Jihye Lee’s 13-piece big band opened its second of two sets at The JAI in La Jolla with an original she called “Why Is That.” She explained the title in a 2024 Jazz Times interview. “I started out writing a simple blues tune, but it didn’t go well. … Why Is That? Why can’t I do that?”
Since she’s asked, I’ll take a stab at answering.
Lee was raised in Korea and graduated from a Korean University with a major in voice performance. After graduation, she sang locally as an Indie-K-pop singer.
She had little or no experience with the blues or jazz before moving to the U.S. to attend the Berklee School of music in Boston where she began training as a jazz arranger/composer because registrations were closed for the classical, sound track and pop equivalents she’d planned to choose from.
Pacific Jazz Orchestra announced its 2026-27 season, 'Four & More,' featuring five programs with Sutton Foster, David Benoit, Kandace Springs, and others across six Southern California venues.
Berklee College of Music honored a trio of Grammy winners at its 2026 commencement ceremony at Agganis Arena. Those presented with honorary doctorates were Jacob Collier, Jill Scott, and Vinnie Colaiuta.
ASCAP announced the 2026 Composers' Choice Award winners at its Screen Celebrates event in Los Angeles, honoring composers behind WICKED: FOR GOOD, PALM ROYALE, STRANGER THINGS, and more. David Vanacore also received the Golden Note Award.
It was just another day for the world when young Ting Han Lin sat down in the train, bass case resting against his knee, the hum of the metro tracks still vibrating in his ears. He was coming back home from a rehearsal during his first tour in Taiwan, exhausted, adrenaline still flickering, every note replaying in his mind. At twenty, his mind was filled with ideas, tones, transitions between songs, and about how the groove could have locked in tighter.
Ruth Eckerd Hall announced the return of YACHT ROCK SUMMER, featuring Pablo Cruise, Orleans, and David Pack, former lead singer of Ambrosia, at the Clearwater venue. Tickets start at $43.75.
The National Tour of MJ will have a return St. Louis engagement at The Fabulous Fox May 19-24. Show times for MJ at The Fabulous Fox are Tuesday through Saturday evening at 7:30 p.m., Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. and Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m.
MUSE/IQUE will present BACK TO OZ, tracing Oz from the 1939 MGM film to THE WIZ to WICKED, at the Mark Taper Forum in April 2026, led by Artistic Director Rachael Worby.
Today’s subject Bill Sherman is currently living his theatre life as the Musical Supervisor, Orchestrator, and Arranger for Signature Theatre’s new musical Safety Not Guaranteed. The production plays through April 12th in Signature’s MAX space.
SMOKE Jazz Club has announced a line-up for the month of May 2026. Three artists celebrate their respective record releases: Steve Wilson Enduring Sonance, Jeremy Pelt Our Community Will Not Be Erased, and Billy Childs Triumvirate.
Kirk Whalum will perform at Santa Fe Station in Las Vegas. The Grammy-winning saxophonist is known for his work in jazz, gospel, and R&B, including collaborations with Whitney Houston. The concert will take place at the Chrome Showroom.
I had a chance to chat with Rainere Martin as she prepares for her show at the Florida Theatre on March 27, 2026. For Rainere it hasn’t been a lifetime of “preparing,” but rather one of using the gift she was blessed with. As she puts it, “Even though you're coming to see a Donna tribute, you're learning who Rainere Martin is in the midst of it.”
The Nancy and David Bilheimer Capitol Theatre presents SPACE ODDITY The Quintessential David Bowie Experience, starring David Brighton, on David Bowie’s birthday, Friday, January 8, at 8pm.
Broadway sensation Ilario Grant will lead the Brisbane season of the Olivier and Tony Award-winning MJ THE MUSICAL, following his celebrated run in Melbourne.
The NEC Jazz Orchestra will present African Cookbook: Music of Randy Weston and Melba Liston on Thursday, February 26 at 7:30 p.m. at Jordan Hall. Conducted by Ken Schaphorst, the program honors the influential partnership between composer, pianist, and bandleader Randy Weston and trombonist, composer, and arranger Melba Liston.
The Tony Award-winning Best Musical that took the world by storm is back and coming to Austin. Tickets for The Wiz will go on sale Friday, Jan. 30, for eight performances from May 12 to 17 at Bass Concert Hall.
The Tony Award-winning musical MJ will return to San Francisco as part of the First National Tour. The production will play BroadwaySF’s Orpheum Theatre and is directed by Christopher Wheeldon with a book by Lynn Nottage.
Stomp, the international percussion sensation, will return to The Fabulous Fox. From its beginnings as a street performance in the UK, Stomp has grown into an international sensation for more than 30 years.
