Music Industry News

Texas Gypsies Serve up Vintage Jazz, Hepcat Crooning

Source: All About Jazz
October 20, 2008

Sometimes it’s just fate working its magic, or in this case, its gypsy magic. That was the case with the Texas Gypsies, a band that snacks on eclecticism for breakfast, serving up a granola mix of throwback, cool, hepcat ‘30s/’40s jazz smooshed together harmoniously and fortuitously with its sister sound, Western swing. The Dallas-Fort Worth area group, which will open the fall season of the Performing Arts Series Thursday night at the Kemp Center for the Arts, didn’t come together, ...

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When Betty Met the Duke: Betty Roche

Source: Night Lights Classic Jazz
October 20, 2008

“Betty Roche was an unforgettable singer," Duke Ellington wrote of his former vocalist in 1973. “She never sounded like anybody but Betty Roche." Roche, the so-called “blues specialist" whom some consider to be one of the best vocalists Ellington ever had, replaced the popular Ivie Anderson in Ellington's band in late 1942, just as the American Federation of Musicians ban on commercial recordings was about to take effect; it was the first of several bad breaks that gave her an ...

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Other Places: More About Nica

Source: Rifftides by Doug Ramsey
October 20, 2008

In The New York Times, Barry Singer has an update to the story of the remarkable Baroness Pannonica de Koenigswarter, friend and supporter of major musicians including Charlie Parker and Thelonious Monk. The Baroness is seen here with Monk in a well-known photograph. She died twenty years ago. Singer writes:

A Rothschild heiress, she offered her home to countless jazzmen as a place to work and even live, while quietly paying their bills when they couldn't find work. ...

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Cedar Walton Live in Laurel

Source: Rifftides by Doug Ramsey
October 20, 2008

Rifftides Washington, DC, correspondent John Birchard journeyed out of the district last weekend to hear pianist Cedar Walton and his trio. Here is John's review.

Smack in the middle of the mainstream - that's where you'll find Cedar Walton, still creative at the age of 74. The pianist brought his current trio to the Montpelier Arts Center in suburban Laurel, Maryland, on Friday, October 18, for an evening of warmly-received performances. On his way up, Walton worked with ...

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Happy Birthday, Chuck Berry !!!

Source: JamBase
October 19, 2008

HAIL, HAIL ROCK 'N' ROLL THE MASTER TURNS 82 TODAY!

“Wanna see my ding-a-ling?" There are some musicians threaded into the DNA of things and there's zero doubt that an intrinsic part of rock's double helix is Chuck Berry. A pair of quotes at the beginning of his Wikipedia entry sum it up well:

“Of all the early breakthrough rock & roll artists, none is more important to the development of the music than Chuck Berry. He is ...

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Clax Speaks, Hefti Swings

Source: Rifftides by Doug Ramsey
October 19, 2008

William Claxton, the master photographer who died a week ago, was a great raconteur. A sample of that side of his personality is available on the internet. In 1988, Terri Gross interviewed Claxton on her National Public Radio program Fresh Air. He discussed his experiences photographing, among others, Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, Gerry Mulligan and Chet Baker. To hear the conversation, go here and click on “Listen Now."

As a bonus, listen to Felix Contreras's short biography of arranger and ...

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Award-Winning Ambrosia Restaurant Announces New Fall Menu

Source: All About Jazz
October 19, 2008

The award-winning Ambrosia Restaurant is pleased to announce the new winter menu is now available. The 5-star Ambrosia Restaurant features contemporary French cuisine and is located inside the OC Pavilion performing arts center in Santa Ana. The menu changes with the seasons to ensure that guests are offered the best choices, including seafood, steaks, chicken, lamb chops and veal. Dinner guests are also treated to a live jazz performance, Wednesday through Saturday. Ambrosias menu features a celebration of the seasonal ...

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Happy Birthday, Wynton Marsalis

Source: All About Jazz
October 18, 2008

Equally accomplished at jazz and classical music, bandleader and trumpeter Wynton Marsalis was the first jazz musician to win the Pulitzer Prize. The Early Years Wynton Marsalis was born on October 18, 1961, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Musical roots run deep in his family; his father is jazz pianist Ellis Marsalis, and three of Wynton’s six brothers, Branford, Jason and Delfeo, are also professional musicians. By the time he was 12 years old, Wynton Marsalis was seriously studying the ...

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