TV / Film News

How David Letterman, Jay Leno and Oprah Winfrey Pulled off Their Secret Super Bowl Promo

Source: Michael Ricci
February 8, 2010

To pull off the surprise Super Bowl spot he did with rival David Letterman, Jay Leno flew secretly to New York on the NBC jet last Tuesday and managed to sneak into the Ed Sullivan Theater undetected wearing a hoodie, sunglasses and a fake mustache. Rob Burnett, executive producer of the Late Show, said keeping Lenos participation under wraps was the key to preserving the effect of the 15-second promo, which featured the two late-night comedians uncomfortably watching the Super ...

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Depp Directing Keith Richards Docu

Source: All About Jazz
February 5, 2010

Actor to begin work on the project next week

Johnny Depp will direct a documentary on Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones, who served as an inspiration for Depp's Jack Sparrow character in “Pirates of the Caribbean."

A rep for Depp confirmed a recent report in the Serbian magazine Politika, in which he said he would begin work on the project next week. Depp and Richards have been friends for more than a decade. The guitar player also played Depp's ...

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Ava Lemert - Musical Guest on ABC in Sacramento "Sacramento & CO." Morning Show

Source: Michael Ricci
February 5, 2010

March 12, 2010 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM TV Channel 10 KXTV ABC News Sacramento

Ava Lemert will be the Musical Guest on SACRAMENTO AND COMPANY with Guy and Mel. The television broadcast will also be streamed live online. The video segment will also be available here. Ava will be talking about her first CD release From My Soul available now online (iTunes.com, amazon.com, CDBaby.com, cduniverse.com and in store at It's In the Mail, 1000 Sunrise ...

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Cedric Watson Featured on Music Voyager's "Road to a Grammy"

Source: rock paper scissors, inc.
February 4, 2010

Music Voyager (www.musicvoyager.com), a new music and travel series that begins broadcasting in early February 2010 in North America on PBS and internationally on Nat Geo Music & Adventure channel and other international networks, is profiling and filming Cedric Watson along with his band, Bijou Crole, as part of its Road to a Grammy special. The band's new album, L'Esprit Creole (Valcour Records), was nominated for a GRAMMY in the “Best Zydeco or Cajun Album" category.

The series' host, acclaimed ...

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Free Movie Night! "The Art of the Jazz Soloist" at Tribeca PAC

Source: Michael Ricci
February 2, 2010

Scenes Through the Cinema Lens is an original retrospective focusing on the performing arts in film. Each screening examines a different theme and allows audiences to enjoy selections from well-to lesser-known films. With its strong focus on jazz orchestras and vocalists, this years series will highlight several of the great performers who appeared at the Lost Jazz Shrines and rarely seen footage of luminaries such as Count Basie, Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. Make Tuesday the New Friday ...

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Jazz It Up! Episode 10, Season 2: Christian McBride Big Band, Eric Person Trio, Jon Hendricks, Robin D.G. Kelley, Vintage Oscar Peterson

Source: Michael Ricci
February 1, 2010

One of the hardest working men in jazz, bassist Christian McBride, leads a big band at the Iridium in New York City for the last episode of season 2 of Jazz it Up! In the first of two feature songs, tenor saxophonist Todd Williams caresses a blues as McBride co-signs on bass and voice; during the second, McBride's uptempo composition “The Shade of the Cedar Tree," the big band lifts the groove high, as McBride relates details about his upcoming ...

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New Jazz Film: They Died Before 40

Source: Michael Ricci
January 30, 2010

Many people may have heard of Charlie Parker, who died at 34. But others, such as Herschel Evans, who died before reaching 30, are very little known and their stories untold. For example, Jo Jones, drummer and an integral part of the Count Basie band for many years, has called Evans the greatest musician he ever played with. He said that Evans made everyone he played with better.

Who was this giant, what made him an important creative artist and ...

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"Hope for Haiti Now" Telethon Jay-Z, U2, Young Raise $58 Million

Source: JamBase
January 26, 2010

“Hope for Haiti Now" Telethon Featuring: Jay-Z, U2, Beyonce, Springsteen Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Stevie Wonder And More Raise More than $58 million

Last Friday (January 22), the “Hope for Haiti Now" telethon aired on national and cable television, raising over $58 million, a record for a disaster-relief telethon.

Hosted by George Clooney, the night featured a plethora of super stars, including Bruce Springsteen, Coldplay, Stevie Wonder, Christina Aguilera, Madonna, Sting, Shakira, Justin Timberlake, Mary J. Blige and ...

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