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Timely announcements covering new album releases, tours, concert series, special events, job postings, crowdfunding campaigns and more. You can find more news by searching our website, viewing our news stream, seeing what's trending or reading our blog posts. Subscribe to our news RSS feed and/or embed AAJ news content on your website or blog. Learn about our news service here. Submit news here.

Festival

Vision Festival 19: Honoring Amiri Baraka The Legacy Thru Panels & Poetry

Source: Chris Rich
June 1, 2014

Since the first Vision Festival, in 1996, Amiri Baraka has been an important presence at Vision. But way before the Vision Festival he was a champion of the music, with his seminal books on Jazz, ‘Blues People’ and ‘Black Music’. For many of the other artists and audiences who have participated each year, Baraka has been an inspiration. For the last five years Baraka helped organize the panel discussions that deepened the context and impact for the art that is ...

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Recording

"Colors Of Life," 2nd CD By Vocalist Jua, Set For June 24 Release By Chocolate Chi Music

Source: Terri Hinte Publicity
May 31, 2014

Colors of Life, the second CD by Raleigh, North Carolina-based vocalist Jua, marks an artistic rebirth for the 35-year-old singer. His 2007 debut, Anticipation, had enjoyed attention from smooth-jazz and R&B stations, but Jua was having second thoughts about his direction and soon found his way to Berkeley’s Jazzschool Institute. There he devoted a year to intensive jazz studies and was the first recipient of the school’s annual Mark Murphy Vocal Jazz Scholarship. His musical goals came into sharp focus. ...

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Recording

Jazz Guitarist David Wright New Summer Music Release, "Blue Beach Boardwalk"

Source: Dave Wright
May 31, 2014

Blue Beach Boardwalk is the newest release by guitarist and composer David Wright. Following up his previous 2014 release “Music From The International Airport Hotel Lounge". “Blue Beach Boardwalk" is a mellow and relaxing mainstream jazz release with bossa and latin elements, ideal for the warm summer months. “To me, musically, it's really a ‘summer jazz relrease’ and I’m super happy with how it turned out". At forty two minutes the recording features seven original compositions and fine playing from ...

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Performance / Tour

A Stanley Zappa Trio Tours British Columbia From June 11th To The 15th

Source: Chris Rich
May 31, 2014

"A performance of contemporary improvised music in three unique settings with three emerging masters of the craft." Stanley Jason Zappa has put together a mini tour of remote inland communities in the vast province of British Columbia, Canada. Adventurous music undertakes a real adventure beginning on June 11th in Okanagan Wine Country and ending up in the inland metropolis of Prince George for The 2nd Annual Casse Tete festival of Experimental and Improvised Music on the 13th. Joining him on ...

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Recording

Guitarist Ross Hammond Releases Humanity Suite on Prescott Recordings

Source: Matt Merewitz
May 31, 2014

Featuring Vinny Golia, Catherine Sikora, Dax Compise, Clifford Childers & Kerry Kashiwaga History may be written by the winners, but it can be rewritten by anyone courageous enough to speak truth to power. Guitarist Ross Hammond‘s new record, Humanity Suite, on Prescott Recordings, is a powerful statement, both musically and historically, taking its starting point from Kara Walker‘s truth-telling artwork. It’s also a follow-up to his well- received 2013 album Cathedrals. In 2013, Hammond was offered a chance to play ...

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Recording

Pianist Bobby Avey To Release Authority Melts From Me, A Three-Part Suite Exploring Haitian Vodou Drumming & Its Role In Haitian Revolution

Source: Matt Merewitz
May 31, 2014

Pianist Bobby Avey is an emerging star on the international jazz scene. In 2005, while a student at the Purchase Conservatory of Music, Avey was invited by NEA Jazz Master David Liebman to adapt and arrange art songs from the Classical and Romantic eras for reinterpretation creating a vehicle for improvisation. The project, which culminated with the album Vienna Dialogues, was released in 2006 on ZOHO to rave reviews. In 2011 Avey won the esteemed Thelonious Monk Competition for composition ...

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Recording

Saxophonist Lenny Pickett Releases Second Album Of Storied 40+ Year Career, The Prescription, With Finnish UMO Jazz Orchestra On Random Act Records

Source: Matt Merewitz
May 31, 2014

It’s remarkable that The Prescription marks only the second album as a leader for Lenny Pickett, the renowned tenor saxophonist and E-flat clarinetist who was a seminal horn- section member of the pop/funk band Tower of Power from 1972-1981, and has been a member of the Saturday Night Live band since 1985 and its musical director since 1995. A longtime session musician and arranger who has worked with a wide range of artists from David Bowie and Elton John to ...

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Event

Vibes Artists To Reign At L. A. Jazz Society Vibe Summit June 22

Source: Mary Barrow
May 30, 2014

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA: Keyboard mallet masters will reign at Vibe Summit XXI, a joyful conglomeration of some of music's greatest vibes players in an afternoon of entertainment to benefit the educational programs of the Los Angeles Jazz Society. The event, open to the public, will be held Sunday, June 22 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Remo Recreational Center, 7308 Coldwater Canyon in North Hollywood. Tickets are $20 at the door, $15 for Jazz Society members, or join ...

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