Jazz

Pandora ran an op-ed in The Hill yesterday attacking ASCAP's efforts to protect fair compensation for its members from the online music streaming service. Read ASCAP President and Chairman and songwriter Paul Williams's response here.

Grace Kelly is a talented young saxophonist, singer-songwriter and bandleader whose first live recording, Live At Scullers, displays great range and adventurousness. The album features original jazz and pop songs, as well as standards, and blends melody-driven saxophone, sensuous singing and dramatic arrangements.

Pianist-composer Emily Bear held an album release party on Wednesday, May 15th to celebrate her debut effort, Diversity. Living proof that big things come in small packages, Emily stunned attendees with an intimate performance of material both old and new.

Drew will be responsible for overseeing the ASCAP Membership Creative Services staff in all musical genres and will also oversee the operations of the LA, New York and Nashville membership offices. The promotion was announced on May 21st by ASCAP CEO John LoFrumento.

If you were paying close attention to Grammy nominations this past year, you may have noticed something a bit unusual about the Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album category – there were only three nominees. The reason? Well, here’s a simplified lesson in how The Recording Academy selects nominees.

ASCAP's 2013 General Annual Membership Meeting was held on Thursday, April 18th at the Loews Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles, CA. The meeting kicked off the 2013 ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO, the annual three-day conference for music creators featuring educational and inspiring panels, networking opportunities and exhibits.

Award recipients for the 17th annual Jazz Journalists Association Jazz Awards were announced on Wednesday, May 1st. ASCAP members scored an impressive 12 awards in total, including Musician of the Year, Composer/Arranger of the Year and Record of the Year.

ASCAP member and former ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composer Award recipient Christopher Zuar will premiere his new work, Rustic Elegance, on Monday, May 20th, 2013 at The Allen Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center with the New York Youth Symphony Jazz Band.

Noted pianist-composer John Beasley will act as the Music Director for the culmination of the 2nd annual International Jazz Day, held this year in Istanbul, Turkey. The concert will feature performances by jazz icons from around the world.

While the afterglow of this year’s eighth annual ASCAP “I Create Music” EXPO still burns, here’s a look back at some of the highlights, from lessons learned to great photo and video moments from the heart of it all in Hollywood.

The United Nations hosted ASCAP member, American jazz musician and designated UNESCO Artist for Peace, Marcus Miller, in a concert to commemorate the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. The invitation-only concert took place at the United Nations General Assembly Hall.

ASCAP Day is designed to provide both Film Scoring and Songwriting students with information on current trends in their fields. Larkin will discuss her own career in classes with Songwriting students, and ASCAP staff will meet with students in the Film Scoring classes.