Interview News

Pianist Abdullah Ibrahim Interviewed at All About Jazz

Source: All About Jazz
March 21, 2011

For legendary pianist/composer Abdullah Ibrahim, music is always in a state of evolution. This philosophy is common to nearly all great composers, from [pianist] Duke Ellington to [trumpeter] Miles Davis and from [saxophonist] John Coltrane and [pianist] Ahmad Jamal to [guitarist] Bill Frisell. A piece of music is born, it grows and gradually matures but it never withers. And, like the Lesotho mountains, which, in part, inspired Ibrahim to revisit compositions—some of which he penned a quarter of a century ...

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Tony Adamo Reviewed By Smoothjazz.de

Source: Kl Ma
March 19, 2011

Tony Adamo's sonorous voice has a Lou Rawls-like vibrato. A former radio announcer, now a singer and songwriter. Tower of Power member Mic Gillette introduced him to Stephen “Doc" Kupka, co-founder of Tower of Power and owner of Strokeland Records. That was the start of a great friendship and a fertile collaboration. Over the next years they recorded Dance of Love (2002), Straight Up Deal (2007) and now What is Hip?. The lineup consists of Tony Adamo (vocals), Mike Clark ...

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Soundexchange Issued $252m in Royalties in 2010

Source: HypeBot
March 18, 2011

SoundExchange had its biggest year to date in 2010 wherein it dispersed $252 million in digital royalties. This brings its overall distribution to more than $600 million. Such royalty pay-out increases can be attributed to the success and growth of streaming services; increased awareness among artists and copyright holders of the need to register; and improved processing of previously unpayable balances through data clean-up. In 2010, the average royalty payment for artists was up 80% from 2009 (to $2,800) and for rights ...

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Latin Jazz Conversations: Bobby Matos (Part 2)

Source: The Latin Jazz Corner by Chip Boaz
March 19, 2011

Musical growth never occurs instantaneously, it's an evolutionary process that happens through incremental learning. Every musician starts somewhere, whether it's through contact with an instrument, hearing an inspirational recording, or getting words of wisdom from a mentor. Moving forward, their task is to piece together an understanding of music bit by bit, through a number of different experiences. The might further their technical abilities through the advice of a fellow artist or take the time to study a specific methodology ...

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Jazz great Pope tells of bipolar struggles

Source: Michael Ricci
March 18, 2011

Fellow jazzman Joe Lovano once described Odean Pope as a “bad, bad, bad, beautiful musician, man."

Anybody who has heard Pope reign supreme on tenor sax over the years couldn't argue with that. But after sitting down with Pope the other day and listening to him candidly share details of his decades-long struggle with a personal demon, I'd have to add another word to that riff of superlatives.

Courageous.

For more than 30 years, Pope has suffered from bipolar disorder, ...

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NYU Jazz Interview Series: Cindy Blackman

Source: Jazz Online By Joseph Vella
March 17, 2011

We didn't know if Cindy was going to make it to the interview as she was delayed in Europe do to a floating ash cloud that was wreaking havoc from the volcano eruption in Iceland. With flights canceled left and right, Cindy navigated her way home like a pro and arrived at the interview early and energized. Right off the bat, Cindy was warm and friendly. Instantly, she made me, and the audience, feel as if we were old friends, ...

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Interview: CEO Ian Rogers on Topspin Relaunch

Source: HypeBot
March 17, 2011

Just in time for the start of SXSW Music, Topspin today dropped its invitation only poilicy and opened its direct to fan platform to all musicians. (details here). Just prior to pushing the button on the new Topspin, CEO Ian Rogers answered questions including which artists might benefit from their expanded service and what he's planning next. HYPEBOT: Assuming that the financial terms work, would you say that Topspin would be an effective tool for any artists?  Or is their ...

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Latin Jazz Conversations: Bobby Matos (Part 1)

Source: The Latin Jazz Corner by Chip Boaz
March 17, 2011

Music forms a powerful connection with young people, and for those with a predisposition to music, it inspires any number of reactions. Every listening experience becomes a revelation, and exposure to great music will only heighten their enthusiasm. Movement becomes mandatory as they interpret the nature of the beat combined with their own instinctual emotions around the music. Singing arrives in the next step, demanding a more complete participation in the music and a personal connection. Inevitably, a young person ...

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