Jazz News

Is There a California Music?

Source: Michael Ricci
January 26, 2009

Pricking Up the Ears to Listen for Echoes of California The 25th Focus! festival at the Juilliard School is geared toward answering one overriding question: Is there a “California music,” to quote the festival’s artistic director, Joel Sachs, and “if so, what is it?” In other words, are there characteristics of contemporary music from that state that could be considered Californian?

We have probably been too glib throughout centuries of music history in ascribing national and regional traits ...

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Leslie Uggams Puts Her Own Stamp on Lena Horne in 'Stormy Weather'

Source: Michael Ricci
January 26, 2009

ON A ‘STORMY’ PATH: “This is really all about Lena,” Leslie Uggams says. “I’m not doing a copy of Lena. There is only one Lena Horne. But I’m bringing the essence of Lena.” Both entertainers overcame racism and broke barriers for African Americans. Uggams is portraying Horne at the Pasadena Playhouse.

Leslie Uggams and Lena Horne have crossed paths only a few times. But Uggams feels that the force and power of the iconic singer have always been a part ...

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The Dark Lord of Broadband Tries to Fix Comcast's Image

Source: All About Jazz
January 26, 2009

I honestly don't think we're bad people. Brian Roberts-- Comcast CEO

Comcast appeared to be blocking file-sharing applications by creating fake data packets that interfered with trading sessions. The packets were cleverly disguised to look as if they were coming from the user, not the ISP.

Robb Topolski couldn't stay awake. All he could manage was three hours at a stretch before passing out. At first, his doctors were baffled, though they would eventually diagnose his condition ...

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What Would Google Do ?

Source: Michael Ricci
January 26, 2009

'Planet Google' by Randall Stross, “What Would Google Do?" Asked in 2002 to describe the “ultimate" search engine, Google co- founder Sergey Brin half-jokingly pointed to HAL 9000, the supercomputer from the Stanley Kubrick film 2001: A Space Odyssey.

HAL . . . had a lot of information, could piece it together, could rationalize it. Now hopefully . . . it would never have a bug like HAL did where he killed the occupants of the spaceship. But ...

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YouTube Click to Buy

Source: All About Jazz
January 26, 2009

YouTube has refurbished the click-to-buy links that help sell music on their video site, Coolfer reports. The site’s new, cleaner overlay makes it easier for users to purchase music via iTunes or Amazon MP3.

As evidenced by the still image from Beyonc’s “Single Ladies” above, the link pops up around the bottom of the video, but only for about 15-20 seconds. The new click-to-buy link is both less intrusive and more visible and “should help even more people take advantage ...

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Replace Google Notebook and Move Your Data Elsewhere

Source: All About Jazz
January 26, 2009

There are a multitude of way to store clipping of interesting things you find on the web - - bookmark services like Delicious, clippings tools like Evernote and more. But one popular place to store your notes and bookmarks is headed to the garbage bin of the web.

Google recently announced it will be shutting down its Google Notebook service. There are some other Google tools that can handle some aspects of Notebook, such as Google Bookmarks, the notes feature ...

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Monday Michiru Interview

Source: All About Jazz
January 26, 2009

Monday Michiru interview This interview is part of the book project “under your skin" which will include Interviews with: Anthony Braxton, Ornette Coleman, Cindy Blackman, Taj Mahal, Yusef Lateef, Matt Waugh, Bob James, Skip McDonald, Erika Stucky, Living Colour, Dj Rob Swift, Marilyn Crispell, Dick Griffin, Billy Bang, Kahil El Zabaar, Michael Ricci (allaboutjazz.com), Val-Inc, Jungle Brothers, KutMasta Kurt, Chico Freeman, Bobby Watson, Eddie Henderson, Dinosaur Jr, Lydia Lunch, Jack Dejohnette, ...

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Obama Septet: Duke Ellington Jazz Festival Asked to Provide Band for President-Elect Before Inauguration

Source: Claudia Artzer
January 26, 2009

The Duke Ellington Jazz Festival was asked to provide a band for a private event for President-Elect Barack Obama and his family and friends.

Members of Duke Ellington Jazz Festival Artistic Advisor Paquito D'Rivera's Quintet performed at the early dinner buffet on Sunday evening, January 18, at the Blair House, where the Obamas lived prior to moving into the White House on inauguration Day, January 20.

Bassist Oscar Stagnaro, pianist Alex Brown, drummer Mark Walker, trumpeter Diego Urcola, piano tuner ...

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