Jazz News

For Musicians Broadway is the Pits

Source: Michael Ricci
May 18, 2008

Whatever Happened to the Overture?

WHO could forget the great overture to A Chorus Line? First there's that infectious hop-step vamp from the song “One." Then come some of the show's most familiar melodies: “I Hope I Get It," “Nothing," “What I Did for Love." Finally the orchestra swings back for a rousing half-chorus of “One" that would make even gouty musical- theater-phobes want to leap to their feet with excitement. Oh, wait -- “A Chorus Line" doesn't have an ...

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Former 'American Idol' Contestants on Broadway

Source: All About Jazz
May 18, 2008

Castoff contestants from Fox TV's “American Idol" talent competition are becoming golden cast members for Broadway's musicals.

An “Idol" runner-up in 2004, Diana DeGarmo, 19, turned into one of Broadway's top marquee draws when she made her Broadway debut in a supporting role in “Hairspray," The Los Angeles Times said. “Hairspray" producer Margo Lion said “American Idol" contestants have helped Broadway up its “hip factor" and attract a younger generation of theatergoers. Disney's “Tarzan" has 2003 “Idol" semifinalist Josh Strickland ...

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Armen Nalbandian to Perform John Zorn's Masada for Benefit for the Stone

Source: All About Jazz
May 18, 2008

Fresno Art Museum and Blacksmith Brother / Noise Boutique present: RHYTHMS OF ART concert series Armen Nalbandian Solo piano performance of John Zorn's Masada (Proceeds to benefit the The Stone) Thursday, May 29th 2008, 7:00pm On Thursday, May 29, 2008 Fresno Art Museum's Musical Director/Artist-in-Residence Armen Nalbandian will conduct a solo piano performance of John Zorn's Masada starting at 7:00pm at the Fresno Art Museum's Bonner Auditorium. This very special engagement has been produced with the permission and the support ...

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John Densmore's Tribaljazz at the Keswick Theatre on June 6, 2008

Source: All About Jazz
May 17, 2008

JOHN DENSMORE'S TRIBALJAZZ

Exclusive Central Atlantic Concert!

“I've been mouthing off about being a jazz drummer since before The Doors," John Densmore relates. “Thirty years later, I'm finally putting my sticks where my mouth has been."

Densmore's lifelong adoration of jazz and his insatiable hunger for global sounds has prompted the birth of Tribaljazz and its exclusive area performance by a global village of musicians at Glenside's Keswick Theatre on Fri., June 6 @ 8 PM.

Tribaljazz blends and fuses ...

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Richie Havens Keeps 'Freedom' Alive

Source: All About Jazz
May 17, 2008

Mention Richie Havens by name and an image locked in by time -- the late '60s -- and celluloid -- the Woodstock film -- most likely emerges.

List his ideals, accomplishments and methodology and he sounds like a role model for the current generation: He has played at every significant musical festival in the world; founded his own label and generated hit records; protested and improper war; and made the environment a cause long before his peers.

He's a fan ...

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Jim Croce Albums Earmarked for Reissue

Source: All About Jazz
May 17, 2008

In tribute to the 35th anniversary of singer/songwriter Jim Croce's death, the artist's three studio albums will be reissued on CD in September via Rhino.

1972's You Don't Mess Around With Jim and the following year's Life and Times have never been available in that format, while 1973's I Got a Name was issued on CD, but has been out of print for the better part of the decade.

“For eight years, I've been trying to get the permission to ...

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Jazz and Fine Wine/ Robert Mondavi's "Time" Has Come

Source: Michael Ricci
May 17, 2008

Powerful ambassador for California wine. One of the best-known figures in American viticulture, had little formal training in making wine. His exile from the family business became the stuff of legend.

Robert Mondavi, the pioneering Napa Valley vintner whose drive and salesmanship revolutionized the way the world thought about California wine, died peacefully Friday at his Yountville, Calif., home, a spokeswoman for the Robert Mondavi Winery said. He was 94.

The son of an Italian-born grape wholesaler from the Central ...

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Rock's New Economy: How Bands Make Money

Source: All About Jazz
May 17, 2008

Making Money When CDs Don't Sell

For Austin rockers Spoon, 2007 was a breakthrough year -- but not because they sold a lot of records.

Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, their album on the indie label Merge, garnered more radio play than any disc in their 15-year history and earned them an appearance on Saturday Night Live. So far the disc has moved just over 250,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan -- about half of what Spoon's manager, Ben Dickey, ...

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