South African musical legend Miriam Makeba dies

Tags

African, Culture, Female Vocalist

Miriam Makeba

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AP) — Miriam Makeba, the South African singer who wooed the world with her sultry voice but was banned from her own country for more than 30 years under apartheid, died after collapsing on stage in Italy. She was 76.

In her dazzling career, Makeba performed with musical legends from around the world — jazz maestros Nina Simone and Dizzy Gillespie, Harry Belafonte, Paul Simon — and sang for world leaders such as John F. Kennedy and Nelson Mandela.

“Her haunting melodies gave voice to the pain of exile and dislocation which she felt for 31 long years. At the same time, her music inspired a powerful sense of hope in all of us,” Mandela said in a statement. – AP

Technology News

Tags

Internet Security, Search Engines

Obama Team Targeted by Chinese, Russian Hackers

Disgruntled Republicans may find some solace in recent news that Chinese and Russian hackers recently hacked the computer systems of president-elect Barack Obama — unfortunately, they also infiltrated John McCain’s system, too.

The news appears much more serious than it sounds. These aren’t your average basement-dwelling nogoodniks, but instead are reportedly sophisticated hackers that may even represent government elements in both China and Russia.

Deodato | In Concert – Airto

Tags

Brazilian, Contemporary Jazz, Culture

Deodato | In Concert/Airto [CTI Records/1973]

Deodato - In Concert/Airto

One of the the best live recordings I know was in fact in fact just a marketing reaction to Deodato‘s departure from CTI. It was released mainly because it contained live versions of two songs which were about to appear on Deodato‘s forthcoming album on MCA, Whirlwinds and Do It Again. The first edition of the album included two songs by Airto, who originally opened for Deodato, and issued as Deodato & Airto In Concert in order to promote Airto‘s CTI releases. Deodato In Concert appeared first time in 1988 and contained the full performance by Deodato and CTI All-Stars. You can compare both releases while reading this in-depth article by Arnaldo DeSouteiro. – CTI Never Sleeps

Danny Broadway | Touch and Agree

Tags

African American, Art, Culture

We’re delighted to share with you this week a suggestion from a frequent visitor of The Urban Flux, Ms Janis Heinz of Mobile, AL. She recommends a visually stunning piece of art by upcoming artist “Danny Broadway” from Memphis, TN. Thanks a bunch Ms Heinz for blessing us!

Danny Broadway loved art at a very young age while drawing horses with his sister, Shuanta. Danny has earned a degree in Fine Arts from The University of Memphis where his paintings were chosen two years in a row for the Black History Month posters.

He also taught art to junior high through high school students in the Memphis City School System and at the Memphis College of Art.

Broadway has been commissioned by several Fortune 500 Companies to include, FedEx, Black Enterprise, Memphis Grizzles and Memphis Redbirds. – Grandpasart.com/Bio

Danny Broadway | Touch and Agree

Danny Broadway

Dave Grusin | Homage To Duke

Tags

Classic Jazz, Ensemble, Piano

Dave Grusin, Homage to Duke

On our musical journey, many of us have had the honor to meet this gentleman’s music, he’s an entrepreneur, a prominent fixture in the music industry, his name is Dave Grusin. Furthermore, he’s an accomplished composer, producer, arranger, pianist and co-founder of the most successful contemporary jazz label GRP Records with his friend Larry Rosen. As visionaries, they brought us into the forefront of the digital landscape with their recording techniques, promotion and producing artists like Earl Klugh, Lee Ritenour, Dave Valentin, Angela Bofill and more. Over the years, he’s blessed music aficionados with a colorful silhouette of memorable soundtracks, thematic pop-jazz and fusion recordings enjoyed even today by music buffs world-wide.

Elio Villafranca Quartet | The Source in Between

Tags

Culture, Jazz, Piano

Elio Villafranca Quartet | The Source in Between [Latin Jazz]

Elio Villafranca

There are few young pianists playing today as skilled in the poetics of the instrument and as versatile as Elio Villafranca, the young, Cuban-born wizard, who now lives and performs in the United States. Like his compatriot, Omar Sosa, Villafranca is steeped in the music of the African and the Cuban traditions. And like Sosa, again, he is also well versed in the idioms of jazz, and the music of the vast Afro-Caribbean Diaspora. Again like Sosa and many of the Cuban musicians of his generation, Elio Villafranca is also a gifted composer, in whose music listeners will find a sensibility that draws from a very deep wellspring of ideas born of a mind that roams like a blithe spirit and stringing sounds that fuse on a score sheet like glittering pearls from the ocean of music around the world. – Raul d’Gama Rose

Listen to and read more about this outstanding jazz pianist at Latin Jazz Network …

Nnenna Freelon | I Cried For You

Tags

African American, Female Jazz vocalist, Male Vocalist

Nnenna Freelon | I Cried For You [Vid of The Week]

As always we’re ecstatic about what’s happening in the world of jazz! This week, we have the lovely and talented vocalist Nnenna Freelon with WDR Big Band featuring John Marshall on trumpet and Michael Abene on piano.