J.J. Johnson News

For the past three decades, Esquire magazine's Best New Restaurants list has identified the most remarkable new restaurants and chefs in the country.

When composer/arranger/pianist Billy Childs was introduced to the music of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer-songwriter Laura Nyro at the age of 11, he was left with a powerful and lasting impression of Nyro's unique blend of Broadway-inspired melodies, jazz improvisations and socially conscious lyrics. Childs returned to that early experience for his latest project, creating and orchestrating his newest album, Map to the Treasure: Reimagining Laura Nyro. Orange County jazz fans will have the opportunity to hear Childs' loving homage to the late great Nyro at Segerstrom Center for the Arts tonight, October 17 at 8 p.m. in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall.

When composer/arranger/pianist Billy Childs was introduced to the music of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer-songwriter Laura Nyro at the age of 11, he was left with a powerful and lasting impression of Nyro's unique blend of Broadway-inspired melodies, jazz improvisations and socially conscious lyrics. Childs returned to that early experience for his latest project, creating and orchestrating his newest album, Map to the Treasure: Reimagining Laura Nyro. Orange County jazz fans will have the opportunity to hear Childs' loving homage to the late great Nyro at Segerstrom Center for the Arts on Friday, October 17 at 8 p.m. in the Rene?e and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall.

The Todd Londagin Band will perform at The Terrace at Yotel, 570 Tenth Ave at 42nd Street as part of 'After Work Jazz' tonight, June 6, 2014 from 5 to 10 p.m.

The Todd Londagin Band will perform at The Terrace at Yotel, 570 Tenth Ave at 42nd Street as part of 'After Work Jazz' on June 6, 2014 from 5 to 10 p.m.

Blue Note Records, the world's most respected and longest-running Jazz label, is being commemorated for its 75th Anniversary throughout 2014 and beyond with a broad range of special releases and events.

Omaha Performing Arts presents trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis at the 1200 CLUB inside the Holland Performing Arts Center tonight, April 12, 2014, at 8:00 p.m. The performance is part of Omaha Performing Arts' 1200 CLUB 13/14 Series. The performance takes place in the intimate Scott Recital Hall. Tickets start at $30 and are available at TicketOmaha.com, 402.345.0606 or at the Ticket Omaha Office inside the Holland Center, 1200 Douglas St.

White's Mister Shepherd imprint will release the disc today, April 8.

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust celebrates National Jazz Appreciation Month throughout April 2014 with performances by Grammy Award-winning musicians and iconic jazz performers. In addition to the special ticketed performances at Cabaret at Theater Square, the Trust continues its free BNY Mellon | Jazz Presents JazzLive series at Backstage Bar.

White's Mister Shepherd imprint will release the disc on April 8.

Omaha Performing Arts presents trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis at the 1200 CLUB inside the Holland Performing Arts Center on Saturday, April 12, 2014, at 8:00 p.m. The performance is part of Omaha Performing Arts' 1200 CLUB 13/14 Series. The performance takes place in the intimate Scott Recital Hall. Tickets start at $30 and are available at TicketOmaha.com, 402.345.0606 or at the Ticket Omaha Office inside the Holland Center, 1200 Douglas St.

The National Jazz Museum in Harlem has announced its January 2014 schedule. Details below!

When first asked if I had any musical skills for this show, I said I could rock a mean triangle and kick it with the maracas, but after meeting with the gifted and saintly Mary-Mitchell Campbell (check out her organization asteponline.org), I found myself agreeing to learn how to play a large Irish drum called the bodhran. Steve Pacek, who originated the same role in Delaware last year, was kind enough to give me my first official lesson. We played with a children's drumstick in my living room until he sent me a tipper stick a few days later. His first tip was to not watch videos on YouTube for fear I'd become intimidated. I nodded in agreement, but ran to my computer as soon as he left to search for examples. A few minutes of watching these incredible musicians resulted in a deep shame spiral with the gnawing fear being found out as a complete fraud. Luckily, I could carry a handful of rhythms weeks later, thanks to the endless hours of banging out tribal drumbeats at home (apologies to my neighbors and to my cats) and the support of people like Campbell.

The National Jazz Museum in Harlem has announced its January 2014 schedule. Details below!

For anyone who loves joyful, unpretentious, but highly creative and spontaneous jazz, Todd Londagin's new album Look Out For Love will be a delightful discovery. The vocalist/trombonist's music is a vivid reflection of his personal roots. Growing up playing music and street busking in an itinerant, alternative-lifestyle family, he lived in buses, cars, homemade boats or tents, traveling throughout the U.S., Mexico, Canada and Europe. Home-schooled and with no formal musical training, Todd honed his skills the old-style way through influences like Nat King Cole, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, early Sinatra and New Orleans traditional jazz, especially Jack Teagarden (one of the few other trombonist/vocalists in jazz) and later, J.J. Johnson.

The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra opens the 2013.14 Pops season with Ella, Louis, and All That Jazz tonight, October 11-13, 2013 at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. Guest conductor Jeff Tyzik leads the orchestra, featuring Byron Stripling, trumpet; Marva Hicks, vocalist; and Robert Breithaupt, drums. In tribute to Ella, Satchmo, and Fats Waller, the concerts include favorites such as S'Wonderful, It Don't Mean a Thing, What a Wonderful World, and selections from Gershwin's Porgy & Bess.

Stars and casts from the current Broadway line-up have been busy in the studio, recording for the 2013 Broadway's Carols for a Cure, Volume 15. Singing traditional and original holiday songs, this annual holiday music CD benefits Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA), one of the nation's leading industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organizations. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you exclusive photos from Cinderella's recording session for 'Happy Christmas, Little Friend' with castmembers Peter Nelson, Andy Jones, Brandon Leffler, Branch Woodman, Nathan Lucrezio, Kendal Hartse, Ann Harada, Stephanie Gibson, Kirstin Tucker, Rebecca Luker, Laura Irion, Santino Fontana and Laura Osnes.

The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra opens the 2013.14 Pops season with Ella, Louis, and All That Jazz on October 11-13, 2013 at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. Guest conductor Jeff Tyzik leads the orchestra, featuring Byron Stripling, trumpet; Marva Hicks, vocalist; and Robert Breithaupt, drums. In tribute to Ella, Satchmo, and Fats Waller, the concerts include favorites such as S'Wonderful, It Don't Mean a Thing, What a Wonderful World, and selections from Gershwin's Porgy & Bess.

Their third full-length release, Made Up Mind is the highly anticipated follow-up to 2011's Grammy-winning debut Revelator and last year's scorching live collection, Everybody's Talkin'.

In support of her highly praised eight studio album Charmer, available now on SuperEgo Records, Aimee Mann has added tour dates through the spring, including a west coast run with Ted Leo. See below for details.