Jazz News

New Gilfema Album "Gilfema + 2" out This Month

Source: All About Jazz
October 12, 2008

NEW YORK - When Gilfema released its self-titled debut album on ObliqSound in 2005, they effectively put an end to any lingering doubts that jazz, although undeniably rooted in America, had evolved into a truly international art form. Here were a guitarist/vocalist, Lionel Loueke, from the West African nation of Benin; a bassist, Massimo Biolcati, who grew up in Sweden and Italy; and a drummer, Ferenc Nemeth, from Hungary - all coming together in New York City.

That first Gilfema ...

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Big Band Fiesta Draws Latin Lovers

Source: All About Jazz
October 12, 2008

Plus, Matt Slocum, Ernie Watts, Wolfgang Schalk and other jazz highlights

Ken Postons Los Angeles Jazz Institute has a habit of throwing weekend-long bashes featuring scads of big bands, and sometimes it seems there aint a big band around that Poston hasnt corralled into whatever venue hes managed to book. Theres always a theme, too this time hes brought everyone together to the Hyatt Regency in Newport Beach (1107 Jamboree Road) for a Big Band Fiesta to celebrate the great ...

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John Martyn's Smooth Scotch Blend of Folk and Jazz

Source: Michael Ricci
October 12, 2008

In the late 1960s it was a novel, far-reaching idea when folk-rooted guitarists in the United States and England began toying with the harmonies and syncopations of jazz. (Now such hybrids are taken for granted in the music of Norah Jones or Grizzly Bear.)

One of the most idiosyncratic British innovators, the 60-year-old Scottish guitarist, singer and songwriter John Martyn, made his first New York appearance in more than a decade with a brief yet heartening set at ...

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A Novel of the Central Avenue Jazz Scene and an Outsider's Quest to Find a Place There

Source: Michael Ricci
October 12, 2008

BOOK REVIEW Early Bright by Ami Silber A novel of the Central Avenue jazz scene and an outsider's quest to find a place there - and finish a song that's in his head.

KINDA blue is the shelf of jazz lit, where few writers have managed to keep their cool when engaging with the music. Jack Kerouac championed a spontaneous bop prosody, but plotted out or living in the moment, the prosody has rarely harmonized with ...

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Ubiquitous Clear Channel Radio Now Invades Your iPhone

Source: Michael Ricci
October 12, 2008

In the latest instance of retro pastimes adapting to new technology -- like playing Pacman on Facebook or making pot roast in a microwave -- old media broadcaster Clear Channel is trying to make the leap to the iPhone.

The San Antonio-based radio and billboard giant launched iheartradio, a free application for the iPhone and iPod Touch that will give listeners another shot at hearing “Hotel California" just in case they find themselves out of range from one of Clear ...

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New Oscar Rules Announced for Songs and Music Scores

Source: Michael Ricci
October 12, 2008

The Oscars have announced new regulations governing songs and music scores that will enable more voters to participate in the selection of nominees and permit campaigners to reach them directly with music CDs.

Last year Oscars campaigners were barred from sending CDs to voters. The academy wanted members of the music branch to judge scores in the context of viewing the full films and to evaluate songs during separate “bake-off" viewing sessions conducted over one day in Los Angeles and ...

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Innova Recordings Releases Schrader's Monkey King CD

Source: All About Jazz
October 12, 2008

Barry Schrader's Monkey King CD has been released by Innova Recordings on Innova 703. The CD contains music inspired by the five elements of ancient Chinese tradition in Wu Xing – Cycle of Destruction, and by stories from the great Chinese classic Journey to the West. Wu Xing - Cycle of Destruction deals with the Chinese concept of Wu Xing, the five elements in ancient Chinese tradition: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. These are important in Chinese astrology, medicine, ...

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Amoeba Records Ready to "Gypsy Rumble"

Source: All About Jazz
October 12, 2008

On November 4th, 2008, Amoeba Records' will release “Gypsy Rumble: The Stephane Wrembel Trio with Special Guest David Grisman." The album, which features the track “Big Brother" from Woody Allen's new film 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona, ' highlights the career of French gypsy jazz fusion artist Stephane Wrembel and includes bluegrass legend and master mandolinist, David Grisman. “Gypsy Rumble" is a quintessential album of gypsy jazz fusion and traditional melodies with Contemporary Jazz, Indian, African and Middle Eastern musical influences. French ...

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