Award / Grant News

John McLaughlin's "Floating Point" Receives Grammy Nomination

Source: All About Jazz
December 4, 2008

(Los Angeles, CA) - The 51st Annual Grammy Awards Organization has announced that guitarist John McLaughlin's Floating Point (2008 Abstract Logix Records) has been nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best Contemporary Jazz Album. Winners will be announced on February 8, 2009. Floating Point was recorded in India for Abstract Logix Records and MediaStarz. McLaughlin used many of that country's finest young musicians on the recording. He likes to call them the “young lions of India." Contrary to ...

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Grammy Awards Blow Their Own Horn with Nomination Concert

Source: Michael Ricci
December 4, 2008

The Grammy Museum will open downtown this weekend, but on Wednesday night the venerable awards brand was trying to prove it's no relic in this “American Idol" era. The nominations for the 51st Annual Grammy Awards were announced Wednesday not at some early-morning news conference -- as they have been in the past -- but sprinkled in a one-hour prime-time special featuring performances by Celine Dion, Mariah Carey and other stars singing classic songs at the Nokia Theatre. It was ...

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Grammy Reactions: Album, New Artist, Snubs and Surprises

Source: Michael Ricci
December 4, 2008

The Times' pop music critic Ann Powers and Pop & Hiss' co-editor Todd Martens discuss the nominations for the 51st annual Grammy Awards. They were filmed outside the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles immediately following the announcements.

Reaction: Soul and R&B dominate the best new artist category, with two exceptions: country-rock newcomers Lady Antebellum and Disney-trained stars the Jonas Brothers. Give the Grammys credit: In a category that has long nominated artists well into their career, this ...

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Ahmad Jamal's "It's Magic" is Record of the Year and Best Jazz of the Year

Source: All About Jazz
December 4, 2008

Jazz Legend Ahmad Jamal's Latest CD It's Magic is NPR's Best Jazz of the Year

It's Magic is Jazzman Magazine's Record of the Year

Ahmad Jamal on Tour in Continual Support of the Album

New York, NY Preeminent jazz piano master Ahmad Jamal's latest CD, It's Magic was chosen today as one of the Best Jazz of the Year on NPR's Best CDs of 2008 series. It's Magic also won Record of the Year in the renowned annual Jazzman Magazine ...

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Grammy Award Nominations Announced

Source: Michael Ricci
December 3, 2008

Grammy Nominations Are Announced The British band Coldplay, which released “Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends,” earned a total seven Grammy Award nominations.

Lil Wayne, whose album “Tha Carter III” has been one of 2008’s great commercial success stories, received eight nominations, including Album of the Year, Best Rap Album and Best Rap Song (for “Lollipop”). Another blockbuster act, Coldplay, scored seven nominations, including Album of the Year (for “Viva La Vida or Death and ...

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To Quincy Jones, for Showing the Way ...

Source: All About Jazz
December 2, 2008

Harvard Gives Its First Annual Mentor Of The Year Award To A Man Whoes Worked With Everyone From Ray Charles To South Central Gang Members.

On Jan. 25, Harvard University gave its first Mentor of the Year award to musician Quincy Jones, the multi-Grammy-winning producer, arranger and songwriter, who has worked with everyone from Count Basie and Frank Sinatra to Ray Charles and Michael Jackson.

Dr. Jay Winsten, associate dean of the Harvard School of Public Health, which is honoring ...

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Ariana Solotoff South Pasadena Teen Wins State Viola Championship

Source: All About Jazz
December 1, 2008

15-year-old Ariana Solotoff won the state viola championship at the prestigious California ASTA (American String Teachers Association) State Solo Competition, junior division (through age 18) at UC Davis.

The competition brought together the finest young strings players from throughout California.

The win entitles her to participate in ASTA's 2009 National Solo Competition, which will be held in Atlanta, Georgia next March. Joshua Bell is a past winner of this important national competition.

Solotoff has played violin since she was in ...

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2008 Detroit Blues Challenge Finals Champions Crowned

Source: Just Roots PR
November 30, 2008

The 6th Annual Detroit Blues Challenge Finals were contested on Sunday, November 23, 2008 at the Magic Bag in Ferndale and we are pleased to announce the winners in those competitions and they are:

Solo/Duo Division -John Latini Ypsilanti, Mi. John Latini prefaces each song with a story who he wrote it with, where they were, etc. It's the same way American Indians introduce themselves, by identifying their clan. It keeps you connected, solidifies your bonds. Music success ...

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