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Beatport Launches Emerging Artists Programme – Beatport Next

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Over the course of the next 12 months, Beatport will leverage its powerful platform to help six emerging artists break through to the next level in their career. Beatport Next, will include store featurings, LINK playlisting, editorial features on Beatportal, live-streams, social media amplification and other custom promotions that help this select group of artists grow their global fan bases.

Beatport has a long history of helping expand the careers of up-and-coming dance music artists. examples include Grammy-winning producer Zedd, who started out taking part in a Beatport remix competition back in 2010, and recent electronic music phenoms CamelPhat and ARTBAT, whose new releases were hits on Beatport before any other music retailer.

Beatport Next will deepen the company’s commitment to supporting upcoming artists at the earliest stages of their career, while strengthening the artist’s connection and visibility to Beatport’s global DJ community.

Six DJ/producers, from six different countries, releasing music across a wide range of dance music genres, have been chosen for the launch of this year long initiative:

• Alignment aka Francesco Pierfelici is an Italian techno DJ/producer who has been making a name for himself with releases on Voxnox Records and on Charlotte de Witte’s own imprint KNTXT.

• IMANU is the new artist name of Dutch drum & bass producer Jonathan Kievit who previously released as Signal. In 2020 alone the Rotterdam artist has released half a dozen records on Noisia’s Vision as well as Critical Recordings.

• Logic1000 is the moniker of Australian artist Samantha Poulter. She runs her own label Therapy and has drawn attention to her sound with both her own releases as well as remixes for Caribou, Lȧpsley and Christine and the Queens.

• TSHA aka Teisha Matthews is a London based house DJ and producer who is emerging as one of the most exciting artists around. Last year’s “Flowers” ep saw her start at Ninja Tune where she secured a three-album deal.

• VNSSA, born Vanessa Barnes, calls Los Angeles her home and has become a staple of the city’s electronic music scene. Her energetic bass heavy tech house productions have come out on labels such as HotBOi and DIRTYBIRD.

• Kevin de Vries is a Berlin-based producer whose trance-tinged melodic house and techno releases on labels such as Sven Väth’s Cocoon or Tale of Us’ Afterlife have become favorites of many fellow DJs and fans alike.

“I feel very privileged to have been chosen to be part of the first group of artists for Beatport Next! The pandemic has made this last year so challenging, with not being able to DJ or perform. But I’m more dedicated than ever to producing new music and look forward to sharing it with you this year and connecting even more with the community of DJs on Beatport as part of this program”, says Beatport Next participant, TSHA.

“We are thrilled to announce the launch of Beatport Next with these six fantastic, diverse artists who we have been fans of for some time now,” states Heiko Hoffmann, Beatport’s VP of Artist & Industry Relations. “Beatport Next is aimed to help grow these up-and-coming artists during a year that will remain very challenging, and we believe that the power of our platform as a promotional tool will help all of the artists exceed their goals for 2021.”

Berlin-based DJ and producer, Kevin de Vries adds, “I am excited to have been asked to be part of this great program by Beatport that will give a platform to a select group of emerging artists. They have always been supportive of my music and instrumental in the success of my career. I am looking forward to continuing the great relationship, sharing my music with my fans and the community. Stay tuned! “

Disney+ Special “My Music Story: YOSHIKI” Premieres In The US On February 5

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Today, Disney+ announces that the U.S. premiere of “My Music Story: YOSHIKI” will debut on Friday, February 5thYOSHIKI is the internationally-renowned rock star, named “one of the most influential composers in Japanese history.” In the Disney+ original, which is subtitled in English, YOSHIKI performs reimagined versions of two Disney classics: “Let It Go” from Frozen and “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from The Lion King, along with his own compositions. YOSHIKI also gives viewers a behind-the-scenes look at his recording process and how he shaped the arrangements in his Hollywood studio.

In addition to YOSHIKI’s Disney+ episode launching in America, YOSHIKI has a tremendous slew of artistic and entrepreneurial projects and accomplishments.

Here are the highlights:

  • To ring in 2021, YOSHIKI performed his hit song “Endless Rain” with support from members of Queen, Sarah Brightman, and several Japanese super stars on Japan’s annual TV special “Kohaku Uta Gassen” or the “Red and White Singing Competition” in English, which is the nation’s highest rated show of the year—capturing at one point a 47.2% overall market share. Read more via Associated Press.
  • YouTube Originals is teaming up with YOSHIKI to present “YOSHIKI: UNDER THE SKY,” a global broadcast documentary with performances from the world’s top musicians interweaved with exclusive footage that reveals an intimate look at YOSHIKI’s wide-ranging creative endeavors. Watch the official sneak peek via YOSHIKI’s YouTube channel and read more via Consequence of Sound.
  • YOSHIKI collaborated with St. Vincent on a reimaged classical version of her song, “New York.” Read the full story and listen to the track in Rolling Stone.
  • will.i.am, Bono, Jennifer Hudson and YOSHIKI came together on a new song called “#SING4LIFE” in solidarity with those in quarantine. “In times like these, creative people must continue to collaborate,” said will.i.am. “The beauty of international connectivity is that nobody is alone on the internet!” Read more and watch the self-shot music video through Stereogum.
  • In November, he released his first book in 28 years—a photo book titled XY shot by award-winning photographer Melanie PullenXY was an immediate bestseller and debuted at number one on Japan’s Oricon photography book sales charts. LA Weekly named it one of the best art books for the holidays.
  • YOSHIKI’s fashion brand Yoshikimono fuses together tradition and innovation to pay homage to the traditional form of the kimono while continuing to evolve the artform with edgy styles. Last year, select pieces from the collection were shown alongside designers such as Alexander McQueenYves Saint Laurent and John Galliano in London’s Victoria and Albert Museum. Yoshikimono was also featured in the Tokyo National Museum’s special “KIMONO” exhibit. Watch Yoshikimono open Tokyo Fashion Week S/S 2020.
  • Yoshikitty is Hello Kitty creator Sanrio’s reigning favorite character, having topped Hello Kitty herself for five consecutive years. Inspired by YOSHIKI, the character was created by the Hello Kitty designer Yuko Yamaguchi and is the first Sanrio character modeled after a real-life person. Read more on VICE.
  • YOSHIKI was named by Forbes Asia as one of the 30 Heroes of Philanthropy in 2019, and his 501(c)(3) charity organization Yoshiki Foundation America donated $100,000 to the COVID-19 Relief Fund established by the Recording Academy and its charitable foundation MusiCares. His foundation also donated $24,000 to Meals on Wheels centers across Los Angeles for seniors affected by coronavirus and 10 million yen to Japan’s National Center for Global Health and Medicine to support frontline healthcare providers. Read more via Forbes.

New Digital Collections Pay Honour To Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Goin’ On”

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Motown’s “Prince Of Soul,” Marvin Gaye, was already a hit artist for nearly a decade when, in 1971, he reached new heights with his album What’s Going On. An immediate landmark recording, it was the first of Gaye’s albums to break the top ten of Billboard’s Top LPs, and quickly became Motown’s best-selling record. To this day, What’s Going On is hailed as one of the greatest albums of all time, earning the number one spot on Rolling Stone magazine’s 2020 list of “The 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time.”

On January 22nd, in celebration of this groundbreaking album while also marking the 50th anniversary of the title song’s release as a single, UMe will be issuing three digital collections that honor the depth of Gaye’s album.

First, Motown/UMe has consolidated several What’s Going On-related releases into one new digital collection, What’s Going On: Deluxe Edition/50th Anniversary. This includes the original album, plus 12 bonus tracks featuring each of the LP’s original mono single versions and their B-sides, two of which are different takes – “God Is Love” and “Sad Tomorrows,” an earlier version of “Flying High (in the Friendly Sky)” – while the pre-album single version of “What’s Going On” has no “party” intro and a false fade. Also included is the title song’s earliest mix, initially made as a reference for Motown’s in-house quality control department before horns and strings were added; a dramatic instrumental mix; a “Coffeehouse Mix” by Grammy-winning engineer Russ Elevado that emphasizes the track’s previously buried acoustic guitar, originally available on a Record Store Day exclusive 10″ EP for the album’s 45th anniversary in 2016. Also included from that same 2016 release is a “What’s Going On” duet with Motown artist B.J. the Chicago Kid. Other tracks are an early working version of “Symphony,” written by Marvin with Smokey Robinson, in which Marvin sings over and over, “what’s going on?” while the song of the same name sat unreleased; and the instrumental “I Love the Ground You Walk On,” recorded during the same waiting period.

Also available as a standalone digital release, What’s Going On: The Detroit Mix is the album’s original hometown mix, cancelled by Marvin at the last minute to be redone in Los Angeles. While the recordings were mixed in April of 1971, they remained unreleased until 2001, when they were included in the album’s 30th Anniversary 2CD Deluxe Edition. The Detroit Mix showcases a more relaxed, stripped back and percussive feel to the album, as well as unique track segues and some additional lyrics.

In addition, UMe has released Funky Nation: The Detroit Instrumentals), a group of 14 tracks that Gaye recorded in late summer and fall of 1971, after the initial release of What’s Going On. Instead of touring in the wake of the album’s success, Gaye cut funk and rock jams with a one-time-only band led by Motown’s then-touring drummer Hamilton Bohannan: 17-year-old Ray Parker, Jr., Melvin Ragin, a.k.a. “Wah Wah Watson” (himself just 20) and Leroy Emmanuel of the Fabulous Counts (a relatively experienced 25-year-old) on guitars, and Michael Henderson, age 20, on bass. Gaye played keyboards and percussion. While a few tracks on Funky Nation had been issued across previous special releases, most of the tracks were newly issued on the What’s Going On 40th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition in 2011, and now for the first time they will be getting their own individual digital release.

Fifty years later, the influence and meaning behind this legendary record continues to ring true. The single “What’s Going On” originated as a response to police brutality at a protest in Berkeley, CA and coincided with personal tragedy in Gaye’s life as well as Gaye’s brother’s time fighting in Vietnam. The compounding experiences sparked the poignant plea that became the full-length LP What’s Going On. Calling out to a broken country, Gaye searched for reason and hope in a world that felt desperate and senseless; a sentiment that many share now more than ever.

Marvin Gaye continues to hold his place as one of the greatest singers, composers and producers of all time, and in this half a century What’s Going On has proven itself to be one of the world’s most unforgettable records.

What’s Going On: Deluxe Edition/50th Anniversary Track List

Set 1: Original Album
1. What’s Going On
2. What’s Happening Brother
3. Flyin’ High (In The Friendly Sky)
4. Save The Children
5. God Is Love
6. Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
7. Right On
8. Wholy Holy
9. Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)

Set 2: Bonus Tracks
1. What’s Going On (Mono Single Version)
2. God Is Love (Single Version)
3. Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) (Mono Single Version)
4. Sad Tomorrows (Mono Single Version)
5. Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) (Mono Single Version)
6. Wholy Holy (Mono Single Version)
7. What’s Going On (mix 1/no horns or strings)
8. What’s Going On (rhythm & strings mix)
9. What’s Going On (Coffeehouse Mix by Russ Elevado)
10. What’s Going On (duet with B.J. the Chicago Kid)
11. Symphony (Demo Version)
12. I Love the Ground You Walk On (instrumental)

What’s Going On: The Detroit Mix
1. What’s Going On
2. What’s Happening Brother
3. Flyin’ High (In The Friendly Sky)
4. Save The Children
5. God Is Love
6. Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
7. Right On
8. Wholy Holy
9. Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)

Funky Nation: The Detroit Instrumentals
1. Checking Out (Double Clutch)
2. Chained
3. Country Stud
4. Help the People
5. Running from Love (Version 1)
6. Daybreak
7. Doing My Thing
8. “T” Stands For Time
9. Jesus Is Our Love Song
10. Funky Nation
11. Infinity
12. Mandota
13. Struttin’ the Blues
14. Running from Love (Version 2 with Strings)

One Man Band Performs “Pump Up the Jam”

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French-Canadian musician Damien Robitaille doesn’t need others during COVID to take on Technotronic’s Pump Up the Jam, he performs it all by himself. Well, maybe with a little enthusiastic help from his dog Suki.

Zac Brown, KT Tunstall and Jason Mraz Form Supergroup For ‘I Know What Love Is’

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 Taylor Guitars and 50+ of Taylor artists, including Zac Brown, KT Tunstall, Jason Mraz and Keith Goodwin, have come together to release an incredibly catchy original song, “I Know What Love Is. A philanthropic project that aims to raise money to support members of the music industry whose art and careers were put on hold by the pandemic, “I know What Love Is” will be available January 21 for download and streaming across multiple music platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify and Amazon Music. The song, written by Keith Goodwin and co-produced by Jay Parkin of Taylor Guitars, and audio engineer Gabriel O’Brien, will also feature a music video with footage of all 50+ artists. Net proceeds from the song will benefit MusiCares, a charity founded by the Recording Academy (GRAMMY Awards), which provides a support system of health and human services for music people across a spectrum of needs including physical and mental health, addiction recovery, hearing clinics, unforeseen personal emergencies, and disaster relief including COVID-19 relief. Taylor has also partnered with renowned music organizations The NAMM Foundation and Nettwerk Music Group to help promote the song and its positive message. Various Taylor artists will give an exclusive live performance of “I Know What Love Is” as part of NAMM’s Believe In Music Week.

One community that has been acutely affected by the COVID pandemic has been the music industry. The suspension of live music performances has created a domino effect, throttling the livelihoods of working musicians, road crews, staff at music venues and many others who contribute to the industry’s ecosystem. The lack of live performances has also amplified the extended sense of social disconnection being felt everywhere.

Yet music has always played an essential role in helping people get through tough times and creating a deeper sense of connection to others and the world around them. According to Keith Goodwin, singer, guitarist and songwriter from the indie folk band Good Old War, that’s exactly the spirit that was channeled when he wrote the lyrics and melody for “I Know What Love Is.” Goodwin’s music was underscored with added poignancy when, soon after the recording of the song, he lost his grandmother, Madeline Lanni, from COVID-19 complications.

During lockdown one of the most challenging things for me was trying to adapt to not having my friends around to play music with,” said Goodwin. “This project really helped keep me focused on making music when everything else in life had changed so drastically. I’m grateful for this opportunity to connect and collaborate with such great artists and for a good cause. We are all lucky to be able to share our love of music together.

Goodwin collaborated with Taylor Guitars content producer Jay Parkin and producer/engineer Gabriel O’Brien to bring the song together, mix and master the original skeleton of the song. But after hearing the finished product, they decided that something was missing. In his role as producer, Parkin realized the song could be even bigger.

“We were shooting for a ‘Hey Jude‘ meets ‘We Are the World‘ vibe,” Parkin explains. “The song itself felt good, but this was always about supporting musicians and bringing people together. Once we started reaching out to the music community and began to get the parts back, we started to see how the pieces all fit together to create an anthem of hope for 2021.

Goodwin and Parkin drew on their connections to the music industry to enlist dozens of Taylor players for the project, from hobbyists and weekend warriors to touring bands and big-label acts. Each artist was asked to contribute their own version of a piece of the song that spoke to them. Zac Brown, Jason Mraz, KT Tunstall, Chris Conley (Saves the Day), Alana Springsteen and 49 others enthusiastically collaborated via email, creating over 200 tracks recorded in their respective home studios around the world, from Los Angeles and Nashville to Tokyo, responding to the song’s inspiring message of solidarity among the music community during a time of great need. In addition to audio tracks, the artists and performers also captured their parts on video using iPhones and DSLR cameras to create the “I Know What Love Is” music video, a tribute to community, connection, technology and the power of music.

With those contributions in hand, Goodwin, Parkin and O’Brien then spent hundreds of hours working across time zones to assemble, edit, mix and master a new version of the song, this one composed of sounds drawn from musicians across borders and genres.

So many brilliantly talented crew, venue teams and artists have been financially crippled by the arrival of COVID-19, and hopefully we can ease some of that pain a little through MusiCares,” says KT Tunstall, the GRAMMY-winning Scottish singer-songwriter and musician.

Among the respected music institutions that have joined the effort to promote “I Know What Love Is” and its message of positivity are The NAMM Foundation, a not-for-profit association with a mission to strengthen the music products industry, and Nettwerk Music Group, an organization that connects music fans with music makers. Nettwerk Music Group will release the song and provide promotional support, while The NAMM Foundation will host an exclusive live stream performance at NAMM’s Believe in Music week on January 21, 2021, at 9:30 a.m. PST. Visit https://attend.believeinmusic.tv to register.

‘I Know What Love Is’ offers a message of hope and resilience that through music is a way forward,” shares Mary Luehrsen, Executive Director of The NAMM Foundation. “While we continue to navigate these times for our industry and society, the gift of music is a wellspring that ripples throughout communities and undoubtedly will help those most in need.”

“I Know What Love Is” will be available to stream and download January 21, on major music platforms Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and more. For more information and to watch the music video, please visit www.iknowwhatloveis.com.

Martin Announces David Gilmour Custom Signature Guitars

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C. F. Martin & Co. will introduce two David Gilmour Custom Signature Edition D-35 guitars during NAMM Believe in Music Week, January 18-24, 2021.

Following the Christie’s Auction in 2019, where David Gilmour’s 1969 D-35 sold for 1.2 million dollars, Martin’s partners at Westside Distribution approached Gilmour about designing a new David Gilmour Custom Signature Martin guitar. Gilmour agreed to collaborate with Martin on a six string and a twelve string D-35.

“I was so excited when Westside, our U.K. distributor, contacted us about the opportunity to build a signature model for David,” said Fred Greene, Vice President of Product Development at Martin Guitar. “He is one of my all-time favorite guitar players, and having the chance to collaborate with him on an instrument was truly a bucket list moment for me. The collaboration is also a perfect fit for Martin Guitar, a company that shares David’s hope for a more sustainable world that we can leave in good conscience for generations to come.”

In the early ’70s, even with multiple albums under his belt, the lead guitarist and co-vocalist for Pink Floyd was only at the precipice of superstardom when he happened upon a musician selling a used Martin D-35 outside of Manny’s Music shop in New York City. Gilmour purchased the guitar on the spot, and it would go on to become his primary studio acoustic for both Pink Floyd and his solo recordings for more than four decades.

“Looking back on the design process,” Greene said, “My first thought was that David might want a replica of his 1969 D-35, and, while that would be cool, it would not leave a lot of room for creativity. I was so excited to hear that he was more interested in creating something unique and special to this moment in time. I knew we could provide him with options and features that would allow this new instrument to exist on its own merits, while still drawing upon his original D-35 for inspiration. Much like David’s music, this guitar is a unique and inspirational piece of art that hopefully will inspire others to create their own art.”

Starting with this idea of a “new” D-35, the Martin Custom Shop set about creating three prototypes that would later be presented to David for feedback. Typically made with rosewood, this is the first time Martin has built a three-piece back “35” with sinker mahogany, and the result is absolutely stunning. The back, sides, neck, and neck block are all made of solid sinker.

The 6 string and 12 string models are both finished in vintage gloss, a historic process normally available only on the Martin Authentic Series models. It delivers a soft sheen patina somewhere between full gloss and satin. David chose Adirondack spruce for the top of the 6 string model, as found on an early ’40s vintage D-18 that he also owns. Adirondack is a little stiffer than its more commonly used Sitka spruce cousin and offers more complex overtones. The top is torrefied using the Martin Vintage Tone System (VTS), a process that “ages” the wood, adding vintage sound characteristics without waiting years for it to happen naturally. The top braces on the 6 string are 1/4-inch Adirondack spruce, for added support and resonance, and they are scalloped and forward-shifted. The top of the 12 string is Carpathian spruce, grown in the mountains of Romania and often prized for its “best of both worlds” properties. It has the stiffness found in Adirondack, while maintaining the lower density and lightness often seen in the traditional European spruce varieties (German, Swiss, and Italian).

The fingerboard inlay on both guitars is a special pattern created for this signature edition. It’s a standard 35 layout, but the dot size has been scaled down slightly and inlaid in abalone. The neck shape for the 6 string is unique and was created specifically for David. It began as a modified low oval but is now more rounded and slightly fuller below the 5th fret, creating a neck that is very comfortable and easy to play. The 6 string also features a carbon fiber bridge plate, as found on the recent Modern Deluxe Series, offering enhanced volume and clarity.

Both models have head stamps, as found on early Martin guitars, however, this is the first time in its history that Martin has created special head stamps for an artist signature edition.

The 6 string is unusually strung with 12-gauge strings (lights)—specifically Martin Authentic Acoustic Lifespan 2.0 (MA540T). Martin Dreadnoughts usually come equipped with 13-gauge strings (mediums), however, David uses MA540T strings for all of his Martin guitars, so we felt that his fans should receive the guitar setup in the very same way that David chooses to play his.

Both guitars come in a slate blue case, a nod back to the blue case that David’s original D-35 would have left the factory in all those years ago. Finally, and as if all this isn’t already special enough, every guitar bears a custom internal paper label, each one individually signed by David himself. An incredible collector’s instrument, for a truly special musician.

Martin will produce a total of 250 guitars, split between the 6 string and 12 string models. They will be available for purchase at select Martin retailers. Please visit www.martinguitar.com/gilmour for more information.

Both models will be priced at $5,499.

Through this partnership, Martin Guitar is proud to support the David Gilmour Charitable Foundation.

Slot Games worth playing

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Slot games are very exciting – there is the sound, the sight, the anticipation, and it’s all rolled into one amazing game that you can enjoy in the comfort of your own home if you play new fluffy games online, or on the move if you have mobile apps.

The only problem with online slots – and it’s not a negative by any means – is the vast number of different games available to you. Seasoned slot players will probably have discovered their favourites, but they might wonder if they are missing out when new games are brought to the market. And new players might not even be able to make a start at all because they are entirely overwhelmed by the number of games on offer. 

For both types of people help is at hand; read on to find out more about some of the slots that you must play at least once. This will give you a great place to start. 

Age Of The Gods

Age of the Gods is a game by Playtech and it is all about Greek mythology which is a subject matter many people find interesting; combine that with amazing graphics and sounds and the fun element of the game and you’ve definitely got a winner. 

In fact, if you love Age of the Gods you’re in luck. This was just the first in a series of games and there are now 10 in the series. You can try your hand at all of them and pick a favourite, or simply love them all. 

Deal Or No Deal

There was a time when the TV show Deal Or No Deal was everything. It was everywhere. Its popularity may have waned somewhat since then – The Chase and Pointless have certainly taken its daytime quiz show crown – but the slot game built around it still carries on, and is as popular as ever. 

Rather than just taking the look and sound of the show and incorporating it into a slot machine, the Deal Or No Deal game actually has elements of the real show’s gameplay in it too. For example, you can choose whether to take a deal (or no deal) during a spin when offered something interesting (ie you’ll win a certainly amount of money). Take the deal and take the money, don’t take it and let fate decide where the reels will land. There is also a nice progressive jackpot to think about too. 

Thunderstruck

Thunderstruck is an immensely popular game by Microgaming. Again, it deals with a gods and goddesses theme, this time Norse rather than Greek. And it’s Thor who is at the helm of this exhilarating game. In fact, Thor turns up as the wild, so you’ll be hoping to spot him now and then! 

This game has always been popular (so much so that a Thunderstruck II has been created), but the huge swathe of movies starring Thor as a main character has meant that a new selection of players have been looking for something just like this.

Video: Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter, and Randy Quaid Rehearse for Freaked

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12 milkmen is theoretically possible….13 is just silly.

Video: Spongebob Squarepants voice actor Tom Kenny as a VJ for NBC’s Friday Night Videos in 1991

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…including short footage of legendary NYC disc jockey Frankie Crocker at the two-minute mark.

Time Decorated: The Musical Influences of Jean-Michel Basquiat

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The first segment of the series on jazz and bebop, produced by Quincy Jones Productions and directed by Moses Berkson, features L.A. jazz musician Terrace Martin as well as input from Quincy Jones himself. Martin delves into how the genre, birthed in New York City much like Basquiat, played a role in his artistic vision. The series includes works by bebop artists such as Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, and Max Roach. Music for this segment includes “Ornithology” by Parker, “Hot House” by Parker and Gillespie, “Ol Man Rebop” by Gillespie, and music from Martin’s Dinner Party.