Jazz News

2009 Caramoor Jazz Festival to Feature Reeves, Walton, Valdes, Weston, and More

Source: Cohn Dutcher Associates
June 16, 2009

Katonah, New York - The 2009 Caramoor International Music Festival, hailed by The New York Times as “... the loveliest Festival of them all," presents its 16th Annual Jazz Festival on August 1 and 2 at the Venetian Theater. Jazz Producer Jim Luce assembles a star-studded line-up of both jazz legends and new forces on the scene.

New York City-based French pianist and composer Jean-Michel Pilc kicks off the festival on Saturday afternoon with his trio, in a performance ...

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"Blue Note: 70 Years" is the Theme of Jazzfest Berlin '09

Source: All About Jazz
June 16, 2009

Blue Note: 70 Years is the theme of JazzFest Berlin '09

Exhibition with photographs by Francis Wolff in the Jewish Museum - 4 concerts in the glass-topped courtyard

The JazzFest Berlin '09 will take place from November 4th to 8th. This year, the central theme explored by artistic director Nils Landgren is Blue Note: 70 years, allowing him to establish a connection between the JazzFest and the birthplace of the label's two founders, Alfred Lion and Francis Wolff. An appropriate ...

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Jack Nimitz Baritone Sax Player Dies

Source: Michael Ricci
June 16, 2009

Jack Nimitz played clarinet and alto saxophone before discovering the baritone sax and falling in love with the instrument's voice. “It sounded so warm and nice and dark and rich," he said.

Nimitz played with Woody Herman, Stan Kenton and Herbie Mann and had a busy career as a studio musician in Hollywood.

Jack Nimitz, a jazz baritone saxophonist who played in the Woody Herman and Stan Kenton big bands and in the group “Supersax," died Wednesday of complications from ...

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At the White House, a Blend of Jazz Greats and Hopefuls

Source: Michael Ricci
June 16, 2009

Wynton Marsalis at a White House jazz clinic on Monday hosted by Michelle Obama.

It was not the full-force, let-a-thousand-saxophones-bloom, this-is-our-music festival that some might have wished from a White House where the language of jazz seems to have a place, at least in the presidents iPod. But it was a good start.

On Monday afternoon, Michelle Obama invited about 150 high school jazz students to the White House for a program called Jazz Studio. There was a student clinic ...

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Richard Thompson's 'Cabaret of Souls' Premieres -- Will It Ever Be Heard from Again?

Source: Michael Ricci
June 16, 2009

Officials at the International Society of Bassists wanted new music featuring the instrument to highlight its annual convention happenings this week in Philadelphia.

One of the composers they turned to for a commission was British folk-rock guitarist-singer-songwriter extraordinaire Richard Thompson.

Rather than dashing off a quick melody and variation, Thompson delivered an hour-plus song cycle of sorts titled Cabaret of Souls, the tale of a talent contest set in hell.

“Originally it was going to be eight to 10 minutes ...

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Barry Beckett Record Producer Worked with Big-Name Singers Passes

Source: Michael Ricci
June 16, 2009

Barry Beckett, 66, a keyboard player and record producer who had important roles in recordings by Bob Dylan, Percy Sledge, Hank Williams Jr. and Kenny Chesney, died June 10 at his home in Henderson, Tenn.

He had been in failing health for several years after a stroke and being diagnosed with cancer. “There's no way I would be where I am today in my life if it wasn't for Barry Beckett," country music star Chesney told the Tennessean newspaper.

Beckett ...

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Bob Bogle Co-Founder Rock Band the Ventures Dies

Source: Michael Ricci
June 16, 2009

The influential band's hits included 'Walk, Don't Run' and the theme from 'Hawaii Five-O.'

Bob Bogle, lead guitarist and co-founder of the rock band the Ventures, known for 1960s instrumental hits including “Walk, Don't Run," has died. He was 75. Don Wilson, the band's other co-founder, told the News Tribune of Tacoma that Bogle became ill over the weekend and died Sunday.

The band sold millions of albums and heavily influenced other rock guitarists. It was inducted into the Rock ...

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Pirate Bay Launches VPN Service

Source: All About Jazz
June 16, 2009

The operators of The Pirate Bay launched a long-awaited VPN service Monday, promising to make file sharers and other internet users more anonymous online.

The IPREDATOR Global Anonymity Service, at about $7 monthly, is named for Swedens IPRED law that went into force in April. That law empowers copyright owners to acquire data from ISPs identifying people linked to file sharing.

The four operators of the Pirate Bay are staring down a year in prison each, and millions of dollars ...

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