Music Industry News

Stefon Harris Signs Exclusive Recording Agreement with Concord Jazz

Source: All About Jazz
February 11, 2009

Concord Jazz is proud to announce that vibraphonist-composer, Stefon Harris, has signed an exclusive recording contract with the label. The GRAMMY nominated musician has been hailed as one of the most important young artists in jazz (Los Angeles Times), and is widely recognized by both peers and critics alike for his innovative compositions, blazing new paths on the vibraphone and marimba. Harris Concord debut is scheduled to be released in late 2009. Harris passion, talent and energetic stage presence have ...

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Troubling Coverups

Source: Rifftides by Doug Ramsey
February 9, 2009

In the act of playing music, it is impossible to separate the process from the product. Or, it was. In an important piece of journalism, Eric Felten turns a floodlight on the technological airbrushing of live performances in an effort to insure perfection. Felten's Wall Street Journal essay emphasizes that two recent massive public events in the United States masked actual performance. One was the Super Bowl, with Jennifer Hudson singing “The Star Spangled Banner." The other was President Obama's ...

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Sat Eye Candy: Beatles Arrive

Source: JamBase
February 8, 2009

THE DAY AMERICA GOT ITS FIRST LOOK AT THE LADS

On this day in 1964, The Beatles arrived at JFK Airport to begin their first U.S. tour. Mythic creatures after their meteoric U.K. ascension, the already “Fab Four" stepped off the plane to an estimated crowd of 3,000 - with weird Phil Spector, who'd booked himself onto their flight right behind them. While there's been an over-deification of The Beatles' music in the years since, there's no denying that certain ...

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At 70 Legendary Jazz Label Asks Now What?

Source: Michael Ricci
February 7, 2009

At a recent 70th-anniversary reception for Blue Note Records at Dizzys Club Coca-Cola, the alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson played his trademark hit, “Alligator Boogaloo," from 1967.

Norah Jones, who made her multiplatinum debut in 2002, mingled at the bar. And presiding over the evening was Bruce Lundvall, who has run the label for the last 25 years.

Mr. Donaldson, Ms. Jones and Mr. Lundvall represent points along a continuum in the history of the most storied label in jazz. Founded ...

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Producers Track Record as a Label Executive is Raising Questions

Source: Michael Ricci
February 7, 2009

Less than two years after Sony Music Entertainment made a daring move by hiring the legendary music producer Rick Rubin to run its Columbia Records label, the company is learning a lesson from baseball: sometimes the best players dont make the best managers.

Sony hired Mr. Rubin a founder of Def Jam Records who has produced hits for Run-DMC, the Beastie Boys, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Johnny Cash hoping the appointment would lead to a new business model ...

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Artist of Famed Obama Poster Arrested in Boston

Source: Michael Ricci
February 7, 2009

L.A.-based artist Shepard Fairey created the now-ubiquitous graphic of Obama, who wrote to him, Your images have a profound effect on people.

BOSTON -- A street artist famous for his red, white and blue “Hope" posters of President Obama has been arrested on warrants accusing him of tagging property with graffiti, police said today.

Shepard Fairey, 38, was arrested Friday night on his way to the Institute of Contemporary Art for a kickoff event for his first solo exhibition, called ...

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Las Vegas is One Long Happy Hour

Source: Michael Ricci
February 7, 2009

I love martinis. I average about two a year, usually here in Las Vegas, where they are known to spawn. A cold glass of beer is a splendid sight, and a glass of Chardonnay has a lovely sort of moon glow. But a martini comes with that great stiletto heel.

And after the first sip of my very first martini, I become disoriented and hopelessly lost. We'd arrived in Vegas at 5 p.m., Posh and I, and by 6 we ...

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L.A. to Consider Landmark Status for Puppet Theater

Source: Michael Ricci
February 6, 2009

Fans turn out at a commission meeting to voice support for the Bob Baker Marionette Theater, which is struggling to stay afloat.

Pinocchio danced on the table and wise-cracking Fred Mingo sat on it Thursday as they helped convince Los Angeles officials to consider making a marionette theater near downtown an official city cultural site.

Fans of longtime puppeteer Bob Baker pleaded for his puppet stage and workshop at 1345 W. 1st St. to be protected with the landmark designation ...

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