Results for "AAJ Staff"

The Fine for File-Swapping in Sweden: $7

February 23, 2011

The RIAA is still bashing American file-sharers over their heads with outrageous fines. Yet Sweden is now treating the matter like a parking ticket, if that. Just recently, a twenty-somethingfile-swapper received a 2,000 Swedish krona fine—roughly $311—for downloading 44 songs. That translates into about $7 per swap, a slap on wrist if it ever existed. So, ...

The Master of 3/4

February 23, 2011

I was watching the Philip Seymour Hoffman film Boating with Jack last night. In one poignant scene between the main characters an excerpt from the classic Bill Evans track “Peace Piece" was used as backing music to accentuate the drama and it worked perfectly. It reminded me of the brilliance of Bill Evans and how I ...

Eastman School Going to Woodshed Jazz History During XRIJF in June

February 22, 2011

As recently announced by the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival, a new course “Introduction to Jazz History" will be offered by the Eastman School of Music for those attending the jazz festival concerts who want to “go deeper" into the roots of jazz. Offered in the afternoons the week of June 13-17th, the course will be ...

Closeted with the MJQ

February 22, 2011

Blogging is going on the back burner—or maybe a side burner—for a few days while I wrap up an assignment. I am writing the essay and program notes for a seven-CD Mosaic box of the Modern Jazz Quartet's Atlantic studio recordings from 1956 to 1964. It involves a lot of listening, a lot of interviewing, a ...

The Jazz Session #242: Ralph Bowen

February 22, 2011

Nat Cole: That Sunday, That Summer

February 22, 2011

Everyone has a favorite Nat King Cole song. Mine is That Sunday, That Summer. In addition to the song's melody being artfully crafted, the lyrics retain an old fashioned formality that's long gone. It's an unusual love song, in that it casts the singer as a reminiscing romantic singing to his wife or love interest about ...

John Santos: Breaking Down Barriers in the Latin Music Continuum

February 22, 2011

Bay Area based percussionist-bandleader-educator John Santos is one of the most authoritative musicians I know when it comes to multiple facets of the Afro-Cuban and Latino-Hispanic music continuum. Equally versed in the Latin-jazz vein, salsa and the historic implications of music from the Afro-Caribbean diaspora, Santos' latest recording is the exciting folkloric La Esperanza. We sought ...

T.K. Blue Goes Latin Bird Hunting on His Latest

February 22, 2011

Saxophonist-flutist-educator-bandleader T.K Blue, longtime music director for Randy Weston's African Rhythms ensembles, will soon release Latin Bird, his Latin treatments of the music of the immortal Charlie Parker. T.K. is of Caribbean descent and has extensive experience in island grooves, Latin music, and a thorough immersion in African rhythms—not only from his two decades plus traveling ...

Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi Spring/Summer Shows

February 22, 2011

CRISSCROSSING THE COUNTRY MAKING SWEET MUSIC The Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi Band recently played their first show of 2011 in front of a sold-out house at the Imperial Theatre in Augusta, GA. Now, their tour plans are coming into focus for the spring and summer months. April will bring the band to a series of ...

Will Apple Back Down from 30% Charge?

February 22, 2011

From publishers to music subscription providers, everyone is still reeling from the “Apple Tax"—i.e. the 30% cut of profits that Apple will take when users subscribe to content and services in app. Some argue that Apple will respond to the negative reaction in the market and back down. Others believe that Apple's announcement shows that publishers ...