Music Industry News

Disc Shelf: A Place to Release Albums

Source: All About Jazz
February 3, 2009

Recently a service for musicians was opened. The service is called Disc Shelf and allows musicians to upload their music and present it to their listeners in form of albums: singles, EPs, LPs, promo discs and WIPs (work in progress). Each album receives a unique URL for distribution. The whole idea of the project is to have works online that would have no ratings, comments, no weird menus and without it looking like a web page. ...

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Christian McBride: 20 Years

Source: JamBase
February 1, 2009

Bassist Christian McBride Celebrates His 20th Dynamic Year As a Solo Artist, Band Leader, Educator, Artistic Director and Artist in Residence

Christian McBride Since 1989 when bassist Christian McBride moved to New York at the age of 17, the Philadelphia native has been one of the most important and influential artists of his generation. He's not only developed into a top-tier solo artist who is equally adept on acoustic and electric bass, but he's also been the go-to ...

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Joe Mooney: Sauter-Finegan

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
February 1, 2009

The other day I posted on singer-pianist Joe Mooney and his two fabulous albums for Columbia in 1963. To shed light on Mooney and these vital recordings, I spoke with guitarist Mundell Lowe, who wrote the arrangements for both LPs. Today, I'm focusing on Mooney's five brief recordings with the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra in 1952 and 1953. I'm also going to share with you a conversation I had yesterday with a 1950s music executive who played a major role in Mooney's ...

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Aretha Franklins Inauguration Hat May Head for Smithsonian

Source: All About Jazz
January 31, 2009

The Smithsonian Museum wants Aretha Franklins Inauguration Day hat.

The Queen of Souls big-bowed headgear has been a hot property since the legendary singer belted America the Beautiful at Barack Obamas presidential inauguration on January 20, with the Los Angeles Times reporting that the hats designer, Luke Song, has been overwhelmed with demand for the $179 item. (Arethas custom-made version cost over $500.)

But while the Smithsonian wants the original, Arethas not sure if she wants to give it up. ...

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Joe Mooney: Greatness and Happiness

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
January 30, 2009

If you dig jazz with a swinging pop feel, you need to know about Joe Mooney. The singer, who had four different recording careers (one in the 1930s, 1940s, 1950s and 1960s) isn't well known today. But Mooney remains an inspiration and favorite of jazz legends who have made a career out of good taste. Just last week, guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli told me that he still thinks about Mooney before he plays a chord. Yesterday I spoke with guitar legend ...

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If Fred Astaire Got Grit and Was Swept up by Cuban Orishas

Source: All About Jazz
January 30, 2009

Dancer and percussionist Max Pollak has performed for Fidel Castro one night and rural Cuban sugar workers the next. He has painstakingly transcribed a Mongo Santamaria timbales solo for six tap dancers and has traded moves (and shoes) with Cubas rumba masters. It all started when Pollak realized he not only wanted to play Afro-Cuban music, he wanted to dance it. Not dance to it; but audibly create the rhythms with his feet and hands. Its as if Fred Astaire ...

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Jazz St. Louis Seeking Input on Bistro Bookings

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
January 30, 2009

Jazz St. Louis is looking for input from local jazz fans regarding who they'd like to see booked next season at Jazz at the Bistro. Interested individuals may offer their opinions by responding to a survey that went up today on the Jazz St. Louis Web site. (To find the poll, look in the right-hand column of the front page, about halfway down.)Musicians under consideration for the Bistro's 2009-10 season include Alyssa Graham, Bill Charlap, the Caribbean Jazz ...

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The Jazz Hang: 2009 - The Year of Live Music

Source: Seattle Jazz Scene
January 29, 2009

Well, here it is the New Year again. It seems I should have some inspiring personal missive or perhaps a bold, optimistic profundity to share. But the truth is people: I got nothing. Oh sure, I’m plenty excited for the January 20th inauguration. Even though the election was back in November, I still grapple to find the words to express how it feels to be alive during such an unprecedented moment in history. Trust me, it’s big stuff for me...for ...

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