Music Industry News

Gene Bertoncini: The Architecture of Jazz

Source: Rifftides by Doug Ramsey
March 26, 2009

Old pal Tim Ryan called my attention to an interview Judith Schlesinger, our leading combination jazz writer/psychotheraprist, did with guitarist Gene Bertoncini nearly a year ago. The interview ran on the All About Jazz web site, and I missed it last April. Maybe you missed it, too. It is fascinating for its insights into Bertoncini's musical thinking, his quick wit and his interchanges with Dr. Schlesinger. Verbatim transcribed interviews are far from my favorite form of journalism, but when they ...

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Heralded Digital Music Chief at EMI out After Only 11 Months

Source: Michael Ricci
March 25, 2009

EMI Music said its head of digital music, Douglas Merrill, was leaving the company he joined less than a year ago, and his business unit would be integrated into the label's operations.

The former Google chief information officer's decision to join EMI in April was heralded as a major coup for the music label. In interviews, Merrill talked excitedly about the company's embrace of digital technology and its transformation to a services company that could profit from small bands, as ...

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Notes from the Net: When Lester Met Fela; Eric Person in Iowa; Boney James Tops Billboard Chart; and More

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
March 24, 2009

Here's our weekly compilation of news and links related to jazz, improvisation, and creative music in St. Louis, including news of musicians originally from the Gateway City, recent visitors, and coming attractions, plus assorted other items of interest:* It's something of a tradition here to start this recurring feature with something Miles Davis-related, and this week there's just one such link, to a podcast tribute to Davis and Kind of Blue, hosted by Errington Thompson.* However, ...

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Elvis Costello Teams with T Bone Burnett for New Acoustic Record

Source: Billboard Magazine
March 24, 2009

Elvis Costello's newest album, “Secret, Profane & Sugarcane," sees the prolific singer-songwriter-composer returning to acoustic American roots music for the first time since his 1986 album “King of America." “Sugarcane" will be released June 2 on Hear Music. “Sugarcane" was produced by T Bone Burnett and recorded during a three-day session at Nashville's Sound Emporium Studio. Costello and Burnett have previously collaborated on “King of America" and “Spike." Costello's band for the project includes such Bluegrass and traditional country musicians ...

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Prosecutor: Spector Played 'Russian Roulette with the Lives of Women'

Source: Michael Ricci
March 23, 2009

Urging jurors to convict Phil Spector of murder Monday.

Prosecutor said the fatal shooting of an actress was the inevitable result of the legendary music producer’s “history of playing Russian roulette with the lives of women.”

Referring to a string of women who testified, Deputy Dist. Atty. Truc Do said Spector had terrorized them with guns in the three decades leading up to the 2003 death of Lana Clarkson. “By the grace of God," she said, “five other women got ...

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George Avakian is 90

Source: Rifftides by Doug Ramsey
March 23, 2009

George Avakian has produced recordings by Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Erroll Garner, Sonny Rollins, Dave Brubeck and Paul Desmond, among others. With the 78 rpm albums of Armstrong's Hot Fives and Hot Sevens that he oversaw for Columbia Records in the 1940s, he invented the jazz reissue.

George turned 90 this week, and there was a huge party for him at Birdland in New York City. A wide cross-section of the jazz community turned out for the celebration. ...

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Phil Spector's Second Murder Trial Winds Down as Jurors Allowed to Consider Lesser Charges

Source: All About Jazz
March 22, 2009

Six years after actress Lana Clarkson died of a gunshot wound at Phil Spector's hilltop mansion, lawyers will once again deliver final arguments to a jury in the legendary music producer's murder trial.

The question hanging over these proceedings is whether this jury, unlike the one at Spector's first trial 18 months ago, will be able to reach an unanimous verdict. The first panel deadlocked 10-2 in favor of conviction.

When closing arguments in Spector's retrial begin Monday, prosecutors will ...

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Jazz Bakery Loses Lease Seeks New Site

Source: Michael Ricci
March 21, 2009

May 31 will be the club's last day at Helms Bakery complex. A fall reopening is planned.

Wistful notes continue to flow at the Jazz Bakery. But their spontaneous and tuneful cadence will soon be idle as the club, one of L.A.'s most venerable jazz institutions, prepares to close its Culver City location May 31.

“The one sure thing is that we're definitely reopening in the fall," Ruth Price, proprietor of the nonprofit club and a former jazz vocalist, told ...

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