that I created to demystify and illuminate Jazz, giving you new insights and ways on How To Listen To Jazz. Jazz Secrets reveals my personal insights into what makes Jazz special.
You can ultimately learn to hear a performance, and distinguish what is “ordinary” from what is “extraordinary,” what is “banal” from what is “brilliant.”
Summer is festival season, but you don't have to leave home to enjoy unforgettable live jazz.
Beat the heat with Arkadia Concerts, featuring exclusive historic performances legends including: Herbie Hancock, Nancy Wilson, Freddie Hubbard, Dianne Reeves, Oscar Peterson, and many more!
šŗ Happy Birthday to Conte Candoli (July 12, 1927 – December 4, 2001) One of the great trumpet stylists of the West Coast jazz scene, Conte Candoli was admired for his brilliant technique, lyrical phrasing, and effortless swing. Celebrate his legacy with Pete & Conte Candoli: Short Cuts from the album Echo, showcasing the remarkable musical chemistry between two of jazz's finest trumpet brothers.
Montreux Jazz Festival (Montreux, Switzerland): July 3–18, 2026, the 60th edition of this legendary festival on the shores of Lake Geneva.
North Sea Jazz Festival (Rotterdam, Netherlands): July 10–12, 2026, this is one of the world's premier indoor jazz events, hosting massive modern and classic jazz acts.
