Mos Def News

For the past four decades, Bronx-born drummer Will Calhounhas been one of the most distinctive and sought-after drummers as a member of the legendary rock group, Living Colour, and as a solo artist with six recordings as a leader. A graduate of the Berklee School of Music, with a BA in Music Production and Engineering, Calhoun combines his love for sound and science when he brings his revolutionary Rhythm Art/AZA collection to the National Museum of Mathematics(MoMath), 11 E. 26thStreet in New York City, April 30 - July 31 in the Museum's Composite Gallery.

For the past four decades, Bronx-born drummer Will Calhoun has been one of the most distinctive and sought-after drummers as a member of the legendary rock group, Living Colour, and as a solo artist with six recordings as a leader.

Hi-ARTS, New York City's premiere incubator for urban art, recently announced its new cohort of artists-in-residence. The East Harlem nonprofit helps artists — like Radha Blank, Ebony Noelle Golden, Nona Hendryx, Marc Bamuthi Joseph and Dominique Morisseau — develop their works of art into masterpieces, whether they be theater, music dance, visual arts or multi-media.

Kenny “Dope” Gonzalez is opening the vault to his legendary record collection and taking Apple Music listeners along for the ride on his brand new radio show on Apple Music Hits, Full Spectrum Radio. As the title suggests, listeners can expect a spectrum of genres, including house, hip-hop, R&B, reggae, Latin, jazz, disco, funk, soul, and more. 

A pair of introspective lo-fi cuts released in June like “Tobago” ft. Chester Watson and “Sentinel” ft. UK rapper Lord Apex have further cemented James’ status as an ascendant global talent not to be missed.

The new single + video comes hot on the heels of his collab with UK rapper Lord Apex for “Sentinel” and jazz-funk banger “Power On,” taken from James’ upcoming debut album Unimaginable Storms, out July 9 via Sony Music / Rupture.

Hudson Hall will present two performances of the Marcus Strickland Quartet, led by the eponymous GRAMMY-nominated jazz saxophonist and producer. Strickland has blazed his musical trail for 20 years as a charter member of the 21st century jazz vanguard.

“‘Power On’ is the track that makes me want to keep going and fight for my place, it makes me not care what people think,” James says. “This is my favorite track from the album. It’s about not giving up and powering through any tribulations.”

On May 1st, Master Teacher Richard Lawson will be joined by casting director Kimberly Hardin. Twenty actors will be given the opportunity to have their self-tape auditions assessed and redirected by Mr. Lawson and Ms. Hardin. Classes take place Saturday mornings at 10 AM PST via Zoom.

Six of the most lauded and influential performing artists across the worlds of pop, hip-hop, jazz, musical theater, and classical music will receive honorary doctorates from Berklee College of Music and Boston Conservatory at Berklee in virtual commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 8.

MPAC presents Hip-Hop Music: Culture and Legacy , a special Black History Month virtual lecture on the history of Hip-Hop music presented by Wes Jackson, Professor and Director of Creative Business Enterprises at Emerson College, on Wednesday, February 24 at 8 pm. Tickets are $20 ($10 for students).

Have you ever seen a Sweded movie? Do you know what a Sweded movie is? Thanks to Jaffrey's Park Theatre, you will be able to experience the best Sweded films in the United States. It all  starts this Friday,  February 12, via The Park Theatre's online streaming presentation of The Sweded Film Festival for Creative Re-Creations.

Learn all about the Ambassador Theater's best known shows including Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk and You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, plus the many stars to have graced the stage in Chicago and much more!

Ballet BC has introduced a filmmaker in residence, Kevin John Fitzgerald.

A3C, a renowned music festival and conference held annually in Atlanta, GA, has just announced their virtual conference experience,

Born in Ivory Coast, raised in Boston and currently residing in Iceland, rising international musician snny has released his latest single, 'Postmodern Black' (5th of August) via Radio Silence.

For family audiences, Lincoln Center at Home presents a remarkable group of artists who will bring world-class performances and diverse musical perspectives straight from their homes to yours. #ConcertsForKids are new, short concerts recorded by the artists themselves, specifically for families, during this time.

Back Lot Music has released the original motion picture soundtrack to Universal Pictures' THE PHOTOGRAPH today. The soundtrack to the film features an original score by multi-GRAMMY® winning recording artist Robert Glasper, as well as two new songs by recent GRAMMY® nominee Lucky Daye and GRAMMY® winning artist H.E.R. The romantic drama, starring Issa Rae and LaKeith Stanfield, arrives in theaters nationwide on Valentine's Day.

On Saturday, January 18, 2020 at 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., three vibrant New York City-based musical groups will perform in Zankel Hall as part of the Musical Explorers Family Concert, an interactive experience celebrating music from around the world. The performance features cumbia with Gregorio Uribe, Armenian folk with Zulal, and hip-hop with Soul Science Lab. Free pre-concert activities are offered one hour prior to each performance, preparing parents and children to sing and dance along with the artists.

Craft Recordings is proud to announce the launch of its very first podcast, Prestige 70—a limited series that salutes the legacy and spirit of the venerable jazz label Prestige Records. Produced as part of the label's 70th-anniversary celebrations, Prestige 70 features intimate conversations between acclaimed musicians, composers and producers, and host Scott Goldman—who, as the longtime moderator of the GRAMMY® Museum Public Programs Series, has interviewed hundreds of iconic figures in music. Through the lens of contemporary artists, Prestige 70 not only looks back at the musicians and recordings that made the label so important but also looks to the future, as a new generation continues the tradition of redefining and pushing the boundaries of jazz.