Jazz News

Director Polanski appears at Swiss jazz fest

Source: Michael Ricci
July 18, 2010

MONTREUX, Switzerland--The film director Roman Polanski, free after nine months of detention, arrived Saturday at the Montreux Jazz Festival in his first public appearance since being released this week from house arrest.

Polanski, 76, arrived Saturday evening in a sport utility vehicle with tinted windows. When he emerged, he brushed his fingers through his hair--a trademark gesture--then was ushered into an elevator. Security personnel protected him from an eager crush of photographers.

Polanski's wife, the actress and singer Emmanuelle Seigner, ...

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Herbie Hancock's secret of great musicianship: Do your math and science homework!

Source: Michael Ricci
July 18, 2010

If you've taken even the slightest interest in popular music over, oh, the last half-century or so, you've doubtless encountered the artistry of Herbie Hancock. Whether it's his suave jazz standards like “Watermelon Man" or his inspired guest stints as a pianist and keyboardist on scores of pop collaborations--his funky, elegant solo midway through Stevie Wonder's “As" makes his keyboard sound like it's talkin' in tongues--Hancock has placed his mark on modern music like few other performers.

Now he's got ...

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How I Got Here: From music student to jazz master

Source: Michael Ricci
July 18, 2010

How I Got Here" is a series of conversations with newsmakers about the path they took to their present place In America.

(CNN)--Jason Moran is a jazz musician who has one foot in the past, one in the future and a career grounded in the present. From the past, Moran has built on the tradition of Thelonious Monk and other jazz greats. For the future, Moran looks to a new crop of musicians, teaching the next group of performers. In ...

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David Rhodes is USA Today Pick of the Week, "Bittersweet" CD Earns Raves

Source: Seth Cohen PR
July 18, 2010

USA TODAY 'PICK OF THE WEEK' FOR INDIE DAVID RHODES: “A graceful intensity" “A flair for weaving finespun world-music textures into muscular rock arrangements" USA TODAY--The Playlist: David Rhodes' 'If It Could Only Be That Easy' By Elysa Gardner, USA TODAY, 7/13/10 The guitarist/singer/songwriter leads the charge this week... Rock and roll meets world music on David Rhodes' If It Could Only Be That Easy, from his Bittersweet album. PICK OF THE WEEK--If It Could Only Be That Easy, ...

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Gate - "Iterations" - Free Jazz / Noise / Japanese Trad. - CD Release

Source: Michael Ricci
July 18, 2010

On August 6, the new album by Gate* called 'iterations' will be released. After last year's 'no exit' and 'discomfort,' both recordings of solo improvisations, this is the first album of the project as a duo. Gate's music is somewhere in between free music (or free jazz) and noise, with important influences from industrial, drone, and Japanese and other traditional music. All releases by the project are unaltered (except for fade in/out) recordings of free improvisation sessions without ...

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Vana Gierig's group joined by Paquito D'Rivera - summer festival dates

Source: Vana Gierig
July 18, 2010

Vana is taking his group and Paquito D'Rivera to Brazil and Italy: July 20th '10: Vana's group joined by 9-time Grammy Award winner Paquito d'Rivera for a concert at the Amazonas Jazz Festival, at the historic Opera House in Manaus, Brazil. Also featuring Marcello Pellitteri (drums), Sean Conly (bass), Vinicius Barros (perc). July 21st '10: Vana Trio plus Brazilian Percussion concert at the Amazonas Jazz Festival, at the famed Opera House (Fitzcarraldo) in Manaus, Brazil. Featuring Marcello Pellitteri (drums), Sean ...

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Dave Wilson Quartet Releases "Spiral" on Summit Records

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services
July 17, 2010

The CD is out! Spiral by the Dave Wilson Quartet, featuring Dave on tenor and soprano saxophones, was released officially on June 15th, courtesy of Summit Records, a nationally based label, located in Phoenix, Arizona. This features 6 original compositions in a contemporary mode including “Spiral," “Ocean Blue," “Movin' On," “Remembering," “Summer Breezes," and “Like GS 2"; plus unique arrangements of three contemporary pop classics including “Friend of the Devil" by the psychedelic jam band icons the Grateful Dead; “(You're ...

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Richard Barone (the Bongos) is Back with Tony Visconti-Produced Album 'Glow'

Source: conqueroo
July 17, 2010

Bongos frontman, author and Tiny Tim producer features co-writes with Paul Williams (yes, that Paul Williams) and Jill Sobule

NEW YORK, N.Y.--Glow, the new album from Richard Barone, frontman of cult faves the Bongos, is a sonic delight, like a lost solo Beatle album from a glam-rock future-world. After taking a break from performing to produce others and write a book Barone is back, working with producer Tony Visconti (along with Steve Addabbo, Jill Sobule and others). Glow indeed glows ...

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