Music Industry News

When Ambassadors Had Rhythm

Source: Michael Ricci
June 29, 2008

When Ambassadors Had Rhythm Louis Armstrong House Museum

HALF a century ago, when America was having problems with its image during the cold war, Adam Clayton Powell Jr., the United States representative from Harlem, had an idea. Stop sending symphony orchestras and ballet companies on international tours, he told the State Department. Let the world experience what he called “real Americana": send out jazz bands instead. Jazz Ambassadors A photography exhibition of those concert tours, titled “Jam Session: ...

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Mickey Hart Band Tour

Source: All About Jazz
June 28, 2008

Mickey Hart Band Tour

Mickey Hart Band Mickey Hart is enjoying one of his busiest years ever with multiple new releases, collaborations, and up-and-coming tours. Hart will be touring behind the Mickey Hart Band this summer with a lineup that is a dream team of some of the best musicians in the live music scene.

The 18 city tour this summer includes appearances at many of the nations premiere festivals. The outing comes on the heels of the Shout! Factory ...

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Tributes to Bob Florence

Source: Rifftides by Doug Ramsey
June 28, 2008

Friends and admirers of Bob Florence, including his Limited Edition band, gathered at the Catalina Bar and Grill in Hollywood on June 15 to pay tribute to the arranger, composer, leader and pianist.. Florence died exactly a month earlier at the age of seventy-five. In Florence's honor, the piano remained silent. A jazz fan and videographer, Mike Kaiser, captured the Limited Edition playing Billy Strayhorn's “Chelsea Bridge in Florence's arrangement and posted it on the Daily Motion web site. The ...

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Ask David Amram

Source: Night Lights Classic Jazz
June 27, 2008

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Revisiting Latin Jazz Classics: Manhattan Mambo, Hilton Ruiz

Source: The Latin Jazz Corner by Chip Boaz
June 27, 2008

he Revisiting series features albums from the past that played a significant role in Latin Jazz history. The purpose of this series is to introduce new Latin Jazz listeners to important albums and look back at these albums in historical perspective. Each entry will jump to a different point in Latin Jazz history - this week well visit 1992. When a Latin Jazz musician reaches their artistic prime, the future either holds possibilities or lost potential. Fueled by creative fires, ...

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Ernestine Anderson's Predicament

Source: Rifftides by Doug Ramsey
June 26, 2008

Around 1955 (I must have been in kindergarten), I went to a concert at the 5th Avenue Theater in Seattle and for the first time heard Ernestine Anderson. She sang with a big band. I was impressed with the quality of her voice, her phrasing, her time, the lack of gimmickry in her delivery and how she looked in her beautiful red gown. A year or so later, when she was in Sweden she recorded with Harry Arnold's band. The ...

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Coldplay's Strong Sales Buck Industry Trend

Source: Michael Ricci
June 25, 2008

You can't rely as much on the traditional methods.

Near the beginning of Coldplay's free concert at Madison Square Garden on Monday night to promote its new album, “Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends," Chris Martin, the lead singer, joked with the crowd: “I understand there have been some complaints about the ticket price." The roar of 11,500 fans suggested they were quite happy. The band and its label, Capitol, also had plenty to be happy about. ...

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Notable New Artists: Estelle and Katy Perry

Source: Michael Ricci
June 25, 2008

Grammys Midway: Estelle, Katy Perry and an early look at 2008's notable new artists

The year may be at its midpoint, but when it comes to the Grammys, that mark has long since passed. With the eligibility period for next year's awards ending on Sept. 30, there's little more than three months left in the world of Grammy. Though it's admirable that the Recording Academy coincides the end of its year with the conclusion of baseball's regular season, new artists ...

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