Andrea Canter

The Twin Cities Jazz festival returns to Mears Park, June 19-20 2026 It’s become a tradition! The Upper Midwest presents three great jazz festivals over three weekends, starting with the Twin Cities Jazz Festival June 19-20; moving south the the Iowa City Jazz Festival July 3-5; and then moving back north to the Northfield Jazz Festival July 10-12.

Reverend Carl Walker and Grant West, JJA “Jazz Heroes” (Photo courtesy of Walker West Music Academy) As an international membership organization of traditional and new media professionals covering jazz, the Jazz Journalists Association has, since 2001, sought nominations of “grassroots culture workers” who “go beyond their professional responsibilities to sustain and expand on musical activities with local and regional impact.” For 2026, the JJA celebrates 35 “Jazz Heroes” from 33 locales...

On October 8, the John D. and Catherine MacArthur Foundation announced the recipients of the 2025 awards known as the “Genius Grants,” unrestricted fellowships of $800,000 paid over five years to “exceptionally creative people with a record of significant accomplishments and the potential for continued achievement.” Since 1981, the MacArthur has been given to 1,153 people. Grantees typically include a broad spectrum of scientists, artists, and writers—and sometimes jazz musicians.