Jazz News

Newport Beach Jazz Party: Feb. 17-20, 2011

Source: John Kelman
January 4, 2011

The upcoming Presidents' Day Weekend marks the opening of the 11th Annual Newport Beach Jazz Party, which spotlights “Right Down The Middle And Straight Ahead" jazz at the Marriott Newport Beach Hotel in Southern California. The four-day event, Feb. 17 through 20, 2011, kicks off Thursday, 8 p.m., with guitarist/vocalist John Pizzarelli's tribute to Duke Ellington, “Rockin' In Rhythm," with the Swing Seven led by drummer Jeff Hamilton. Also scheduled is clarinetist Ken Peplowski's quartet and pianist Larry Fuller's trio. ...

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Alligator Records Begins 40th Anniversary Celebration with New Shemekia Copeland & Roomful of Blues

Source: Chris M. Slawecki
January 4, 2011

As 2011 kicks off, Alligator Records, the company The Washington Post calls “the premiere blues label in the United States," celebrates its 40th anniversary. The celebration kicks off with the January 18 release of Hook, Line & Sinker from the kings of horn-driven swing, jump blues and early rock 'n' roll, Roomful of Blues, and Deluxe Edition, a collection of some of the finest blues, rock, soul and R&B tracks from one of the greatest blues voices of this (or ...

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Dave Brubeck Tops CMJ Jazz Charts

Source: Chris M. Slawecki
January 4, 2011

Dave Brubeck Celebrates 90th Birthday as Critically-Acclaimed Dave Brubeck: Legacy of a Legend Two-disc Collection Tops CMJ Charts

Released in advance of jazz legend Dave Brubeck's 90th birthday on December 6, Dave Brubeck: Legacy of a Legend, the artist's recently released two-disc compilation of tracks from 1954-1970, bulleted 18 positions, from #19 to #1, on the CMJ Jazz Top 40 chart as the album garnered critical acclaim and coast-to-coast airplay.

Dave Brubeck: Legacy of a Legend has reached #13 on ...

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Africa's Golden Age Revisited: Chopteeth Live!

Source: Chris M. Slawecki
January 4, 2011

Bursting with old-school big band power, Afrobeat crew Chopteeth know how to turn skeptical foot-tappers into shirt-whirling, wolf-whistling believers. The group regularly fills DC's dance floors with nostalgic African fans and American-born converts to the style exemplified by the now revered Fela Kuti. They've supported diverse acts from Aaron Neville to Gov't Mule, from Konono No. 1 to Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars. Chopteeth Live (Grigri Discs; February 1st) captures that full-on energy, with a heavy-hitting horn section, layers of ...

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Hip Hop Legend, Artist and Jazz Saxophonist Richard Lee Sisco Jr. Passed Away at 50

Source: Andre' Jenkins
January 4, 2011

Richard Lee Sisco Jr. a jazz saxophonist, artist and hip hop legend celebrated for his early contributions to the hip hop culture since the early 70's passed away on Tuesday, December 14th 2010 at Albert Einstein Hospital in the Bronx, from colon cancer, he was 50. Known as one of the hip hop flyer kings through-out the 70's along side Phase 2 & Buddy Esquire, Richard Sisco is predominately recognized for his iconic 1984 performance as “Sisco Kid" in the ...

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Sony Holland plays Kuumbwa Jazz (2/26) & The Rrazz Room (2/27)

Source: Sony Holland
January 4, 2011

Saturday, February 26, 2011 @ 8pm Kuumbwa Jazz Center 320 Cedar St # 2 Santa Cruz, CA 95060 Time: 8:00 p.m. / Price: $20 Advance tickets online at: brownpapertickets.com or by phone:800-838-3006 More info: 408-888-4784 Sunday, February 27 @ 3pm The Rrazz Room 222 Mason Street San Francisco, CA 94102 Time: 3:00 p.m. / Price: $25 Advance tickets ...

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Ray Charles Trumpeter David Hoffman Brings A "Calmness of Sprit" With His New CD Release

Source: Glass Onyon PR - Keith James
January 4, 2011

Peoria, IL—David Hoffman approaches music from several perspectives. Traveling the world as trumpet soloist/arranger with the legendary Ray Charles, and his extensive experience in the world of Jazz formed an artistic platform, that enhanced his performance on stage and in recording projects. His current environment plays an important role in the inspiration behind his passion for music and nature to gently flow together. Having played with Ray for the last 13 years of his illustrious career, Hoffman moved back to ...

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B.J. Jansen and T.C. The 3rd to Release New Album on ARC

Source: JM Creative
January 4, 2011

B.J. Jansen and T.C. the 3rd have collaborated on a new album featuring the Uptown Jazz Collective on Artists Recording Collective. The new release, She Do What She Do (ARC-2260), features original compositions, standards as well as spoken word performances. Jansen and T.C. have dedicated She Do What She Do to the memories of Trudy Pitts (T.C.'s late Mother), Sid Simmons, Andy McCloud, Charles Fambrough, James Moody, Abbey Lincoln and Dr. Billy Taylor. The album features the musicianship of T.C. ...

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