Hip Young Things

During WWI, people across the United States had lived a conservative and a frugal life style.  In the years following, freedom of the boom in the economic status of many, and the time of peace gave way to what is now referred to in the history books as The Roaring 20’s.  This was a decade of celebration, of excess, and a time when the philosophies and the ideologies of wartime thinking was done away with.  Artistic endeavors were now something that the people of the country invested in, be it at the cinema, or at the speakeasies listening to some of the finest musicians in the country’s history.

Music was everywhere, from the street corners to the fancy clubs to the best restaurants, New York City was alive with the vibe and the era of the Jazz Age.  This was a time of rebellion, against the limited access to consume alcohol, and against all forms of government control for that matter.  One of the best places to catch this vibe at the time, is now a famous idea…a feeling that was encapsulated in a movie not too long ago.  It was the Harlem speakeasy, The Cotton Club.  This club was a bit of an oxymoron, as at the time, only black performers performed, and the only people allowed to come to the club were white.

Huge celebrities at the time, Bing Crosby,  Doris Duke and Cole Porter would attend the club with the sole purpose of seeing performances of musicians who are now legendary, but who at the time, would not be allowed in…other than to perform, such as Lena Horne, Cab Calloway, and Duke Ellington.  It is hard to imagine now, that kind of separation, but I have to believe that a man such as Bing Crosby felt no separation from a man like Duke Ellington.  That is the beauty of the arts, it is a world that is a bit apart from the trivial misconceptions.  It is a world of the heart and of the soul.  This was a time, filled with fashion and music and ideas that is still perpetuated today, in the hearts and the souls of the young Jazz musicians.  And it all began in Harlem, in the 1920’s, in the Jazz Age.

Dubai is a stunning place to visit, and every trip reveals more and more reasons why it’s such a popular destination these days.  Night life is at a premium here, where it’s possible to watch international celebrities having a night on the town, hoping to stumble into the party of the year.  It’s always possible to come across the party of the year here, too, and every evening seems to come close.  There are excellent djs, and some of the hottest in the world, showcasing their talents on the turntable in order to impress an immensely discerning audience.  The crowd comes dressed to kill, too, and on any given night you can see some of the coolest fashion trends, while also showing off your own sharp sensibilities.  One of the best ways to take in the scene here is from a 5 star Dubai hotel.

Our hotels are the top of the line, and are carefully selected for their magnificent track records in both style and hospitality.  You’ll love the blend of absolutely modern convenience and technology with old fashioned graciousness, to add welcome touches of elegance to your experience here, day and night.  You’ll need to rest in total luxury, too, when you’re enjoying a city as much as this one.  The cultural scene is stunning during the day, but the night is when things really start to shake, and the various sides of Dubai come out to play.  It’s an awful lot of fun, and at times it feels like you’re participating in the invention of a new global culture.  Even more so if you’re listening to the stylings of DJ Alberto Bambini, aka Purepath.

He hails form Lucca, Italy, which is still his home base.  His newest project, Overburning is an album that combines all of his technical ability with his excellent songwriting skills.  It’s a welcome new direction for this artist, whose 15 years of experience have influenced the way people dance these days.  Whether you’re listening to him spinning his stunning mixes, or start hearing tracks of his new musical work, he’s a welcome Italian accent to the Dubai dance floors.

When the centerpiece of any trip is the hotel, Florence has some sublime offerings.  Our hotels put you in the heart of Italian culture, with sumptuous accommodations to make the journey heavenly.  Florence is one of the true cultural centers of the world, with a rich history that has attracted artists for centuries, and continues to do so to this day.  The legacy of the Medicis lives on, and our lodgings are a divine blend of tradition and innovation, taking the best design sensibilities of the past and transforming them to a present that reflects modern sensibility.

The people of Florence have exquisite taste, and a definite love of their splendid past.  With this, there is also a love for the new, attracting artists who are willing to look to the future and present their findings in artistic forms.  One fantastic way to sample the best of the new wave of art is at Florence’s MUV Music and Digital Arts Festival.  2009 marks the fifth year of this exhilarating event, and it certainly seems to be evolving with the times.  The theme of this year’s festival is environmental sustainability, and artists in all the represented disciplines are requested to present work that is devoted to the future of the planet.

As one might guess from the name, MUV Festival presents some of the most interesting and exciting new work in digital visual art, electronic music, and experiments in audiovisual technologies.  The city that is usually accustomed to art that hangs on museum walls becomes a large installation, pushing the boundaries of the form.  There is naturally an emphasis on electronic music, with techno digital djs from all around the globe spinning the hottest beats to youth culture.  There is also a great deal of emphasis on the new technologies, and how they might present themselves to large crowds.  There are exhibitions, performances, and even workshops in Max/MSP, so that aspiring artists can learn the technique

The Rolling Stones have been making music and performing concerts for decades. Their front man and lead singer Mick Jagger is recognized throughout the world. They are an English band that was formed in London in 1962. They officially came together when Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards joined pianist Ian Stewart and multi-instrument player Brain Jones. Drummer Charlie Watts and bass player Bill Wyman would complete the early line up. Jagger and Richards formed an early songwriting team in the band and have remained the primary writers through their history.

Rolling Stones concerts are often closer to being festivals and at the least are major spectacle events. They have played to sell out audiences around the world and back major stadiums and arenas. The merged onto the US scene in the 1960s as part of what is now considered to be the British invasion. Many London and other areas in Britain musicians and bands crossed the water during this time and found greater success in the United States that was previously considered to be possible. The also coincided with the emergence of rock ‘n roll as the major social force it has become.

The Beatles are the band that is most strongly associated with the invasion and they are also credited with reinventing rock as music genre. The Stones have created many albums and hit singles through the years. Every song on their concert play list is a crowd favorite, and they could play all of their hit songs in once concert, as there wouldn’t be enough time. Concert tickets sell out fast and fans often save their ticket stub as a souvenir of the event. Some of the Stones’ most popular songs include Gimme Shelter, Satisfaction, Jumpin Jack Flash, It’s Only Rock and Roll, Angie and Sympathy for the Devil. The list could go on and on, and represents only a fraction of their hits.

Is a performance by the renown cellist Yo Yo Ma a concert, a recital, an event or all of the above? It is uncommon for a solo musician who plays a classical instrument to achieve the amount of interest and following that has been bestowed on Ma, though he draws audience members in much the same manner as a rock star. Okay, he may not fill a stadium-sized arena, but that may be due more to the manner of the performance than the amount of fans he has. A solo cellist does not run and dance around the stage like rock star, nor do they typically have elaborate light shows or a band to enhance the overall effect. Watching a performance by Yo Yo Ma is much easier to appreciate in a smaller venue with fewer people in attendance. Where ever he is, concert tickets for his performances sell out quickly.

Ma is Chinese though he was born in Paris, France. His father was a music professor which is part of the reason he had such an early exposure to the cello, and great encouragement and support in learning it. They family moved to New York when Ma was four. Prior to playing the cello, which he began studying when he was four, the same year he moved to New York, he had studied violin and viola. By the time he was seven he had already begun public performances, and at that young age he performed for President John F. Kennedy. After high school Ma studied at the Julliard School of Music and Columbia University before finally reenrolling at Harvard, where he received his bachelor’s degree in 1976. He would later receive an honorary doctorate by the same prestigious school. Ma has an enormous repertoire and has released many cd’s featuring a diverse collection of music. He has played with some of the world’s top orchestras and also performs solo shows.

Fleetwood Mac has been making great music for decades. The have transcended many trends and genre popularities that have been associated with specific time periods. They have also remained consistent in creating popular music, and the major band members remain true to their group. While this is true, it is also true that they have seen great turn over in various additional members, and some of the major four have come and gone throughout the years. Stevie Nicks is probably, well almost undoubtedly the most famous member of the band, and her unique voice and songwriting skills have played a major role in Fleetwood Mac’s enduring success and career. In addition, she has enjoyed great success on her own as a solo artist.

They first came together as a group in 1967 and are still performing live today. Concert tickets for the world tour have been available online. The lineup for the 2009 tour does not include Christine McVie, and in 2008 it was reported that Sheryl Crow may join the band as her replacement. However, there seems to be many complications with scheduling and work needs, etc and it just didn’t work out. That would have been an interesting combination of female voices.

The band has led an interesting and complicated life together and apart. While the main personalities have remained associated with the band, it has seen great transformations and so have the relationships within it. It is interesting that most of them have not played on all albums or been involved with all tours, though their image as a single iconic unit remains strong. When people ask to name the members of Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks is always first. Lindsey Buckingham, Mic Fleetwood and Christine McVie and John McVie are also usually included and have composed the main five throughout most of Fleetwood Mac’s history.

Award-winning singer and songwriter James Blunt made his debut appearance at the Dubai International Jazz Festival this week. The British singer is currently on a world tour and was delighted with the opportunity to perform in Dubai.

Blunt was one of the headliners for the Jazz Festival, which also featured John Legend as well as 250 other musicians and artists. While Blunt isn’t a jazz musician, he does see the jazz roots in his music and the festival prides itself on showcasing a variety of musical genres beyond jazz.

Although he has never visited Dubai, he does have friends who live there. He was impressed by the overall energy and architecture of the city. No doubt whatever luxury hotel Dubai he stayed in was swamped with paparazzie and fans after his performance. When he’s not touring to promote his latest album, “Lost Souls,” the singer resides on Ibiza.

There is a growing buzz about spiritual types of music such as meditation music, yoga music and ambient music.  One of the best resources for this type of music is Inner Focus Music a site featuring news and reviews on this field.  Check it out!!

I love world beat music and Latin music in particular.  I got into it in ther 1970’s and have followed it ever since.  I love the sensual sound at the  wat it just makes me want to dance.  I now have countless latin CDs in my collection and have been to many live performances.

Anyway I was looking for a Phoenix latin jazz group to play my wedding.  Luckily I came across Sol Gitana.  They did a great job and I have nothing but happy memories of the day.  They also can play as a traditional jazz group too!

Sergio Mendes is has a summer tour lined up and I will be making sure I catch on of his dates.  There are other fantastic Latin tours lined up so check them out and go out and support live music!!

I love jazz music! I play it when I’m at home, when I’m working…and while I am driving. It just makes me feel good. I find it relaxing…..and I also find it mentally stimulating. Listening to the great music of John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Bill Evans and other great jazz groups is relaxing, but it also makes me think. I dont know what it is about this type of music but I find it mentally stimulating.

Here in Arizona there is no lack of Phoenix jazz groups. There is great music but you really have to search it out as the venues come and go on a regular basis. The best thing to do is to find a newspaper or one of the various online sites that list venues and which Arizona jazz band is playing. Then pick you location or date and head on down to the venue.

There are lots of national acts that also pass through Phoenix and I am always on the lookout to see groups that I have always dreamed about. These musicians usually play at the larger venues, but you can often catch them playing at some of the smaller venues around town. If you are lucky enough to catch them at a smaller venue then you can be assured an intimate and close up view of your jazz heroes.