TV / Film News

Costellos Spectacle a Different Look at Music

Source: All About Jazz
December 2, 2008

Singers experience, insights make music-talk show great viewing Elvis Costello's new original series Spectacle will premiere on the Sundance Channel on Dec. 3 at 9 p.m. ET.

During an interview with Elton John for the debut of his new Sundance Channel show Spectacle, Elvis Costello didn't ask about stage costumes, boyfriends or “Island Girl." Instead, the conversation turned to Laura Nyro, Leon Russell and David Ackles.

The two men closed the show, which airs Wednesday at 9 p.m., performing the ...

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What's Opera, Doc?

Source: All About Jazz
December 2, 2008

We here at All About Jazz, in our effort to include those of the finer music crowd, and to show that we Improvisers got good taste too.

We like to share for your holiday pleasure our series following on High Note, the Chuck Jones cartoon with today's selection, What's Opera, Doc. Sit back and enjoy a night at the theater. (please use the video below to view the classic. No pun intended.)

Would those of you in the cheaper seats ...

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There's No Jazz Fueling This 'Cadillac'

Source: All About Jazz
December 1, 2008

Jazz is at the roots of the Chess Records story, a legacy that's silent in “Cadillac Records." Leonard Chess broke into the local music scene in 1949 by opening the Macomba Lounge at 47th and South Karlov. The late-night club attracted jazz legends Ella Fitzgerald and Dinah Washington, who were headlining earlier in the evening at other Bronzeville venues. “[Jazz pianist] Ahmad Jamal was one of the greatest artists at Chess," says mid-1960s Chess arranger-producer Gene Barge. “Ramsey Lewis did ...

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Trouble in 'Oz': The Munchkins' Dirty Secret

Source: Michael Ricci
December 1, 2008

Snubbed at a Hollywood event, women hold own reunion to share memories of film shoot. If you thought you knew everything there was to know about the iconic film classic The Wizard of Oz, then here's a twister for you.

Everyone knows about the Munchkins, portrayed by 124 pituitary midgets in the 1939 motion picture starring Judy Garland. These days, the word “Munchkin" -- now included in some dictionaries -- is synonymous with small. Credited in the film as the ...

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"High Note" Rare Chuck Jones Cartoon

Source: All About Jazz
December 1, 2008

A rare Warner Bros cartoon, High Note (1960) doesn't include any star characters- the “stars" are a bunch of musical notes who are trying to form the music to the “Blue Danube", but one musical note is causing problems.

The sheet music for Johann Strauss' “The Blue Danube" is constructed by moving musical symbols. A baton-toting conductor note tries to direct his fellow notes in performing this musical piece, but finds that one of the notes has become drunk after ...

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Ex-MTV Exec Named as Myspace Music Chief

Source: PC Magazine
November 28, 2008

Former MTV executive Courtney Holt has been named president of MySpace Music. Holt previously served as executive vice president of digital music for MTV Networks Music and the Logo Group, where he worked to increase consumer interest in the companies' online content. MySpace Music, which combines audio streaming with download functionality powered by Amazon, made its debut in September. It currently features songs from EMI Music, Sony BMG, Universal Music Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, and indie rock aggregator The Orchard. ...

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Facebook Adds Full-Length TV Shows

Source: PC Magazine
November 26, 2008

Do you long for Facebook when you tear yourself away to watch a little television? Not to worry, the social networking site announced Monday that it is integrating full-length TV episodes into the site. “Full-length television is coming to Facebook, via a new generation of applications. Entire shows such as Grey's Anatomy, Heroes, and The Simpsons and more will be available through a wide range of TVLoop 'Addicted to...' applications and Mesmo TV," Josh Elman, a platform program manager at ...

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Gary Calamar Music Man Sets the Mood

Source: Michael Ricci
November 23, 2008

Every intense music fan presumes he or she has what it takes to be a TV or film music supervisor, and they have a box of clattering mix tapes from high school to prove it. Yes, it was clever how you started with “Please Come Home Baby" by Tom Waits and finished with Mel Torm's “Comin' Home Baby," but there's more to the job than making “High Fidelity" lists.

Or is there?

Meet Gary Calamar, a man whose ...

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