Jazz News

Making Avant-Garde Jazz in a Mostly Killing Climate

Source: All About Jazz
February 17, 2009

The record business is a sinkhole no matter which way you turn. But in this troubled economy, Moppa Elliott chose an especially tough path: playing in an avant-garde bop band named Mostly Other People Do the Killing, and starting his own tiny jazz label, Hot Cup. Elliott, 30, a bassist/composer born in Factoryville, says, “Look, we're just a couple of over-schooled jazz guys who want to play. The problem is that most jazz is not only boring and bad, but ...

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The Necks Are Proud of Their Lack of Direction

Source: Michael Ricci
February 17, 2009

They make no plans before their concerts. Instead, they just go where their music takes them.

When the Necks take the stage at REDCAT on Thursday night, there will surely be some confused looks darting around the audience before the performance begins. If the Australian piano trio's pattern holds -- as it has for the last 22 years -- the musicians will stand over their instruments, heads bowed, waiting for complete silence to fill the room. No one moves, no ...

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Finalists Announced for Billboard Latin Awards

Source: All About Jazz
February 17, 2009

A varied list of artists, from veteran to newcomers, dominates the finalists for the 11th annual Billboard Latin Music Awards, taking place April 23 in Miami.

Icons Vicente Fernandez, Marco Antonio Solis and Mana, along with pop star Enrique Iglesias, banda diva Jenni Rivera, urban bachata group Aventura and pop/alt singer Julieta Venegas and newcomers Flex and Los Pikadientes de Caborca are among the top finalists.

Thirteen new categories will be awarded this year, including the Latin Digital Download artist ...

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National Guitar Workshop's 2009 Season with Pat Metheny, Pat Martino, Jimmy Herring, Buddy Guy and More

Source: All About Jazz
February 17, 2009

National Guitar Workshop Announces 2009 Season With Special Guests Buddy Guy, Paul Gilbert, Jimmy Herring, Jimmie Vaughan and Pat Metheny The National Guitar Workshop is proud to announce our 2009 season. This year we will be presenting week long workshops across the country and featuring guest artists such as Paul Gilbert, Buddy Guy, Jimmy Herring, Pat Metheny, Jimmie Vaughan, and many more. Litchfield, CT—Februrary 17, 2009 – The National Guitar Workshop is excited to announce the curriculum and guest artists ...

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11th Annual Music Masters Summit and Award Ceremony 2009

Source: Just Roots PR
February 17, 2009

Cincinnati's United Local Artists Network Inc. presents our 11th annual Music Masters Summit and Award Ceremony 2009.

The date is March 1st, 2009@ the 20th Century Theater 3021 Madison Rd in Oakley.

We will award “Lifetime Achievement Awards" to William “Billie" Gant, the"Deele", Travis Haddixand “The Original Blind Boys of Mississippi" ( The Five Blind Boys will receive a proclamation from Mayor Mark Mallory). The lead singer of the Blind Boys is a Cincinnati native along with a few more ...

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Roberto Magris in Ecuador

Source: All About Jazz
February 17, 2009

Italian pianist Roberto Magris is scheduled on March 10, 2009 to perform at the Ecuador Jazz Festival in Quito.

About Roberto Magris Born in Trieste (Italy) in 1959 and began his jazz career in the late ‘70s. In the ‘80s, he led a jazz trio named “Gruppo Jazz Marca”, whose recordings were reissued in 2006, as collector’s items, by the English label Arision. During the times of the “iron curtain”, Magris was privileged to be one of the very few ...

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"Men at Work" Guitarist Jailed (Update)

Source: All About Jazz
February 17, 2009

“It’s a mistake?”

One of the founders of the Australian ‘80s band “Men at Work” was jailed over the weekend in LA for a bench warrant on a charge of making criminal threats, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Ronald Strykert, former guitarist in the group who rose to fame with the song “Who Can It Be Now?” allegedly threatened to kill the band’s lead singer, Colin Hay in Dec. 2007.

LA County sheriff’s deputies locked up Strykert, 51, on Friday. ...

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Men at Work Guitarist Threatened to Kill Singer, Police Say

Source: Michael Ricci
February 17, 2009

Aussie band Men at Work hit it big in the 1980s with such songs as “Who Can It Be Now?" and “It's a Mistake." Now the lead guitarist for the band may want to call on those titles for his defense.

Ronald Strykert, 51, one of the founders of the band, was arrested Feb. 13 by Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies on an outstanding bench warrant on a charge of making criminal threats.

Strykert threatened to kill the band's lead ...

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