Breaking Jazz News & Interesting Links: April 2009

New Yorkers ride 1939-era A Train to celebrate Ellington's birthday But were the fares set at 1939 prices?	What happens when you sing jazz on American Idol? You get voted off, that's what.
Coldplay turns to jazz With bits of rave and odd time meters.	The story of jazz at San Quentin Ed Reed recalls 20 years in the jazz joint.
Talking with Sonny Rollins "I think I�m playing better than I ever have."	The new home for jazz: Moscow No, not the Lionel Hampton festival in Moscow, Idaho.
Dr. Lonnie rules; Diana Krall fades The turbaned organist continues his lock on the top spot in the jazz airplay charts.	Revisiting Duke's great postwar period Duke Ellington's 1945-47 work deserves to be better known, and Night Lights takes up the challenge.
Glenn Miller captured and tortured by Nazis? The conspiracy theories about Miller never die.	Why so many classic jazz CDs are now out of print Concord defends its cleansing of the Fantasy catalog.
Jam session with a robot MIT robot plays "Jordu," but does he swing?	If Django had only owned a tractor The liner notes say John Deere is on percussion.
Andy Warhol's jazz album covers Fred Kaplan reports in The New York Times.	Greg Osby, entrepreneur Saxophonist talks about running his own label.
London's most famous jazz club reaches the half-century mark In a period of jazz downsizing, Ronnie Scott's endures.	Newsweek compares Darcy James Argue to Ellington And his debut CD isn't even out yet.
Are these the top ten jazz musicians? No, it's not a terrible list.	Thumbs down on McLaughlin & Corea Howard Mandel is not a fan of the Five Peace Band.
Does piracy help music sales? Illegal downloaders buy ten times as much music.	Talking with Jon Hendricks "Never stop thinking you are older than 7."
Cotton Club programs show up on eBay Artwork is a sobering reminder of how so-called "jungle music" was marketed.	Open letter to the UK jazz community Steve Lawson shares some strong views in a three-part blog article.
Cecil Taylor cancels tour due to illness The pianist bows out of his Melbourne appearance.	Dr. Lonnie Smith fends off Diana Krall Two artists are neck-and-neck atop airplay chart.
Steve Reich wins Pulitzer Prize Don Byron was a finalist.	A contest for jazz blogging? Write about jazz and win Ethan Iverson's money.
Cecil Taylor channels Debussy Has the pianist mellowed with age?	Another jazz festival bites the dust Kansas City Rhythm & Ribs festival is cancelled.
Mayor declares Duke Ellington Day April 29 will also be Duke's 110th birthday.	Buddy DeFranco on Art Tatum Clarinetist remembers a famous 1956 session.
Thoughts on Tony Bennett JazzWax stirs up debate on Bennett-Evans.	The Ten Best World Jazz Disks Jan Dennis offers his picks (with links to reviews).
You can't celebrate Record Store Day online ...but you can visit its web site.	Judge won't let download trial be streamed Guess how that judge will rule?
Who is the Susan Boyle of jazz? Peter Hum sizes up the contenders.	"I kissed Frank Sinatra" And she beat out 8,000 others to do it.
Payola and Internet radio Pay-for-play raises ethical questions.	Dr. John battles with jazz fest sponsor The artist has mixed feelings about Shell Oil's role.
David Amram on Blossom Dearie JazzWax shares the composer's recollections of the late singer.	Jack Tracy, jazz raconteur Jazz Profiles collects some fascinating anecdotes about Ellington and other jazz stars.
Eight Essential Trumpet Solos David Hill offer his picks at Hot House.	Dr. Lonnie Smith still tops the chart But Diana Krall is closing in.
What happens when iTunes raises prices? Download sales prove to be very price sensitive.	Revisiting the first episode of Piano Jazz Dr. Billy Taylor was the first guest 30 years ago.
When Maynard met Miles What happens when trumpeters collide?	Talking with the Jazz Video Guy JazzWax catches up with Bret Primack.
Your boss will now start acting like Miles Davis Kind of Blue studied at Harvard Business School.	News on e.s.t. 10 months after the death of Esbj�rn Svensson Band members continue after pianist's death.
Music retailers returning to vinyl LPs Demand for vinyl records jumped 89% last year, and some retailers take notice.	Web site collects hot trumpet licks Freddie Hubbard, Tom Harrell, Arturo Sandoval . . . their best licks collected on an interesting web site.
Three strikes and you're offline Internet service providers may terminate service to music file sharers.	Bill Evans after the Vanguard Night Lights looks at the pianist's music in the aftermath of Scott LaFaro's death.
The top 10 punk jazz records Makes you wonder what the bottom 10 would be.	If labels won't keep jazz albums in print... Why shouldn't bloggers keep the music alive?
2009 Guggenheim Fellows announced Wadada Leo Smith and Billy Childs included.	Highest ever chart debut for Diana Krall New Quiet Nights CD opens at #3 on Billboard chart.
Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz turns 30 Piano Jazz is NPR's longest-running cultural show.	Talking with pianist Hank Jones Owen McNally interviews the 90-year-old jazz icon.
Joe Lovano & Hank Jones at Birdland Zan Stewart reports on the proceedings.	John Scofield in a gospel-soul mood Nate Chinen reviews Scofield in the NY Times.
Dave Brubeck released from hospital Doug Ramsey gives an update at Rifftides.	Dr. Lonnie Smith still tops airplay chart The Blue Note 7 holds second place.
Matt Wilson gives drum history lesson Wilson spreads the word to a group of 450 students.	Chatting with Fly Mark Turner is back and Fly is ready to soar.
Introduction to jazz guitar Modern Guitars looks at 8 key artists.	Talking with Dr. Billy Taylor JazzWax interviews the pianist and jazz advocate.
ASCAP puts Deems Taylor Award on hold For more than 40 years, this award has been a cornerstone in the field of music writing.	John Coltrane in 1957 Night Lights looks at a key year in the life of the celebrated tenorist.
How jazz helps doctors listen Nat Hentoff writes in Jazz Times.	Blue Note deletes classic albums Dozens of CDs disappear from its catalog.
Remembering Bud Shank (1926-2009) Bill Mays pays tribute to the late altoist.	Muzak may survive bankruptcy Don't count out that background music quite yet.
Frank Sinatra and jazz JazzWax remembers a stellar 1946 session.	Joshua Redman's homecoming The tenorist returns to the East Bay.
Darcy James Argue on big bands Discussion spurred by the Kirchner list continues.	Ethan Iverson on early fave albums Do the Math looks at Count Basie and others.
Bill Cosby on drumming with Sonny Stitt Cosby goes off on funny riff in this 1973 clip.	Jazz funeral protests arts funding cuts 200 artists and supporters parade in Baton Rouge.
She's not just Mrs. Elvis Costello Diana Krall talks about her new CD, released this week.	Musicians plead for more arts funding Wynton Marsalis talks to a congressional panel.