Saxophonist Sonny Rollins, noted for his robust hard-bop style, died 25 May at his Woodstock, NY home, aged 95. His website noted his 2009 comment that “I think when the creative person ends, he continues in the next existence. I’m a person who believes this life isn’t the be-all and end-all of everything. A spiritual person doesn’t feel like that.”

Among the big names coming up at Ronnie Scott’s, London, May-July are Dave Weckl/Tom Kennedy Project (27), Chris Potter Trio (28), Billy Cobham with the Guy Barker Big Band (8-11 June), Monty Alexander (22-24), Steve Smith & Vital Information (26-27), Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Chris Potter, Larry Grenadier and Eric Harland (8 July), Eliane Elias (15-16), Kenny Garrett (17-19) and Carmen Lundy (24-25).

Attila Kleb of JazzFest Budapest says he’s been fighting for a real jazz festival, undiluted with “performances by pop and rock stars”. This year, 27 June – 2 July, the city invites such as Pat Metheny, Marcus Miller, Charles Lloyd, Mike Stern and Ravi Coltrane.

Among the soul and pop that dominates the 2026 Love Supreme Jazz Festival in Sussex, 3-5 July (e.g., Temptations, Four Tops and Sister Sledge) is some jazz-related music from such as Bill Frisell, Joe Lovano, Joe Webb and Emma Rawicz.

The fourth MoonJune festival, devised by the indefatigable Leonardo Pavkovic and describing itself as a festival of “eclectic music”, takes place in Teramo, Italy, 22-25 July 2026 and includes Soft Machine w. Gary Husband, Gong w. Steve Hillage and Diego Amador’s Flamenco Free Jazz.