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Roy Hargrove, Gloria Lynne, Sonny Rollins, and "Jazz for Obama" Featured in New Jazz It Up! Episode

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New York, NY - The second episode of season 2 of Jazz it Up! is now available!

To subscribe and see a five-minute preview of the new episode: Jazz it Up!

Each episode of Jazz it Up! features two main artists; each performs two songs. This edition features ensembles led by trumpeter Roy Hargrove and vocalist Gloria Lynne. Roy Hargrove begins the show with fire and edge, cementing his reputation as one of the best trumpet men of his generation. Gloria Lynne embraces warmly, taking each viewer inside Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola, where she performs her classic, “I Wish You Love.”

The Jazz it Up! Vintage segment features the most acclaimed improviser in jazz today, Sonny Rollins, in a trio setting from 1965, swinging hard with seeming ease.

Ever wonder what “Free Jazz” means? Well, drummer Rashied Ali, one of the most noted exemplars of free jazz, explains the meaning and practice of the phrase for the “Jazz Ed” segment.

Dave Samuels, Esperanza Spalding, Lewis Nash, and Grace Kelly make cameo appearances, and drummers Bobby Durham and Tony Reedus are remembered.

Plus, here’s a jazz video news exclusive: Jazz it Up! delves into the connection between jazz music and President-elect Barack Obama. Details on Mr. Obama’s love of jazz segues into coverage of the “Jazz for Obama” fundraiser organized by Aaron Goldberg and group called Jazz for America’s Future. Goldberg, Kurt Elling, Christian McBride, Steve Turre, and Dee Dee Bridgewater tell Jazz it Up! host Greg Thomas why they took a clear stand in support of Barack Obama, and opine on the significance of this special moment in United States history.

To subscribe and see a five-minute preview of the new episode: Jazz it Up!

Next on Jazz it Up!

The next episode of Jazz it Up! will present feature performances by two stellar trios; the Jazz Standard in New York was the setting for a 10-year reunion among Nicholas Payton, Christian McBride and Mark Whitfield that sizzles with virtuosic brilliance, emotional depth and triumph over the blues. The other trio is led by Lew Tabackin, whose big sound and driving style on tenor saxophone lit up The Kitano New York with sparks of mastery that will move and astound viewers around the world.

George Benson, credited by many of his peers as the greatest living jazz guitarist, performs the evergreen “Stella By Starlight” with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra at the ceremony celebrating the 2009 class of NEA Jazz Masters. Look out for news coverage of this historic occasion, and more, on the next episode of Jazz it Up!, slated for release in early January 2009.

About Jazz it Up!

Jazz it Up!, a production of BrownStone Digital, Inc., contains live performances, news, and discussions by artists who play the array of styles that make jazz. Program segments are designed to engage viewers through different angles of insight into the art form. Our editing style appeals to a younger demographic while maintaining the class mature viewers expect. This is the only online music series that incorporates: streaming interactive video; mp4 sound technology; banner and video ads; features for sharing and feedback, with a distribution model exploiting the low-cost viral nature of email. Any user of Apple’s iPhone can view our half-hour episodes.

Hosted by jazz writer and broadcast journalist Greg Thomas, the first season of Jazz it Up! was viewed by 1,000,000 people in 15 countries. Over 100,000 people have watched the first episode of season 2. In fall 2008 TiVo’s Video-on-Demand service added Jazz it Up! to the roster of shows available to its 4 million subscribers. In October 2008, the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and the Consumer Electronics Association nominated Jazz it Up! for a Global Media Award in the Outstanding Long Form – Entertainment category.

Swing by, subscribe for free, and get the most recent episode of Jazz it Up! And don’t hesitate to share the show with your associates, friends and family. Subscription to Jazz it Up! is free, so when you get new episodes via email, forward them to as many people as you’d like.

Testimonials

“Great mix of live jazz, interviews and jazz education - keep up the dynamic work. You can tell it's a labor of love.” Bob Stewart, Jazz tuba master and Juilliard Jazz professor

“The show is great! I think this is going to get the music out there to more people, in a real way, and with depth and history added through the interviews and classic videos.” Jon Gordon, saxophonist (winner of the 1996 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition)

“Congratulations to you for starting a much needed forum for publicizing jazz and educating individuals about such a wonderful art form.” Laura Henrich, Laura Henrich Arts Management

“The mixture of performances, interview, and information is fast moving and entertaining. Also, the blending of classic artists and contemporary musicians offers serious and novice enthusiasts entry points. I think it is a very timely and engaging vehicle for promoting Jazz to a new generation of ‘Internet Technology Babies’.” Eugene Adams, Jazz Fan and Educator

“Greg, you are natural on camera. The production values and sound are quite good also!” Wanda Mann, Mann About Town

“I've been turning all of my jazz friends on to your show and they love it!” Keith London, Publisher & Executive Producer, Defined Mind, Inc.

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