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AIR

The French band Air is a duo consisting of Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoit Dunckel. They went to school in Versailles, Paris (Lycée Jules Ferry) before forming the band in 1995. Their critically acclaimed first album Premiers symptômes was followed by the release of Moon Safari, The Virgin Suicides (soundtrack), 10,000hz Legend, and Talkie Walkie. In 2007, Air released the album Pocket Symphony. Although Air's music is often referred to as electronica or trip-hop and is often found in such bins in record stores, their form of electronic music actually owes more to the synthesizer sounds of the 1970s such as Jean-Michel Jarre and Vangelis. Other influences that are more readily apparent than house and techno are psychedelic rock pioneers Pink Floyd and krautrockers Tangerine Dream (although there are some echoes of dance music styles in the production). Another influence is French crooner Serge Gainsbourg. Air's music also has jazz inflections at times, and their ability to improvise is more clearly highlighted in the live arena. Before they founded Air, JB and Nicolas played together in the band Orange, with others such as Alex Gopher, Xavier Jamaux and Etienne de Crécy names which have recently reappeared in connection with Air's remixes. Air uses many of their studio instruments (like Moog synthesizers, the Korg MS20, Wurlitzer and Vocoder) live on stage. The band performs the well-known tracks from the albums live as extended or altered versions. Air often works together, both in the studio and live on stage, with artists like Beth Hirsch (Moon Safari), Françoise Hardy ("Jeanne"), Jean-Jaques Perrey ("Cosmic Bird"), Gordon Tracks ("Playground Love" and "Easy Going Woman"), Beck (10,000Hz Legend) and, on the 2004 tour, with Dave Palmer and drummer Earl Harvin. On their 2007 album "Pocket Symphony", more guest writer and vocalist appearances were made by Jarvis Cocker and Neil Hannon (of The Divine Comedy. For the 2007 tour that accompanied the record, the band consisted of Earl Harvin on drums, multi-instrumentalist Steve Jones (steviejjones) and French keyboard player Vincent Taurelle. Their music has also frequently been used in commercials. "Surfing on a Rocket" is the background music for the Nissan Armada commercial (2005). "Playground Love" was used in a Levi's jeans commercial (2002). A number of their songs are used as the background music for the BBC 2 show "Top Gear" in their films about exotic sports cars. They recently contributed to Charlotte Gainsbourg's second album, "5:55".

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Air
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Recording

Ángela Varo Moreno To Release The Highly Anticipated Album 'Dançâ Del Aire' (Dances Of The Air)

Ángela Varo Moreno To Release The Highly Anticipated Album 'Dançâ Del Aire' (Dances Of The Air)

Source: All About Jazz

Ángela Varo Moreno continues to assert her place as a preeminent figure in the music industry through her multifaceted career as a violinist, recording artist, music educator, and live performer. Her unparalleled achievements exemplify her significant contribution to the contemporary music landscape, marked by critical acclaim and extensive media coverage. As she prepares to release her anticipated album Dançâ del Aire in October 2024, Ángela’s artistry extends beyond this record, showcasing her versatility and commitment to musical excellence. The album ...

5
Radio

Jazz Host Celebrates 40 Years On the Air

Jazz Host Celebrates 40 Years On the Air

Source: Michael Ricci

Joining Blue Lake Public Radio’s staff in the spring of 1983, Lazaro Vega has provided listeners with four decades of exceptional Jazz programming, interviews, reviews, and unwavering advocacy of this uniquely American art form. As Jazz Director at BLPR, he is encyclopedic in his knowledge of the medium and well known in the Jazz community both here in west Michigan and nationally. Lazaro continues to bring a unique perspective to his listeners through his musings, storytelling, and interpretations, helping to ...

1
Performance / Tour

Love - And Bossa Nova - Were In The Air

Love - And Bossa Nova - Were In The Air

Source: Ken Franckling's Jazz Notes

Eighteen months since its 2019-20 concert season was cut short by the pandemic, and its 2020-21 season canceled, the Charlotte County Jazz Society had music in the air again on Wednesday, September 22. A matinee “Love and Bossa Nova Live” performance by guitarist Nate Najar and Brazilian singer Daniela Soledade was a mighty welcome warm-up for the CCJS evening concert series, which resumes in October. The St. Petersburg-based couple performed for CCJS at the Grill at 1951 in Port Charlotte, ...

Video / DVD

On the Air: Jazz and Beer

On the Air: Jazz and Beer

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

Before beer became the beverage of televised college and professional sports in the U.S., it was most often linked with jazz. For TV and radio advertisers in the 1950s, '60s and the '70s, jazz meant good times, letting go and dancing. Perfect for a few cold ones. After my post yesterday on the late Urbie Green and my inclusion of a Schaefer beer ad Green appeared in, Sid Gribetz sent along a few more jazzy beer ads. I added a ...

1
For Sale

George Martin's Iconic AIR Studios For Sale [VIDEO TOUR]

George Martin's Iconic AIR Studios For Sale [VIDEO TOUR]

Source: HypeBot

London’s world-famous AIR Studios is up for sale. Founded by the late Sir George Martin in 1969, the studio, which has been located inside a converted church in Hampstead, North London since 1991, has hosted some of the biggest names in music from Sir Paul McCartney and Adele to David Gilmour, George Michael, Coldplay, Katy Perry, Liam Gallagher, and U2. Of the forthcoming sale, co-owner Richard Boote said: “The sale of AIR Studios is a significant moment in the history of the music industry. ...

1
Recording

French Jazz-Core Trio "Toc" Release "Air Bump" With The Compulsive Brass

French Jazz-Core Trio "Toc" Release "Air Bump" With The Compulsive Brass

Source: Peter Orins

After the release of Le Gorille (2009), Dance (2012), Haircut (2014) and Qeqertarsuatsiaat (2016), Toc has incorporated sounds of the bayou, the French Quarter and brass bands into their latest, Air Bump. Available on Vinyl, CD, FLAC HD, MP3. Christian Pruvost: trumpet Sakina Abdou: alto and soprano saxophone Jean-Baptiste Rubin: baritone and tenor saxophone Maxime Morel: tuba and trombone Jérémie Ternoy: Fender Rhodes, piano bass Ivann Cruz: guitar ...

1
Radio

SiriusXM Launches VOLUME Music Talk Channel, Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame To Unveil 2017 Nominees Live On Air Tuesday

SiriusXM Launches VOLUME Music Talk Channel, Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame To Unveil 2017 Nominees Live On Air Tuesday

Source: HypeBot

VOLUME, SiriusXM's new talk-radio channel devoted to the discussion of music launched this morning. Among the channel's first scores is the live unveiling of the 2017 nominees for Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The 2017 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees will be announced on Tuesday October 18, at 8 am ET by Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation CEO Joel Peresman and 2014 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Stevie Van Zandt, live on Feedback, SiriusXM's ...

1
Career

Traveling With Instruments? The US Department Of Transportation Just Simplified Air Travel For Musicians

Traveling With Instruments? The US Department Of Transportation Just Simplified Air Travel For Musicians

Source: HypeBot

U.S. Department of Transportation has issued a final rule implementing section 403 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, requiring U.S. airlines to accept musical instruments as carry-on or checked baggage on commercial passenger flights, provided that certain conditions are met. The rule states musicians must store smaller instruments in an approved location either overhead or under the seat, but that even oddly shaped instruments such as a violin or guitar will be recognized as approved carry-ons and ...

1
Career

How to Promote Your Music Using Google's Hangouts on Air

How to Promote Your Music Using Google's Hangouts on Air

Source: HypeBot

By Yannick Ilunga from CD Baby's DIY Musician. When it comes to online promotion, there is a social media that is often ignored by musicians: . While its potential has been recognized and utilized by many entrepreneurs around the world, for quite many musicians Google Plus is still unexplored territory. However, while it is true that it may be trailing behind Twitter and Facebook in popularity and usage, Google Plus offers incredible opportunities for promotion and music marketing through the ...

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TV / Film

"Jazz Unlimited" to Re-Air Documentary on St. Louis Jazz History Starting Sunday, July 6

"Jazz Unlimited" to Re-Air Documentary on St. Louis Jazz History Starting Sunday, July 6

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

Starting this coming Sunday, July 6, Dennis Owsley's “Jazz Unlimited" program will begin re-broadcasting Owsley's ten-part audio documentary on “The Jazz History of St. Louis." “This ten-week documentary is the second longest music documentary in the history of radio and certainly the longest music documentary in St. Louis radio (I did the second longest in St. Louis in 1987)," wrote Owsley in a recent email to StLJN. Of course, since he literally wrote the book on St. Louis jazz history ...

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