Music Industry News

Jazz and Folk Intermingle - Paying It Forward

Source: Ken Franckling's Jazz Notes
October 23, 2009

Louis Armstrong is credited with saying: “All music is folk music; I ain't never heard no horse sing a song." Another variation on the quote is “All music is folk music, because we're all just folk."Quotations aside, there are some interesting jazz-folk synergies at work this autumn. Some may have been surprised when 90-year-old folk troubadour Pete Seeger was featured September 19 in a prime-time performance at the Monterey Jazz Festival. He got a standing ovation when he walked on ...

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Bill Cosby Enters Rap Game

Source: JamBase
October 21, 2009

Bill Cosby Enters Rap Game

Bill Cosby, the 72-year-old comedian, sitcom, and Pudding Pop legend, is entering the rap game with Bill Cosby Presents the Cosnarati: State of Emergency. Set for release digitally on October, 20 and physically on November 24, you can hear two tracks right here, right now:

Bill Cosby

According to The Wall Street Journal ...

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When Music Meets Science

Source: Ken Franckling's Jazz Notes
October 18, 2009

In addition to their strong musical interests, John Medeski, Billy Martin and Chris Wood share interests in biology and science. The longtime bandmates melded those interests philosophically with their latest, and perhaps most ambitious project, The Radiolarians Series. It is named after the Radiolarian, a type of single-celled marine organism with a very intricate exoskeleton. MMW took an organic, evolutionary approach to the tour and the recordings that have resulted in Radiolarians: The Evolutionary Set, which is being released November ...

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Keeping the Faith, Growing the Jazz Faithful

Source: Ken Franckling's Jazz Notes
October 18, 2009

There are examples here and there of jazz clubs, jazz festivals and jazz musicians doing their part to increase the audience and give the jazzfaithful an economic break in these difficult times. Some do it low key, some even anonymously. Wynton Marsalis is doing his part. The trumpeter and Jazz at Lincoln Center artistic director will give back to his fans next mont when he opens the doors of Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola at Jazz at Lincoln Center on November 29. ...

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Michael Jackson's Single 'This is It' Dates to a 1983 Collaboration with Paul Anka

Source: Michael Ricci
October 13, 2009

Though officially released less than 24 hours ago, Michael Jackson's first posthumous single, “This Is It," has turned out to not be so new after all.

After rampant speculation Monday that the song has decades-old roots, a representative to the special administrators for the Jackson estate has confirmed that “This Is It" was originally co-written with Paul Anka in the early '80s. Anka tells Pop & Hiss that he recorded two songs with Jackson in 1983, both intended for Anka's ...

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Recording Studios Are Being Left Out of the Mix

Source: Michael Ricci
October 13, 2009

Inexpensive software is shifting music-recording to the home. Industry experts estimate that up to half of the commercial studios in the L.A. area have closed or been sold to artists for private use. Some experts estimate that half of the L.A. area's commercial studios have closed or been sold to artists for private use.

Tom McCauley didn't plan on making house calls when he started in the music business.

As a recording engineer, McCauley made a good living working out ...

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What is Jazz, Anyway?

Source: Michael Ricci
October 12, 2009

What is “jazz,” exactly? I sure as hell don’t know. And neither, I would suggest, does anyone else.

Sure, everybody knows what they think jazz is, and which particular elements music has to contain to qualify as jazz — swing, the blues, improvisation, etc. But put to the test, it turns out the word is extremely subjective.

Read more of AAJ contributor and host of The Jazz Session Jason Crane's thoughts on the meaning of this much-discussed word:

What Is ...

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Avatar Studios Makes History Once Again: Hosts First Ever “Ask the Producers” Panel for Indie Artists

Source: All About Jazz
October 12, 2009

AVATAR STUDIOS is one of the most prestigious and legendary recording facilities in the world. On Monday evening, October 19, AVATAR STUDIOS will once again make history when it will host its first ever “Ask The Producers” panel featuring Steve Lillywhite (U2, Dave Matthews Band, Peter Gabriel, XTC), Roy Hendrickson (Cheap Trick, Wilco & Feist, Jupiter One, Danielia Cotton) and Kevin Killen (Elvis Costello, Peter Gabriel, Paula Cole, Shakira). Billed as a Pre-CMJ Meet & Greet, AVATAR will open its ...

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