The first issue of Musica Jazz International is now available in English language, with previews of columns and articles. The cover story, dossier, interviews, and two accompanying CDs

Ayers died on March 4 in New York. The warm sound of his instrument has fallen silent, leaving an empty void. He was eighty-four years old and had been battling a long illness. His notes, once rays of sunshine in the jazz-funk and soul firmament, now float like precious dust in an endless sunset. The music world is left devastated and suspended, waiting for a final note that will never come. His vibraphone spoke directly to the heart, and every chord he played was a fragment of melancholic light—a thrill we now miss like a lost heartbeat. Roy Ayers leaves behind a bittersweet void—a silence filled with memories in...

Let’s start with a song: “Laura.” David Raksin composed the music for the film of the same name (released in Italy as Vertigine), and it came about in a unique way. It was 1944. Director Otto Preminger considered using Duke Ellington’s “Sophisticated Lady” as a leitmotif and asked Raksin, a renowned film composer, for his opinion. Raksin was categorical. In his opinion, the song had nothing to do with the plot of the film, which was a romantic noir about a detective investigating the death of a woman who ends up under a spell. Preminger replied that if Raksin had a better idea, he should bring it to him...

Just a few months ago, Jack DeJohnette wrote on his Facebook page that one of the defining moments of his musical growth was seeing Sly & the Family Stone perform live in 1969. He wrote: “Sly is an innovator who influenced so many artists, such as Miles, myself, Prince, and Herbie Hancock, to name a few of the musicians he touched so deeply. Sly changed the sound and shape of new music!” DeJohnette was one of the great masters of jazz drumming. Yet his strictly jazz-related achievements often make us forget that he experienced firsthand the seismic shifts in the musical landscape of the mid-to-late 1960s, as did many of his...

One of the most important opportunities offered by jazzahead! is the live showcases: 30–45-minute slots in which a variety of bands perform for artistic directors, agents, and promoters. Could you briefly explain how it works?We present 38 jury-selected bands from all over the world with the opportunity to showcase their music. These performances are spread over the three days of jazzahead! and take place consecutively across three venues, all within walking distance. Every concert is professionally recorded by Radio Bremen and later offered to members of the European Broadcasting Union. We also produce professional video recordings of the showcases, which are provided to the bands for their own promotion. Is...