Tag-Archive for » Jazz «
Singer Phoebe Snow died this week. The 60-year old singer was best known for the songs Poetry Man and Never Letting Go. Snow suffered a brain hemorrhage in January 2010 and never recovered. Snow sang the theme for the first season of the TV show A Different World, and was the voice behind many commercials. Snow put her career on hold when her daughter, Valerie Rose Laub, was born disabled. Snow was told her daughter wouldn’t live long, but Valerie lived to be 3-years old and died in 2007.
Jazz singer Abbey Lincoln, whose career spanned six decades and included acting, composing and participation in the U.S. civil rights movement, died of unknown causes on Saturday at age 80. Her death was first reportrd by the New York Times.
She was one of many singers influenced by Billie Holiday. She had a very long and productive career and continued to perform until the time of her death. She often could be found at the Blue Note in New York City.[1]
With Ivan Dixon, she co-starred in Nothing But a Man (1964), an independent film written and directed by Michael Roemer. She also co-starred with Sidney Poitier and Beau Bridges in 1968?s For Love of Ivy[2], and received a 1969 Golden Globe nomination for her appearance in the film.
Abbey Lincoln also appeared in the 1956 film The Girl Can’t Help It, for which she famously wore a dress worn by Marilyn Monroe in Gentleman Prefer Blondes and interpreted the theme song, working with Benny Carter.[2]
She sang on the 60?s landmark jazz civil rights recording, We Insist! – Freedom Now Suite (1960) by jazz musician Max Roach and was married to him from 1962 to 1970.[3] Especially since this album, Abbey Lincoln was connected to the political fight against racism in the United States.
She worked with other jazz musicians like Sonny Rollins, Eric Dolphy, Coleman Hawkins, Jackie McLean, Clark Terry, Stanley Turrentine, Wynton Kelly, Cedar Walton, Joe Lovano, Pat Metheny, Ron Carter, Miles Davis and made albums with Stan Getz, Mal Waldron and Archie Shepp.
In 1990 she played the role of young Bleek Gilliams’ mother in the Spike Lee movie Mo’ Better Blues[4] who was very insistent that Bleek, played as an adult by Denzel Washington, come inside their house and practice his trumpet instead of playing outside with his friends.
In 2003, she received the National Endowment for the Arts NEA Jazz Masters Award.
Herbie Hancock Celebration Part of NYC Jazz Festival. Herbie Hancock will be honored at a belated 70th birthday party at Carnegie Hall this spring that will double as the revival of a major summer jazz festival in the Big Apple. The pianist, who turns 70 on April 12, will be joined by comedian Bill Cosby, saxophonist Joe Lovano, trumpeter Terence Blanchard, and saxophonist Wayne Shorter, Hancock’s bandmate in Miles Davis’ famed 1960s quintet, with more guests to be announced. The June 24 concert, “Herbie Hancock, Seven Decades: The Birthday Celebration,” will benefit The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz. “That will be a very exciting night — perhaps one of the unique nights in the history of the festival with a lot of people coming just to salute Herbie,” the festival’s producer, George Wein, told the Associated Press Friday. The concert will be followed by a festival first — an old-time midnight jam session paying tribute to Hancock — at the City Winery nightclub. The CareFusion Jazz Festival will run from June 17 to 26 with some 45 concerts at 20 venues, including concert halls, parks, museums and libraries in four boroughs. Carnegie Hall will be the site of three other high-profile concerts featuring trumpeter Chris Botti, Brazilian bossa nova maestro Joao Gilberto, and the trio of pianist Keith Jarrett, bassist Gary Peacock and drummer Jack DeJohnette. There will also be several free outdoor concerts, with Latin jazz star Eddie Palmieri performing in a Bronx park and pianist McCoy Tyner’s quartet featuring saxophonist Ravi Coltrane and the Stanley Clarke Band with Japanese pianist Hiromi playing at Central Park’s SummerStage. The festival is paying the musicians and letting the clubs collect the gate, asking only that ticket prices be kept at a recession-friendly $15 for most events. “It’s helping the clubs and the musicians,” said Wein. “Its our own stimulus program.”
The key astrological event of August is Mercury’s retrograde cycle from August 2-26. This backward turn of the communication planet happens three times a year, and is well known for complicating conversations, muddling messages, blurring details, and triggering technical difficulties and travel troubles. While some astrologers recommend avoiding starting new projects or signing contracts during this period, it’s often impossible to do so. Just make sure to double-check data and confirm details carefully to limit the risk of making mistakes. In fact, Mercury retrograde can be very useful for completing unfinished business or returning to an old creative interest.
The contrasting sign positions of astrology’s lovers — Venus and Mars — are a complicating factor in relationships this month. Alluring Venus in bold Leo until August 21 favors splashy displays of affection and romantic drama. Hearts can open wide in expressive displays of generosity and adoration. There is a narcissistic side to this transit, though — some egos may overinflate as individuals demand more attention and approval than usual. The fun of this playful combination is countered by passionate Mars’ move into super-sensitive and self-protective Cancer on August 3. Instead of taking initiative with confidence, this transit evokes a more careful and timid approach to partnerships. Venus in Leo needs heroes, yet warrior Mars is more into playing it safe in cuddly Cancer. Venus’ shift into pragmatic Virgo on the August 21 brings these two planets into a more cohesive relationship, as reason and security take precedence over big displays of affection.
The bold and outgoing qualities of fiery Leo are fueled by the Sun’s presence in this grandiose sign. Chests may expand with self-importance, even as macho Mars is wearing Cancer’s apron. Leo is wonderful when confident individuals express it joyously. However, insecurity during Leo days often draws unpleasant pictures of bullies and showoffs whose external displays of self-importance are not matched by the quality of their work or by generous spirits. The Sun’s entry into earthy Virgo on August 23 tones down brash behavior as the focus shifts to taking care of business rather than putting on a show.
The Leonine need to be the center of attention is highlighted with a lunar opposition from egalitarian Aquarius on August 13. This Full Moon contrasts personal authority (Leo) with collective concerns (Aquarius). Cool Aquarius can put a chill on overheated romance and hyper-inflated egos. Bossy people may be put down by clever comments, but the purpose of this lunation is not to embarrass anyone. It is meant to serve as a reminder that even the greatest among us requires a community of friends, fans and supporters. We can sometimes feel pulled apart by the lunar opposition to the Sun during a Full Moon. Yet its message is to make us aware of the spectrum of responses available to all of us so that we can stretch our behavioral vocabulary. Learning when to take the lead and be a star (Leo) and when to be a cooperative member of the chorus (Aquarius) teaches us to play a variety of roles.