Grammy-nominated saxophonist Godwin Louis plays works from his latest album, “Psalms and Proverbs."

GBH Music, in collaboration with JazzBoston, has announced the third season of GBH Music Presents JazzNOW, a television and streaming series dedicated to showcasing the extraordinary abundance of jazz talent with ties to Boston. The series will film in front of live audiences starting in February with episodes streaming on PBS Passport two weeks after each event and select episodes airing during Jazz Appreciation Month in April on GBH 2.

Saxophonist Greg Abate will close out GBH Music and JazzBoston’s 2026 JazzNOW series with a tribute to Ray Charles. Abate first met the legendary soul singer at age 23, and after hearing him play, Charles invited Abate to tour the world as the lead alto saxophonist in his orchestra. The program will feature some of Ray Charles’ most recognizable songs like “Georgia on My Mind” and “Hit the Road Jack” as well as some of the singer’s popular renditions of Beatles tunes like “The Long and Winding Road.” The performance will also feature some Greg Abate originals drawing from his deep BeBop roots. Abate will be joined by Tim Ray (piano), Marty Ballou (bass), and Gary Johnson (drums). The concert takes place at 8 pm in Fraser Performance Studio with a pre-concert reception at 7:15pm. Paris Alston, of GBH News Rooted, will host the performance, which will be filmed for broadcast on GBH2. This event is made possible by the Goldstein Family Fund.

7:15-7:50pm Pre-event reception
7:50pm Guest are seated in Fraser Performance Studio (general admission)
8:00-9:00pm Live performance in Fraser Performance Studio

GBH Music and Jazz Boston welcome cuatrista Fabiola Méndez and her quartet to Fraser Performance Studio for a celebration of International Jazz Day. Méndez is an Emmy-nominated composer and musician known for her unique blend of genres, including folk, jazz, and Afro-Caribbean influences. Notably, Méndez was the first musician to graduate from Berklee with the Puerto Rican cuatro, the island’s national instrument, as her primary instrument. Following her viral GBH Jazz Instagram reel about the cuatro in 2025 and her well-received performance during the 2024 GBH Music Holiday Spectacular, Méndez returns to Fraser in April for the first time as a headliner. Drawing inspiration from the mountains of Puerto Rico to the African rhythms of the Caribbean, Méndez and her quartet will present a collection of original works — taking the listener on a journey of storytelling through Latin folk and jazz. The concert takes place at 8 pm in Fraser Performance Studio with a pre-concert reception at 7:15pm. Paris Alston, of GBH News Rooted, will host the performance, which will be filmed for broadcast on GBH2. This event is made possible by the Goldstein Family Fund.

7:15-7:50pm Pre-event reception
7:50pm Guest are seated in Fraser Performance Studio (general admission)
8:00-9:00pm Live performance in Fraser Performance Studio

Vocalist Gabrielle Goodman honors the First Lady of Song, live from GBH Music.

Oud player Walid Zairi and his band Talween play original world jazz music for Jazz Day.

Dive into stories and videos about two beautiful art forms: poetry and jazz.

American folk music, hymns, blues, and jazz all shaped Farayi Malek's resonant sound.

TRIAD and saxophonist Edmar Colón explore the energetic tunes of Brazilian composer Hermeto Pascoal.

Aardvark Jazz Orchestra plays Duke Ellington's most iconic tunes.