These beloved artists lead Columbia's next Jazz Series season

Jazz has never been a static sound.

The music keeps rolling and tumbling, keeps thrumming, keeps humming. In Columbia, the "We Always Swing" Jazz Series is living, swinging proof. The long-running concert series presents jazz's moving parts, then sits back to bear witness as tremendous musicians reassemble the music on stage.

The Jazz Series recently announced its 2024-25 season. Here are six dates that pop off the schedule.

Sept. 27: Something Else with Vincent Herring at Missouri Theatre

Start the season out right, digging into the deep grooves of soul jazz with this band led by saxophonist Herring. The project's debut album, which hit the atmosphere last month, centers tunes by the likes of Horace Silver, Herbie Hancock, John Coltrane and Stanley Turrentine.

Nov. 3: Matt Wilson's Good Trouble at Murry's

Drummer Wilson, an Illinois native and Jazz Series favorite, recently released "Good Trouble" the album, a fresh expression of his generous musical nature. Good Trouble, the project, features a serious who's-who, including saxophonist Tia Fuller, wind player Jeff Lederer, pianist Dawn Clement and bassist Ben Allison.

Feb. 16, 2025: Charles McPherson Quintet with Terell Stafford at Murry's

The luminous saxophonist — most closely associated with Detroit, but born in Joplin — joins forces with standout trumpeter Stafford. AllMusic labeled McPherson a "torchbearer for the bebop tradition (who) has built upon the work of Charlie Parker." Stafford has worked alongside a coterie of modern greats while making his own artistic name on solo joints.

More: Jazz Series, Dismal Niche collaborate on new Left Field concert series in Columbia

March 20, 2025: Hilario Duran Quartet at Missouri Theatre

Each year, the Jazz Series celebrates the best and brightest of the Latin jazz idiom with its Dr. Carlos and Laura Perez-Mesa Memorial Concert; this time around, Duran, a Cuban pianist and longtime Toronto resident, will set the stage alight. AllMusic has praised Duran's seamless unity of traditional and modern music as well as his "harmonically nuanced ear."

April 27, 2025: Geoffrey Keezer Quartet at Murry's

Keezer, a Grammy-winning pianist with a resume that starts with Art Blakey and the Messengers, will usher in this tribute to a grouping of pianists who loom large in the collective Jazz Series heart: James Williams, Mulgrew Miller and Harold Mabern.

April 30, 2025: Columbia Jazz Orchestra directed by Bobby Watson at Missouri Theatre

The Jazz Series will mark the next International Jazz Day with a serious amount of Midwest talent. Kansas City-area saxophone legend — and another seminal figure in the series' decades-long run — Bobby Watson will guide the Columbia Jazz Orchestra through a set of music that strikes his own particular chords.

Here's a look at the rest of this season's slate:

• Oct. 16: Anat Cohen, Peter Martin and Romero Lubambo at Whitmore Recital Hall, University of Missouri

• Nov. 19: Emmet Cohen Trio at Whitmore Recital Hall

• Dec. 8: Peter Bernstein/Bobby Broom Quartet at Murry's

• Feb. 2, 2025: Rene Marie at Murry's

• March 30, 2025: Nick Finzer All-Star Quartet at Murry's

Learn more about the upcoming season at https://www.wealwaysswing.org/season/2024-2025/.

Aarik Danielsen is the features and culture editor for the Tribune. Contact him at [email protected] or by calling 573-815-1731. He's on Twitter/X @aarikdanielsen.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Check out these highlights of Columbia's upcoming Jazz Series season