Jazz News: Instrument Drive, CO representing at SXSW, Tarantino joins JLCO, Ezra Collective “Best” in UK
This is Jazz News, a look at what’s news in jazz, music and the arts.
The annual “Bringing Music to Life” campaign kicks off today. Now in its 14th year, it’s a powerful way to get your gently used, spare instruments back into use. More than 20,000 children from hundreds of music programs have been able to learn music. Sometimes, donors leave personal notes inside the instrument case to encourage the young players on their musical journey. There are 16 drop-off locations statewide. The campaign runs through March 29. Details here. (SOURCE: Bringing Music to Life)
A couple of Colorado artists we know played at the massive South By Southwest Festival last week in Austin, Texas. Multi-instrumentalist, Emcee, DJ Rob Tz was there. Rapper Ave Grim competed in a Battle for the Block at our sister station The Drop – he was there. (SOURCE: SXSW Schedule 2025)
Saxophonist Alexa Tarantino has been announced as the newest permanent member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, becoming the first woman in that chair. She has certainly paid her dues with a solo career and filling in here and there with the JLCO in the past (and many other ensembles). She replaces Ted Nash, who is stepping down for other projects. Downbeat Magazine has a fascinating interview with Tarantino and Nash about the rigorous creative atmosphere inside Jazz at Lincoln Center. Under the direction of Wynton Marsalis, one can only imagine. (SOURCE: DownBeat / News-Changing the Guard at Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra)
In case you missed it, Ezra Collective pulled down the “Group of the Year” award at the annual BRIT Awards a couple of weeks ago. They also brought down the house with their performance at the BRIT awards show at the O2 Arena, along with the 30-horn youth ensemble called “Kinetika Bloco” and vocalist Jorja Smith. Fun fact: members of Ezra Collective attended the Kinetika Bloco music education program when they were children. (SOURCE: Ezra Collective on YouTube)
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