Music Industry News

Saxophonist Osby teams up with jazz legend Willie Akins

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
April 6, 2009

Alto saxophonist Greg Osby is among the foremost jazz artists of his generation. His albums for the esteemed Blue Note label, including “Art Forum" (1996), “Banned in New York" (1998) and “Channel Three" (2005), set a standard for improvisational risk-taking. Osby's popularity is international, and his eye for talent is admirable: Acclaimed pianist Jason Moran first got noticed as a member of his band. But Osby, a St. Louis native, remains in awe of his role model: tenor saxophonist and ...

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Actors and Studios Said to be Close to New Contract

Source: Michael Ricci
April 6, 2009

After weeks of back-channel talks, Hollywood's biggest actor union and the major studios appear to have broken their logjam and could be close to reaching an agreement on a new three-year contract, according to people close to the situation.

The agreement would come as a breakthrough for the Screen Actors Guild, whose members have been working without a contract for nine months as various attempts at negotiations with the studios collapsed amid acrimony and frustration. Talks picked up again after ...

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Wynton Marsalis Remembering the Duke

Source: Michael Ricci
April 5, 2009

In Duke Ellington's world, people are smiling, they are dancing and they are making love. They're having a good time because his music's most basic concern is uplift of the human spirit.

It's a music that celebrates freedom of expression, freedom of choice. That's why we love it. It wants us to love being ourselves and to revel in the majesty of life.

The arrival in April 29, 1999 marked the centennial of the birth of Edward Kennedy (Duke) Ellington, ...

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Strike Seen as Likely at New York City Opera

Source: Michael Ricci
April 5, 2009

Efforts by the New York City Opera to get back on its feet hit a road bump road Friday when a union leader cited what he called the likelihood of a strike by singers, chorus members and production staff members.

The official, Alan Gordon, said he had sent a letter to singers agents accusing City Opera management of trying to void the contract unilaterally to extract concessions. When announcing the companys 2009-10 season, its general manager and artistic director, George ...

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Why Legalizing Marijuana Makes Sense

Source: All About Jazz
April 5, 2009

For the past several years, I've been harboring a fantasy, a last political crusade for the baby-boom generation. We, who started on the path of righteousness, marching for civil rights and against the war in Vietnam, need to find an appropriately high-minded approach to life's exit ramp.

In this case, I mean the high-minded part literally. And so, a deal: give us drugs, after a certain age say, 80 all drugs, any drugs we want. In return, we will give ...

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Gifter-in-Chief Michelle Obama Gives Carla Bruni a Guitar

Source: All About Jazz
April 5, 2009

Much has been said about the Obamas gift giving recently. The Queens Ipod, the DVDs given to Gordon Brown after his visit to the White House.

But Michelle Obama may have struck the right cord (((that's “chord"))) with her gift to her newest friend, Carla Bruni -Sarkozy.

After meeting the wife of French President Sarkozy, Mrs. Obama gave Carla Bruni an acoustic Gibson guitar. (((I wonder if it was strung and tuned. By a really hip, musical Secret Service guy.))) ...

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Carlos Santana Wants Obama to Legalize Pot

Source: All About Jazz
April 4, 2009

Guitar legend says money for teachers, education would transform country

President Barack Obama brushed off a question about legalizing marijuana in his online town hall last month, but guitar god Carlos Santana says he wishes he would seriously consider it.

“Legalize marijuana and take all that money and invest it in teachers and in education,” Santana said in an interview this week. “You will see a transformation in America.”

During his online town hall on March 26, Obama fielded a ...

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Ex-Beatle Harrison to Get Hollywood Star

Source: All About Jazz
April 4, 2009

Paul McCartney may have a knighthood, but it’s George Harrison who is receiving the royal treatment from the Hollywood Walk of Fame this month.

Harrison will receive a star on the fabled walk on April 14, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce announced Friday. His widow, Olivia Harrison, and his son, Dhani, are expected to attend the unveiling.

Harrison, who died of cancer in 2001, already shares a Walk of Fame star with all four of the Beatles, but only he ...

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