Norman Granz News

On July 1, Verve/UMe brings a thrill to jazz lovers worldwide with the release of Unheard Bird: The Unissued Takes

Verve/UMe is proud to announce, as part of Verve's 60 th anniversary celebration, new vinyl reissues on June 24 for two long unavailable live performance classics by a pair of jazz legends the peerless Ella Fitzgerald's Mack The Knife: Ella In Berlin and funk-master Jimmy Smith's Root Down: Jimmy Smith Live!.

On July 1, Verve/UMe brings a thrill to jazz lovers worldwide with the release of Unheard Bird: The Unissued Takes

One of the most prestigious labels in the history of jazz, Verve Records will celebrate its 60 th anniversary throughout 2016 with a trove of historic reissues and stunning new collections from its legendary archives.

MetroStage's current production of 'Ella: First Lady of Song' is full of wonderful music; however, as a show, it proves to be a rocky walk down memory lane.

Carolyn Griffin has announced that MetroStage will be presenting the musical Ella Fitzgerald: First Lady of Song, conceived and directed by Maurice Hines, with book by Lee Summers, Jan. 23-Mar. 16, 2014. Ella Fitzgerald, her cousin and traveling companion Georgiana, and her manager and jazz impresario Norman Granz tell her story both backstage and onstage. From a homeless street dancer to winning amateur night at the Apollo Theatre at the age of 15, from headlining with Chick Webb and his Orchestra at the Savoy Ballroom to performing Live at the Cote D'Azur, from discovering she could "scat" to mastering a new art form called "bebop," this musical tells the fascinating journey of this legendary artist. Maurice Hines is the director. Mel Johnson Jr. is the associate director, and William Knowles is the music director, arranger, and orchestrator.

The Kennedy Center hosts its 12th annual Page-to-Stage new play festival from Saturday, August, 31 to Monday, September 2, 2013, featuring more than 40 theaters from the D.C. metropolitan area, all with a mission to produce and support new work. The three-day, Center-wide event offers a series of free readings and open rehearsals of plays and musicals being developed by local, regional, and national playwrights, librettists, and composers. A performance schedule appears on the following pages. Participating theaters include:

Voted one of the top three jazz festivals in North America in national jazz publications this year, the 32nd Detroit Jazz Festival continues to demonstrate how much jazz shines as a symbol of freedom and democracy all over the world this Labor Day weekend, Friday, Sept. 2 through Monday, Sept. 5.

For a combination of jazz dialogue, education, and live performance, look no further than the National Jazz Museum in September.

The National Jazz Musuem in Harlem has announced its events for October 25-31:

The National Jazz Musuem in Harlem has announced its events for October 25-31:

The National Jazz Museum in Harlem announces its August 2010 Schedule. This month of public programs presented by the National Jazz Museum in Harlem features retrospectives (Louis Armstrong and Hank Jones), discussions with two of the most prominent and influential contemporary saxophonists (Joe Lovano and Steve Coleman) as well as a talk with top jazz journalist Bill Milkowski, and live performances that riff on the connection between visual art and jazz, by trumpeter Marcus Printup and trombonist Ryan Keberle at the Rubin Museum of Art, and the NJMH All Stars at the Studio Museum in Harlem. Whether your taste leans toward the historical and traditional, or to the futuristic and cutting edge, you'll find it this month. Mark your calendar and bring some friends!

The National Jazz Museum in Harlem announces its August 2010 Schedule. This month of public programs presented by the National Jazz Museum in Harlem features retrospectives (Louis Armstrong and Hank Jones), discussions with two of the most prominent and influential contemporary saxophonists (Joe Lovano and Steve Coleman) as well as a talk with top jazz journalist Bill Milkowski, and live performances that riff on the connection between visual art and jazz, by trumpeter Marcus Printup and trombonist Ryan Keberle at the Rubin Museum of Art, and the NJMH All Stars at the Studio Museum in Harlem. Whether your taste leans toward the historical and traditional, or to the futuristic and cutting edge, you'll find it this month. Mark your calendar and bring some friends!

The jazz world and The Hartt School lost a great musician and friend on Sunday, May 16, 2010, when the legendary Hank Jones passed away. Mr. Jones, an artistic collaborator with and personal friend of Hartt faculty members Steve Davis and Nat Reeves, presented a master class, performed a concert with Hartt faculty and students, and received an honorary degree from the University of Hartford on April 13, 2009. He died in New York City yesterday, at 91 years of age.

Accordning to The New York Times jazz pianist Hank Jones died Sunday at Calvary Hospital Hospice. He was 91.

Pittsburgh Public Theater opens its 35th season with Ella, the hit bio-musical about Ella Fitzgerald, known as The First Lady of Song.

Pittsburgh Public Theater opens its 35th season with Ella, the hit bio-musical about Ella Fitzgerald, known as The First Lady of Song.

We have just added 5 additional performances ON TOP OF the 12 performance extension that was announced yesterday.

The Guthrie today announced that Ella - after continuing to receive rousing nightly ovations - will extend its stay on the McGuire Proscenium Stage through September 20, adding 12 performances to meet audience demand.

Tickets for the Guthrie's presentation of Ella, the exhilarating musical about the First Lady of Song, go on sale to the general public on Sunday, June 14 at 11 a.m. Tina Fabrique stars in the title role of this summer theatrical event, weaving myth, memory and music to tell the uplifting and poignant story of one of the greatest jazz and pop vocalists of the 20th century.