BMI is saddened to learn that longtime affiliate Gaynel Hodge passed away in Amsterdam on June 2 at the age of 83. An accomplished singer, songwriter, pianist and musical director, Hodge is invariably most renowned for co-writing the multi-platinum hit and doo-wop classic “Earth Angel,” released by The Penguins in… Read more...
BMI is saddened by the passing of renowned composer and orchestrator, Lennie Niehaus. Niehaus is responsible for the scores to two dozen Clint Eastwood films, including the Oscar-winning Western Unforgiven, the Charlie Parker biopic Bird and the searing Bridges of Madison County. Having started out by playing alto sax and… Read more...
BMI is saddened by the passing of Ray Mantilla, the percussionist and bandleader whose six-decade-long career ensured his legacy as one of the most diverse and respected jazz musicians in American music. Renowned for his playing of the congas and timbales, Mantilla added his touch to hundreds of recordings, including… Read more...
The National Endowment for the Arts has awarded two of BMI’s most gifted jazz artists with its highest honor bestowed upon the genre: Bobby McFerrin and Reggie Workman will be named Jazz Masters during the NEA’s April 1-3, 2020, celebration. Renowned for his vocal improvisation using his mystifying four-octave range,… Read more...
BMI is saddened by the passing of tenor saxophonist and jazz great, Jimmy Heath. Having achieved the highest honor bestowed upon a jazz musician, the title of NEA Jazz Master, Heath was known for his lively and playful compositions and arrangements, expertly and seamlessly knowing exactly where and when to… Read more...
BMI is once again very proud to congratulate its many affiliates nominated for recognition by the Recording Academy at the 62nd GRAMMY Awards, scheduled to be held on January 26 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. Nominations for the music industry’s most prestigious accolades were announced on Wednesday,… Read more...
With all the different genres of music in the world, you might think the way to approach creating music for a specific genre would be unique. Not necessarily so, especially when it comes to production. Read on for good advice for readying your music for decision-makers, no matter what the… Read more...
BMI’s 31st annual Jazz Composers Workshop concert, held at the Marjorie S. Deane Little Theater in New York City on June 12, featured the best new big band and jazz orchestra compositions created in the workshop during the 2018-2019 session. The evening was hosted by musical director Andy Farber and… Read more...
The BMI Jazz Composers Workshop, a prestigious creative forum for musical creation and development, will present the best new big band and jazz orchestra compositions produced during the past year at the 31st annual summer showcase. The BMI/New York Jazz Orchestra, a modern repertory ensemble made up of leading New… Read more...
Plenty of players and listeners have talked about music as a kind of interior cinema, but for 26-year-old guitarist and composer Alex Sill this extraordinary symbiosis between music and the mind has led to answers in his new debut album, Experiences: Real and Imaginary. As a masterful panoramic nine-track collection… Read more...
