Jazz News

Rapper Nas on Dylan, Jazz and Why He Changed

Source: All About Jazz
July 11, 2008

Name Dropper The Title of His Controversial New Album

THE RAPPER NAS got people talking about his new album months before its release by announcing it would be titled with a racial epithet. However, he eventually backed away from the plan after some major retailers said they wouldn't stock an album bearing the n-word; it will be released without a title Tuesday. Born Nasir Jones, the New York rapper cemented his place in the genre with a widely ...

Continue Reading

Beyond Persia Brings Mohsen Namjoo to US

Source: All About Jazz
July 11, 2008

Mohsen Namjoo, Iran's best known, and most controversial contemporary musician, is scheduled to perform his first 6 US concerts, starting September, 2008. Namjoo has signed an exclusive agent agreement with Beyond Persia, a San Francisco based, non-profit cultural organization, dedicated to fostering cross-cultural appreciation via the arts. Beyond Persia will be representing Mohsen Namjoo as his sole US agent through 2009, and has sponsored the visa application he needs to perform legally in the United States. “We consider it an ...

Continue Reading

OLG "Presents Music" Sponsors Windsor Bluesfest International

Source: All About Jazz
July 11, 2008

As Music Sponsor, OLG proudly supports the 13th annual Windsor Bluesfest International which has quickly grown into one of Canada's premier blues festivals. Featuring performances by top local, regional and international blues artists, such as Taj Mahal and David Wilcox, Bluesfest promises to be four full days of world-class music and entertainment. Running from Thursday, July 10 through Sunday, July 13, Bluesfest International is a celebration of classic blues supported by “OLG Presents Music", a touring summer-long series of sponsorships ...

Continue Reading

Catch the Swing During Ragtime Street Fair at Greenfield Village

Source: All About Jazz
July 11, 2008

Are you ready to experience an upbeat, electrifying time period in American history that greatly impacted music today? The Second Annual Ragtime Street Fair at Greenfield Village offers several opportunities to travel back to these unforgettable days of early jazz through dancing, dramatic performances, live entertainment, parades and authentic food from the early 20th century. Ragtime Street Fair is open to the public on Saturday, July 19 and Sunday, July 20 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. with special evening ...

Continue Reading

Latin Jazz Vocalist Carolina and Vida Vibrante Band Appearing at Ryles Jazz Club

Source: All About Jazz
July 11, 2008

Latin Jazz Vocalist Carolina Chacin performs at Ryles Jazz Club with her Jazz Band Vida Vibrante on Tuesday July 29, 2008

This will be Carolina's second appearance at Ryle's Jazz Club with her band Vida Vibrante. Carolina is a dynamic, up and coming vocalist that has been taking the local mainstream latin Jazz scene by storm. She has been described as having “one of the most enticing new voices in contemporary Latin jazz." Her stylish interpretations of Latin jazz standards, ...

Continue Reading

Heath Ledger's Final Days Among the Masses

Source: All About Jazz
July 11, 2008

L.A. Art Collective Struggles to Go On After Actor's Death

A Greyhound-style bus purchased on Craigslist for $8,700 rolls eastbound out of Los Angeles on Interstate 10, headed for Marfa, Texas, with 18 passengers. If a highway patrolman were to pull us over, he'd encounter a head-scratcher of a group. First he'd confront a big, bald white man named Cornfed, the driver, also acquired on Craigslist. Cornfed, a sometime rapper, is making a little money on this trip, biding his ...

Continue Reading

Jazz Birthdays @ AAJ: View Entire Month at a Glance

Source: All About Jazz
July 10, 2008

Readers can now view the current month's birthdays on a single page! All About Jazz has expanded its Birthday Center to include all birthdays for the month.

If you're a jazz musician with an AAJ profile page, make sure you include at least your month and day of birth in your profile. If you don't have a profile page, please create one now (free).

ATTENTION RADIO STATION PROGRAM DIRECTORS OR HOSTS! Place our birthday box on your website ...

Continue Reading

Bobby Durham, 71, Jazz Drummer Toured with Greats

Source: All About Jazz
July 10, 2008

Bobby Durham, a jazz drummer known for his energetic, propulsive style, as well as for the high-flying musical company that he kept, died in Italy on Monday. He was 71, and had been ill with lung cancer and emphysema, a singer who had toured with him in Europe in recent years, Shawnn Monteiro, said. Durham was practically the only contemporary drummer who worked with Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Coleman Hawkins, and, most famously, Oscar Peterson, four legendary bandleaders who were ...

Continue Reading