Michel Portal, 90! Had a great experience interviewing him c. 2004, and saw him perform a few concerts around that time as well. This is a favorite: Also born today: Eddie South, Wilber Morris, Don Sleet, Lyle Mays, Joris Teepe, Jacky Terrasson, and Wessell Anderson.

November 27 Maria Schneider - 1960 

I am a huge fan of the Haydn String Quartets Op.20 through Op.77. I have heard numerous (mainly) recorded performances of all of them. Rarely a day goes by when I have not listened to at least one Haydn String Quartet. Here are my recommendations for the Op.50 quartets: Nomos Quartet Zaide Quartet Tokyo Quartet Leipziger Quartet Auryn Quartet  

Bobby Hutcherson “Sprial” TOCJ Blue Note cd.     Bass – Reggie Johnson Drums – Joe Chambers Piano – Stanley Cowell Tenor Saxophone – Harold Land Vibraphone – Bobby Hutcherson

December 5, 2025: Shelley Carrol, Scat Jazz, Fort Worth                                   Mathias Lattin, Longhorn Ballroom, Dallas December 6, 2025: Quamon Fowler, Scat Jazz, Fort Worth                                   Shelley Carrol, Kitchen Cafe, Dallas                                   Stephanie, Rachel and Marlon Jordan and Music Alive Ensemble, El Dorado Ballroom, Houston January 10, 2026: Jackie Venson, Antone's, Austin                                Miquel Zenon and Kinetic Ensemble, Hobby Center, Houston January 11, 2026: Brandon Woody's Upendo, Eldorado Ballroom, Houston January 16, 2026: Delvon Lamarr Trio, Windmills, The Colony January 17, 2026: Jackie Venson, Antone's, Austin                               Delvon Lamarr Trio, Windmills, The Colony January 23, 2026: Al Dimeola, Kessler Theater, Dallas January 24, 2026: Jackie Venson, Antone's Austin                                 Al Dimeola, Heights Theater, Houston January 31, 2026: Jackie Venson, Antone's, Austin February 20, 2026: Shemekia Copeland and Ally Venable, Granville Arts Center, Garland February 22, 2026: Branford Marsalis Quartet, Wortham Theater, Houston March 5, 2026: Pat Metheny, Charline McCombs Empire Theater, San Antonio March 6, 2026: Pat Metheny, Paramount Theater, Austin March 7, 2026: Pat Metheny Side-Eye, Wortham Theater, Houston March 13, 2026: T.K. Blue and African Rhythms Alumni, A Tribute to Randy Weston, Walton Arts Center, Little Rock, Arkansas March 20, 2026: Sarah Hanahan, Monk's Jazz Club, Austin March 21, 2026: Sunny War, Anne Harris, Buffalo Nichols, Jake Blount, Justin Robinson, Fort Worth African American Roots Music Festival, Southside Preservation Hall, Fort Worth March 22, 2026: Sarah Hanahan, Eldorado Ballroom, Houston March 26, 2026: Pat Metheny Side-Eye III,  Marc Ribot, Ches Smith Clone Row, Isaiah Collier,  William Hooker Quartet, Big Ears Festival, Knoxville, Tennessee March 27, 2026: Chucho Valdes Royal Quartet, John Scofield Trio, Ghost Train Orchestra: The Music of Moondog, Jeff Parker Expansion Trio,  Miles Okazaki Trickster, Nate Smith, Ned Rothenberg, Nik Bartsch, Sullivan Fortner Trio, Tim Berne, Thomas Fujiwara: Dream Up, Big Ears Festival, Knoxville, Tennessee March 28, 2026: Darius Jones Trio, Either/Orchestra, Incerto, Marquis Hill Blacktet, Mary Halvorson, Miles Okazaki: The Compete Monk, , Nate Smith,  Nik Bartsch Ronin, Patricia Brennan Septet, Shabaka, Yasmin Williams and William Tyler, Big Ears Festival, Knoxville, Tennessee March 29, 2026: Brandon Woody's Upendo, Chicago Underground Duo, Dave Douglas Gifts Quartet, Either/Orchestra Plays Eithiopiques, Julian Lage Quartet,Marc Ribot,  Matt Mitchell's Zealous Angles, Miles Electric Band, Nels Cline: Lovers, Openness Trio, Tom Skinner,, Big Ears Festival, Knoxville, Tennessee April 1, 2026: Samara Joy, Winspear Opera House, Dallas                        Pat Metheny Side-Eye III, Majestic Theater, Dallas April 2, 2026: Kaia Kater, Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, Little Rock, Arkansas                        Samora Joy, Austin City Limits April 4, 2026: Samora Joy, Tobin Center, San Antonio April 10, 2026: Coltrane at 100 (Joe Lovano, Melissa Aldana, Ndudzo Makhathini, Matt Garrison, Jefftain Watts), Cullen Theater, Houston April 23-26, 2026: New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival April 30-May 3, 2026: New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival May 9, 2026: Hiromi's Sonic Wonder, Cullen Theater, Houston May 16, 2026: Chucho Valdes, Paramount Theater, Austin May 17, 2026: Lucia, Eldorado Ballroom, Houston