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Allen Toussaint, New Orleans Music Legend, has Died

November 22, 2015 by Anchal Bhatia

Allen Toussaint passed away following a Monday (Nov. 9) concert in Madrid. Allen Toussaint, the legendary New Orleans performer, producer, and song writer died after suffering a heart attack on Tuesday, November 10th while on a tour in Europe. The 77 year old musician collapsed backstage post a concert in Spain. Having performed frequently in his hometown over the past few weeks, Toussaint left with his family on Thursday for a tour that was to include stops in Belgium, London, and Madrid, confirms his Facebook page.

Starting in early 1960’s, he wrote hits for some of the biggest artists including Otis Redding and Lee Dorsey. Toussaint’s songs have been covered by everyone from Paul McCartney to The Rolling Stones. In 1988, his name was included to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Not to mention he was nominated for a Grammy award, and in year 2013 he was honored with the National Medal of Arts-the highest honor given to an American artist.

Born in a small district of New Orleans in 1938, Toussaint taught himself how to play the piano. At the age of 13, he dropped out of high school in favor of music career and joined his first band. Soon he was hired as a session pianist by Dave Bartholomew-musical director for fats Domino.

Considered by many as a dean of New Orleans music, Allen Toussaint’s legacy is not only of extraordinary musical talent during the rise of R&B and funk genres, but also of impactful humanitarian work in the city. Those who knew him or just happened to meet him always talk about his elegance and humble, soft-spoken manner. He was a man who influenced the careers of various musician and performers.

Since his death, a movement has started to change the name of the Robert E. Lee Circle in New Orleans (named after the former Confederate general) to Toussaint Circle. This shows that his music and influence on the world and of course his kindness to one and all remain timeless.

Filed Under: Artists Tagged With: Allen Touissaint, artist, music, New Orleans

Jazz Festivals: Fall 2015 and Spring 2016 Schedule

October 22, 2015 by Anchal Bhatia

Originated in New Orleans around the beginning of the 20th century, Jazz music in the last few decades has become one of the greatest exports of America to the rest of the world. Owing to this universal appeal, jazz festivals today are popular events across the globe. The genre is easy to dance to or can be enjoyed while you sit back and relax. However, just as no two versions of this great music are alike, no two jazz festivals are the same. Each place offers its unique flavor, making these events a great way to experience different cultures using a common thread.

The following is the list of Fall 2015 and Spring 2016 jazz festivals in various parts of the world. They are listed in order of date. If you know of any we are missing, let us know. And as always with these kinds of events, details can change. So make sure to check with the venue before making your travel arrangements.

Weekend of Jazz at Kiawah Island

Kiawah Island Golf Resort - Weekend Of Jazz

Jazz Festival Details:

  • Date: November 12-14, 2015
  • Venue: Kiawah Island Golf Resort
  • Location: Kiawah Island, South Carolina
  • Event Website: Earl Klugh’s Weekend of Jazz
  • Featured Artists: George Benson, Boney James, Jeffrey Osborne, Jake Shimabukuro, Marcus Johnson, Your Host Earl Klugh, and MORE!

Penang Island Jazz Festival

Penang Island Jazz Festival Malaysia

Jazz Festival Details:

  • Date: December 3-6, 2015
  • Venue: Bayview Beach Resort
  • Location: Penang, Malaysia
  • Event Website: Penang Island Jazz Festival
  • Featured Artists: Tobias Preisig Quartet, The Penang Philharmonic Big Band, Nina And The Butterfly Fish, Near East Quartet, Makiko Hirabayashi Trio feat. Marilyn Mazur & Klav Hovmans, Dos Orientales, Derek Brown, CaboCubaJazz, Nne Paceo Yokai, Angelika Niescier Trio and Andreya Triana.

Smooth Jazz Festival Augsburg

Smooth Jazz Festival Augsburg

Photo Credit: Christian Nordström (smoothjazzphoto.com)

Jazz Festival Details:

  • Date: December 29, 2015 – January 1, 2016
  • Venue: Park Theatre at Kurhaus
  • Location: Göggingen, Augsburg
  • Event Website: Smooth Jazz Festival Augsburg
  • Featured Artists: Michael Lington, Nick Colionne, Michael Manson, Everette Harp & Jeff Lorber, Peter White, Jackiem Joyner & Selina Albright and MORE!

Rick Braun’s New Year’s Eve

Rick Braun’s New Year's Eve Gala

Jazz Festival Details:

  • Date: December 31st, 2015
  • Venue: JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort
  • Location: Tucson, Arizona
  • Event Website: Rick Braun’s New Year’s Eve
  • Featured Artists: Mindi Abair, Euge Groove, Larry Braggs, Matt Marshak, Crystal Stark and Will Donato.

Magic City Smooth Jazz New Year’s Eve 2015

Magic City Smooth Jazz in the Park

Photo via Zamzan Sight & Sound

Jazz Festival Details:

  • Date: December 31, 2015
  • Venue: Red Mountain Theatre Company Cabaret Theatre
  • Location: Birmingham, Alabama
  • Event Website: Magic City Smooth Jazz New Year’s Eve
  • Featured Artists: Brian Simpson, Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame Student All-Stars, Birmingham Heritage Band
    BlendJazz, Vann Burchfield, Jose Carr, Clutch, Joshua David, Rubber Band Effect and MORE!

2016 Jazz Festivals

Panama Jazz Festival 2016

The City of Knowledge hosts the twelfth edition of the Panama Jazz Festival.

Jazz Festival Details:

  • Date: January 11-16, 2016
  • Venue: Convention Center Auditorium, Multiple Venues
  • Location: Av Amador, Panamá, Panama
  • Event Website: Panama Jazz Festival
  • Featured Artists: The Wayne Shorter Quartet, Herbie Hancock, Chucho Valdés Quartet, John Patitucci, Joe Lovano, Rubén Blades, Randy Weston, Kenny Barron, Nnenna Freelon, Mike Stern, Lizz Wright, Jack DeJohnette, Stanley Jordan, Billy Cobham, and Ellis Marsalis, Jr.

Tucson Jazz Festival 2016

Tucson Jazz Festival

Jazz Festival Details:

  • Date: January 14-16, 2016
  • Venue: Fox Tucson Theatre
  • Location: Tucson, AZ
  • Event Website: Tucson Jazz Festival
  • Featured Artists: Jimmy Heath, Nir Felder, The Rad Trads, boogie-woogie pianist Arthur Migliazza, NPR pianist Jon Weber, and Grammy winners Snarky Puppy and the Metropole Orkest among many more.

Naniki Barbados Music Festival 2016

Naniki Barbados Music Festival

Jazz Festival Details:

  • Date: January 13-17, 2016
  • Venue: Sea Rock Dome, Barbados
  • Location: Suriname, St. Joseph, Barbados
  • Event Website: Naniki Barbados Music Festival
  • Featured Artists: Irving Burgie, Rudy Smith Quartet, Aswad, Nicholas Brancker Orchestra and Multi Grammy Award Winner Roberta Flack, Serenader, and Leston Paul

The Jazz Cruise 2016

The Jazz Cruise

Jazz Festival Details:

  • Date: January 17 – 24, 2016
  • Venue: Holland America’s m/s Eurodam
  • Locations: Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Puerta Plata, St. Thomas, St. Croix and Freeport
  • Event Website: The Jazz Cruise
  • Featured Artists:Kenny Barron Trio, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Emmet Cohen Trio, 3 Cohen Sextet, Freddy Cole, Joey DeFrancesco Trio, Paquito d’Rivera, Kurt Elling,Trio Jeff Hamilton Trio, Ann Hampton Callaway and many more.

Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘16.1 & ’16.2

The Smooth Jazz Cruise

Jazz Festival Details:

  • Date: January 10 – 17, 2016 and Feb 21 – 28, 2016
  • Venue: Holland America’s m/s Eurodam
  • Locations: Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Half Moon Cay, Georgetown, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, Cozumel, Quintana Roo, Mexico and Key West, FL.
  • Event Website: The Smooth Jazz Cruise
  • Featured Artists: George Benson, Marcus Miller, David Sanborn, Boney James, Brian Culbertson, Candy Dulfer, Norman Brown, Peabo Bryson, Richard Elliot, Wycliffe Gordon, and many more.

Florida Smooth Jazz Weekend

Florida Smooth Jazz Weekend

Jazz Festival Details:

  • Date: January 22 – 24, 2016
  • Venue: Crowne Plaza Oceanfront
  • Locations: Melbourne, FL
  • Event Website: The Florida Smooth Jazz Weekend
  • Featured Artists: Mindi Abair, Nick Colionne, Euge Groove, Paul Taylor, Peter White, Jazmin Ghent, Tom Braxton, Tim George, Randy Jacobs, Dave Reinhardt and more.

Bodø Jazz Open

Bodø Jazz Open

Jazz Festival Details:

  • Date: January 20 – 23, 2016
  • Venue: Multiple Venues
  • Locations: Bodø, Norway
  • Event Website: Bodø Jazz Open
  • Featured Artists: Eivind Aarset, Hanne Hukkelberg, Arild Andersen, JazzKamikaze, Alex Acuna, Marilyn Mazur, Arve Henriksen, Audun Kleive, Anders Jormin, Jaga Jazzist, FOCUS, Jan Gunnar Hoff / Mike Stern Quartet, John Surman and many others.

Ylläs Jazz Blues

Ylläs Jazz Blues

Jazz Festival Details:

  • Date: January 28 – 31, 2016
  • Venue: Tunturintie 54
  • Locations: Kolari, Finland
  • Event Website: Bodø Jazz Open
  • Featured Artists: TBA

2nd Annual Jazz on the Green Ocala

Jazz Festival Details:

Jazz On the Green Logo

  • Date: April 1 – 2, 2016
  • Venue: Silver Springs Park
  • Locations: Ocala, FL
  • Event Website: Bodø Jazz Open
  • Featured Artists: TBA

Filed Under: Music Events Tagged With: events, fall, festivals, Jazz Music, spring

Jazz Music on YouTube: 5 Channels for Continuous Tunes

October 14, 2015 by Anchal Bhatia

While jazz is not a dying art form, it’s not really a part of mainstream music radio stations. That’s why many jazz fans often come online looking for their favorite numbers. Fortunately, there are numerous YouTube channels dedicated to Jazz music only. However, there are some that stand out above the rest. We list five of the best videos that offer continuous jazz music without interruption. Depending on your mood, you should be able to find something on the line-up to quench your thirst for the genre. Take a look!

Enjoy these Jazz Music on YouTube:

1 hour of Jazz music – Relax and enjoy


Featuring 19 tracks, this one hour no stop video of Acid Jazz.


Bossa Nova Jazz Instrumental Mix : Cafe Restaurant Background Music


Tracklist of 50 instrumentals that will keep you in the mood for 3 plus hours.


Jazz Instrumental: 3 HOURS of Jazz Music Playlist for Relaxing Happy Summer Chill Out


Whether daytime or night, you will find yourself pausing while listening to this sweet music.


Jazz Music Mix 2015 Best of Jazz Songs


A perfect mix of smooth jazz, it’s just right for listening at work, chilling out with at home, and great when going for a drive.


3 HOURS Relaxing Background Music | Jazz Instrumental Mood | For Love , Romance and Meeting


As the name suggests, this wonderful music track is ideal for relaxation or a romantic dinner. It will make you feel all warm and cozy inside.

Filed Under: Jazz News Tagged With: Instrumental Music, Jazz, music, Youtube

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