Jazz News

Underscoring Richard Wagner's Influence on Film Music

Source: Michael Ricci
June 17, 2010

You may not know his 'Ring,' but if you've seen 'Lord of the Rings' or 'Star Wars' you've entered his musical universe.

Max Steiner's application of music at a critical moment in “Gone With the Wind" can be compared to Wagner's use of Siegfried's funeral music late in “Gotterdammerung." Max Steiner, the pioneering film composer who wrote the music for “King Kong" and “Gone With the Wind," was once complimented as the man who invented modern movie music. “Nonsense," he ...

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It's All Tutu Much: McCartney Writing Ballet Music

Source: Michael Ricci
June 17, 2010

Sorry, Sting, but it sounds like Paul McCartney has just lapped you in the race to be the pop musician with the most classical bona fides.

Mr. McCartney, the former Beatle and Wings man whose orchestral works include “Standing Stone" and “Ecce Cor Meum," told BBC News that he has agreed to write the music for a ballet and has already started work on the project.

“I'm interested in doing things I haven't done before," Mr. McCartney said to the ...

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Preview Maria Schneider's "Spring Commission Project"

Source: Michael Ricci
June 17, 2010

With her second ArtistShare fan-funded Commission project well underway, Maria Schenider would like to invite you to preview “The Spring 2010 ArtistShare Commission Project". Preview project updates, interviews and submit questions for Maria by clicking here. Participants in the project will receive a step by step walk through of the composition process, interviews and Q&A with Maria and the band as well as videos of rehearsals, Maria's rehearsal techniques, and a copy of the score upon completion. To participate today ...

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Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival Heads into Last Three Days!

Source: Dalmath Associates Inc.
June 17, 2010

Rochester, NY -- The Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival (XRIJF) presented by M&T Bank, is heading into its last three days tonight, wrapping up June 19. The Festival's ninth edition started Friday June 11 featuring headliners Jeff Beck, Gladys Knight, Keb' Mo', Herbie Hancock, John Pizzarelli, and Bernie Williams. The Festival is delivering a wide range of creative improvised music from some of the finest musicians in the world. More than 1,000 musicians representing 15 countries are making Rochester their ...

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Jazz Master Randy Weston Named "Berkshires Jazz Living Legend"

Source: Ed Bride Associates
June 17, 2010

“Berkshire Blues" composer recollects his career start-up in western Massachusetts

Berkshires Jazz, Inc., has presented its first Living Legend award to the NEA Jazz Master pianist, Randy Weston.

After a “meet the media" panel, which preceded Weston's concert in Pittsfield on May 29, 2010, Berkshires Jazz President Edward Bride presented the pianist with an engraved granite plaque, commemorating the event. “With his incomparable contributions to jazz, and his esteem for The Berkshires - and calling special attention to his composition ...

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"Empire" an Upcoming Release from Scott Colley

Source: Michael Ricci
June 17, 2010

Scott Colley's upcoming album Empire is his seventh release as a leader and it seems as though his experience has served him well. “It felt to me that writing the material for this recording flowed quite easily. I think that because I have listened to all these musicians so much over the years, and have been fortunate to play with them all in many different musical environments, it was very easy for me to imagine them all playing together and ...

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Jazz Comes to Murray Hill Via Venetian Restaurant

Source: Michael Ricci
June 17, 2010

Chic Venetian restaurant and lounge Zorzi located in Murray Hill (1 East 35th Street) will begin offering jazz on Saturday evenings from 8pm - 11:30pm in their main dining room.

The weekly series, coordinated by Charles Carlini of In Touch Entertainment, begins in earnest on June 26 with the Grant Stewart Trio. For reservations or info, please call (212) 213-9167.

Zorzi serves Northern Italian specialties (including plenty of polenta and seafood), plus pasta classics from other regions, in a stone-and-metal ...

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Interview with the Clayton Brothers

Source: Michael Ricci
June 17, 2010

ArtistShare recently spoke with John and Jeff Clayton about their upcoming ArtistShare fan-funded release “The New Song and Dance". The first part of this interview is now available on “The New Song and Dance" project experience page and features John speaking about the songs and dances that influenced his compositions on the upcoming record. With topics ranging from Duke Ellington to Stevie Wonder to the “crazy pants dance" seen at jazz festivals around the world you won't want to miss ...

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