I saw Tyler Perry's movie "I Can Do Bad All By Myself" starring Taraji P. Henson (my girl)! I interviewed her a while ago and she talked to me about this movie and how it was her first starring role and all the wonderful people who were going to be acting in the production, including the legendary Gladys Knight! That's right, Gladys! She has been laying low for a while but she's back, on...
It Ain't Me. Babe. (Photo courtesy of Doubleday Books) Musician-band leader Paul Shaffer answered almost all of my questions during a recent hour-long interview to promote his memoir "We'll Be Here For The Rest of Our Lives (A Swingin'...
I’ve mentioned before, mostly in conjunction with football, that I generally cannot stand sports commentators. They love to state the obvious. They make glaring mistakes (such as last night’s “the Phillies are up 5-0 on the Angels” – I’m sorry, when did that happen'). They’re decidedly un-funny…particularly when they laugh too hard at their own jokes....
I've trawled through my photo albums again and picked out some pictures from gigs and festivals of the last few years. First, here's the wonderful Kim Weston pictured at the Jazz Cafe in 2006. Also at the Jazz Cafe, this is Mavis Staples, photographed in 2005. Pictured signing a photograph for me, this is blues singer Clara McDaniel, who appeared memorably at the soul/blues show at Blackheath in 1997....
Free presale passwords for Today October 14, 2009 Beauty and the Beast Adler Theatre Davenport, IA Free presale password is GASTON. TMDEAL or BEAUTY The Drowsy Chaperone Adler Theatre Davenport, IA Free [...]
There’s a recording on YouTube of Bob Dylan singing Gonna Change My Way Of Thinking on October 10th last in Berkeley, California. It’s the song with which he’s kicked off most of his shows so far on his fall tour. The recording might not be the best, but it’s good enough to know that [...]
Drums - Topper Headon Nick Headon – Topper from The Clash – came to our studio and we had a jam. That's not something I do but he likes jazz funk and I do too. He's tight and hits the kit hard but he's kind of tentative. Banjo - Levon Helm We've all seen The Band's "The Last Waltz" and there's nothing he can't do. Helm did a little moment on banjo, which is why he's there. Bassist...
NPR is seeking input from listeners for a series that will highlight 50 great singers. The list will eventually be narrowed down to 50 of the greatest, from all the nominations sent in. I will send in 50, but you don't have to send in a list that big....you can send as few as you like. The list below is not necessarily a list of my personal favorites, although NPR doesn't discourage that. Since the...
No reviews or audio clips yet, but Bob Dylan kicked off his new tour in Seattle last night center stage, singing Gonna Change My Way Of Thinking. He hasn’t performed that song from Slow Train Coming in concert since 1980. Aside from the version on that album, he also released one in 2003 — a [...]
We saw part of Hardly Strictly Bluegrass today in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. It’s a two day event on five stages, with some major talent. We saw Steve Martin with the Steep Canyon Ramblers and Ricky Skaggs. Yes, it’s that Steve Martin on banjo. They finished with a smoking version of ‘Orange Blossom Special.’ [...]
I've just watched Gladys Knight on Jools Holland's show on BBC2 and was in raptures. She's fantastic. To think that it's nearly 50 years since I first heard her sing with the Pips. Doesn't seem possible. Still. it made me think about the great female singers who I've had the pleasure of hearing and, in some cases, seeing over the years. So here is my top 50 female singers (and apologies to any I've...
http://www.strictlybluegrass.com/ Hardly Strictly Bluegrass @ Speedway Meadow in Golden Gate Park. Fri Oct 2 (10:30am - Noon & 2pm - 7pm) Star Stage 10:30am The Fireants 11:30am MC Hammer Banjo Stage 2:00pm Poor Man’s Whiskey 3:00pm Tom Morello: The Nightwatchman 4:15pm John Prine 5:45pm Lyle Lovett & His Large Band Fri Oct 3 (11:00am - 8pm) Banjo Stage 11:10am Laurie Lewis & The...
After nine years, people now schedule their vacations around the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park. Fans fly from all over the world to attend investment banker Warren Hellman's annual clambake. There is no other music festival like it...
Festivals DC, Ltd., which created and has presented an annual jazz festival in Washington, D.C. for the past five years, today announced the renaming and rebranding of the event as the DC Jazz Festival. Since 2004, the event had been known as the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival. It is the fastest-growing jazz festival in the country, and the largest music festival in D.C., with more than 100 performances...
WASHINGTON, DC (MARKET WIRE) Festivals DC, Ltd., which created and has presented an annual jazz festival in Washington, D.C. for the past five years, today announced the renaming and rebranding of the event as the DC Jazz Festival.
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