Jazz News: Arvada’s Rocky Mountain Archtop Guitar Fest; Jazz Media in Ukraine; Flea's Plea; The Bad Plus retires
This is Jazz News, a look at what’s news in jazz, music, and the arts.
The Rocky Mountain Archtop Guitar Festival has announced its dates for the fall of 2026, September 18 through 20. Centered in Old Town Arvada. Luthiers, amp makers, world class players, clinics, workshops, jam sessions, concerts. For that weekend, Arvada is the center of the archtop guitar universe! Details at Archtop Festival (dot) COM.
(SOURCE: Rocky Mountain Archtop Guitar Festival)
Max Roach and Abbey Lincoln’s landmark “We Insist!” album from 65 years ago inspired not only a Grammy-nominated redo from Terri Lyne Carrington and Christie Dashiell. It inspired a jazz publication in Ukraine.
WE INSIST! was launched in December 2023 along with a Ukrainian-supported exhibition and concert in Paris. The print piece was translated into French, German, Dutch, and Polish by partners from across the European jazz press. The concert reunited musicians, some of whom had joined the military to fight the Russians.
The whole resilient Ukrainian jazz scene is chronicled in an article by Ian Patterson posted at All About Jazz. Patterson puts the spotlight on jazz media that has kept the creative fires burning in Europe for decades, and especially during the current conflict.
Shout out to music journalist and radio presenter Yevheniya Stryzhevska, who was on Era Radio for 12 years, covering all the festivals. There’s jazz on the radio in Odessa, and Radio Skovorada in Lviv near the Polish border. Respect to TAVR MEDIA – the Ukrainian blowtorch – that keeps JAZZ RADIO in their stable of radio stations serving 120 cities throughout Ukraine, which is nearly as large as Texas, even as they endure power blackouts, staffing shortages, and the relentless pressures of war.
(SOURCE: All About Jazz/Ukrainian Jazz Media)
Photo credit: Ukrainer / TheUnifying Radio
Any Red Hot Chili Peppers fans in The Morning Set audience? Eminent bassist Flea has advanced a single and video from a new jazz project to be released in 2026. The single is called “A Plea.” It’s his call for human compassion in these conflicted times. He plays electric bass, his first instrument – trumpet – and he does the lead vocals.
I hear it in the air (civil war, civil war)
I feel it in the air (civil war, civil war)
Who’s your neighbor? Who’s your friend? (civil war, civil war)
Ohhhh, there’s hate all around
I don’t care about your f*in’ politics (civil war, civil war)
I don’t wanna hear about your politics (civil war, civil war)
He said ‘Boo.” She said ‘hooray’
We’re human beings right here. Human beings!
We’re here. Together! Come on!
He’s surrounded by a stellar jazz musicians (Anna Butterss -Upright Bass and Vocals, Deantoni Parks — Drums and Vocals, Jeff Parker — Guitar and Vocals, Mauro Refosco — Percussion, Rickey Washington — Alto Flute, Vikram Devasthali — Trombone, Chris Warren — Vocals, Josh Johnson — Alto Saxophone and Vocals), and Flea dances in the video.
This final note. The Bad Plus, in their 27th year of making music announced their retirement as a band. As one of the pillars of 21st century of improvised music we loosely call “jazz,” bassist Reid Anderson and drummer David King, along with guitarist Ben Monder and reedman Chris Speed are calling it quits, but they will complete their 2026 tour (including March 6 at the Boulder Theater).
(SOURCE: The Bad Plus)
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