1. Strathmore Music Center to Celebrate Duke Ellington
Jazz lovers who count Duke Ellington among their favorite musicians need to check out the upcoming Discover Ellington festival. As part of its yearlong look into American composers, Strathmore in North Bethesda, Maryland will be celebrating the life and music of Edward Kennedy Ellington starting February 3. The 7-day festival will feature classes, lectures, concerts, and free family activities that revolve around the jazz legend’s life and influences. [MORE]

2. Debra Lee Remembers Don Cornelius as a “Pioneer”
BET Chairman and CEO Debra Lee appeared on CNN Newsroom [yesterday] afternoon to reflect on the life and legacy of Don Cornelius, creator and host of the long-running TV show Soul Train. Cornelius was found dead [yesterday] morning in his Sherman Oaks, California, home having suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

“Don Cornelius was such a pioneer in the music business,” Lee said. “He gave exposure to African-American artists in the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s that was not available in other outlets on TV. Our African-American artists could not get on American Bandstand and when Don Cornelius started Soul Train in 1970 he provided an outlet for our artists.” [MORE]

For more music news and information, visit BET.com/news/music

Esperanza Spalding is kicking off 2012 in a big way! The Grammy Award winning bassist, vocalist and composer is releasing Radio Music Society on March 20, and will kick off a world tour in Buffalo, New York on April 20.

The follow up to her 2010 chart-topping critically acclaimed album, Chamber Music Society; this upcoming album is said to be one of her “most diverse, ambitious and masterful” bodies of work.

Those who purchase tickets through Ticketmaster will receive a free mp3 download of “City of Roses” a song from the new album.

April 18 – Buffalo, NY – Center for the Arts
April 19 – Cleveland, OH – Metro Campus Auditorium
April 21 – New York, NY – Webster Hall
April 22 – Boston, MA – Orpheum Theatre
April 24 – Seattle, WA – Paramount Theatre
April 25 – Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom
April 27 – Hollywood, CA – The Music Box
April 28 – Phoenix, AZ – JW Desert Ridge Jazz Festival
May 1 – Dallas, TX – House of Blues
May 2 – Houston, TX – House of Blues
May 3 – New Orleans, LA – New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
May 5 – Austin, TX – Paramount Theatre
May 23 – Paris, France – La Cigale
May 28 – London, UK – KoKo
June 27 – Ottawa, ON – Ottawa Jazz Festival
June 29 – Montreal, QC – Metropolis Theatre
June 30 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center

Celebrating 40 years of the Soul Train brand, this year’s Soul Train Awards is gearing up to be one of the biggest events of the year. Hosted by comedian and actor Cedric the Entertainer, the show will honor Gladys Knight and Earth, Wind & Fire, with the coveted Legend Award for their immense contributions to the world of music.

This year’s nominees represent the best in R&B, soul, jazz, gospel and Carribean music. Music’s bad-boy turned golden child Chris Brown leads the pack with an astounding five nominations, including Album of the Year for his critically acclaimed F.A.M.E. He is followed by Beyonce and Kanye West who tied with four nominations.

New categories to this year’s line-up include awards for best traditional and contemporary jazz albums. These two categories will be viewers choice awards, and the winners will be determined through online voting.

This year’s show will tape in Atlanta on November 17, but will air in simulcast on both Centric and BET on November 27 at 9pm/8c.

Best New Artist
Bruno Mars
Marsha Ambrosius
Miguel
Frank Ocean

Best Male R&B/Soul Artist
Trey Songz
Chris Brown
R. Kelly
Miguel
Cee Lo Green
Eric Benet

Centric Award
Ledisi
Raphael Saddiq
Bilal
Anthony David
Aloe Blacc

Best Caribbean Performance
“Man Down” -Rihanna
“Summer Time” -Vybz Kartel
“Wotless” -Kes The Band
“Bend Over” – Machel Montano
“Delilah” – Movado

Best Gospel Performance
“I Smile” – Kirk Franklin
“Walking” – Mary Mary
“Heaven Hear My Heart” – Trin-I-Tee 5:7
“I Believe” – James Fortune ft. Shawn McLemore
“More” – Cece Winans

Album of the Year
21 - Adele
F.A.M.E - Chris Brown
4 - Beyonce
Passion Pain & Pleasure - Trey Songz
Light of the Sun - Jill Scott
Watch The Throne - Jay Z and Kanye West

Best Hip-Hop Song of the Year
“Moment for Life” – Nicki Minaj
“All of the Lights”- Kanye West ft. Rihanna
“Look at Me Now” – Chris Brown feat. Busta Rhymes and Lil’ Wayne
“Out of My Head” – Lupe Fiasco
“Otis” -  Jay Z and Kanye West

Best Female R&B/Soul Artist
Kelly Rowland
Beyonce
Marsha Ambrosius
Jennifer Hudson
Jill Scott
Mary J. Blige

Song of the Year
“Motivation” – Kelly Rowland feat. Lil’ Wayne
“Sure Thing”- Miguel
“Rolling in the Deep” – Adele
“She Ain’t You” – Chris Brown
“All of the Lights” – Kanye West
“So In Love” – Jill Scott ft. Anthony Hamilton

Record of the Year (The Ashford and Simpson Songwriter’s Award)
“Rolling in the Deep” – Adele (Writers: Adele, Paul Epworth)
“Far Away” – Marsha Ambrosius (Writers: Marsha Ambrosius, Sterling Simms)
“Best Thing I Never Had” – Beyonce (Writers: Antonio Dixon; Kenneth Edmonds; Larry Griffin, Jr.; Beyoncé Knowles; Caleb McCampbell; Patrick Smith; Shea Taylor)
“Good Man” – Raphael Saddiq (Writers: Raphael Saadiq, Taura Stinson)
“Hold My Hand” (Duet with Akon) – Michael Jackson (Writers: Aliaune Thiam (Akon), Giorgio Tuinfort, Claude Kelly)

Best Dance Performance
“Motivation” – Kelly Rowland
“Only Girl in the World”/”What’s My Name” – Rihanna
“Run The World” – Beyonce
“She Ain’t You” – Chris Brown
“Walking” – Mary Mary
“Pretty Girl Rock” – Keri Hilson

2011 Soul Train Award Legend Award Recipients
Gladys Knight
Earth Wind and Fire

Traditional Jazz*
 “In Concert On Broadway” – Harry Connick Jr.
“James Farm”- Eric Harland
“Light My Fire”- Eliane Elias
“Silver Pony”- Cassandra Wilson
“What’s It All About” – Pat Metheny

Contemporary Jazz*
“Contact” – Boney James
“Hello Tomorrow” – Dave Koz
“Rock-et Sci-ence ”- Bela Fleck 
“Let’s Touch The Sky”- Fourplay
“Time Together”- Michael Franks

*Viewers choice awards to be housed online

Shaolin Jazz – The 37th Chamber is the brainchild of Gerald Watson of Art vs Commerce and DJ 2-Tone Jones. The idea for Shaolin Jazz developed after Watson interviewed, Logan Walters, a graphic designer who created a series of jazz inspired Wu-Tang album covers,  titled Wu-Note—of course inspired by classic covers from the legendary Blue Note Records.

In the video below, Watson and DJ 2-Tone Jones discuss how and why the “37^th Chamber” was created.

Download: Shaolin Jazz – The 37th Chamber

R&B group and former stars of Centric reality show, “Keith Sweat’s Platinum House”, Dru Hill were recently interviewed by Singersroom.com to talk about the re-release of their album “Indrupendence Day”, new member Tao and the state of R&B today.

Jazz saxophonist and flutist James Moody, who began his six decade long career playing bebop with Dizzy Gillespie’s Big Band died yesterday at the age of 85 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

Moody gained popularity for his 1949 recording of “I’m in the Mood for Love.” His reworking of the melody later became the melody for ”Moody’s Mood for Love,” which featured lyrics by Eddie Jefferson. “Moody’s Mood for Love” would go on to become a jazz standard covered by singers globally (including Amy Winehouse on her debut album. “Frank”) and inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2001.

Moody is survived by his wife of 21 years, Linda, and three sons. Funeral arrangements have not been announced.

Dru Hill and Chico DeBarge are coming to Detroit! The Kedar Entertainment artist will be performing at the MotorCity Casino Hotel on Sunday, December 26. The quartet—who were recently the stars of Centric’s Keith Sweat’s Platinum House—have been going non-stop since the release of their comeback album, InDRUpendence Day. Touring with Chico—the youngest brother of the legendary DeBarge family—is the ultimate christmas present for any R&B lover.

Tickets are $50.00 and $35.00 (General Admission floor/standing) and are on sale now at all Ticketmaster locations and Ticketmaster.com. Tickets are also available through the MotorCity Casino Hotel Box Office Friday-Sunday at 8 PM.

Dizzy’s Club at New York’s Lincoln Center recently was the site for the celebration of Tia Fuller’s third release, Decisive Steps.  The setting sun over Central Park served as the breathtaking backdrop as Fuller and her band mates took the stage.  Proceeding to entertain a full house, Fuller never failed to yield the spotlight to the talented players sharing the stage, one of which was her sister on the grand piano.  Throughout the evening, Fuller’s gift was in full bloom as she alternated between the alto and soprano saxophone, and even displayed her skills playing the flute.

Hailing from a family of musicians, Fuller was raised on the music of jazz greats like Coltrane and Bird.  Graduating from Spellman College with full honors (Magna Cum Laude), Fuller went on to pursue music education in Jazz Pedagogy and Performance from the University of Colorado, also with full honors (Summa Cum Laude).  It’s no wonder that this young jazz musician would ultimately embark on a world tour as part of mega-superstar, Beyonce’s funky all-female band.  On working with the celebrity, Fuller believes that the surprisingly down to earth, Beyonce is destined for greatness.  “Her work ethic is incredible. She strives for perfection and pushes those around her to do the same.” Read the rest of this entry »

Seven years have passed since R&B group, Dru Hill dominated the airwaves.  When the rumored return of the group seemed to become concrete, tongues began to wag.  People questioned how relevant they would be after so many years away—not to mention a few line-up changes. Well, Dru Hill is proving they are back and in full force.

Performing for a sold out, standing room only crowd earlier this week at New York’s BB King’s Blues Club & Grill, Dru Hill brought their very best and didn’t miss a beat.  Thunderous applause accompanied the group charging the stage.  Sisqo, still sporting his trademark bleached cut, Jazz, Nokio, to everyone’s surprise now wears his hair in a purple mohawk and newest member, Tao were prepared to reclaim the spotlight. Read the rest of this entry »

L'Renee Takes Soul On Tour

L’Renee had a most productive year in 2009. Coming off of her 2008 Christmas album, “Merry Christmas,” L’Renee turned around three months later with a live jazz album, “Jazz,” recorded at the legendary Baker’s Keyboard & Lounge in Detroit. Closing out the year,  L’Renee returns with Europe. Still most of this D-town diva’s hard work since her critically-hailed sophomore project, 2^nd Chances, has been under the radar. To help spread the word about this delectable five-octave divette’s prolific efforts, L’Renee Musique Inc. is offering all three of her latest projects for little to nothing (or big bucks!) through a pick your own price campaign. But, get it while you can. The Pick Your Own Price (even Free) campaign ends Jan 31, 2010. First Marcell & The Truth and Darien Brockington, and now L’Renee is joining in; are LP giveaways “in” and EP giveaways “out” in 2010?