Jazz News

Live Moody Blues DVD Release May 26

Source: All About Jazz
April 29, 2009

Eagle Vision, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Eagle Rock Entertainment, will release The Moody Blues: Live At The Isle Of Wight Festival 1970 on DVD for the first time May 26 (pre-book order date May 5, This is the legendary much talked-about 79-minute 11-song performance that The Moody Blues‹at the height of their popularity and creative powers‹totally entranced the hippie audience with on a hot night in August off the coast of England. Bonus material includes a 20-minute documentary keying in ...

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Catch the Original 1939 'A' Train

Source: All About Jazz
April 29, 2009

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg has declared April 29 Duke Ellington Day in honor of the 110th anniversary of the jazz legend's birth. To commemorate his life, The Islands Of The Bahamas are sponsoring a special run of the last surviving 1939 'A' Train, made famous by Duke Ellington's signature tune Take the A Train. Paul Ellington, members of the Duke Ellington Orchestra and musicians from Music Under New York (MUNY) will perform the iconic song on the mezzanine at 125th ...

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30th Anniversary of the Detroit International Jazz Festival

Source: All About Jazz
April 29, 2009

Today, festival organizers announced the lineup for the 30th Anniversary of the Detroit International Jazz Festival, Friday, September 4 through Monday, September 7, in downtown Detroit. At a challenging time in Detroit, this year's jazz celebration will serve as a reminder of the greatness of Detroit and its musical soul. Subtitled “Keepin' Up with the Joneses, “ the Detroit Jazz Fest will give a nod to Thad, Elvin and Hank Jones, feature other great jazz families, and continue its recognition ...

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Coldplay "Making Jazz, Rave Tracks"

Source: All About Jazz
April 29, 2009

Coldplay have been experimenting with jazz and rave tracks in their north London studio, say reports. According to The Sun, drummer Will Champion is encouraging the group to go on a “rave odyssey" and has created a 168-beats-per-minute backing track. “The lads are still on a creative roll in the studio and Will is bringing lots of ideas to the table," said a source. “He's got a new drum machine and has been having a lot of fun pushing it ...

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Renown Bassist Lindsey Horner Embarks on Artistshare Project "Undiscovered Country"

Source: All About Jazz
April 29, 2009

The renowned and versatile bassist Lindsey Horner has embarked on his first ArtistShare project. This project will truly be a multinational one, as almost every single musician is from a different country, and each has an incredibly diverse experience and musical backgrounds. Undiscovered Country, in Lindsey's own words: I am embarking on a new project that will bring together many of my past influences as well as some of my favorite musicians who have been most important to me up ...

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The Thing: The Great Scandinavian Power Trio US/Canadian Tour - May 2009

Source: All About Jazz
April 29, 2009

By Lloyd Peterson Only once in a great while does a group of musicians come along with an inherent discipline that dares to question the realm between the known and the unknown. Mats Gustafsson, Ingebrigt Haker-Flaten and Paal Nilssen-Love of the Scandinavian Power Trio, “The Thing," provide a language so determined in its musical complexity, boundaries literally and figuratively disappear. This doesn't mean that these brilliant musicians do not respect what came before them, far from it. What it means ...

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Steven Witser L.A. Philharmonic's Principal Trombonist Dies

Source: Michael Ricci
April 29, 2009

Steven Witser, principal trombonist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, died of an apparent heart attack Monday night in Pasadena, the orchestra announced. He was 48. FOR THE RECORD:The obituary of trombonist Steven Witser in Wednesday's A section stated that the Philharmonic would dedicate its May 30 concert to his memory. In fact, that concert will be held April 30.

“The shock of Steve's sudden and unexpected death has robbed us of one of our most beloved and respected musicians," Deborah ...

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Hot & Cool: New England Conservatory Celebrates 40th Anniversary of Jazz Studies in 2009-10

Source: Braithwaite & Katz Communications
April 29, 2009

Two Weeklong Series of Concerts in Boston and New York Feature Distinguished Faculty, Alumni, Students Headliner Performance at NEC Stars Wayne Shorter Quartet with NEC Philharmonia Clinics, Community Events Take the Festivities into Schools, Neighborhoods New England Conservatory will celebrate the 40th Anniversary of its first-in-the-nation Jazz Studies program during the 2009-10 academic year. Spotlighting some of NEC’s distinguished alumni, faculty and students, the festivities will be centered on a week each of ticketed and free concerts in Boston and ...

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