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Thursday, December 19, 2013
Netflix to Stream 4K
UHDTV is Here: Get Ready to Junk your HDTV!
Ultra-HDTV is really here.
That was fast!
There's no 4K content yet, but soon come.
We were surprised to see that the sets are already being widely sold and at reasonable prices. The 55" Samsung pictured is $3,000.
The picture is amazing.
The demos being shown on Samsung and Sony sets in places like Best Buy are astonishing.
Remember how great we all thought regular (NTSC) DVDs looked at 1st? A whopping, but clear, 500 lines of resolution. Beat the pants off of VHS.
Well, UHDTV beats the pants off of HDTV. Up to 4 times the resolution of HDTV.
True movie-theater image quality at home.
We're not sure if the difference is that noticeable if you're not right up close.
However, if it was a year down the line and prices were down further and Netflix was streaming 4K content, as the salesman in our local Best Buy said was going to be the case soon, we'd quite likely make the leap.
Sunday, December 15, 2013
Monday, August 12, 2013
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Monday, August 5, 2013
The Finest TV Production Ever, Now on Blu-ray
"Smiley's People is simply the finest TV production ever"
Smiley's People (1982) is finally out on Blu-ray, from Acorn home video.
Often viewed as the lesser of the two BBC six-hour-mini-series
adaptations of John LeCarre's masterworks of Cold-War espionage... this view must now be reconsidered, as George Smiley might say.
Everything's better in Blu-ray.
Smiley's People leaps to vivid life in HD.
Never have an actor and role been better matched than Alec Guinness as George Smiley.
Never.
Author LeCarre famously said that Guinness's portrayal in the first mini-series, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (1979) influenced how he wrote the Smiley character afterward.
We can't imagine it being otherwise.
(Both Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and Smiley's People were MIA from U.S. home video for way too long... about 20 years or longer. Those who remembered the series fondly just waited and waited. Both are now finally out in HD, both from Acorn.)
Having just finished the new Blu-ray, we'd say that Smiley's People is simply the finest TV production ever.
Better, even, than the great Tinker, Tailor.
A bigger budget, due to the success of Tinker, Tailor, brought this production (quite lavishly for British TV) to Paris, Hamburg and Bern, Switzerland. The effort was not wasted. The locations are used beautifully.
Everyone is superb.
Guinness, of course, is absolute perfection.
Bernard Hepton as cagey operational-expert and dubious-art-dealer Toby Esterhase is just as good. Do not take your eyes off him.
Smiley's People has many fleeting moments of sly humor.
Frau Kretcszhmar, the wife of the good-guy-Hamburg-sex-club operator, is onscreen for seconds but is hilariously unforgettable. Esterhase has some great funny moments as well, and even Smiley has a few.
A rich, deep production of a rich, deep story.
Now, of course, HD in this instance is a relative thing.
That said, if you love this production it is worth purchasing on Blu-ray, even if you own the DVD set.
The Blu-ray is a major image-quality upgrade. Sharper, clearer, less artifacts. We know, because we A-B compared the two.
However, the show is 30+ years old. It has not been restored, but simply transferred from a decent source (likely a film print as was the case for the Blu-ray of Tinker, Tailor. Shockingly, the BBC did not know where the negative of Tinker, Tailor was, and had no interest in looking, the cinematographer told us.)
Both landmark series were shot on standard 16mm film, the custom for British filmed TV until Super 16 and later the digital age.
It is not in widescreen.
None of this matters... in fact, the gritty, grainy, lowly, claustrophobic 4:3 16mm approach works wonderfully for the downbeat story. The sun never comes out in this tale.
A restoration would be wonderful, but don't expect it to happen.
Smiley's People on Blu-ray is not to be missed.
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Monday, July 29, 2013
Amazing B&W - Ray K. Metzger
We thought there was something quite familiar about the Man on Earth work we posted yesterday by Mr. Vandervell; see the work of Ray. K. Metzger, below, and you'll see why.
The newer work appears to be carefully art directed and posed, and it is good work, but Metzger did it first and is the realer deal. (As far as we know, Metzger's shots were not posed.)
Dig the Philadelphia 1963 car photo!
See it here:
The newer work appears to be carefully art directed and posed, and it is good work, but Metzger did it first and is the realer deal. (As far as we know, Metzger's shots were not posed.)
Dig the Philadelphia 1963 car photo!
See it here:
Friday, July 26, 2013
Friday, July 19, 2013
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
New B&W from David Deal
We've always loved David Deal's work. He's known for shooting powerful magazine and other portraits w/ a 4x5" view camera. Here's some of his recent B&W work:
See it here.
See it here.
Monday, May 20, 2013
Ray Manzarek, R.I.P.
Sad news today; Ray Manzarek, Doors co-founder, keyboardist (and bassist) has died at 74.
I had the good fortune to work with Ray on all of his projects over the course of 5-6 years.
Ray was a great guy:
Funny, talented, smart, cultured, educated, charming, friendly, good natured & generous.
He was, of course, wealthy and enjoyed taking people out for nice meals; sometimes large groups of people.
He and his wonderful wife Dorothy loved coming to NYC (I booked him on the NBC Letterman show during one visit -- he was nearly bumped). They loved the museums and culture of NY.
I spent a fair amount of time with Ray and Dorothy, given that they lived in LA and I was in NYC. We got together every time they came to NYC (which was often).
They didn't have to do that, but they did.
I thought it was very, very cool then that we always got together socially and had a fun time, and I think that even more so now.
Ray had not one ounce of star attitude. He was proud of what he had accomplished, and liked to be recognized for those accomplishments, but he was one of the nicest, most remarkbly unaffected and down-to-earth people I've ever known.
Ray and Dorothy were always extremely nice to me, treating me like a good friend and an equal. They always seemed genuinely glad to see me. I was certainly always glad to see them -- it was a highlight of my life at the time.
We went to the Oyster Bar at Grand Central one weekend, looking forward to a wonderful seafood meal in a classic NYC setting; none of us -- just the three of us this time -- knew that the Oyster Bar was not open on wknds. then.
I particularly remember a meeting w/ the Manzarek's at their home near the Hollywood sign. A big white piano sat at the center of their living room, surrounded by big windows.
Ray was a very cool guy, and an important figure in rock history. A great musician, arranger, songwriter.
We're quite shocked and sad that he is gone.
(If I recall correctly, I first met Ray when he was rehearsing with Iggy Pop at the Wonderland Avenue Los Angeles home he used as a rehearsal space, and where Danny Sugerman was also living. A memorable encounter w/ Iggy, for several reasons, but that's another story.)
Monday, May 13, 2013
Friday, May 10, 2013
AMAZING "PARADE OF TRAINS" THIS WKND IN NYC
WANT TO FEEL LIKE CARY GRANT OR EVA MARIE SAINT IN NXNW THIS WKND?
THE 20TH CENTURY LIMITED IS BACK, THIS SAT. AND SUNDAY AT GCT IN NYC.
THE FAMED "20TH CENTURY LIMITED" RED CARPET WAS ROLLED OUT TODAY IN GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL AS THE "PARADE OF TRAINS" CENTENNIAL EVENT PREPPED FOR OPENING TOMORROW, SAT. MAY 11, 2013. THE EVENT RUNS SAT. AND SUNDAY, 10AM-4PM.
WE WENT TO A PREVIEW TODAY. IT WAS AMAZING - WE THINK THE PHOTOS, BELOW, SAY IT ALL (SCROLL ALL THE WAY DOWN FOR COMPLETE EVENT INFO):
HISTORIC TRAINS FROM ACROSS THE NATION
COME TO GRAND CENTRAL THIS MAY
Public Can View the World’s Most Famous Trains, the Newest Rail Cars and Other Special Railroad Equipment during “Grand Centennial Parade of Trains” Weekend.
Kid-friendly activities and the Terminal’s first model train and railroad collectibles event anchor the weekend.
NEW YORK CITY, April 9, 2013 – An extraordinary assembly of historic train cars spanning the heyday of luxury rail travel, as well as the latest in railroad technology, will be on display together for the first time in the free and family-friendly “Grand Centennial Parade of Trains” weekend May 11-12, 2013. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, as part of Grand Central Terminal’s ongoing Centennial celebration.
The “Parade of Trains” arrangement of historical railroad equipment comprises the largest and most diverse collection of privately owned train cars ever assembled in Grand Central Terminal. The event also includes Grand Central’s first model train show and “Railroadiana” antiques and collectibles event, with a variety of retailers and regional railroading museums lining part of Vanderbilt Hall, offering sales and hosting exhibits of unique railroad and train-related items.
The historic train cars, including an observation car from the iconic 20th Century Limited – arguably the most famous train in the world – will come from across the country to Grand Central Terminal. Accompanying the private train cars will be a number of cars from Metro-North Railroad’s collection, including the newest in the Metro-North fleet, the M8 commuter car that was introduced in 2011, and cars from predecessor railroads serving the New York region. While many of these trains traveled into and out of Grand Central, several are making their debut appearance at the Terminal.
In addition, an area of Vanderbilt Hall will be transformed into “Kid Junction,” which will be full of free activities for children and families to enjoy, including an activity area and a modular train display from the “Chuggington” animated train series (seen on the “Disney Junior” channel), demonstrations with a Master Builder from the LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester, and creative activities led by New York Transit Museum staff and The New York Botanical Garden. Metro-North employees will staff departmental demonstrations, where families can learn how many functions support a smooth-running railroad.
In conjunction with the “Grand Centennial Parade of Trains,” many of Grand Central Terminal’s retail tenants will offer special deals and promotions on May 11 and 12. An updated list of specials will be posted on www.grandcentralterminal.com. These offers are good while supplies last and are subject to change.
“Grand Central is one of the most iconic and active Terminals in the world, so it’s only fitting that we bring together here more than a dozen elegant and luxurious train cars for our Centennial year,” said MTA Metro-North Railroad President Howard Permut. Randall Fleischer, Co-Director of the Centennial and Vice President of Grand Central Terminal and Corporate Development for MTA Metro-North Railroad, added “The Centennial Parade of Trains weekend will showcase the famous trains that helped put the ‘Grand’ in Grand Central Terminal, and that now reflect its rich national legacy.”
Among the historic cars to be featured in “Parade of Trains”:
· The 20th Century Limited “Hickory Creek” – Built in 1948 by Pullman Standard, this sleeper-observation lounge car was part of the New York Central Railroad’s 20th Century Limited, which is widely considered the most famous train in the world. The 20th Century departed daily from Grand Central Terminal and was synonymous with first-class service, speed and comfort. With Hickory Creek as a backdrop, the 20th Century was christened at Grand Central in 1948 by Dwight Eisenhower and actress Bea Lillie, with a champagne bottle filled with water from the Hudson River, Lake Erie, and Lake Michigan, symbolizing the railroad’s “Water Level Route.”
· Montana – The Montana was built in the Milwaukee Road shops as a tap lounge for the streamlined 1947 Olympian Hiawatha, which ran between Chicago and Tacoma/Seattle. The car was retired from regular assignments in 1955 and converted to a business car. Later, it was leased to the Wisconsin Central and then operated on steam excursions. It’s now in private ownership.
· Vista Valley – The sleeper-observation lounge car Vista Valley was commissioned by the Santa Fe Railway to upgrade its flagship Super Chief train in 1947. It primarily served the West Coast and hosted many traveling movie stars and VIPs in its day. Retired in 1971 and subsequently sold into private ownership, Vista Valley’s interior remains intact and appears today as it was created for the Santa Fe.
· FL-9 Locomotive – Unique to the New York, New Haven and Hartford lines (and eventually operated by Metro-North), these dual-power locomotives were designed specifically for operation into Grand Central. Essentially diesel-electrics, they could pick up power from the electrified third rail when operating through the tunnel into the Terminal, thus eliminating exhaust fumes. The Electro-Motive Division of General Motors built these locomotives from 1956 to 1960.
· Phoebe Snow Cars –These cars were built in 1949 as tavern-lounge observation cars for the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western’s Phoebe Snow train. The train was named for a promotional character who always wore white clothes to promote its clean-burning coal fuel; with these cars, it ran between Hoboken and Buffalo and later, under the auspices of the Erie Lackawanna railroad, to Chicago. These cars currently serve as MTA Metro-North Railroad’s two inspection cars.
· MTA Metro-North’s M8 – This contemporary car is the newest equipment used by Metro-North Railroad in conjunction with the Connecticut Department of Transportation. The M8s debuted in early 2011 and are the most technologically advanced commuter cars in the country. Customer comfort and experience is enhanced with roomier seats, larger windows, better lighting, and more advanced communication options than previous cars. The vibrant red color echoes the historic colors of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad, a predecessor to Metro-North.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Full details on the “Grand Centennial Parade of Trains” and related retail deals, as well as other Centennial-year activities are available at www.grandcentralterminal.com.
ABOUT GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL
MTA Metro-North Railroad is the steward of Grand Central Terminal, which stands as one of America’s greatest transportation hubs and one of New York City’s most iconic buildings. It is both a national landmark and an international example of the success that can be achieved giving new life to a historic building that otherwise may have been destroyed. Over the course of a colorful and vibrant 100-year history, Grand Central has gone from being among the 20th Century’s most significant start and end points for long-distance rail travel, to being the flagship home of MTA Metro-North Railroad and a global destination for commuters, tourists and residents alike. The Grand Central “brand” reflects the remarkable caliber of services in the Terminal, including boutique restaurants and cocktail lounges, a gourmet market, and many specialty shops. It draws more than 750,000 national and international visitors each day and wows them with its varied offerings and tour programs. Storied Vanderbilt Hall, once the waiting room for long-distance travelers, is among the most-desired public event spaces in the city.
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Eichler Homes Documentary
Ever fantasize about living in an Eichler California-modern home, like the young Steve Jobs?
They are cool.
Here's a good, good-looking 47-minute documentary about Eichler homes.
Nice.
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Evoking Eggleston, Shore: "Rockford Files" in HD
"Shots that evoke Stephen Shore or William Eggleston color photos... Sopranos creator David Chase was a writer/show runner; You can clearly see his Mafia obsession/Sopranos foreshadowing in some episodes. "
An unexpected visual treat via Netflix streaming: The Rockford Files in (4:3) HD.
We kind of liked the show; in the days before the quality-TV revolution, it was a bit different.
In HD (but in standard, "square" 4:3 TV format) it is an old school visual feast: Shots evoke Stephen Shore or William Eggleston color photos.
(If it wasn't in HD, we'd likely not be too interested. This old-school TV show, shot mostly on location and seen in crisp HD, is quite nice eye candy.)
LA in the mid-seventies, a real time capsule; cars the size of yachts (except for Rockford).
His dirty old trailer, muddied up gloriously by the art department, back in a time when one could imagine a PI living in an old, eyesore trailer hard by the beautiful Malibu beachfront, when it wouldn't have taken all day to drive from Malibu to Hollywood.
And not just that:
in Pt. 1 of the pilot, Rockford ducks into the Mayfair Theater (now shuttered but still standing in Santa Monica).
It'd been gloriously restored and was, in real life, a... wait for it...
...English Music Hall, for about eight years.
We see the beautiful interior and the acrobatic and animal acts performing, and it's like we walked off of Santa Monica Blvd. and right into Hitchcock's The 39 Steps.
The show is pretty decent; best when absurdly funny.
And Sopranos creator David Chase was a young writer/show runner. You can clearly see his Mafia obsession/Sopranos foreshadowing in some of these episodes.
(The Rockford Files; 118 episodes, 1974-1980, Netflix streaming)
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Travel w/ Jazz 88 - WBGO-FM
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WBGO 88.3FM | WBGO.org
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| WBGO Travel & Events Presents: A Musical Journey Around The World Travel with WBGO and enjoy first-class travel packages to stellar concerts, jazz festivals and deluxe tours across the globe. Music knows no boundaries, neither does WBGO! Montreal Jazz Festival | Montreal, Canada June 30 - July 3, 2013 Enjoy great concerts including tickets to see Gregory Porter. Take a walking food tour of The Jean-Talon Market, have breakfast with WBGO's Michael Bourne plus lunch at his favorite spot – Pizzedelic. Get access to Michael's interviews with festival performers and take a behind-the-scenes tour of the Montreal Jazz Festival. For details or to book your trip, call 1-855-288-7344 or wbgo.org/travel
*****
Umbria Jazz Festival | Perugia, Italy July 5 - July 10, 2013 Wine, dine and hear great jazz in Italy with WBGO celebrating the festival’s 40th anniversary. Take tours of Italy’s wineries and visit neighboring cities. Performers include Diana Krall, Keith Jarrett, Sonny Rollins, John Legend and more. For details or to book your trip, call 973-467-4418 or wbgo.org/travel Coming Soon Newport Jazz Festival Umbria Winter (Orvieto, Italy) Jazz on the Mountain at the Mohonk Mountain House Visit wbgo.org/travel or contact WBGO Travel and Events at 973-624-8880 ext. 269 and at events@wbgo.org. | ||||||
| See What Your Member Card Can Do
Members Discount: 54 Below Presents the WBGO Jazz Series
WBGO members can save 15% on cover charges in the main dining room.
To redeem, visit 54below.com or call 1-866-468-7619 and use code"WBGO54". 54 Below, which occupies the basement of the legendary Studio 54 nightclub, presents the WBGO Jazz Series on Tuesday evenings. The next two performances in the series are: Tuesday, May 7 at 7pm and 9pm: Nightsongs: An Evening with Janis Siegel from Manhattan Transfer Featuring a band of some of New York's most extraordinary and versatile musicians led by pianist John DiMartino, this ten-time Grammy®-winning vocalist will premiere new songs from her new, soon-to-be released cdPalmetto, as well as old favorites. Tuesday, May 14 at 7pm and 9pm: Sing! Sing! Sing! The 75thAnniversary of Benny Goodman's Historic Carnegie Hall Concert with Ken Peplowski, Jay Leonhart, Ehud Asherie, Willie Jones III, and more Ken Peplowski (clarinetist, sax player and entertainer) directs this show: a reinvention of clarinetist Benny Goodman's legendary Carnegie Hall Concert performed on January 16, 1938, one of the first public concerts featuring a racially integrated lineup. Restrictions apply. Know a business that would like to participate in WBGO’s members discount program? Contact Josh Rosenfeld at jrosenfeld@wbgo.org or973-624-8880 ext. 232. | ||||||
| Newark School of the Arts Gala Tomorrow's Stars Tonight 2013 On Tuesday, April 23, WBGO President & CEO Cephas Bowles served as Master of Ceremonies for Newark School of the Arts 18th annual fundraising dinner gala - Tomorrow's Stars Tonight, at New Jersey Performing Arts Center. Celebrating its 45th anniversary, the Newark School of the Arts honored Jacques Lacombe of New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Dr. Clement A. Price of Rutgers University, and Mary Sue Sweeney Price of the Newark Museum. Proceeds provide needed scholarship assistance for individuals who wish to study music, dance, drama or visual arts at the school. | ||||||
| WBGO Programming | |||||||
| WBGO 2013 Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM)Live on-air performances weekdays from 2-3pm on WBGO 88.3FM andWBGO.org All month long, WBGO has featured live in-studio performances showcasing student jazz ensembles from the North East. Be sure to check out our final performance this week. If you missed them, you can visitwbgo.org/blog to listen to one of our past performances. Hosted by Michael Bourne, JAM presents some of the area's best student jazz ensembles. Tune in! JAM Schedule: Thursday, April 25 - The Queens College International Band | ||||||
| Jazz at Lincoln Center with Wendell PierceMondays at 6:30pm on WBGO 88.3 FM and WBGO.org Regina Carter | Monday, April 29 Jazz at Lincoln Center presents renowned jazz violinist Regina Carter and her all-new project, Southern Comfort. Carter’s latest endeavor delves into her father’s Alabama roots through the slide guitar and blues music which permeated her childhood. | ||||||
| WBGO Celebrates International Jazz Day Tuesday, April 30 on WBGO 88.3FM and WBGO.org April 30 is International Jazz Day, a day designed to show how jazz can promote peace, unity, communication and cooperation among peoples of the world. UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock says “On International Jazz Day, jazz is celebrated…and performed around the world for 24 hours straight.” This year’s main event is in the global host city of Istanbul, Turkey. To honor this occasion, tune in to hear WBGO’s Special Projects Producer, Josh Jackson as he reports LIVE from Istanbul throughout the day. Every hour from 10-2, Midday Jazz host Rhonda Hamilton will highlight artists performing in Istanbul and at other events in the more than 30 participating countries. This year’s main event includes performances by Hancock, Dianne Reeves, Eddie Palmieri, Hugh Masekela, Abdullah Ibrahim, Igor Butman, Jean-Luc Ponty, Anat Cohen and many other international jazz stars. | ||||||
| The Checkout with Josh Jackson Tuesday, April 30 6:30pm on WBGO 88.3 FM and WBGO.org Josh Jackson features interviews with pianist Craig Taborn and saxophonist Dayna Stephens. Also, hear a playlist by pianist Aaron Parks. During the program, Josh will tell listeners how they can stream the latest release by pianist Aaron Parks (his first as a band leader in six years), one day before its official release. WBGO has the exclusive rights to stream this new release. This will be the first of a new project for WBGO, WBGO Radar, which will present music not yet available to the public. Aaron Parks has been touring as the pianist in Kurt Rosenwinkel's Quartet. He has not led a recording in six years, but that's about to change. Hear a WBGO exclusive stream of Aaron Parks: Live in Japan. Then hear him pick a few songs from other musicians in his digital collection. Pianist Craig Taborn first came to international attention as a member of saxophonist James Carter's ensembles. Last year, WBGO featured Taborn's new trio on Live at the Village Vanguard. Hear an interview with Taborn about the group's first studio recording for ECM, Chants. Saxophonist Dayna Stephens has proven himself a master of composition and arrangement, a highly acclaimed band leader and an "in-demand" side-man for some of Jazz masters such as Kenny Barron, as well as Stephens' own peer group. Hear Dayna talk about his new recording, That Nepenthetic Place. | ||||||
| SportsJam with Doug Doyle Wednesdays, 7:30pm on WBGO 88.3FM and WBGO.org Mike Tyson | Wednesday, May 1 Former Heavyweight Boxing Champion Mike Tyson will be Doug Doyle's guest. Tyson just completed his one-man show "Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth" at NJPAC and has two shows scheduled in New York. Tyson talks about his dark times and his new outlook on life. | ||||||
| JazzSet with Dee Dee BridgewaterSundays at 6pm, repeated on Wednesday at 6:30pm on WBGO 88.3FM and WBGO.org Allison Miller’s Boom Tic Boom Project from the Mary Lou Williams Festival at the Kennedy Center | Sunday, April 28 The drummer’s set became the hit of the 2012 Women in Jazz Festival. Miller is the engine with bassist Todd Sickafoose, Marty Ehrlich on reeds, and pianist Dan Tepfer spinning figures under and around the group. Rhonda Hamilton guest hosts our JazzSet, and Dee Dee Bridgewater is the onstage MC. | ||||||
| Live Studio Performance on Afternoon Jazz On-air at WBGO 88.3 FM and WBGO.org Terence Blanchard Quintet | Tuesday, May 28 at 2pm Trumpeter/composer Terence Blanchard Quintet visits with Josh Jackson and WBGO for a live in-studio performance from 2-3pm to kick off the release of his 20th album, Magnetic, which debuts on the same day of this performance. “I’ve always believed that in life, what you keep in your mind is what you draw to yourself.” That’s how he explains the title of his latest release on his return to Blue Note Records. This album finds a stunning variety of sounds and styles pulled together by the irresistible force of Blanchard’s vision. Magnetic is yet another genre-defying chapter in this innovative musician and film composer's life. This performance will be followed by a five-night run at Jazz Standard beginning May 29. | ||||||
| WBGO Events | |||||||
| WBGO Kids Jazz Concert Series See complete calendar online at WBGO.org Discover America's original musical art form at the WBGO Kids Jazz Concert Series - a free concert series bringing jazz culture and performance to your neighborhood. WBGO presents these concerts during the Spring and Fall on Saturday afternoons. These interactive, hour-long concerts give kids opportunities to learn about the distinct qualities of jazz, and why it's a reflection of our community, our nation, and our world! Q&A sessions with the artists, small gifts, and a chance to win a door prize are just some of the reasons to come out and join us! Lauren Hooker | Saturday, April 27, 12:30pm Music Legends Presents Jazz 4 Kids at Luna Stage, West Orange, NJ Lauren Hooker will lead audiences through the origins of Jazz including a participatory African “Call and Response” song, Slave songs and spirituals, improvisational Scat singing, and Jazz’s global influences on music like Calypso. Children will be exposed to jazz legends Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, and Miles Davis. Michael Wolff w/the Wolff & Clark Expedition & special guest Alex Wolff | Saturday, May 4, 12:30pm Blues is underneath Jazz at NJPACPianist Michael Wolff brings blues back to jazz exploring different styles of blues including old standards, rock and roll, Be Bop and beyond. Michael Wolff will be joined by special guests--his son, actor Alex Wolff formerly on the Nickelodeon sitcom Naked Brothers Band. Musicians are Michael Wolff /piano, Mike Clark/bass, Darryl Johns/bass, Rodney Jones/guitar, Alex Wolff/ vocals, guitar, drums. You don’t want to miss this! | ||||||
| WBGO & The Afro Latin Jazz Alliance present Música Nueva 6 Arturo O'Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra | Friday, May 3 & 4 at 8pm Peter Jay Sharp Theatre at Symphony Space WBGO is proud to be partnering with the Afro Latin Jazz Alliance as a co-sponsor for two nights of performances by Grammy® winners Arturo O'Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra. They will present their annual new music concert exploring fresh directions in Afro Latin Big Band Jazz. The evening will feature new works composed by Papo Vazquez, Pablo Mayor, Miguel Blanco, Arturo O'Farrill and Adam O'Farrill and includes performances by guest artists Cristina Pato, Antonio Lizana, Ximo Tebar and a new co-commissioned work by Papo Vazquez that focuses on the Latino contribution to the Harlem Renaissance. WBGO will be at the performances and invites you to stop by our table to enter a contest to win a special gift. Pre-performance discussion on Friday, May 3 at 7pm. | ||||||
| Pairings at Porter House Enjoy a three course dinner at Porter House New York followed by a great seat at Jazz at Lincoln Center for a special performance. Upcoming performances: Chick Corea | Thursday, May 16 Now in his seventies, the pianist-composer Chick Corea will be celebrated during JALC’s 25th Anniversary Season with a multi-venue “festival.” Eat dinner early and attend the pre-concert discussion at 7pm. 6pm dinner • 8pm performance Swinging with the Big Band w/ Michael Feinstein and Wynton Marsalis| Thursday, June 13 Band singers like Frank Sinatra, Billy Eckstine, Ivie Anderson, Dan Grissom, and Dick Powell inflamed hearts around the globe and was the soundtrack of the age. Michael Feinstein and Wynton Marsalis will celebrate their music over two nights as one of the most exciting and crucial crossover movements in the mix of jazz and American popular song. 7pm dinner • 9pm performance To purchase your package or for more information, please call Belinda at973-624-8880 ext. 283 or email at events@wbgo.org. More information on the wbgo.org/events. | ||||||
| Support for WBGO: | |||||||
| Jazz at Carnegie Hall Vijay Iyer | Saturday, April 27 at 9:30pm Vijay Iyer: Solo, Trio, Sextet Zankel HallGrammy®-nominated composer-pianist Vijay Iyer leads an evening of stunning music from his highly celebrated and award-winning solo and trio recordings, culminating in a rare set by his all-star sextet. Vijay Iyer's most recent honors include an unprecedented "quintuple crown" in the DownBeat Critics Poll, winning in the Jazz Artist of the Year, Pianist of the Year, Jazz Album of the Year, Jazz Group of the Year (Vijay Iyer Trio), and Rising Star Composer categories. This concert is part of Late Nights at Zankel Hall. Tickets and information at carnegiehall.org, CarnegieCharge 212-247-7800, or the Box Office at 57th Street and Seventh Avenue. | ||||||
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Westchester Jazz Orchestra with
Paquito D'Rivera | Saturday, April 27 at 8pmMulti-Grammy® Winner Paquito D’Rivera The Westchester Jazz Orchestra, celebrated for “strikingly executed performances” (The New York Times) and a “nearly flawless” second CD (Downbeat), joins forces with 11-time Grammy® winner Paquito D’Rivera for a concert of Afro-Cuban and South American jazz. .....WJO is “absolute joy and musical inspiration at the highest level.” .....–Gary Walker, WBGO Music Director Tarrytown Music Hall 13 Main Street, Tarrytown, NY Just minutes from the Tappan Zee Bridge Reserved seating: $40 adults/$35 seniors/$15 students Click here to purchase tickets online or call 1-877-840-0457 For additional information email westjazzorch@hotmail.com or call914-861-9100 WBGO member discount: 10% off adult and senior advance purchase tickets. Enter code aprilgift (or aprilgiftsenior) when checking out. | ||||||
WBGO is a publicly-supported, cultural institution that champions jazz, an American art form, and presents news to a worldwide audience through radio, other technologies and events. Become a member today | |||||||
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