Her Departure is the musical identity of Radhika Vekaria, whose songs represent a global journey of self-discovery. Born and raised in London, and now based in Los Angeles, her music takes cues from her Indian and African roots and captures a celebration of womanhood and humanity. Within the cinematic expanse… Read more...
September 15 marks the beginning of a month-long recognition of the rich history and important contributions Latinos have made to American society and culture. What started as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968 grew into a month-long observation in the late ’80s. “Nurtured by their rich… Read more...
Broadcast Music, Inc. composers Keith Jarrett and Anthony Braxton will be honored as Jazz Masters by the National Endowment for the Arts at an awards ceremony and concert on January 13, 2014, at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City. The two composers were selected from nominations submitted by… Read more...
If happiness were electricity, speaking with Eddie Palmieri would be literally shocking. The 76-year-old Latin jazz giant’s enthusiasm crackles through his conversation with the same joy that permeates his performances. Born in South Bronx, Cuban music was the soundtrack of his childhood, booming out of bodegas and played on piano… Read more...
He may be 75, but Eddie Palmieri remains many things: still touring, still a pianist of legendary force, still funny. 2011 marked the golden anniversary for Palmieri’s seminal conjunto, or combo, La Perfecta. Awards were accordingly sprinkled throughout the nine-time Grammy winner’s year: BMI presented him a Certificate of Appreciation,… Read more...
When jazz drummer-composer Dafnis Prieto answered his telephone’s ring one day in October 2011 to find the director of the MacArthur Foundation on the line — informing him he’d been awarded one of the creativity fostering organization’s prestigious fellowships — he was “shocked, elated, humbled and proud all at the… Read more...
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington has named the 25 new additions to the eighth annual National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress, which will ensure that these cultural, artistic and historical recordings are always available to the American public. Included among them are works by such renowned BMI… Read more...
Nine-time Grammy Award-winning pianist Eddie Palmieri was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation by BMI Assistant Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations Delia Orjuela for his 50 years of outstanding service and contribution to the world of Latin music. The presentation was held May 10 during the Latin Jazz Festival at Los… Read more...
Israel Cachao López — the legendary Cuban composer, songwriter and bassist known simply as “Cachao” — died March 22 at age 89 in Coral Gables, Florida. Cachao is revered as the pioneer of the mambo, the genre created in the late 1930s that became… Read more...
BMI jazz composers took home the lion’s share of the awards at the 11th annual Jazz Journalists Association Jazz Awards, held June 28 at the Jazz Standard Club in New York City. The event’s top honoree was pianist Andrew Hill, who passed away on April 20 of this year.… Read more...
