Jazz News

Jazz Ambassadors Connect with Youth Through Music

Source: Michael Ricci
August 17, 2009

By Heather Santos “Jazz speaks for life." This declaration by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the 1964 Berlin Jazz Festival says it all. Recognizing music can be a lifeline for many, the Ambassadors Jazztet, a six-member ensemble comprised of Soldier-musicians from the Jazz Ambassadors-America's Big Band, recently performed for a group of economically disadvantaged kids during their 2009 spring tour. The students, varying in age from second-graders to high school seniors, thoroughly enjoyed the performance and question-and-answer session that ...

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Zappa Alumnus Ike Willis to Tour with Pojama People

Source: Glass Onyon PR - Keith James
August 17, 2009

8/17/2009 - Eugene, OR - Known for his uniquely identifiable baritone voice, former Zappa alumnus Ike Willis will be touring with Eugene ensemble Pojama People. Willis worked with music legend Frank Zappa from 1978 to 1993, and can be heard on such notable albums as Joe's Garage (he was “Joe"), Thingfish (he was “Thingfish") and Best Band You Never Heard In Your Life (he was “The Walrus"). Vowing to keep the music of Frank Zappa alive, he has teamed up ...

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Vocalist Sony Holland @ The Dakota Jazz Club (Minneapolis) on September 20th

Source: Michael Ricci
August 17, 2009

Also at The Venue (Fargo, ND) on September 19th

California based vocalist Sony Holland returns to her home state of Minnesota to debut at the Dakota Jazz Club on Sunday, September 20th. She will be backed by musicians from the Twin Cities.

As part of her sentimental journey she’ll also be singing with the Jazz Arts Group Big Band in Fargo, where she attended high school at Fargo North. That concert takes place the night before (September 19th) at the ...

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70 Year-Old Blues Legend to Electrify New York

Source: Michael Ricci
August 17, 2009

JAZZ FOUNDATION OF AMERICA BRINGS blues LEGEND Beverly “Guitar" Watkins TO NYC TO SHARE HER LEGACY WITH GIRLS AT WILLIE MAE ROCK CAMP

70-Year-Old Phenomenon to Electrify New York City August 21-23

NEW YORK CITY - On Friday, August 21st, 70-year-old Atlanta-based blues singer/songwriter/guitarist Beverly “Guitar" Watkins will play a special performance at the Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls (WMRC) in DUMBO, Brooklyn. She will demonstrate her signature behind-the-head guitar playing technique for an audience of approximately 90 girls, ...

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Announcing the Winners of the B.D. Lenz 'Hit It and Quit' Giveaway

Source: All About Jazz
August 17, 2009

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Enter the Kind of Blue Records "(Another) Nuttree Quartet - Something Sentimental" Giveaway Contest

Source: All About Jazz
August 17, 2009

All About Jazz members are invited to enter the Kind of Blue Records “(Another) Nuttree Quartet - Something Sentimental“ giveaway contest starting today. We'll select FIVE winners at the conclusion of the contest on September 13th. Click here to enter the contest

(Following Adam Nussbaum at AAJ automatically enters you in the contest.)

Good luck! Your Friends at Kind of Blue Records

Adam Nussbaum on Something Sentimental This special project came about last year. In May, ...

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Jackson Had Long History with Estate Executor

Source: All About Jazz
August 17, 2009

Michael Branca met the King of Pop when they were both in their 20s and was the mastermind behind the deal to buy the Beatles song catalog.

A week after Michael Jackson died, his longtime lawyer and friend, John Branca, was summoned to meet with the singers family. He carried the pop stars will, and with it, an answer to their eagerly awaited question:

Who was to benefit from the King of Pops estate?

It was very difficult, ...

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Van Morrison Rediscovers "Astral Weeks" in "To Be Born Again" Doc

Source: All About Jazz
August 17, 2009

What started as a few shows to revisit Van Morrisons 1968 classic Astral Weeks an album hed never previously performed live has blossomed into a much larger celebration of the LP.

First, Morrison turned a November 2008 performance in Los Angeles into the live film/album Astral Weeks: Live at the Hollywood Bowl. Now hes on a full-blown “Astral Weeks" tour that will run at least through this fall, and there are more related releases in the near future: Morrison is ...

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