Key Issues In Jazz Improvisation

Learning to be a jazz soloist can be very exciting. It's a pretty heady thing! Whether standing in front of a cheering crowd, or playing in a dim room with a bass player and drummer, improvising music can be one of the greatest experiences in life.

But it is a skill that for some is shrouded in mystery. Here are some common questions that new improv students often confront.

QUESTION: What exactly is improvisation?
ANSWER: In music, to "improvise" means to spontaneously create fresh melodies over the continually recycling chord progression of a given tune. A common misunderstanding is that a jazz improvisation is created out of thin air.


Well-known trumpet artist Wynton Marsalis advises students that improvisation is not "just making any ol' thing up." Jazz, like any language, has its own vocabulary and syntax. They must be learned.

QUESTION: What is the essence of jazz?
ANSWER: The essence of jazz is improvisation that swings. Or, perpetual spontaneous musical creation. So the primary mission of a student is to master the skill of creating swinging melodies "on-the-fly".

These are the essential elements of jazz improvisation.

• Ear Training
• Role-models
• Blues
• Melody & Harmony
• Rhythm

QUESTION: Why learn to play jazz?
ANSWER: Here are 2 big reasons: One, because it's the common-practice standard for musicians. Two, because the best musicians working in any genre of music today, are jazz musicians.

Being "jazz-enabled" gives a player inner freedom. Like a bird, he/she can fly and sing. Fly from one style of music to another, and 'sing like a silver-throated bird'. Musicians who aim to be the best, discover how to improvise in the language of jazz.

QUESTION: How did improvisation start?
ANSWER: Improvisation is the world's oldest music. It started, most likely, when humans first picked up stones or bones and started banging out rhythms. And singing.

Music was improvised because they expressed what they felt. There was no sheet music. Or CD players.
Improvisation is the most natural musical expression. Mozart, Beethoven, Bach were great improvisers.

QUESTION: Should one play how one feels?
ANSWER: Music is feeling. Tenor saxophone great Flip Phillips said "That's the one thing about jazz, you can turn it around and play how you feel, play... different things.

There's a lot of notes to be played. It's all according to how you feel."
QUESTION: How can one become more confident with their playing?
ANSWER: It has been found that the study of music strengthens the mind's learning potential. Playing music teaches discipline. It helps one develop self-confidence.

Music gives one a feeling of pride and accomplishment. Making music with others encourages responsibility, purpose, direction, devotion to duty, the spirit of cooperation, and sensitivity to beauty. Play more. Perform in public. Be prepared. Listen wisely.
QUESTION: What's the best way to start?
ANSWER: The vehicle of improvisation is the tune. The melody of the song. The way to learn jazz fast is to learn it song by song. Jump in. Choose a tune. Learn it.

Here are some great recordings. Pick one tune off of any album you like. Then learn that tune on your instrument. Learn it deeply.

• Bill Evans-Portrait In Jazz
• Miles Davis-Kind Of Blue
• John Coltrane-Blue Train
• Wes Montgomery-Tequila
• Joe Henderson-Page One

QUESTION: how does one get better at improvisation and take their music further?
ANSWER: Commit to mastering improvisation. Listen to the masters. Select role models. Study the elements of improvisation. Not only the musical aspects, but the role of the spirit. Play.
Alone, together, and/or with others. Sharing the music is fundamental.

Clark G. Baldwin is a saxophonist, improviser, composer, educator, and author. His books include Seven Steps To A Great Jazz Solo, Etudes For Jazz Volume I, and Saxophone One: The Beginner's Guide To The Saxophone. Visit [http://learnjazzfast.com] to learn more about taking your music to a higher level--and download a free mini-course in Jazz Improvisation.

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The Spectacular St Lucia Jazz Festival

Every year, people travel to the Caribbean to experience the beautiful beaches, eclectic culture, and luxury hotels. St Lucia, however, also has an exciting annual event that draws audiences and performers from all over the world: the Jazz Festival! The festival has been going strong for over 20 years, which is remarkable when you consider that most festivals tail off and die after their sixth or seventh year. Also incredible when considering that the festival is sustained on the tiny island - it is definitely something that the locals can be proud of. If you're travelling to the Caribbean this spring, you should really consider stopping off to enjoy this special annual event.
History of the festival

In 1992, in an attempt to extend the tourist season past the springtime and into May (previously a quiet month for the island's tourism) the first Jazz Festival was launched. The first few years were small, with few performers and attendees but, as the years went on, coverage of the festival increased due to BET J TV network, and other media outlets.
 Now it is a well-established jazz festival with an international audience, and the island has become famous for something beyond its beautiful beaches and luxury hotels.

 St Lucia's jazz festival has grown into its reputation, and has become famous for the quality of its musical performers - it is now even on top of a list by E! Entertainment magazine's Top 5 Festivals in the World. 2011 saw the festival celebrate its 20th anniversary! 

The festival in 2013

This year the 22nd Annual Saint Lucia Jazz Festival will take place from the 30th of April to the 12th of May 2013. This year's line up has yet to be announced, but the previous years' festivals have seen performers such as Toni Braxton, Ziggy Marley, the Gipsy Kings, The Derek Yarde Project, Steel Pulse, and a performance by the Saint Lucia School of Music. The festival performances are usually held in urban public places, amongst the city's attractions and luxury hotels. St Lucia's springtime weather is the perfect accompaniment to these outdoor concerts.

How to get there and where to stay

There are non-stop services from New York's JFK; Charlotte, NC; Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport; and Philadelphia. Air Canada offers flights from Toronto Pearson International Airport. Condor has a flight that flies non-stop from Frankfurt, Germany to Hewanorra International Airport at Vieux Fort (UVF). But perhaps most conveniently is the British Airways non-stop service between London Gatwick Airport and Hewanorra International Airport. Travelling between the regional islands are the airlines LIAT (which offers many flights and travel connections to nearby islands and international destinations), Air Caraibes (connecting Martinique and the island), and WinAir (which flies regionally but also to the northern Antilles).

Once you arrive there are many accommodation options to choose from - whether you want an out of town resort to take advantage of the beaches or a centre luxury hotel. St Lucia's tourist economy is growing along with the choices for accommodation.

Ross Stevenson is the General Manager of Cap Maison. With a reputation as the foremost luxury hotel on St Lucia, they provide a wide selection of services for those looking for luxury hotels, St Lucia as well as honeymoon options for couples who want to enjoy a blissful Caribbean experience.

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Sedona Jazz on the Rocks

Envision a formation of uniquely shaped red rocks situated on a plateau with the river rushing by and you have just found paradise. Sedona puts its best foot forward in September when they welcome you to the Sedona Jazz on the Rocks Festival. 2009's dates are September 22nd through the 27th. The tradition of this festival began in 1981 when the first jazz musicians took to the stage, and the event has gained in popularity ever since. Jazz is considered an art form, and no one does it better than the Sedona Jazz on the Rocks Festival. Everything comes together when you place fantastic music in a breathtaking town like Sedona.

For five days in September the world's greatest jazz musicians descend on Sedona. Legends and newcomers burst onto the landscape, enriching lives with their performances. The organization is nonprofit, with some of the proceeds going to send aspiring jazz talents to music schools. You can attend free concerts, so grab a chair and spend the day.

The Sedona Jazz on the Rocks continues to grow and each year we see more events added to the program. Some of the favorites from last year included the films and a larger schedule of free concerts. Jazz lovers were able to enjoy the wonderful beauty of Sedona at the outdoor stage. The addition of a dinner and dancing to the great sounds of the festival was a complete success.

We are all hoping that the wine maker dinner that was one of the features of the 2008 festival will make a return. This event was as delicious as it was entertaining. However, everyone looks forward the most to the all day festival. Last year's artists included the Bobby Hutcherson Quartet, B3's Tony Monaco, Giacomo Gates and the Sedona Jazz on the Rocks Youth Band. They were just some of the performers that excited us on stage. We will undoubtedly see the same high caliber jazz musicians in 2009.

The Radisson Poco Diablo Resort hosts the festivities as usual. Some of the free concerts took place at Tlaquepaque in the past and we should see a return to this unique shopping plaza. The ambiance that is the essence of Tlaquepaque blends beautifully with the resounding jazz notes that fill the air. Dine at the fine restaurants and pick up the perfect remembrance of your enchanting visit to the Sedona Jazz on the Rocks Festival.

You can expect to once again find music clinics at the school. These clinics have proven to be extremely popular with everyone that attends the festival. The clinics will encompass several days, so be sure to check the schedule so you don't miss them. Free concerts will follow the clinics as they have in the past.
Sedona Jazz on the Rocks has awarded fourteen scholarships totaling approximately $38,000 to Arizona's most promising new jazz artists. Their commitment to furthering the music and careers of young people has been recognized since its inception.

The friendly hospitality, the red rock spires inviting you to relax, and the marvelous sounds of the Sedona Jazz at the Rocks Festival are all waiting for you in Sedona. Come join the fun at this year's festival. For more information you can call (928) 282-1985.

Enjoy the cultural, music, and art festivities in Sedona while staying at Enchantment Resort. This 5 star resort, located in gorgeous Boynton Canyon, offers private casitas and breathtaking views. Let Mii Amo, their luxury destination spa, pamper you after a day spent exploring all that Sedona Arizona has to offer.

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The History of Jazz Music

azz music was born from the creative hands of black people who experienced oppression and slavery in America in the late 18th century. Expression of a resistance against the racist and oppressive political system was manifested in the way of black Americans to play their music.

History has recorded that slavery and racial discrimination in America gave birth precisely to the music of resistance, such as the Spiritual, gospel and blues. This phenomenon could be interpreted as a cultural resistance of black people to Westernization, in terms of religion, culture, politics, and how to make music. It was because before they were brought to America, they have a distinctive culture of Africa.

In the beginning, the spirit of jazz music or the ideology behind it was the liberation of African-Americans from the shackles of repressive socio-political structure as being outlined in the expression of tone, harmony, and style of playing music. For examples: ragtime was a starting point for the development of classic jazz (march, waltz and polka), swing was a modification of ragtime, free jazz was a reinterpretation of bebop and world music was the deconstruction of mainstream jazz.

In a further development of the spirit of jazz was interpreted not only limited to political resistance, but also the liberalization movement or musical deconstruction in order to find room to move, an alternative way, and other styles of playing music.

As a result of the spirit of Jazz that was dialectical, liberal and deconstructive, an old style of playing music was negated by the ideas of new music. Then, the ideas led into the new styles of playing music. In this case, the chronology of the development of jazz was divided in three time periods where each period gave birth to a specific style of playing music.

The first period was traditional jazz period (1890-1940) that gave birth to Ragtime, New Orleans, Dixieland, New Orleans in Chicago and Kansas City, and Swing. The second one is modern jazz period (1940-1980) that gave birth to New Orleans and Dixieland Revival, Bebop, Cool, Hardbop, Free, Mainstream, and Fusion. Meanwhile, the third period was postmodern jazz period (1980-until now) that gave birth to Neobop, free Funk, Classicism, Neo-Classicism, No Wave and World Music.

The peak of deconstruction in jazz took place in 1965 which marked by the presence of free jazz. This style was a milestone in the development of postmodern jazz with its main characters. The main characters included free tonality, disintegration on the meter, beat and symmetry, the inclusion of ethnic music (world music), cult of intensity, and the inclusion of natural sounds, especially from the jungle (jungle sound).

In the decade of 80s and 90s, free jazz became the foundation of the development of fusion and neo-Classicism. Meanwhile, the mainstream of jazz was transformed into the style of Classicism. Therefore, jazz was no longer defined solely as the style of swing, bebop or mainstream, but as a musical culture that was more sophisticated and pluralistic.

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All About the Origins of Jazz Music

The essence of the sound of Jazz music is so versatile attributable to the sources from which it first commenced. In fact, New Orleans, Louisiana is the place where Jazz first started between 1850 and 1900 by African slaves in addition to the freed people of color. The first style of Jazz music was referred to as Dixieland.

In Africa from the Middle to Central to the West, one can hear the intricate rhythmic improvisation of the percussive instruments that is oftentimes found out with Music. These rhythms blended with the American Spirituals, Hymns, Blues, and the blue grass hillbilly musical sounds created a sort of seem the originated in Jazz music. Still, the music was just a peculiar noise without a specific title to call it fifteen years later in 1915. The truly amazing pianist Earl Hines born in 1903 played this kind of music prior to the title Jazz became an official style of music. The word "Jazz" which was formerly spelled as "Jass" has it's origins as a form of American slang utilized to describe the seem of music.

It is the reasonable of Jazz music that began as an offspring from the roots that created this music. Previously of the century the instruments made use of in music were European percussion, brass and woodwind instruments primarily for the military marching or dance bands.

Moreover, these instruments were employed in the funeral marches in the deeper party of the southern area and well as the northern. The essence of the beginnings of Jazz music finally became grew into it's own fashion with a unique shape. In addition, roots of music expanded the style to the point where it cannot be termed as pure folk music even when some of its roots began there.

Once the education system included the research of music to train musicians in a formal setting it paved the method for many to learn the techniques to create music from the heart. The importance of the beginnings of Jazz music is to learn all about the seem that numerous have fell in love with. Jazz music represents freedom to create color and sound that can be interpreted best by the performers and composers who create this style of music. The roots of music has been a topic worth debating over when it precipitates to labeling it a specific style. Duke Ellington himself explained it as "It's all music" because of the fact that the music has no particular structure or form it has to take.

Jazz music is not an effortless style that can readily be defined except as free music that can readily meld into other styles of music to take it to another level. Jazz music itself is an innovation of African, Impressionist, Spiritual, Hymnal, Blues and Blue Grass hillbilly music simultaneously combined into a music masterpiece.

The essence of the seem of music comes from the different musical elements from each part its beginnings as putting pieces of a puzzle together into one cohesive entity.

Justin has been writing articles online for nearly 4 years now. Not only does this author specialize in weight loss,fitness and diet, you can also check out his latest website on Whole House Generators and Toddler Bed Rail

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French Music Festival - La Fete De La Musique

The annual French music festival or Fete de la musique as it is know in France is a remarkable event which brings the whole country alive with a vast array of musical performances for a whole day each year.
The driving force behind the festival de music was Maurice Fleuret (put forward by minister Jack Lang) who as director of music back in 1981 took up the idea of "music everyway and concerts nowhere".

Understanding that five million young French people either played an instrument or sang, in other words one in two, Fleuret essentially proposed to let them realize their dreams and take to the streets performing whatever they wanted to perform.

The first event was launched on the summer solstice of 21st June 1982 under the slogan of "play music, celebrate music". Professional and amateur musicians alike took up the banner, mostly spontaneously and performed Jazz, rock and traditional music alongside classical performers all in one great peoples' performance. They haven't looked back since.

The event is now enjoyed by millions of people across France and has become a major source of attraction for visitors. In practically every town across the country artists of all categories take to the streets and perform their socks off whilst everyone else boogies on down. The whole country rocks! Particularly in hotspots such a Nice, Bordeaux and Paris where the nature of the towns lends themselves brilliantly to such performances.

The performances are free of charge, royalties are suspended for the day and the event overall is widely supported by the media with French television also featuring some of the major performing artists as well as covering the smaller events.
 If you want to know what's happening on the 21st in the major towns of France there is a French language website which lists what's on where: fete-de-la-musique.cityvox.com and you can also source information via local French tourist offices.

 Its important not to expect to much as these are not major professional acts, they are generally people who might not normally get an opportunity to break into a business which is so tightly in the grip of the music industry movers and shakers.

There are acts which perform who are well known in France such as Tokio Hotel and Joachim Garraud who played 2007, just don't expect Oasis or Duffy to turn up.

Go along with the right frame of mind and you can't fail to enjoy a music filled day which stretches long into the balmy summer night. An outdoor venue such as the port de Nice, throbbing with people dancing on a warm evening makes for a hugely memorable experience even if you don't understand a word of what's being sung.

The event has been exported to other parts of the globe and in less than fifteen years a form of the fete de la music has appeared in over a hundred countries on the five continents, including cities such as Berlin, Budapest, Barlecona, Liverpool, Luxembourg, Rome, Naples and Prague.

How strange that such a brilliant festival celebrating music exists only on such a grand scale in a country which looks with envy across the channel at the fantastic abundance of musical talent on offer in the UK. Where we have a seemingly relentless flow of artists who nonchalantly produce a steady stream of hits which populate the charts around the world, we have only a limited participation in a potentially major event to celebrate the art at which we clearly excel.

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Impressionism - Three Best Artists

Art has always been a significant representative of progressive and flourishing civilizations. For ages, people have enjoyed decorating their homes with some kind of visual art piece. Today, battery picture lights enhance the visual beauty and effect of the room. Although, a battery operated picture light is an appealing decoration item today, the tradition of displaying paintings and pictures to decorate walls dates back to ancient times.

However, never was the true essence of beauty so beautifully captured on a canvas until the Renaissance.

Impressionism was on of the most successful art movements of the 19th century, which produced some of the most famous names in the history of art and some of the most famous masterpieces that the world has ever seen.

Unlike older styles of famous artists, Impressionism was not very close to reality. In fact, really visible brush strokes were used which gave a very blurry and dreamy impression of the whole scene painted. The most important aspect of these paintings was to catch the exact depiction of the light.

The Impressionist Movement was when the most prominent and gifted artists emerged. Among these names three are those who stood out as legendary masters; Claude Monet, Pierre Auguste Renoir and Edgar Degas.

Degas is among the first artists to use techniques that were too innovative for its time. However, Edgar always despised using the 'Impressionism' tag for his work. 'The Bellelli family' is one of his best artworks and his personal favorite. He has used really strange composition to paint a typical portrait of a family. Some other significant works include 'The Orchestra at the Opera House' and 'Woman With Chrysanthemums'.

One thing that was very appealing and interesting in Degas' paintings is the movement. He was also known as the painter of movement. His ability to depict flowing movement is very apparent in paintings such as 'Dancers' in which the ballet seems realistic in a continuous movement.

Later, Claude Monet was the first artist who actually coined the term 'Impressionism' through his painting Impressionism, Sunrise. Monet introduced many revolutionary and innovative techniques. He was excellent in depicting landscapes in different lights. Some of his famous portraits have his own wife, Camille, as the model. Paintings such as Woman with a Parasol, Woman in a Garden and Woman in the Green Dress feature Camille. Yet, it was the landscape that made Monet known across the Europe. His landscape paintings such as, 'water lilies' and 'lava court' gave him eternal fame.

Pierre Augusta Renoir was also a French artist but unlike Degas and Monet, he was the developer of Impressionism rather than a founder. His earlier work comprises of landscapes of the Seine River. Later, his work eventually evolved into a more mature form and he painted on different subjects. 'The Swing', 'Girls at the Piano' and 'Dance at Le Moulin de la Galette' depicts his true excellence and observation. Also, his famous painting 'On the Terrace' is one of the best examples of Impressionism. It made him famous beyond his wildest imagination.

Connor Sullivan is an entrepreneur who runs a large group of websites that specialize in high end items such as a battery operated picture light site. He offers a large selection of lights including battery picture lights online.

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The Popular Modern Art of Japanese Anime

apanese anime is unique. People who have not seen the animation films of Japan will find them to be very different from those in America. This industry is a new and rising part of the popular culture of Japan. In fact, several Japanese animation series have been televised in North America due to their rising popularity in the West. These would include Sailor Moon, Gundam, and the popular Dragon Ball Z. Sound familiar? It should be noted that these films are considered to be very "mainstream" animation works. They are set apart from the more obscure animation which has not had the chance to be seen in most of North America. Many of these films are extremely in demand and are accepted widely back in Japan. It almost goes without saying that Japanese animation is becoming increasingly in demand outside of its homeland. So it is necessary for the Asian fan in the West to be aware of this exciting trend.

Japanese animation's popularity is evident through the critically acclaimed anime, "Princess Mononoke," by director Hayao Miyazaki.
 This was the highest grossing film in Japan until the release of "Titanic" some years ago. Such incredible sales deserve some investigation into this rising phenomenon in East Asian culture.

Japanese animation sets itself apart from the traditional animation films in distinct ways. Often, this happens through its unique storylines and visual drawings.
 Quite frequently these films are adapted from comics like "Manga." The so-called heroes of these animation works are not conventional creations at all.

They can arise from a variety of different backgrounds. Some of them have come from kinds, outcasts, ninjas, samurais, robots, and others.
 It is interesting that there is almost no limit to a character's origin in this form of anime. For this reason, these films are not limited to a certain look or even to a particular sort of character. Other animation films would not dare deviate from strict conventional rules on this point. However, this departure may indeed be a major part of what makes Japanese anime so radically unique.
 In addition, the storylines of these kinds of films are equally diverse and without limits. What is spectacular is that the settings for these films can take place in the Old West or in Outer Space or almost anywhere in the journey of human history.
To go a step further, the storylines of Japanese anime are a blend of two or more different genres!

Does this not sound like an extreme departure from convention? It is probably true that this is precisely what makes the Japanese a step ahead of animation from the West.
 There are a few very distinct characteristics about Japanese anime which people new to the art will notice at once. One characteristic is quite obvious.
 These films frequently draw the eyes of their characters very large... extremely large! It is beyond realism. It is done on purpose for this very reason. It is true that many animation films do not create their characters in the way the Japanese do.
 This characteristic became popular through the famous animator Dr. Osamu Tezuka. Oddly, Dr. Tezuka got his inspiration for the feature through Walt Disney animation. The reason for the large eyes is so that different emotions can be more obviously displayed.
 The characters in the films are able to react in a more emotional way which helps the viewer understand the characters more easily. With greater understanding comes greater sympathy and involvement in the story itself.

Dr. Tezuka did not stop here though. Another characteristic of Japanese anime is the animator's passion for drawing robots or "mecha robots." Science and technology have played pivotal roles in shaping what we call modern society. It makes sense that these concepts would be incorporated into the background of many Japanese films. Basically, these films question the role that science and technology play in all human societies. Japanese films then try to portray possible consequences of such dependence for future generations of people. There is even a hint of a "moral" consideration in this technique.

Asian decor which includes Japanese anime is probably marketed for the youth culture. However, it remains surprising how many adults enjoy this type of entertainment as well. The appeal goes beyond the Asian teenager. Japanese anime poses fundamental questions about the meaning of life in a scientific and technological age which any person can appreciate. To the art of the anime industry of Japan there is a deserved congratulations!

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The Top 5 Best Ray Charles Songs of All Time and Why

Of the Many different styles and genres of music one Musical Artist stands out high above the rest. Ray Charles, in my opinion, is the epitome of the cross genre artist. He fused the styles of gospel, blues, soul, r & b, funk, country, and rock n roll into his music. He is one of my absolute favorites and here is my list of the Top 5 Best Ray Charles Songs of All Time.

But first a little background for those unfamiliar with this musical giant...

Ray Charles Robinson was born in Albany, Georgia on Sept 23rd 1930. He was the son of Aretha Williams, and Bailey Robinson. His mother, a sharecropper, his was father a railroad repair men, mechanic, and handy man. Ray seemed to be curious about mechanics as a small boy but was introduced to music early on.

Mr. Willey Pit, a local musician, ran the Mr. Wiley Pit's Red Wing Café. Pit would often help Aretha by keeping an eye on Ray's little brother George. It was there that Ray Charles first witnessed Pit playing boogie woogie on an old upright piano and became interested in music.

Little George drowned in a tub of water at the age of 4, being one of the first of hard times in Ray Charles' life. Ray was not born blind. He was around 5 when he began to lose his sight and was totally blind by 7. He attended the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind in St. Augustine from 1937 to 1945. During his enrollment there his father died when he was 10, then his mother when he was 15.

The school only taught classical music but Ray wanted to play Jazz and Blues. He performed on WFOY, a radio station in St Augustine and would play popular songs on some Fridays at assemblies for the South Campus Literary Society. He also performed certain holidays for the school's Colored Department socials too.

Ray eventually moved to Seattle Washington where he recorded his first hit the Confession Blues in 1949. It was at this time that he changed his name to Ray Charles to avoid being confused with the then famous boxer with a similar name Sugar Ray Robinson. The Confession Blues soared to # 2 on the R&B Charts which paved the way for 2 more hits Baby, Let Me Hold Your Hand" (No. 5) in 1951 and "Kissa Me Baby" (No. 8) in 1952.

There you go... the beginning and start of a long and successful career. Ray Charles went on to record many more hits. Hits like these in my top 5 list:

1. I GOT A WOMAN (1955) Considered to be Ray's first major hit. It has a funny story as to how it was written. According to biographer Michael Lydon it came about as somewhat of an accident. He says that while Ray and his co writer Renald Richard were driving around Ray suddenly sang, ''I got a woman.'' Richard responded, ''Yeah, she lives across town,'' to which Ray added, ''She's good to me.'' The rest is history!

2. HALLELUJAH I LOVE HER SO (1956) A declaration of love and devotion. The title of this one sets the scene for a happy story of how much Ray loves and appreciates a wonderful woman.

 
3. WHAT'D I SAY, PARTS 1 & 2 (1959) Extremely exciting and mesmerizing R&B grove that is sure to get everyone on the dance floor and chanting the chorus "Tell me what'd I say!

4. GEORGIA ON MY MIND (1960) Weather Ray wrote this one about a woman or the State is of no consequence when the song climbed to no 1 on the charts almost immediately and eventually became the state of Georgia's official state song in 1979.

5. LET'S GO GET STONED (1966) the release of this hit marks a year after Ray ended his epic struggle with heroine. The line "Ain't no harm, to have a little taste, but don't lose your cool and start messing up a man's place" is good advice for any man who wants to go on a bender.

His achievements are many, in 1976 he was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall Of Fame, he was given a star on the Hollywood walk of fame in 1981, Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in 1986, and the 2005 Grammy Awards show was dedicated to Ray Charles' body of music, his influence over many generations, and his musical genius.

Ray Charles' voice and piano has entered the heart and soul of millions of music lovers across the nation and the world. In my opinion there is none like him, his raw talent and fusion of many styles have brought him success in almost all styles of music. There will be no other to replace the place he held in all of us who loved him. His influence spans many generations and still has a hold in this one.

So here are my picks of the top 5 best Ray Charles songs of all time. I picked them because I feel this is a good place for someone to start becoming familiar with Ray Charles' body of work.
If u like the music of Ray Charles you might also check out the work of Christopher Leigh . He covered the Ray Charles hit Hard Times (No One Knows Better Than I) on his latest CD release with the Broken Arrow Blues Band. It's a little different than the original version but I think you might like it.
Click here to download a copy of his latest single free.

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The Amazing Blind Musician Ray Charles

Born September 23, 1930, Ray Charles Robinson would become one of the most famous and influential pianists in the twentieth century. Though he was blind from about the age of seven, he was able to learn how to play and compose music at a school he attended for the deaf and blind. Originally from Greenville, Florida, Ray Charles would become well-known for the many different genres he played in, including Rhythm and blues, country blues, piano blues, pop, soul, country, jazz and gospel, to name a few. He would shorten his name to Ray Charles and would continue to have many hits throughout his musical career.

Though many people may not realize it, Ray Charles was not born blind. It wasn't until he was seven that he would completely lose his sight. It is thought that his sight could have been lost due to glaucoma, but even today no one is sure. After this, he attended a school for the deaf and blind where he spent much of his time learning how to write music and play many musical instruments, aside from his academic learning. In 1951, Ray Charles had his first successful hit and would sign with Atlantic records in 1952. From there, he would continue to have many more hits and his reputation in the world of music would grow as well. In later years, he was putting out songs that were either a success or not, and he made appearances on film and commercials. Ray Charles was also known for singing and he did vocals for a few different projects as well. Some of his career may have been a little bumpy, as he was not perfect and did have addictions that he later dealt with, but none of this stopped him from becoming a man who will continue to be remembered by history. Much of his difficulties are overlooked by those who continue to enjoy his music.

Today, his music is still being listened to by young audiences, including many young musicians who dream of having a musical successful musical career. He may have been blind, but this did not stop him from becoming one of the many influential musicians of the late 1900s. He was also quite dynamic in that he wrote, played and saying many different genres in music. He was not one to be limited by his lack of sight and he was obviously also not to be limited to one or two specific genres in music. Music was what he loved and he was quite experimental in it, which could also be another reason for his playing and composing pieces in so many different genres.

Ray Charles was 74 when he passed away of liver cancer. He had a long and successful musical career that will be remembered by many for a very long time. The diversity of his work will continue to entertain audiences long into the future, especially as long as the recordings of his music are on the shelves. For any new musician looking for some inspiration, especially in rhythm and blues or jazz, Ray Charles is definitely one of the musicians whose work will be listened to with a keen ear.

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Ray (Movie Review)

Nominated for six Academy Awards including Best Picture, Ray is a captivating and inspiring true story about a man beloved by millions around the world. Based on the life and times of Ray Charles Robinson, the film follows the popular singer's life from the earliest days of his youth to the day of his triumph over a heroin addiction. Featuring a soundtrack second to none in the history of cinema, Ray is the total package in terms of a blockbuster film - great characters blended together with an inspirational personal journey and an unforgettable musical score. Actor Jamie Foxx gives an Oscar Award winning performance so lifelike that it's difficult to distinguish his character from the real Ray Charles. In short, Ray is a film that appeals to a wide audience and one that literally transports its viewers into another era...

Jamie Foxx plays the role of Ray Charles Robinson, a black youth growing up in Florida during the Great Depression. Forced to deal with the tragedy of his kid brother's death, and the loss of his own vision at a young age, Ray nevertheless triumphs over his disability when his mother refuses to let him feel sorry for himself. Learning to play the piano from a neighborhood musician, Ray strikes out on his own in the late-1940s for gig in Seattle.

Ray's amazing talents are instantly recognized, and he's never short of a gig. However, while traveling on the road with several jazz bands, Ray begins using drugs, and he eventually becomes addicted to heroin. When Atlantic Records buys Ray's contract, Ray's career accelerates, culminating in several number one hits.

Eventually, Ray strikes a deal with NBC worth more than any other performer of his day, and he and his wife Bea buy a luxurious Beverly Hills home with the world spread out before them.

But things aren't as perfect as they seem. Ray's infidelities have taken a toll on his marriage, and his drug addiction threatens to ruin his family, his relationship with his children, and his dealings with longtime friends. Having already accomplished more than most men, Ray Charles must now face the greatest challenge of his life - overcoming his heroin addiction and living a clean life...

Jamie Foxx is simply astounding in his portrayal of the larger than life figure Ray Charles, and his effort was more than acknowledged by his Academy Award victory and widespread critical acclaim. But less attention is given to the outstanding supporting cast that surrounds Foxx. The role of the young Ray Robinson's mother, Aretha, is played by Sharon Warren with such passion that her character leaps off the screen and into one's memory as the second most influential character of the film. Aretha's dedication to her son's future and her demanding, yet loving, attitude toward his self-sufficiency are admirable qualities. And the mother's influence on Ray is apparent in his drive not to be treated by the world as a cripple.

Further adding to the allure of Ray are performances by Kerry Washington (Della Bea Robinson), Regina King (Margie Hendricks), and Clifton Powell (Jeff Brown). Through the interaction of each character, the viewer sees a reflection of the passion and driving life forces that moved Ray Charles toward his musical destiny. Ultimately, Ray is a film about relationships and dreams. The astounding heights of success achieved by a blind man (and a black man in a segregated society) leave the impression that any individual can achieve any feat to which he puts his mind. This is the true gift of Ray, a feel-good film with a happy ending about a man who showed the world that anything is possible...

Britt Gillette is author of The DVD Report, a movie review site [http://thedvdreport.blogspot.com] where you can find more articles like this one of the Ray (DVD) Review [http://thedvdreport.blogspot.com/2006/02/ray-dvd.html].

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Why Ray Ban Sunglasses?

The brand Ray Ban is worldwide known and one of the most popular brands in the sunglasses industry. Everyone knows the famous Wayfarer and Aviator Styles and everybody wants them. Not only because so many Stars from Hollywood and politicians wear these sunglasses (like the French president Nicolas Sarkozy and his son), it is as well a quality question.

RayBan glasses are made from high quality materials in Italy and offer a great protection against the dangerous UV rays. Of course, the look plays a very important role, too. The Designers of the glasses have worked very hard to create the perfect fashion model and this has been happening for a very long time. The company Ray Ban has existed since 1937 with Bausch & Lomb as a manufacturer. These days, Bausch & Lomb is not taking part in the distribution; today it is the Italian company Luxottica. Luxottica bought the label 1999 for a few million dollars.

The two most famous models are as mentioned above the Aviator and Wayfarer Style. All pilots of the US Air force and the Navy are wearing the Aviator glasses as part of their uniform. The Wayfarer got very famous after the movie "the blues brothers" and "men in black".

 But the most famous person wearing the Ray Ban Wayfarer sunglass was Ray Charles. Even though he was blind, he almost never left the house without his sunglasses.
If you want to buy a new pair of sunglasses, buy a Ray Ban because the quality, the fame, the look and the fair price make it a good and fashionable investment.

Ray Ban sunglasses

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Ray Charles - Know More About the Genius

Ray Charles was born in Albany, Georgia on September 23, 1930. His began to show an interest in music from the time he was three years old. This was mainly because of the efforts of a café owner who also played the piano. Ray Charles started losing his eyesight at a very early age, and by the time he was seven years old he was completely blind. This did not deter him from doing things for himself, and with the encouragement of his mother Ray Charles continued his pursuit of music.

At the young age of seven he went on to become a charity student at a school in St. Augustine. It was at this state-supported school for the deaf and blind that he got formally trained in music. He not only learned to read and write but also arranged music in Braille. This is where he also learned to play musical instruments such as the piano, sax, trumpet, organ and clarinet.

Ray Charles had an innate gift for music and was blessed with the nickname "The Genius" very early in his career. He not only lived up to this term, but became a trendsetter in many areas of music. He had had a massive influence on various genres of music such as country, jazz and rock, gospel, rhythm and blues and more. Ray Charles was very clever and perceptive as far as his business interests were concerned. He insisted on having control on his master recordings and went on to form his own companies and record labels.

He broke into the bastion of sacred and secular music, fusing it with jazz and blues, to come up with a fiery, fervid style that is popularly known as soul music. Soul music is where the very foundation of rock and roll music lies.

Ray Charles also contributed to the integration of country and pop music with his albums which were released in 1962. His Modern Sounds of Country and Western Music, Vol. 1 and 2 ensured that he got a wide exposure to new audiences who accepted both him and his music whole heartedly. He was an expert at mixing different musical styles and came up with many path breaking albums that were hits on the Country and Pop charts.

The official state song for Georgia was Ray Charles' recording called "Georgia on my mind". He was the winner of 17 Grammy Awards and also went on to receive the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1987. Other awards he won include "The Kennedy Center Honors" and "The National Medal of Arts" which he received in 1986 and 1993 respectively. In 2004 he was ranked #10 by the Rolling Stone Magazine on their list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All time". He went on to be listed as #2 on their list of "100 Greatest Singers of All Time".

He died at the age of 73 due to acute liver disease on June 10, 2004, just before the release of his album "Genius Loves Company"

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The Best Paul Simon Songs That You Probably Never Heard Of, Part 3

By this stage in his career, it was almost inconceivable that Simon could possibly deliver even a mediocre record. During the 1990s he served up The Rhythm of the Saints, Songs from the Capeman and You're the One. Some of the tracks, however, aren't half as known as they should be. It's a pleasure to introduce you to some of the best Paul Simon songs that my money says weren't even on your radar screen.

1 The obvious child

In an interview Simon once described how each album begins with the unfinished threads leftover from the previous one. In this case he finished "Graceland" and ended up studying Latin American drums/percussion.
Simon explained to Mojo magazine in 2011 how they chanced upon a live performance of Grupo Cultural Olodum: "One day we were driving through the old part of Salvador in Bahia when we heard this incredible drumming coming from Pelouinho Square. It was the group Olodum practising outside and (Simon's percussionist) Mazzola asked if we could record them. We did it in their back yard, just rented a couple of 8-tracks, and that was our backing-track for 'The Obvious Child.'" Sample lyric: "Some people say a lie's a lie's a lie. But I say why, why deny the obvious child?"

2 The Vampires

You're never going to hear this song on the radio because of the in-your-face salty language... which is a shame because it's a fabulously constructed song. Built around a deadly infectious piano riff played by Oscar Hernandez the song captures part of the story of the Capeman Salvador Agran, a boy who fell in with a New York gang and ending up stabbing two innocent teenagers one night in 1959. The song is sung in multiple parts with members of the Vampires singing in the background. Sample Lyric: "Now here comes her son. He looks like a ton of corned beef floating in beer."

3 Wolves, Pigs and Sheep.

Talk about a fractured fairy tale! It sounds like a cross between Latin American music and cool jazz. But it's Simon's sly humor at its dry, drawling best. The delivery is hilariously clever, as if he were telling his young child this total burlesque of a bedtime story about how a pig framed a wolf for the murder of a sheep. Yet, part of the joke is clearly aimed at the rest of us adults as Simon simultaneously pokes fun at the police, the courts and the media. You absolutely must hear this inside joke of a song at least once in your life. Sample lyric: "This is hilarious. What a great time. I'm the pig who committed the perfect crime."

So many times I've had the disappointment of hearing a great song, seeking out the album from which it came and then finding out that I was listening to a single chart hit and a dozen examples of just plain filler. You never had that problem with a Paul Simon album because when Simon released an album the worst Simon song was sometimes better than another artist's or band's best song.

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The Top 4 Female Jazz And Soul Singers Of All Time

Just imagine what kind of world we would have without music with our conversations revolving on topics like weather and work, whilst movies could be boring and lifeless without the musical components. Music is a vital part of living and through melody, lyrics and song it is possible for thoughts and emotions to be conveyed clearly and easily by various artists. This article will highlight the top 4 female jazz and soul singers of all time.

Aretha Franklin is well-known around the world as The Queen of Soul. Aretha is the second female singer who is recognized in Grammy history, after Alison Krauss. Over the years, she has won eighteen Grammy Awards as well as received the Living Legend Grammy and the Lifetime Achievement Grammy. Aretha has eight competitive and successive awards from 1968 -1975 in the Grammy category for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. Subsequently, this award was nicknamed as The Aretha Award.

Billie Holiday has made a huge contribution to jazz music and only a handful of jazz singers could rival this artist. This American jazz singer and composer have been regarded as one of the greatest female vocalists ever. Throughout the latter years in her career, a lot of abuse was placed on her vocal cords and this eventually altered the original rich and strong texture of her voice. As of such, her latest records have a strange enticing fragility. But, despite the alternation in her voice, no one can contest the level of emotions infused in all performance and can be heard in all her songs, as this remained consistent and in full-force throughout her lifetime.

Ella Fitzgerald got her break whilst performing in a talent contest in Harlem at the Apollo Theatre. Before this, she was homeless and poor. During her teenage years, Ella was the singer for a band called Chick Webb. She grew up to become a jazz singer that was possibly the most gifted of all, where she excelled in scat singing with a bop flavor, in ballads, as well as recorded collections of some of the greatest composers in America. Although she is long gone, Ella has recordings which showed that she has earned the title of The First Lady of Song, as she is still being referred to even today.

Etta James is one of the greatest singers of American blues, R&B (rhythm and blues), soul, rock and roll, jazz and gospel. During the 50s and 60s, James enjoyed a successful career with the legendary Chess Records as an R&B and blues singer. In recent years pop star Beyonce played the role of Etta James in the feature film Cadillac Records covering the classic hit "At Last". Etta's turbulent life of drinking and drugs was portrayed throughout the film which had mixed reviews but one the memory of Etta's astonishing voice will be with us forever.

While listening to these great singers the author recommends you listening to upcoming singer Charlotte Rose from Sydney Australia. Click here for Charlotte's tribute to the greats http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iMr8ctZfss.

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The Magic of Jazz Singers

About the most enjoyable interpreters of song are Jazz singers. The abilities of the human voice is phenomenal in the truth that one could imitate another person or instrument, or sing several octaves on the piano. The human voice can also interpret emotion in a way only a person can. Jazz instruments can show emotion, but the natural gift from inside the human voice is conveyed in a variety of ways.

To Illustrate, each singer has his or her own style they have. Some of them may not be the best singers that Simon Cowell would compliment. Still, the're many Jazz legends and people like them who have their own individual unique style. The je ne sias quoi x factor of a voice that is distinct, yet pleasing to the ears. The Jazz singers who have this quality have been heard in many clubs, and recordings a long time ago.

These Jazz Legends have helped make Jazz music popular especially with the use of the voice. There are four various types of Jazz singers that made it internationally of Jazz music. One style is the well-known crooner noise from singers like Ivie Anderson, Harry Connick Jr., Mel Torme` Michael Buble`, Tony Bennett, Billy Eckstine, Mildred Bailey, Michael Kaczurak, Sathima Bea Benjamin, Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Johnny Hartman, Bing Crosby, and Nat King Cole. The signature element of the crooner reasonable is a voice with a smooth and sophisticated resonance manufactured for the microphone as clear as a radio announcers speaking voice.

Another style of Vocal Jazz Singers is the soulful bluesy seem with Singers such as Diane Schuur, Nina Simone, Bessie Smith, Etta James, Della Reese, and more. The soulful sound of voice is the skill of ornamentation of the voice running up and down the scale with ease. Bluesy and soulful is also a depth in the range of the voice that appear as if it comes direction from the soul. The're Jazz music Virtuoso's who have the skills to do anything from vocalese to scat to ballad to fast and complex in perfection. The Jazz singers of this category are Ella Fitzgerald, Phoebe Snow, Eva Cassidy, Ernestine Anderson, Betty Carter, Taxicab Calloway, Sammy Davis Jr., Eddie Jefferson, Bobby McFerrin Jr., Jon Hendricks, Slim Gaillard, Rachelle Ferrell, Annie Ross, Etta Jones, Dame Cleo Laine, Sarah Vaughn, Carmen Mercedes McRae, Mabel Mercer, Nikoletta Szoke, and Nancy Wilson.

The Virtuoso can croon a ballad and articulate it in a unique way. The virtuoso Jazz singer can also be strong and sassy and scat in great complexity without any problem. There is undoubtedly that the virtuoso Jazz singer is the entire embodiment of what Jazz is about. The last type of vocalist has an ethereal appeal that seems to come out of another place with uniqueness in noise, and acceptable to the world of Jazz.

The unique style of Jazz singers is a sound that one doesn't typically hear. For example, the uniqueness can originate from the seem quality of the voice or by doing something that sets the Jazz singer on an unusual plane than its competitors. Singers of this category are Amos Leon Thomas, Billy Holiday, Lee Wiley, Blossom Dearie, Shirley Horne, Rita Reys, Eartha Kitt, Anita O'Day, Ray Reach, Ethel Waters, Monica Zetterlund, Jimmy Rushing, Louis Armstrong, Cassandra Wilson, Al Jarreau, and Dennis Rowland. Each one has a particular good of raspy, lush, high pitched, yodeling, vibrato, or gift of humor.

There are also the typical Jazz singers who deserve to be in the spotlight also for having what it takes to make it successfully in Jazz.

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America's Best Films - The Jazz Singer

The first feature length "talkie" reached the big screen in the 1927 hit The Jazz Singer. Alan Crosland directed Al Jolson and Mary Dale in this film that combines title cards (for most of the story and dialogue) with full sound (for all of the songs and a couple of short, spoken passages). The musical score is a potpourri of melodies including Tchaikowsky, traditional Hebrew music, and popular ballads. Even with the limited "real-time" sound, the characterization of the individual actors and actresses is prominent. Each character has a recurring musical theme and additional musical sound effects are synchronized with the action.

The plot of The Jazz Singer is fairly straightforward. The young Jakie Rabinowitz (Al Jolson) is the son of the Jewish Cantor Rabinowitz (Warner Oland). Jakie's father wants him to become the fifth generation of religious cantors in the Rabinowitz family. Jakie, however, loves the new jazz and wants to pursue a career on the stage. Jakie's mother (Eugenie Besserer) understands, but Jackie's father emphatically does not.
Jackie runs away from home at the age of thirteen after a final whipping from his father for singing in a local bar. He becomes "Jack Robin"-the jazz singer.

Jack gets his big break when he sings for an audience including the star dancer Mary Dale (May McAvoy). When Jack finishes his rendition of "Dirty Hands, Dirty Face" (a song celebrating the joy of a father greeting his young son) and his listeners applaud enthusiastically, he interrupts them with the film's first spoken lines: "Wait a minute! Wait a minute! You ain't heard nothin' yet!" Prior to this, the viewer had only heard "live" sound for songs. Now eager anticipation of the next spoken lines adds to the excitement of the remainder of the film.

The only two additional uses of spoken dialogue are masterful. The first occurs when Jack goes home to New York and sees his mother for the first time in many, many years. She is alone at their apartment and Jack plays the piano and sings "Blue Skies" just for her. This is followed by a fast, emotional, possibly improvised stream of conversation in which Jack describes the things he will do for his mother (buy her a house, new dresses, take her on a vacation) when he is a successful star. Jack's gushing love for his mother and his boyish enthusiasm at his plans for her could not have been conveyed effectively with title cards.
 The advent of sound has created the opportunity for the heartfelt expression of intimate feelings between characters.

Jack's mother protests laughingly, but she is clearly touched by Jack's adoration. Their joyous exchange is suddenly halted when Jack's father enters. At this point the viewer probably does not expect to hear live sound from anyone but Jack. The cantor's booming "STOP!" is a surprise and adds to the shock of his uncompromising and immediate rejection of his son.

Most of the images in The Jazz Singer are unremarkable. Almost all of the shots are unembellished medium and long shots. The only notable image is a final scene in which Jack sings in the synagogue as a substitute for his ill and dying father. A superimposed image of Cantor Rabinowitz places him at Jack's side. The father and son have been reunited in spirit. Jack is now free to pursue his calling as a jazz singer.

Kathleen Karlsen is a mother of five children with a passionate interest in creating a world where children and youth are free to grow in imagination and joy. She has a lifelong interest in metaphysics, psychology, healing and the arts. She manages a multimedia business with her husband Andrew in Bozeman, Montana.

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Musical Genres Or Styles of Guitar Music

Music is a free expression of emotion and feeling. It is an artistic expression of passion for melody, rhyme, measure and lyrics. Man's love for music is evident on the number of musical instruments that were developed and used through the decades. Among these ancient-modern instruments is the guitar.

Guitar is one of the stringed instruments that have a history rooted from the ancient times. Through the centuries of its use, it has created thousands of tunes and has entertained millions of people from the era and area on which it was used. The ancient forms of music created by the guitar also evolved along with the guitar's many forms. With man's continuing passion for music and for this stringed instrument, modern times have created modern niche of guitar music.

Blues is one of the vocal and instrumental forms of music that uses blue notes. It has emerged from African-American communities through their spiritual and work songs as well as chants. With the use of rhymed and simple narrative ballads, the community has created music with a prominent call and response pattern. Blues are traditionally played with a piano as in churches and gatherings. Later on, the accessibility of guitars and its popularity among bands have made more music for blues, making it the root for some other musical genres such as the jazz, rhythm and blues, bluegrass and rock and roll.

Jazz is one of the popular genres of music that are played with the guitar. It is known to have originated from the blue notes or Blues. Considered a confluence of African and European music traditions, Jazz is distinct for its improvisations, polyrythms, syncopation and swung notes. Jazz has made beautiful music with its fusion with the big-band style swing, bebop and Latin, Afro-Cuban and Brazilian music. Eventually, Jazz was incorporated in 20th century American pop music.

The more recent musical genre of guitar music is pop music. With its noticeable rhythmic element, melodies and hooks, its mainstream style and conventional structure made it very popular among the teenage population. Today, these are the music that usually appears on top of the record charts, which are determined by the number of sales and popularity in air play. And most of the songs in this genre are accompanied by the tunes of the modern and classic construction of guitars.

The versatile application of guitar to music explains why professional guitarists can play all musical genres. From rock to pop, classic to modern beat, no one will ever miss out the significant contribution of guitar tunes to the whole effect of a song or musical piece. Even for novice guitar players or those who are starting to learn to play the guitar, the selection of play pieces or practice pieces is limitless, making the learning process more interesting and exciting.

Kevin Sinclair is the publisher and editor of MusicianHomeReviews.com [http://www.musicianhomereviews.com], a site that provides reviews of products and services for musicians at all stages of their development.

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Jazz and the Gypsy

Some argue that to record jazz, to freeze those unique performances in time so they can be repeated, is heresy, and perhaps it is, but without the magic of sound recording, we would never be able to hear some of the true virtuosos. One that stands out as perhaps the most romantic of them all, is Django Reinhardt.
 
Jean Reinhardt was born in Belgium in 1910 but given the nickname 'Django' (I awake) by his family, a tribe of Romani gypsies. Reinhardt was the ultimate romantic figure, a gypsy prodigy who began by playing violin, then mastered the banjo at an early age and progressed to guitar. His mother's tribe settled in the out-skirts of Paris when Django was 8 and his career began at age 13 when he began to play at a dance hall. He worked with a number of bands and musicians and made recordings accompanying an accordion player.

On November 2nd 1928 Django, knocked over a candle in the caravan which was his home. The caravan was filled with flammable material which his new wife was using to make flowers for sale in the local town, and erupted in flames almost instantly. Django and his wife managed to get out, but his left hand and right side were very badly burned, so much so that doctors wanted to amputate his leg, saying it could not be saved. The fourth and fifth fingers of his left hand were left permanently curled towards the palm as the tendons had been damaged by the heat of the fire.

Django refused the amputation and went to a nursing home, but nothing could be done for the damaged fingers. Despite this Django's brother Joseph, also a guitarist, bought him a new guitar and throughout the eighteen months it took him to recover the use of his leg, Django taught himself to play in a new style, using only two fingers.

In 1934 Django met jazz violinist Stephane Grapelli. They were part of a 14 piece band engaged to play at teatime a the Hotel Claridge. In his free time Django played his guitar backstage and Grapelli and others joined in. They were overheard by members of the Hot Club of France, (a society devoted to the appreciation of jazz) who were impressed. Recordings were arranged and the club suggested the formation of a permanent group. The 'Quintet of the Hot Club of France' began recording in 1934 despite being turned down by one recording company for being too modern. The group was unusual in being composed of only string instruments, Grapelli on violin, Django, his brother Joseph and Roger Chaput playing guitar and Louis Vola playing bass. Their records were a great success and tours followed. The quintet has been described as 'one of the most original bands in the history of recorded jazz'.

When war broke out the Quintet were touring England. Stephane Grapelli remained in England, but Django could speak little English and returned to France. Although the Romani people were being exterminated alongside the Jews, and jazz was viewed as decadent and forbidden, Django prospered. He wasn't just a performer, he was also a composer and in 1940 wrote his most famous creation, Nuages (which means 'Clouds') which some say was an anthem for the sad state of occupied France.

After the war, the quintet came together once more and in 1946 Django toured the USA as a guest soloist with Duke Ellington. He played two nights at Carnegie Hall and from all accounts enjoyed the experience. Afterwards he returned to France and immersed himself again in the Romani world, apparently finding aspects of the modern world difficult. He still gave concerts but had a reputation for being very unreliable, sometimes failing to turn up because he had preferred a walk on the beach.

He retired in 1951, but continued to play, eventually experimenting with the electric guitar. He was only 42 when, quite suddenly, he died. Having spent the morning fishing Django visited a cafe and then walked home. He collapsed, but the ambulance took a day to arrive and Django was declared dead on arrival in hospital. He had suffered a brain haemorrhage.

Throughout his life Django usually played an acoustic Selmer-Maccaferri guitar, an instrument he liked because it was loud enough to be heard over the others in a band. After Django's death his wife donated Django's guitar (serial number 503) to the Musée de la Musique in Paris where it can be seen.

Although Reinhardt died more than half a century ago, his influence on jazz on both sides of the Atlantic has been enormous. His music is still very much in vogue and has been heard in films such as The Aviator, Gattaca and The Matrix as well as several video games such as BioShock.

We can't all be romantic prodigies, scarred for life but triumphing over the odds. It sounds far too much like a corny Hollywood biopic, though it is a true life tale. But Django Reinhardt was real; he has and will continue to be an inspiration. He was a prodigy, but if he could play with only two usable fingers, imagine what you could do with yours? How about a jazz guitar lesson?

John Blackwood
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Styles of Piano Music

If you are studying the piano, you'll find that there are many different styles of piano music out there today. Usually it is a great idea to learn as many styles as you can if you want to master the piano, and learning all of them is a great idea. When you are knowledgeably about various styles of music for the piano, you are able to play in a variety of styles yourself and it also helps you learn to improvise. Let's take a look at some of the most popular styles out there that you'll want to study and learn to play.

Classical Piano

The oldest style of piano is the classical style and it is very varied as well. This style of piano has been around for hundreds of years and for many, it is the proper style of music to learn when playing the music. Various other styles of piano music actually come from the classical style as well. This style of piano music takes training that is intense and a lot of practice as well.

Rock Piano

Another style of piano music is rock piano. This style of piano actually came right out of blues piano music, although later it would begin to get a new style of it's own. Some great pianists, such as Billy Joel, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Elton John would go on to make rock piano the popular and beautiful style that it is today.

Jazz Piano

Another great style of piano music that is well worth studying and learning is jazz piano. It includes a variety of different styles within it and it difficult to describe. A variety of piano styles today actually borrow jazz ideas like certain chords and even improvisation as well. You'll also find that the emphasis on various forms of chords comes from jazz too.

Gospel Piano

You'll find that the gospel piano style of music is very similar to various other styles, such as R&B, blues, and even jazz. There are some extended chords which gospel piano tends to emphasize, but it has that lilting or swinging feel that you often see in both R&B as well as in jazz. While gospel songs may appear to be quite simple, the musicality of them is usually quite complex. You'll notice that syncopation is often used and provides a very spiritual style overtone to the gospel piano music.

Of course these are just a few of the different styles of piano music that are out there today. You'll find that there are many other styles to listen to, learn, and play. Some of them include new age piano, ragtime piano, rhythm and blues piano, boogie woogie piano, and even cocktail piano.

Kevin Sinclair is the publisher and editor of MusicianHome.com [http://www.musicianhome.com] - an information site for beginning through to advanced musicians. He has a growing number of learn piano reviews [http://musicianhomereviews.com/category/learn-piano/] available.

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Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival

The biggest city in Canada, Toronto is also a hub of cultural activities. This is a cosmopolitan city (almost half the city's population were born outside Canada), and its days are filled with music, performance and fun.

Toronto has a slew of cultural events lined up every month and some of these are renowned the world over. The Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival is one such event which draws tourists from around the globe.
 This is an annual festival held in June and July at indoor venues.

The first edition of this festival dates back to 1987. Over the years historic artists like Herbie Hancock, Oscar Peterson, Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins and John McLaughlin have all played here. More recently, the 21st Century has seen Madeline Peroux, Susan Tedeschi and Tony Bennet all take the stage.

One of the best things about the Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival is its atmosphere, which is both informed and welcoming; connoisseurs and newcomers to jazz will both feel at home here, and both mingle with sociable ease as the Festival induces in everyone a happy state of relaxed openness.

Around the same time as the Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival, many other colorful festivals and celebrations take place in the city. These include the Fete de la Musique, the Beaches International Jazz Festival, the Caribana, the celebrations during the Pride Week, and the famous theatre festival - the Toronto Fringe Festival.

Such a slew of festivals inevitably attracts quite a large number of tourists to the city around the months of June and July.
 Luckily for the attending backpacker, finding accommodation is not a problem (this may be the most expensive city in Canada, but there is no dearth of budget hostels in Toronto).
Toronto Hostels
The Canadiana Backpackers Inn is located conveniently at the heart of the entertainment center of Toronto.

A welcoming and fun-packed place, it passes every night with a specially prepared event, which makes it home to a mini-festival in its own right. The free pancake breakfast on offer soaks up any extravagant indulgence.

City Guesthouse II is among those Toronto hostels that are located in downtown Toronto. Guests here are offered free internet connection, and are allowed to make local calls without any extra charge.

The New Horizons Boutique Hostel, meanwhile, remains a sure-fire success with backpackers. This eminently hip boutique hostel features a well stocked library, and also provides free internet access to those who stay. Another truly unique feature of this hostel is that the guests can attend church services.

For those who really like to let their hair down, Global Village Backpackers is a good bet. Located in the downtown Toronto area (and so close to the Jazz Festival action), its facilities include a backpacker's bar known simply as The Village Pub.

Before settling down and becoming a copywriter for HostelBookers.com Johnny Cooper did a backpacking tour of Canada and he checked out a variety of hostels in Canada and a Toronto hostel

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The Differences Between Jazz Vs Hip Hop Dance

Jazz Vs. Hip Hop Dance - What's the Difference?
Jazz and hip hop have been around for ages. Dance studios everywhere teach both styles of dance - among others - and many of them even teach both together or combine the two. For those who are not heavily involved in the dance scene, it may be confusing to differentiate between these two styles of dance. So the question is, what is the difference between jazz and hip hop?

Breaking it Down

Jazz
In order to understand the difference between jazz vs. hip hop dance, it's necessary to break down each type of dance to gain an understanding of how the two dance styles are distinguished from one another. Jazz involves a variety of different styles in and of itself. Jazz involves Broadway jazz, lyrical jazz, and even jazz-funk. Jazz tends to have somewhat of a ballet influence, considering the smooth moves and long lines that jazz dancers must be competent in. You'll often see ballet-like moves with jazz, such as pirouettes and grandejetes. Posture is generally erect and feet are pointed.

Jazz really can be considered as an umbrella term for many varieties of this dance genre, considering all the influences of different dance styles on this genre. It really is a classic style of dance that is fun and full of energy and class, and what you will most often see on Broadway and other theatrical stages.

Hip Hop
It started back in the 1970's in urban New York City, where street dancers would "break" on street corners, while amazed onlookers would watch. Breaking is one of the earliest forms of this type of dance, which is done with oriented steps with the feet while standing, or with footwork done with both hands and feet on the floor. There are also moves performed just on the hands, as well as spins on the shoulder or head. Breaking often involves a lot of floor work and strength / flexibility.

Hip hop dance is a type of dance style that uses quick movements, and requires quite a bit of athleticism. There are quick movements in all planes involved, creating an almost illusion-like performance. There are a variety of classic dance moves, including bopping, roboting, locking, krumping, popping, turfin, breaking, and jerkin. There are newer variations of house including voguing and house.

Although these two dance styles definitely share some similarities with one another, they are certainly two different styles of dance. It's inevitable that different dance genres will have somewhat of an influence on other dance styles, but they still remain distinct.

While jazz has been part of mainstream competitive dance training for a long time, hip hop is now becoming more commonly taught in studios. However, it is the most popular current form of dance in music videos, at clubs and schools.

If you want to learn to dance this style, check out HipHopCrusher.com today! This is a completely new way to learn hip hop dance online - where you get to choose the lessons you want to learn each time and have access to 10 of the top performing hip hop dancers and teachers in the business.

 The course is geared specifically for kids and teens, but anyone can learn beginning hip hop with this 'clean' course of over 70 lessons.

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Planning For Guitar Lessons in Montreal?

Are you looking for some good music schools to learn guitar in Montreal? If yes, you can find some fine music schools for guitar lessons in Montreal. There are many renowned music schools experienced at designing good courses for learning guitar in and around Montreal.

Some very good music schools to learn your guitar lessons are Montreal Music School, Guitar Academy, Lambda School of Music and Fine Art, Montreal Academy, Academie De Musique De Lasalle Inc., Montreal School of Music and Dance etc. You have to choose a school that builds a bond between the musicians or tutors. Recording Arts Canada or the RAC, as it is known, is located in Montreal, Quebec and has a very special way of teaching music to students. It offers an apposite surrounding to learn and help you achieve a blooming career once you are a graduate.

Montreal being one of the safest, cleanest and inexpensive cities makes it a good place for students from any part of the globe to enrol into any good music school. The Recording Arts Canada utilizes the latest technology and equipment in training students. Their course programs have a steadfast academic base along with thorough hands on experience. Apart from enrolling to schools to learn guitar, you can also hire a personal tutor for guitar lessons in Montreal.

You have to look for some very specific qualities in a tutor before you hire him. The tutor has to have excellent techniques to teach you to play the instrument easily even if you are a beginner. It is important for you to convey to your tutor about the type of music you are interested in and the type of music you would like to learn to play. Only then the tutor would design a unique method to teach you to play the instrument. It is very important to build a healthy relationship with your tutor so that you can learn your guitar lessons more peacefully and your tutor can teach you more patiently.

Patience is an important factor when it comes to teaching or learning to play the instrument. He should be capable of helping you to overcome your difficulties and frustrations while you are learning to play the instrument. This would help you learn every detail of the instrument and hence you can play it more harmoniously with time.

Like to play death defying guitar solos and riffs Check out these professional information on metal guitar lessons for beginners to get started on playing like your favorite band. Interested in learning guitar for worship purposes? You can get details on worship guitar and bring your worship closer to heart with the sounds of music.

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Top 3 Events Taking Place in Berlin

While some people just want to laze around, see the night life and eat great food, others like to experience the culture and soul of the new destination on a first hand basis. If you are a person who is more akin to the latter type and are traveling to Berlin, the capital of Germany, then you should consider planning your trip on the basis of the kind of events and festivals that take place in Berlin.

Berlin is a city that is home to a staggering amount of festivals, events and parades over the course of any year. Not only are there many events that take place, but the city is known for providing diverse festivals as well. If you are wondering if the city has something suited to your preferences then here is a list of the top 3 events taking place in Berlin on an annual basis.

1. The Berlin film festival:
The Berlin film festival is known all over the world for being the foremost festival when it comes to films, along with other special international film festivals such as Cannes and Venice. In fact, the Berlinale, as it is known locally, is the largest international film festival in the world with regard to attendance. The festival screens around 400 films, of which 20 are finalists and compete for the famous awards, the Golden Bear and the Silver Bear. Moreover, the film festival sees more than 270,000 tickets being sold and more than 500,000 admissions.

2. Fete de la Musique:
The Fete de la Musique is a festival that is celebrated simultaneously in over 120 countries of the world. The festival is a celebration of music as an art form. During the festival, there are numerous free music concerts held in different venues in Berlin and amateur artists are encouraged and even invited to play in the streets. The Fete de la Musique is, in effect, one large party that aims to promote music of all types. The festival is held on June 21st and was first held in 1981 in France.

3. Oberbaumbrücke Festival:
The Oberbaumbrücke Festival is named after the double deck bridge under which it is held. The Oberbaumbrücke Bridge, by itself, is a marvelous piece of architecture. The Oberbaumbrücke Festival is ideal for you if you appreciate art of all kinds because it celebrates all types. The festival is characterized by tango dancers with public performances, low profile and high profile artists selling their creations and one extremely large canvas where you can contribute with your masterpiece or doodle as well.

Berlin is a city that has many other festivals pertaining to art and religion that you can take part in, provided you plan your visit in such a way that it coincides with them.

Come check the city out when a festival is taking place and you will fall in love with the City. Book Berlin vacation apartments to save money on your Berlin accommodation.

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Western Art - Purism - Cubism Stretched!

Purism - The History
Purism, an extension of Cubism founded by two artists, was a short-lived diverse painting style that emerged after the First World War. The two artists were French Cubist painter Amedee Ozenfant (1886-1966) and Swiss architect, writer, & painter Charles-Edouard Jeanneret (also known as Le Corbusier - 1887-1965). They were introduced to each other through a common friend, the French Cubist painter Fernand Leger (1881-1955). Both artists shared an avid interest of Cubism, to be portrayed in absolute form and in an orderly fashion. In 1918, Ozenfant and Le Corbusier wrote a manifesto titled 'Apres le Cubisme,' which meant 'after Cubism.' It was through this book that they shared their views and introduced the basic principles of Purism for the first time.

The Details
Ozenfant and Le Corbusier disapproved of the use of Cubism in Decorative Arts, which was a common practice then. They wished to create a more systematic and fundamental art style for functional purposes. And, they created Purism. These artists believed there was no place for fantasy, passion, or intensity in art. Purism followed a structured approach. Machine Age highly influenced it. Purists' works generally had clear strong lines with flat geometric forms. Their human figures were beautiful and proportional with the right coloring, but they lacked emotion or softness. Often depictions seemed robotic in spite of their extensive use of pure vibrant colors. Purist paintings were generally harmonious, yet impersonal and had an aura of detachment to them.

The Artworks
Le Corbusier's 'Still Life' (1920) at Museum of Modern Art and Amedee Ozenfant's 'Guitar and Bottle' at Guggenheim Museum are the typical examples of Purism. 'The City' (1919) and 'Three Women' (1921) are two of Fernand Leger's famous Purist works.

The Artists
Ozenfant and Le Corbusier were not just the main protagonists of Purism, but perhaps the only ones of their time, as the movement was not a success. In 1925, Ozenfant and Le Corbusier wrote a French book called 'La Peinture Moderne' to promote the theories of Purism. The book was later published in English with the title 'The Foundations of Modern Art.' They practiced Purism diligently from 1918 to 1925. Later, Le Corbusier devoted himself to architecture. His Purist theories had a major influence on the modern architecture. Fernand Leger was also an enthusiast of Purism. Some other proponents who were inclined towards Purism in the later years were Czech artist Bedrich Feuerstein (1892-1936), the American Precisionist painters, and the 'Group of Estonian Artists' from Tallinn.

Annette Labedzki received her BFA at the Emily Carr College of Art and Design in Vancouver, B.C. Canada. She has more than 25 years experience. She is the founder and developer of an online art gallery featuring original art from all over the world. Please visit the website at http://www.Labedzki-Art.com It is a great site for art collectors to buy original art. Artists can join for free and their image upload is unlimited.

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