Black Experience

Tom Jacobs - May 5, 2025

The Grammy Award winner chats about music as storytelling, how she keeps up her chops on violin, and working with Third Coast Percussion.

Richard S. Ginell - April 22, 2025

Under conductor Jader Bignamini, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra delivers an impressive recording of this endlessly fascinating score.

Tamzin Elliott - April 22, 2025

Carlos Simon’s gospel-meets-classical Mass has a splashy premiere, and Randall Goosby shines in Price’s Second Violin Concerto.

Tom Jacobs - April 14, 2025

Between rehearsals for his new work at the LA Phil, Simon chatted about gospel, family, and how he’s committed to his role at The Kennedy Center.

Richard S. Ginell - April 8, 2025

Kicking off The Soraya’s LA Seen festival, Blanchard plays excerpts from Champion and Fire Shut Up in My Bones.

Aimée Ts'ao - April 1, 2025

On its West Coast tour, the company presents several premieres and also celebrates the legacy of one of its greatest stars, Judith Jamison.

Andrew Gilbert - April 1, 2025

Carvin’s six-decade career, teaching, recording, and gigging everywhere from Los Angeles to New York, is finally bringing him back to the Bay Area.

Tom Jacobs - March 25, 2025

Los Angeles new-music group Wild Up has taken an active role in the Eastman revival, which has proved anything but straightforward.

Andrew Gilbert - March 17, 2025

This spring, McBride plays SFJAZZ with a host of collaborators, from the young cats in his band Ursa Major to living legends like Kenny Barron.

Steven Winn - March 16, 2025

The South African artist and a team of collaborators combine surrealism, time travel, and stagecraft in this production at Cal Performances.