Results for "AAJ Staff"

STLJN Saturday Video Showcase: Jazz Film Festival Summer 2013, Part 2

July 27, 2013

This week, we continue our summer festival of jazz films with five documentaries looking at the lives of legendary musicians, plus a vintage TV special from the 1970s featuring performances from a stellar lineup of musicians still active then. First up is Art Tatum: The Art of Jazz Piano, the only documentary portrait of the great ...

Email Still Top Marketing Tool, Says New Study

July 27, 2013

With the many discussions, studies and success stories touting the importance of social media, email is still the most useful tool in the kit, according to a new survey of marketing professionals by the Direct Marketing Association. Though it's starting to shift, email is the #1 channel for 55% of marketers. In the future, email will ...

US Gov't Says Music Depreciates 3x Faster Than Movies

July 27, 2013

By Jay Frank (@Repojay), Owner and CEO of DigSin. How fast does music depreciate? Try three times as fast as movies. This isn't quantified by me just making a random statement. This is actually what the US government is saying. Now, before we get to the “huff-and-puff" part that the internet likes to flame over, let's ...

The Lead Sheet: Twin Cities Live Jazz, July 26-August 1

July 27, 2013

Yet another festival! This weekend marks the return of Dakota StreetFest with its eclectic round-up of local and visiting artists, competing with the Lowertown Roots Festival in St. Paul on what promises to be a relatively cool, dry and pleasant few days. Babatunde Lea brings his volcanic quartet to the Artists Quarter, Kermit Ruffins brings musical ...

Face the Music: Badi Assad and the Sleight of Voice

July 26, 2013

Back in 2005, Brazilian guitarist/vocalist Badi Assad toured throughout the universe with two iconic American guitarists, Larry Coryell and John Abercrombie. They landed in Minneapolis for a night at the Dakota. In addition to the guitar, I recall an odd tube-like “instrument" that Badi used to add another dimension to her already stunning music. But it ...

Fred Astaire: Jazz Pianist

July 25, 2013

At his dancing best, Fred Astaire had the grace and cunning of a fencer. His swing-era manner, daring routines and silky steps still captivate. Less well known (or too easily forgotten) was Astaire's ability as a pianist. His keyboard moments in film are easily overlooked because his ballroom moves steal the show.  Here are three clips ...

Mobile Music Consumption Explodes [infographic]

July 25, 2013

More and more fans are using smartphones and tablets to consume music on the go. But what have these services meant for consumers' smartphone activities and data plans? This infographic from Citrix ByteMobile offers a glimpse into how the growing preference of music streaming services is contributing music sales and a growing to the “mobile data ...

New Miles Davis Statue

July 25, 2013

Jazz This Week: Kermit Ruffins, Nora Germain, Good 4 the Soul, All That Tap XXI, Dave Dickey Big Band, and More

July 24, 2013

The weekend starts early for fans of jazz and creative music in St. Louis, as Kermit Ruffins - trumpeter, singer, entrepreneur, bon vivant and ambassador of New Orleans music - will be playing at The Gramophone tonight and again on Thursday evening. While he's in town, Ruffins also will be doing a meet-and-greet and signing copies ...

Billy Taylor Trios: 1952-56

July 24, 2013

Today would have been Billy Taylor's 92d birthday had he not died in December 2010. Unfortunately, Billy is remembered most often now as a kindly educator and radio and TV personality rather than as a superlative pianist. Mind you, his work in jazz education was noble and needed. I would probably not be as passionate about ...