Festival News

Charles Mingus High School Competition and Festival

Source: Michael Ricci
January 28, 2011

The 3rd Annual Charles Mingus High School Competition and Festival will be taking place February 18㬑, 2011. Sue Mingus and Justin DiCioccio, are the producers. This year's Mingus High School Competition and Festival will be bringing some of the country's most talented young jazz musicians to New York City. Twelve schools will be represented coming from California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey and New York—to Manhattan School of Music. Saturday, February 19 (afternoon beginning at 12:00 pm) will offer an ...

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Coachella: It's Already Sold Out!

Source: Digital Music News
January 28, 2011

In retrospect, it seems rather obvious. Of course a three-day mega-festival in the middle of a scorching desert, hours from major cities, and with tickets hovering around $300 would work! Who would have thought otherwise?

Actually, there was a moment when Coachella seemed like a total prayer. And at one point, according to the organizers, Coachella was almost cancelled. But this year, that was hardly a consideration: just one week after going on sale, Coachella 2011 is now totally sold ...

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26th Annual Jewish Music Fest with Yemen Blues

Source: rock paper scissors, inc.
January 27, 2011

Fervent Blues, Haunting Songs: The 26th Annual Jewish Music Festival Transforms Traditions from Yemen to Cuba as Premier Platform for New Jewish Music, March 5㬉, 2011

It started with a knock on Festival Director Eleanor Shapiro's door. There stood Avner Yonai, an Israeli businessman who had searched record bins and archives from Buenos Aires, Warsaw, and Jerusalem in search of the repertoire his grandfather had played in a Polish Jewish mandolin orchestra before World War II.

“Avner came to me ...

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Piano Lessons for Baby Boomers Now Online

Source: Edward Weiss
January 26, 2011

Educator and accredited piano instructor Edward Weiss has recently updated his unique online piano course. It's designed to take anyone from zero to piano composer in less than 30 days—especially those 50 years of age or older. And even better, it's all done over the internet in the privacy and ease of one's home. Almost everyone has unfulfilled dreams, and for many of us over 50 one of those dreams is playing an instrument. The ability to simply sit down ...

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Newport Goes Nonprofit, Not for Nothing

Source: Ken Franckling's Jazz Notes
January 26, 2011

Last summer, founding producer George Wein said he wanted to find a way to keep his two legacy music festivals going well into perpetuity. This week, Wein, 85, in his sixth decade as a festival producer, made good on it. The Newport Jazz Festival, which began in 1954, and the Newport Folk Festival, which started five years later, are returning to their roots as nonprofit events. Both will be produced by Wein and his staff under the auspices of Newport ...

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The 3rd Annual "We Are One Jazz Project" in Concert

Source: Michael Ricci
January 25, 2011

Project partners Howard Rees, (founder of Howard Rees' Jazz Workshops, Canada's oldest independent Jazz school), and Marilyn Field (founder of the DAREarts Foundation, well-known for its work in empowering children), proudly present a creative and timely solution to the issue of disappearing arts programs in schools. After four months of weekly rehearsals in Scarborough Junior Public Schools, they invite you to witness how the power & beauty of Jazz ignites change in young lives. In the 3rd year of our ...

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Newport Jazz & Folk Festivals Go Non-Profit Under Newport Festivals Foundation

Source: Carolyn McClair Public Relations
January 25, 2011

Famed Newport Jazz & Folk Festivals Go Non-Profit NEWPORT, RI, January 25, 2011—The famed Newport Jazz Festival® and Newport Folk Festival ®, held in Newport, RI, since 1954 and 1959 respectively, have returned to their original roots as non-profit events. The Festivals will now be produced under the umbrella of Newport Festivals Foundation, Inc., a newly-formed 501(c)(3) organization. They will still be produced by George Wein and his veteran staff. “The Foundation will perpetuate the history of jazz and folk ...

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New Orleans Jazzfest: Arcade Fire, Boni Jovi, Buffet, Wilco

Source: JamBase
January 21, 2011

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival today announced the music lineup for the 2011 Festival scheduled for April 29—May 1 and May 5׮. With twelve stages of virtually every style of roots music, Jazz Fest presents one of the entertainment world's most diverse music lineups, including its unparalleled showcase of Louisiana's unique culture. Hundreds of thousands of fans annually flock to the seven-day event that has been called America's best festival. Arcade Fire, Bon Jovi, Jimmy Buffett, Kid Rock, ...

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