Jazz News

Universal Musical Appeal - Live Performances by Theo Croker

Source: Mosnar Communications, Inc
July 8, 2008

Theo Croker is home and performing live in New York - at least for the moment. Don't miss out on the opportunity to see him perform live at the Rubin Museum of Art's Harlem in the Himalayas series. He recently returned from a live performance tour in Shanghai, China with stops in London and Egypt on the way back. Theo's sensational jazz style is becoming a hot demand for both jazz and hip hop fans. Brenda Bradley of Exalt Entertainment ...

Continue Reading

New and Old Meet in Big Easy

Source: All About Jazz
July 8, 2008

New, old meet in Big Easy for Essence music fest

Diva moment: Patti LaBelle belted out a tribute to her and her group, Labelle, at the Essence festival. The reunited trio, with Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash, hit the stage together Saturday to sing Lady Marmalade. The event: The three-day 2008 Essence Music Festival in New Orleans achieved a balance of old-school homage and cutting-edge innovation at the Superdome. The crowd: While concerts were a big draw, other events, such ...

Continue Reading

Pianist Amina Figarova Interviewed at AAJ

Source: All About Jazz
July 8, 2008

Born in Azerbaijan, but located now in the Netherlands, and in demand at festivals and clubs around the globe, pianist Amina Figarova is a case study in the internationalization of jazz. A prodigious talent from early childhood, Figarova was drawn to jazz as a young player, even as she established herself as a formidable professional classical performer.

While studying composition by invitation in Rotterdam, she switched to a jazz course, and within a year was at the Berklee School in ...

Continue Reading

Algerian Singer Mixes Rock and Rai

Source: Michael Ricci
July 7, 2008

An old-school rock star headlined SummerStage in Central Park on Saturday afternoon.

Grinning and unshaven, he strutted around the stage, sang in a knowing growl and cued his band for extended, hard-grooving versions of songs using fuzz-toned guitar riffs over a dance beat.

Rachid Taha, the Algerian rock star, with his band at Central Park SummerStage on Saturday wore a leather fedora, then switched to a red cowboy hat. He dumped a bottle of water onto audience members -- redundant, ...

Continue Reading

Mike Clark's Prescription Renewal Tour

Source: All About Jazz
July 7, 2008

On Saturday, July 12th, 2008 Drummer, Mike Clark will be bringing his group Prescription Renewal to the Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom in Denver, Colorado. Mike will have his legendary rhythm partner Paul Jackson on Bass and the amazing Donald Harrison on saxophone.

“He's a great jazz drummer--and he hasn't lost any of the stuff that he brought from Oakland. So now he's totally free to do both, and he does. The solo he played on the album Thrust, on the song ...

Continue Reading

Jake la Botz's "Most Depressing Album Ever" and Tattoo Parlor Tour

Source: All About Jazz
July 7, 2008

Sing This to Yourself and Other Suggestions for a Personal Apocalypse is new solo album from singer-songwriter/actor

Jake La Botz has fared well professionally this year, with a significant acting role as a “singing redneck mercenary" in Sylvester Stallone's recent blockbuster Rambo film. But some personal struggles led him to record what he deems “the most depressing album ever," titled Sing This to Yourself and Other Suggestions for a Personal Apocalypse. The album, which he describes as “11 sordid tales ...

Continue Reading

Melissa Morgan Signs with Telarc

Source: All About Jazz
July 7, 2008

Telarc announced yesterday that it has signed New York-based jazz vocalist Melissa Morgan.

Morgan will make her recording debut in March 2009 with the release of Until I Met You.

Trained in classical music at a young age, Morgan shifted toward jazz in her teen years, due in part to her grandmother's extensive collection of Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughan and Nancy Wilson LPs. At SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Music, she studied with artists like Yolanda Bavan, Jon Faddis ...

Continue Reading

Marketers Underwrite Performers

Source: Michael Ricci
July 7, 2008

It's American Brandstand

The hip-hop and R&B producer Jermaine Dupri has discovered best-selling acts like Kris Kross and Da Brat, has produced hits for Mariah Carey and Jay-Z, and now runs the urban music division of the Island Def Jam Music Group. He's also looking for fresh talent for a new label financed by a company new to the music industry.

The new player? Procter & Gamble.

The consumer goods giant is part of a wave of companies getting into ...

Continue Reading