Jazz News

Paois Records: The Little Label That Could

Source: Sheryl Lynn Thomas
January 1, 2011

What do a radio promoter in Livingston, Texas, an entertainment lawyer in Berkeley, California, a publicist in Lincoln, Massachusetts, a sales rep who is a grandfather, and an operations & marketing director balancing her laptop in one hand and young child in the other have in common? They are all on the team of San Francisco-based Patois Records strategizing a campaign around the upcoming CD release and recent Grammy nomination of label head and Latin Jazz trombonist Wayne Wallace. Wallace, ...

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New Orleans Jazz 95 Miles North of the Arctic Circle

Source: Spirit Of New Orleans Productions
January 1, 2011

Leroy Jones and Spirit of New Orleans are playing Ylläs Jazz Blues, one of the world's northernmost jazz festivals in Finnish Lapland. Helsinki-based group Spirit Of New Orleans (SONO) is headed to Ylläs in the end of January with one of New Orleans' top trumpeters, Leroy Jones, as its soloist. Ylläs Jazz Blues is one of the world's northernmost jazz festivals; it takes place in the villages of Ylläsjärvi and Äkäslompolo in the western Finnish Lapland, about 95 miles (150 ...

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Win The Stephen Anderson Trio's latest Summit CD, "Nation Degeneration"

Source: Bill Rinehart
January 1, 2011

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Now's The Time: BNY Mellon Gets Down With Jazz Musicians

Source: JCM Media
December 31, 2010

In our current economic plight in the banking industry, BNY Mellon of New York, well, is doing some pretty cool things. In addition, to actively exploring Far East Exchanges and other activities to stay solvent and increase equity, this investment firms has a strong commitment to the arts. Throughout the year, BNY allocated funds for established and up-and-coming jazz artists. In November, according to a company press release, BNY, though its Jazz Scholarship, gave $5,000 to University of Pittsburgh freshman, ...

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Saxophonist David Liebman, Named NEA Jazz Master, Pays Homage to Trane, Ornette

Source: All About Jazz @ Spinner
December 30, 2010

David Liebman got his start in the early '70s as a sideman on saxophone for such esteemed leaders as John McLaughlin, Elvin Jones and Miles Davis. Like so many others, he was initially inspired by John Coltrane, which is one of the reasons Liebman pursued and is best known for his soprano sax work, creating a nimble, pliable and surprisingly muscular sound on the instrument. Always a prolific leader who does a wide variety of projects, Liebman has released 40 ...

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Billy Taylor: 1921-2010 - Scholarly jazz ambassador considered D.C. home

Source: Michael Ricci
December 30, 2010

Billy Taylor, one of the most versatile, influential and revered figures of the jazz world, who left his mark as a pianist, composer, educator and broadcaster and made Washington's Kennedy Center one of the nation's premier concert venues for jazz, died Dec. 28 at a hospital in New York. He was 89 and had a heart attack. Dr. Taylor, who grew up in the District and derived his early musical education from local teachers and from jazz shows at the ...

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Concert: Jan 8 - John Beasley Positootly! Jazz Circle @ Blue Whale

Source: Michael Ricci
December 29, 2010

John Beasley Positootly! Jazz Circle @ The Blue Whale GRAMMY NOMINATION: BEST JAZZ INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM Positootly! (Resonance Records) John is truly an amazing pianist, imaginative composer, creative improviser and arranger. And with Positootly he created an album that people will look back as one of the first Jazz classic albums of the 21th century. WHEN: Saturday, January 8, 2011 BAND: Bennie Maupin (sax), Oscar Seaton (drums), Kevin Brandon (bass), John Beasley MUSIC: John Beasley Poistootly! Jazz Circle will feature music ...

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Jazz Legend Dr. Billy Taylor Dies at 89

Source: Michael Ricci
December 29, 2010

Jazz legend Dr. Billy Taylor died in New York on December 28 of heart failure. He was 89 years old.

Taylor was a noted pianist, and was the house pianist at Birldand early in his career, where he performed with Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis. He also appeared on stage with Cozy Coles' Quintet in Billy Rose's show, The Seven Lively Arts, and played in the pit band for Ethel Waters' show, Blue Holiday.

During his lifetime, he ...

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