SXSW Music festival big draw despite economic woes
The News Review:
- SXSW Music festival big draw despite economic woes
- All that jazz and a whole lot more
- ‘Mr. P’s Diner Night’ to raise money for music programs at Imlay City
- From jump shots to jazz
SXSW Music festival big draw despite economic woes
Houston Chronicle
Fans are snapping up four-day passes to the famed South by Southwest (SXSW) music festival that starts this week when thousands are expected to hit the town’s storied nightclubs to catch the hottest new acts. It’s too soon to say how the 23rd annual SXSW will compare to last year but hotel room bookings are up jazz legend and 27-time Grammy Award winner Quincy Jones is opening the show and nearly 2000 bands from 52 countries will be playing promoters say. “There is really nothing bigger” said Rose Reyes music marketing director for the city convention bureau. “It is Christmas for cab drivers restaurant owners for hotels for businesses all around the city. While Austin has been hit by the same economic woes that are spreading across the globe the hip college town remains an incubator for sizzling new bands and a thriving music scene that brought SXSW here nearly a quarter century ago. Back then about 700 attended; last year there were nearly 13000 paid registrants at the music festival and thousands more who showed up to absorb unofficial sideshows.
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All that jazz and a whole lot more
Sacramento Bee
You might be thinking that Serbian gypsy music doesn’t sound much like jazz – and you’d be right. SFJAZZ executive director Randall Kline uses the American-born improvisational music called jazz as the topical starting point for the festival he founded in 1983. “I like to say ‘jazz music that’s been influenced by jazz and music that has influenced jazz’ which means we can do anything to certain degree” Kline says laughing. But he adds seriously: “There has to be some kind of feeling to it. “The artists Kline has booked for the coming weeks range from cabaret singer extraordinaire Michael Feinstein’s Frank Sinatra tribute to the Roots often considered the world’s greatest live hip-hop band. Both will play in Davies Symphony Hall demonstrating another SFJAZZ feature: placing its shows at distinctive San Francisco venues. The festival will also showcase jazz legend Ahmad Jamal at the Herbst Theatre Portuguese superstar fado vocalist Mariza at akland’s Paramount Theatre and the Maria Volonté Tango Jazz Ensemble at Florence Gould Theatre at the Legion of Honor.
‘Mr. P’s Diner Night’ to raise money for music programs at Imlay City
The County Press
March 20 in the school’s cafeteria. The evening will include a night of live jazz music and 1950s fun all set in a diner atmosphere where the help is livelier. Band students will transform the school’s cafeteria into a decorated diner allowing them to share their music and creative sprits. Deb Cormier Imlay City Band Booster president said proceeds from the fundraiser will go toward band instruments for the 10-member jazz band and 110-member marching band. “We’re hoping for everyone to have a good time and are hoping for 200 people” Cormier said. Scott Pries has been band director at the school for the last 12 years.
From jump shots to jazz
Schenectady Gazette
Belcher who now lives in Albany finished his college basketball career as St. Bonaventure?s second-leading scorer. He is now interested in furthering a career in jazz music.