Jazz News

Public Radio Debuts Weekly Live Jazz, Blues and Comedy Jam on 12 O'Clock Jump

Source: Michael Ricci
December 14, 2009

By Mark Edelman

Public radio has always been home for late night jazz programming. Add to that line-up 12 O'Clock Jump, public radio's brand new jazz, blues and comedy jam. Broadcast live every Saturday night/Sunday morning from midnight to 1AM central time, the weekly variety show is streamed live at wwww.kcur.org for the world to dig.

Kansas City's 18th and Vine Historic Jazz District plays host to 12 O'Clock Jump. Broadcast live from the Mutual Musicians Foundation--where Charlie Parker met ...

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"Sting Like A Bee" By Mike Longo

Source: Michael Ricci
December 14, 2009

After more than a half-century as a jazz pianist, and having learned valuable lessons early on from studying with Oscar Peterson and playing with Dizzy Gillespie, Mike Longo delivers an incredible repertoire of in-depth musical exploration on his latest trio recording, Sting Like a Bee. This new album, also featuring jazz stalwarts Bob Cranshaw on bass and Lewis Nash on drums, showcases Longo's always-evolutionary playing on a dozen tunes recorded 'live in the studio, mostly first takes with the absolute ...

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Al Di Meola: New Live Album & Tour Slated For January

Source: Michael Ricci
December 13, 2009

Al Di Meola - the “guitarist of spectacular abilities" (NY Times) lauded both as musical trailblazer and nonpareil technical virtuoso - will kick off a two-month U.S. tour on January 28th, with his acoustic group World Sinfonia. The dates will follow on the heels of an inspired new live album 'Live From Seattle And Elsewhere, ' consisting entirely of Di Meola originals, and slated for full national release on January 12. Mixing lush, tango-inspired romanticism - heavily influenced by late ...

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San Francisco Jazz Vocalist Kim Nalley Stars in the World Premiere of Her New Musical

Source: Michael Ricci
December 14, 2009

San Francisco jazz vocalist Kim Nalley stars in the world premiere of her new musical “Ella: The American Dream." Nalley penned this Ella Fitzgerald tribute, a quintessential rags to riches story that takes audiences back to 1930's Harlem, Savoy Ballroom and birth of the swing era. Based on new historical findings about Ella Fitzgerald's humble beginnings, this production will have audiences snappin' their fingers, feeling optimistic and yearning for more with its original music, jazz standards and Lindy Hop dancing. ...

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Ruby Flower Records Appointed Dominic Duval as Artistic Director

Source: Michael Ricci
December 14, 2009

Ruby Flower Records was founded in 2005 by Ana Isabel Ordonez, she wished to promote the music of New Jersey based trumpeter Herb Robertson and wanted to burn her passion for art and jazz founding a recording label in which the avant-garde music would be the priority. Both, Herb Robertson and Ana Isabel Ordonez became business partners and opened their own record company, Ruby Flower Records. However...Herb Robertson considered this label as a hobby and the cooperation between both business ...

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New Releases From Hat Hut Records: Dave Douglas, Manuel Mengis Gruppe 6, Ran Blake/Anthony Braxton and more

Source: Michael Ricci
December 14, 2009

Dave Douglas' Tiny Bell Trio: Constellations

Dave Douglas - trumpet Brad Shepik - guitar Jim Black - drums

Constellations is a new set of songs written and arranged for the trio. It was recorded in mid tour, and so has a different, perhaps more live, character... Many thanks go to Brad and Jim for their dedication and commitment to the music. They are two of the finest listeners around, and in our three years as a ...

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Irvin Mayfield and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra's "Book One" Nominated for a 2010 Grammy Award

Source: Lura Belle Productions
December 14, 2009

IRVIN MAYFIELD AND THE NEW ORLEANS JAZZ ORCHESTRA'S “BOOK ONE" NOMINATED FOR A 2010 GRAMMY AWARD Debut CD features original compositions, confirming a Jazz renaissance in New Orleans! (NEW ORLEANS, LA -- The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra (NOJO) is proud to announce that BOOK ONE, its latest release on World Village, has been nominated for the 2010 Grammy Award for the “Best Large Jazz Ensemble". Under the artistic direction of founder Irvin Mayfield, NOJO's BOOK ONE is a contemporary and ...

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Untouchable: What a Collector Loses (and Gains) in the Age of Music Downloading

Source: Michael Ricci
December 14, 2009

Piles of CDs surround me. I have been feeding them into my computer to suck the music out of them. And then I pack them away. My Mac does not discriminate. Dufay or du Pre, Eno or Ellington, the computer digests them each with the same chipper whir, and check marks appear on my screen next to each MP3 file I have just created. I think I am supposed to feel accomplished. But this has been an exercise both exciting ...

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