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Interview

Interview: Mike Stoller (Part 2)

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
May 30, 2012

If you close your eyes, songwriter Mike Stoller sounds remarkably like comedian Larry David. The tone is distinctly New York—insistent and street smart. But unlike David, Mike's voice has tones that are more nasal and much gentler, the result of an upbringing in Queens, a borough of New York that's halfway to the suburbs of Long Island. Mike likes things simple, and leaves the angst and analysis to others. One senses that he likes to keep things light, relying on ...

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Interview

Profile: Violinist Marissa Licata - From Alicia Keys To Recording A New Album With Her Father

Source: Lauren Rogers
May 30, 2012

Q: When would you say triggered your passion for music? How old were you at the time? A: My passion for music probably started before I began playing at three. There was always music in the house because of my father. The age that I recognized a serious passion was probably around age six. I had already been playing violin for three years, and I remember listening to Handel's “Messiah" one evening while playing cards with my father. This amazing ...

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Interview

Interview: Mike Stoller (Part 1)

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
May 29, 2012

A few weeks ago I traveled to Los Angeles for the Wall Street Journal to interview Mike Stoller at his home in the Hollywood Hills. My conversation with rock 'n' roll's first successful songwriter—with hits dating back to 1951—appears in today's paper (or go here). [Photo of Jerry Leber and Mike Stoller by David Attie for Vogue's “People Are Talking" in July 1959] On June 14, the Songwriter's Hall of Fame will honor Ben E. King, Mike and his late writing ...

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Interview

Burt Bacharach: Top of the Pops

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
May 25, 2012

When I visited with Burt Bacharach at his home back in October for my Wall Street Journal interview, we spoke about the Gershwin Prize he was due to receive in May. Burt seemed a bit stunned by the enormity of the award and generous in praise of the others who had won previously. On May 8, the esteemed composer and singer was presented with the award at the White House. He also was entertained by artists singing and playing his ...

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Interview

An Interview With Rashell

Source: Lauren Rogers
May 25, 2012

Q: When did you decide to become a singer? A: When I was a little girl I was often exposed to music of many genres. I had music all around me; a lot of my family members are musically inclined. One summer I went on an overnight camp to help my grandfather. He was a preacher and was dedicated to helping people in his community and surrounding areas. It was in Tulsa, Oklahoma that I spent the night at a ...

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Interview

Putting Gil Evans in His Place

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
May 21, 2012

Gil Evans was a slow arranger. He tended to agonize over charts—at times missing deadlines as he pushed to make bigger impressionistic statements, set off more romantic contrasts or simply wound up entangled in revisions. In some cases, his focus on the music overshadowed the need to keep an eye on the clock. Hal McKusick's and Creed Taylor's separate experiences with Evans are cases in point. But Evans' tortured experiments produced magnificent results, and what wasn't recorded over the years ...

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Interview

Artist Interview: Adedeji, From West Africa To The World

Source: Lauren Rogers
May 17, 2012

Q: When would you say triggered your passion for music? How old were you at the time? A: My passion for music was triggered as far as I could remember; I was probably 5-years-old then. I seriously cannot remember how or when it started but I was teaching my sister and brother how to sing in different parts at that age so when i joined the choir, the only thing I could remember was I did not do audition like ...

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Interview

Gil Evans at 100

Source: Rifftides by Doug Ramsey
May 14, 2012

Gil Evans, who enriched the art and craft of jazz arranging, was born 100 years ago today. National Public Radio this morning ended one of its hours on Weekend Edition Sunday with a remembrance of Evans and his work. To listen to it, go here and click on “Listen Now.” Here are three pieces arranged by Evans for an all star orchestra featuring Miles Davis on a 1959 Robert Herridge CBS-TV special. They are from the 1957 Davis album Miles ...

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