WBGO Blog

  • WBGO Jazz Leadership Society Brunch with Simone!

    April 21, 2009. Posted by Brandy Wood.

    Add new comment | Filed under: concerts, Jazz Alive, Jazz Community, Live Music, Members

    Simone sings at Theater Square Grill during WBGO's JLS burnch 4/19/09

    The crowd was enthusiastic and the performance fantastic on Sunday, April 19 when over 125 of WBGO’s most loyal and generous supporters turned out for the Singers Unlimited Brunch at NJPAC's Theater Square Grill. The annual event, which honors members of WBGO’s Jazz Leadership Society, featured a concert by Simone, the daughter of legendary singer Nina Simone. Backed up by her quintet of veteran jazz players, Simone sang for the delighted Jazz Leadership Society members in a concert broadcast worldwide through WBGO Jazz88 and via the internet on wbgo.org.

    Listen to the full broadcast here!

    WBGO’s weekday morning host, Gary Walker emceed, filling in for WBGO’s Michael Bourne, currently on the mend from knee surgery. Gary led the audience in a chorus of “Hurry Back Michael” chants to cheer up Michael, WBGO’s long-time weekday afternoon announcer and host of the popular Singers Unlimited program. Between songs, Gary and Simone bantered about her career and growing up as Nina Simone’s daughter. Simone was wonderfully gracious and patiently autographed her CD Simone on Simone for dozens of grateful Jazz Leadership Society members in attendance.

    Prior to the live broadcast, WBGO’s General Manager Cephas Bowles and Chairman of the Board of Directors Tim Porter welcomed the Jazz Leadership Society members and thanked them for their support.

    Jazz Leadership Society (JLS) members receive a number of exciting benefits including insider access to the world of jazz, such as the annual Singers Unlimited Brunch. Basic JLS membership begins at the $1,000 annual gift level, with additional benefits available at the Silver ($2,500) and Gold ($5,000+) levels. For example, on March 23rd, Silver and Gold members were invited to an intimate evening with legendary jazz impresario George Wein.

    For more information about how you can become a member of the Jazz Leadership Society, please contact Vincent Bochis at 973-624-8880, ext. 285 or at vbochis@wbgo.org, or visit the JLS page on WBGO.org.

    © 2009 WBGO

  • Robert Glasper: The Inauguration Session

    January 20, 2009. Posted by Joshua Jackson.

    Add new comment | Filed under: Barack Obama, Inauguration Day, Interviews, jazz, Jazz Alive, Jazz Community, Listening Post, pianist, President, Robert Glasper, studio session, Studio Sessions, Trio, United States of America, Video, wbgo

    Robert Glasper at WBGO

    Listen to the complete studio session:

    Download a song created for Inauguration Day 2009.
    (Right-click, then "save link as")

    Check out an exclusive video of "Enoch's (Inaugural) Meditation" below:

    © 2009 WBGO

  • JazzTimes - New Visionaries of Jazz

    August 14, 2008. Posted by Angelika Beener.

    Add new comment | Filed under: concerts, Discovery, Jazz Alive, Jazz Community, Jazz Messages, Live Music, Studio Sessions

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    Kudos to JazzTimes!  In the September issue, the cover story is "The Future Is Now: New Jazz Visionaries."  Let me start by saying that I love the first part of that headline.  I get so tired of hearing about the status of jazz, where is it going, what's going to happen to it, who will save it...you get where I'm going.  My frustration comes from being on the jazz scene and seeing and all of the amazing talent, projects, bands, artists, compositions, collaborative efforts, etc.  and then hearing those statements.  It's like "What are you talking about? Have you checked out a show lately on any given night, at any given venue in the city, for starters?"

    This article covers just a few of the "new visionaries."  Christian Scott, Aaron Parks, Robert Glasper, Esperanza Spaulding, Marcus Strickland and others.  Each artist has a full page story and photo.  I think this issue was so necessary, and I really give it up to JazzTimes for making the blatently obvious even more obvious - that jazz is alive, well, and thriving. (Now, if cats could only earn the money that the music's worth...but that's another story).

    Check out each of these artists when they're in a city near you.  Both Aaron Parks and Esperanza Spaulding will be performing at the J&R MusicFest next Friday, August 22, and WBGO will be broadcasting it live! Learn more about it by clicking here.

    Check out a live performance of Aaron Parks' "Nemesis" from the WBGO studios.  It's NPR's "Song of the Day" with commentary by WBGO's Josh Jackson.

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    Check out my interview with Marcus Strickland

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    © 2008 WBGO