Jazz News

Saxophonists James Carter and Daniel Bennett Play Boston on May 16

Source: Bennett Alliance
March 18, 2009

This could very well be one of the most interesting double bill concerts of 2009. Saxophonist James Carter brings his organ trio to the Cambridge YMCA Theatre (820 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA) on May 16 (8pm). Also on the bill is “Folk-Jazz" saxophonist Daniel Bennett. The concert is part of the ongoing Bennett Alliance Concert Series. Visit www.bennettalliance.com for discount advance tickets. Saxophonist James Carter has performed with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Sonny Rollins, Aretha Franklin, the late Julius ...

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Teaneck (NJ) Festival of Arts Jazz Jam Session Continues at Ultrabar

Source: All About Jazz
March 18, 2009

Teaneck's new UltraBar located at 400 Cedar Lane, will host another Teaneck Festival of Arts (TFOA) jazz jam session on Tuesday, March 31st at 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. The last two sessions in January and February attracted over fifty musicians--a great place for musicians to reconnect and the public to hear some great music. Sign up starts at 6pm. The event will be mc'd by jazz vocalist Lauren Hooker, who performs at UltraBar ...

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John Lennon Biopic “Nowhere Boy” Grabbed by Weinstein Company

Source: All About Jazz
March 18, 2009

Nowhere Boy, a biopic about John Lennon’s childhood, has been picked up by the Weinstein Company, Variety reports. The project is two weeks into filming with Aaron Johnson, who played the young Ed Norton in The Illusionist, in the role of Lennon and English Patient star Kristin Scott Thomas portraying the Beatle’s aunt, who battled Lennon’s mother Julia for custody.

The film will examine the effects each woman and their custody fight had on the young musician. Variety says the ...

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Prana Trio Returns to NY: Ancient Poetry and Jazz

Source: Michael Ricci
March 18, 2009

Korean jazz singer sensation, Sunny Kim, returns to NY with Prana Trio, an elastic, electric, quest for intoxication, combining animalistic grooves with ancient, sacred poetry in a dreamlike setting, to promote their recent release Pranam (Circavision).

Prana Trio: Sunny Kim (KR) - Voice Matt Aronoff (US) - Bass Brian Adler (US) - Drums

April 24th, 2009 Kampo Gallery / Cultural Center 31 Bond St New York, ...

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The Bad Plus at Chris' Jazz Cafe on March 27 & 28, 2009

Source: All About Jazz
March 18, 2009

The Bad Plus joined by vocalist Wendy Lewis will be performing at Chris Jazz Cafe on March 27 & 28.

The band is comprised of bassist Reid Anderson, pianist Ethan Iverson, and drummer David King, three post-modern jazz iconoclasts who combine keen wit, dynamic musical contrasts, and an original sensibility in what's been called “the loudest piano trio ever."

Drawing inspiration from the worlds of dance, pop, and rock, The Bad Plus gracefully avoid the stigma of “fusion," instead deconstructing ...

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March 25 Swing Concert with Vince Giordano

Source: All About Jazz
March 18, 2009

Blue Rhythm Fantasy: The Music of Chappie Willet

At 7:30pm on Wednesday, March 25, John Wriggle will present Vince Giordano & His (Augmented) Nighthawk Orchestra in performance at the City University of New York Graduate Center's Elebash Recital Hall.

The program features the jazz big band music of composer and arranger Francis “Chappie" Willet (1907-1976), one of the forgotten giants of the Swing Era music world. Willet was best known for providing the production music for such iconic New York ...

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Journalist Harvey Geller Writer Penned Lyrics for Popular Folk Acts Dies

Source: All About Jazz
March 18, 2009

Harvey Geller, lyricist and music journalist who worked as a sales exec for Daily Variety and served as West Coast editor of Cash Box magazine, died March 12 in Tarzana, Calif., after a brief illness. He was 86.

Geller also worked as a columnist, feature writer and reviewer, and as a sales executive for Billboard magazine.

Geller's songs were recorded by groups such as the Kingston Trio, the Brothers Four and the River City Ramblers and included such compositions as ...

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Pianist Hiromi Kasuga Releases "New York Callin'"

Source: All About Jazz
March 18, 2009

Hiromi Kasuga releases New York Calling CD in the United States. New York Calling is a mix of mostly original compositions and unique arrangements of a few Jazz standards. There's also a special touch from a 1970 classic movie theme originally composed by Henry Mancini. In her latest work Hiromi explains: “New York calls me to achieve my dream and that is to express my music." The CD includes solo, trio, quartet and quintet with highly accomplished musicians from the ...

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