Pete Fountain, 86

Pete Fountain, 86, Dies; Clarinetist Popularized Spirited New Orleans Jazz
by Peter Keepnews, The New York Times, August 6, 2016

Afropunk = freedom

Rebellious Diversity in Song
Afropunk Festival Hosts 60 Acts Over Two Days in Brooklyn
by Stacey Anderson, The New York Times, August 20, 2014

Mavis Staples knows how to celebrate 75 years!

Mavis Staples: Newport Folk 2014 (audio 1:24:57)

from NPR Music

Summer begins with Spain's Buika in Central Park

BUIKA

and

MARQUES TOLIVER

In association with

Blue Note Jazz Festival

Presented by SummerStage

Central Park, Manhattan

Sunday, June 22 at 7:00pm

FREE admission

Buika

Since her introduction to the American marketplace in 2007 with her album Mi Niña Lola (My Little Girl Lola), Buika has experienced a meteoric rise, earning lavish praise from The New York Times, The Miami Herald, and The Wall Street Journal, as well as NPR which quickly included her in their "50 Great Voices" radio gallery. Her next release, Niña de Fuego (Fire Child) paved the way for relocation to Miami in 2011. After achieving success in Europe, her works were compiled on the 2-CD set En Mi Piel (In My Skin) to coincide with the Pedro Almodovar movie of the same name in which she appeared. Buika was nominated for a Grammy for best Latin Jazz album this year, for her latest album La Noche Mas Larga. 

Marques Toliver

Marques Toliver burst onto the scene via the UK with an arresting television performance in 2010 and a declaration from Adele as her "new favorite artist." Toliver has played live and on records for the likes of Holly Miranda, Grizzly Bear, and Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson. After a move to London, Toliver signed to Bella Union and released his well-received debut EP Butterflies Are Not Free. Following worldwide tours, he began work on the mixtape Studying For My Ph. D, a cornucopia of music, speech, loops, and news reports from the London Riots. Through the mixtape he would also delve in to some of the themes and ideas that would eventually influence his full-length debut Land of CanAan, a work brimming with his own unique R&B and Classical music influences.

For more information on this show, click here.

Richie Havens, 72 [UPDATE]

Richie Havens, Folk Singer Who Riveted Woodstock, Dies at 72
by Douglas Martin, The New York Times, April 22

Richie Havens (in memoriam) Jan 21, 1941-April 22, 2013
The Roots Agency

Folk legend Richie Havens has passed away
JamBase, April 22, 2013

Globalfest producers announce multicultural music lineup

Zimbabwean to Headline Globalfest 2013
by James C. McKinley Jr., The New York Times, November 13, 2012

SXSW's Brent Grulke, 51

Brent Grulke, South by Southwest’s Creative Director, Dies at 51
by Margalit Fox, The New York Times, August 19, 2012

Meshell Ndegeocello. Nina Simone. 'nuff said.

Women's Jazz Festival presents 

Meshell Ndegeocello: 

Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood, The Works of Nina Simone

Monday, March 5, 7pm

Celebrate Women's History Month!

Meshell Ndegeocello makes her debut at the Schomburg Center's Women's Jazz Festival. A bass player above all else, Meshell brings her signature warm, fat, and melodic groove to everything she does. Canonized, marginalized or just scrutinized, she has given up trying to explain herself. After 20+ years in an industry that has called her everything from avant garde to a dying breed, what unquestionably remains is the fearsome bassist, prolific songwriter and the creativity and curiosity of an authentic musical force. With that, she has earned critical acclaim, the unfailing respect of fellow players, songwriters and composers, and the dedication of her diverse, unclassifiable fans.

Click here for information and ticketing.

Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
(Langston Hughes Auditorium)
515 Malcolm X Boulevard, Manhattan (map/directions)

China's ethnic minorities rocking out

Ethnic Music Tests Limits in China
by Jonathan Kaiman and Andrew Jacobs, The New York Times, July 16, 2011

Chicago's Dept. of Cultural Affairs dismantled

Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs is dismantled as 29 are laid off
by Jim DeRogatis, WBEZ91.5

Famed jazz fests need new sponsor

Company Ends Its Sponsorship of New York and Newport Jazz Festivals

by Ben Sisario, The New York Times, November 4, 2010