HotSpots & HHJ New Year

Happy New Year! January in New York is alive with excitement as the APAP Conference and Jazz Congress Sessions kick off. At the same time, the Winter JazzFest unfolds, hosting a seven-day music marathon with over 600 artists from 150 groups at around 20 venues in Manhattan and Brooklyn. It's exhilarating to see thousands of people from all over the world flock to these events, participating in sessions and witnessing artists in action. The shows are typically packed, with standing room only, and for many artists, it means a calendar full of bookings for the coming year.  This month also marks the celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday. He once wrote a profound speech about jazz for the Berlin Jazz Festival in 1964, which we've included in this issue. Additionally, we spotlight the future by introducing the finalists and winner of the 2025 SASSY Awards, while also offering a reflection on the past year, available in our digital edition. I hope you enjoy the read! ~ CLR