Byron Janis, the celebrated classical pianist who studied with Vladimir Horowitz, recorded previously unknown Chopin waltzes from manuscripts he unearthed and became a cultural hero in the U.S. after performing in the Soviet Union during the Cold War, has died. He was 95.
Janis died Thursday at The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, his wife, Maria Cooper Janis, daughter of two-time Oscar-winning actor Gary Cooper, announced.
“I have been blessed with the privilege for 58 years of loving and being loved by not only one of the greatest artists of the 20th century, but by an exceptional human being who took his talents to their highest pinnacle,” she said in a statement.
During his 85-year career, Janis covered composers from Bach to David W. Guion and performed major piano concertos from Chopin, Mozart, Rachmaninoff, Liszt and Prokofiev. He occupied two volumes of the 1999 Mercury Philips series Great Pianists of the...
Janis died Thursday at The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, his wife, Maria Cooper Janis, daughter of two-time Oscar-winning actor Gary Cooper, announced.
“I have been blessed with the privilege for 58 years of loving and being loved by not only one of the greatest artists of the 20th century, but by an exceptional human being who took his talents to their highest pinnacle,” she said in a statement.
During his 85-year career, Janis covered composers from Bach to David W. Guion and performed major piano concertos from Chopin, Mozart, Rachmaninoff, Liszt and Prokofiev. He occupied two volumes of the 1999 Mercury Philips series Great Pianists of the...
- 3/17/2024
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Dexter Romweber, the musician who founded the pioneering guitar-and-drums duo Flat Duo Jets, later inspiring the likes of The White Stripes and countless other lo-fi acts, has died. He was 57 years old.
Romweber’s death was announced via a statement posted by his family on Facebook, which revealed that had died at home on Friday, February 16th, and though “a medical exam is pending,” it is “believed he died of natural causes.”
Born on June 18th, 1966, in Indiana, Romweber got involved in music at an early age, forming his first band when he was 10. By the time he was attending high school in Chapel Hill, North Carolina in the ‘70s, he began performing with drummer Chris “Crow” Smith. In 1983, the two formed Flat Duo Jets, a rip-roaring psychobilly duo that harnessed the electrifying interplay of Romweber’s guitar playing and stage prowess with Smith’s thunderous drumming.
Through the ‘80s,...
Romweber’s death was announced via a statement posted by his family on Facebook, which revealed that had died at home on Friday, February 16th, and though “a medical exam is pending,” it is “believed he died of natural causes.”
Born on June 18th, 1966, in Indiana, Romweber got involved in music at an early age, forming his first band when he was 10. By the time he was attending high school in Chapel Hill, North Carolina in the ‘70s, he began performing with drummer Chris “Crow” Smith. In 1983, the two formed Flat Duo Jets, a rip-roaring psychobilly duo that harnessed the electrifying interplay of Romweber’s guitar playing and stage prowess with Smith’s thunderous drumming.
Through the ‘80s,...
- 2/17/2024
- by Jo Vito
- Consequence - Music
If you stick around for even part of some post-screening festival Q&As with directors, at times you can get the feeling they’re expounding on the film they intended to make rather than the one you’ve just seen. But Jesse Eisenberg is nothing if not hyper-articulate. He describes the essence of his delicate second feature, A Real Pain, as a consideration of “epic pain vs. more modern pain,” and how to reconcile the latter against something as monumental as genocide or historical trauma. What’s surprising is that he achieves this with a deft lightness of touch in a frequently laugh-out-loud funny odd couple road trip movie whose emotional wallop sneaks up and floors you.
Eisenberg’s perceptive script — rooted in his family’s history — shares some thematic territory with the multihyphenate’s second play, The Revisionist, in which he starred off-Broadway with Vanessa Redgrave in 2013. It’s...
Eisenberg’s perceptive script — rooted in his family’s history — shares some thematic territory with the multihyphenate’s second play, The Revisionist, in which he starred off-Broadway with Vanessa Redgrave in 2013. It’s...
- 1/21/2024
- by David Rooney
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Beatles‘ “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me” was originally by Smokey Robinson’s band The Miracles. Robinson has no memory of hearing that cover for the first time. It left an impression on him anyway. Sveral other major artists recorded “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me” as well.
Smokey Robinson said The Beatles’ ‘You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me’ always feels new
During a 2023 interview with Rolling Stone, Robinson was asked what it was like to hear The Beatles’ “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me” for the first time. “I don’t recall the first time, but every time for me is the first time on that, man,” he replied. “It was just a joy.
“As a songwriter, man, I want people to record my songs,” he added. “I want people to sing my songs forever. I just got through talking...
Smokey Robinson said The Beatles’ ‘You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me’ always feels new
During a 2023 interview with Rolling Stone, Robinson was asked what it was like to hear The Beatles’ “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me” for the first time. “I don’t recall the first time, but every time for me is the first time on that, man,” he replied. “It was just a joy.
“As a songwriter, man, I want people to record my songs,” he added. “I want people to sing my songs forever. I just got through talking...
- 1/9/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Beatles‘ songs are so great even Smokey Robinson is in awe of them. He named one of his favorite Beatles songs. Incidentally, The Miracles performed the tune on television. The song in question was much more popular in the United States than it was in the United Kingdom.
Smokey Robinson sang 1 Beatles song on ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’
During a 2023 interview with Rolling Stone, Robinson was asked to name his favorite song by The Beatles. “They wrote so many great songs,” he replied. “I think one of my favorites, off the top of my head, would be ‘Yesterday.’ I used to sing ‘Yesterday’ with The Miracles. In fact, we sang it on The Ed Sullivan Show.” A cover of “Yesterday” appeared on The Miracles’ album Special Occasion. The cover features a string section that sounds nothing like The Beatles’, as well as some beautiful harmonies from The Miracles.
Robinson...
Smokey Robinson sang 1 Beatles song on ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’
During a 2023 interview with Rolling Stone, Robinson was asked to name his favorite song by The Beatles. “They wrote so many great songs,” he replied. “I think one of my favorites, off the top of my head, would be ‘Yesterday.’ I used to sing ‘Yesterday’ with The Miracles. In fact, we sang it on The Ed Sullivan Show.” A cover of “Yesterday” appeared on The Miracles’ album Special Occasion. The cover features a string section that sounds nothing like The Beatles’, as well as some beautiful harmonies from The Miracles.
Robinson...
- 1/9/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Wes Cage, the son of actor Nicolas Cage, has unveiled a new solo song titled “The Wolf,” along with an accompanying music video.
The younger Cage is no stranger to music, having fronted the black metal band Eyes of Noctum. He also released a solo single titled “Tell Me Why (Matriarch of Misery)” back in 2014.
In the video for “The Wolf,” Wes gets to show off his own acting chops. As he explained in a press release, “I play the two contrasting incarnations of the same character. His lower self, in his case, is one of destitution, zero self-control, addiction, oblivion and failure, while his higher self is depicted through a being who is of power, elevation, awareness, organization and overall success. Both forces live in us all.”
He continued, “The music we’re doing is part of my essence and always needed to be released. Lyrically, ‘The Wolf’ touches...
The younger Cage is no stranger to music, having fronted the black metal band Eyes of Noctum. He also released a solo single titled “Tell Me Why (Matriarch of Misery)” back in 2014.
In the video for “The Wolf,” Wes gets to show off his own acting chops. As he explained in a press release, “I play the two contrasting incarnations of the same character. His lower self, in his case, is one of destitution, zero self-control, addiction, oblivion and failure, while his higher self is depicted through a being who is of power, elevation, awareness, organization and overall success. Both forces live in us all.”
He continued, “The music we’re doing is part of my essence and always needed to be released. Lyrically, ‘The Wolf’ touches...
- 10/30/2023
- by Spencer Kaufman
- Consequence - Music
Tl;Dr:
Maya Angelou liked country songs by Reba McEntire, Toby Keith, and Montgomery Gentry. She wrote country songs of her own that didn’t get recorded. Angelou loved a famous country song that straddles the line between country and pop.
Maya Angelou was a big fan of country music. She felt like she could have written one of the most famous country songs of the 2000s. In addition, she discussed some of her other musical preferences.
Maya Angelou wrote country songs and loved Lee Ann Womack’s ‘I Hope You Dance’
During a 2013 interview with The New York Times, Angelou was asked what she was listening to. “I’m a serious aficionada of country music — Reba McEntire, Toby Keith, Montgomery Gentry,” she revealed. “I’ve even written some songs. They haven’t done anything of mine yet. But it’s only a matter of time.
“I love the song...
Maya Angelou liked country songs by Reba McEntire, Toby Keith, and Montgomery Gentry. She wrote country songs of her own that didn’t get recorded. Angelou loved a famous country song that straddles the line between country and pop.
Maya Angelou was a big fan of country music. She felt like she could have written one of the most famous country songs of the 2000s. In addition, she discussed some of her other musical preferences.
Maya Angelou wrote country songs and loved Lee Ann Womack’s ‘I Hope You Dance’
During a 2013 interview with The New York Times, Angelou was asked what she was listening to. “I’m a serious aficionada of country music — Reba McEntire, Toby Keith, Montgomery Gentry,” she revealed. “I’ve even written some songs. They haven’t done anything of mine yet. But it’s only a matter of time.
“I love the song...
- 7/31/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Tony Bennett accepted the boundaries of his universe.
In the last few decades of his life, the period of his greatest success, he never tried to do a Rick Rubin/Johnny Cash-style album of recent pop and rock hits tweaked to suit his voice. Instead, he transported the contemporary artists he worked with — Lady Gaga especially — to his preferred musical arena: the Great American Songbook classics of Johnny Mercer, Irving Berlin, Rodgers and Hart, the Gershwins, Harold Arlen, and so many more. Without seeing the cover, you’d never even know his “MTV Unplugged” album was an “MTV Unplugged” album just by listening to it. His last studio album, “The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern,” speaks to his appreciation of the craft of songwriting embodied by the entire Great American Songbook era, and how a singer can work in dialogue with that songwriter even decades after their death to create meaning.
In the last few decades of his life, the period of his greatest success, he never tried to do a Rick Rubin/Johnny Cash-style album of recent pop and rock hits tweaked to suit his voice. Instead, he transported the contemporary artists he worked with — Lady Gaga especially — to his preferred musical arena: the Great American Songbook classics of Johnny Mercer, Irving Berlin, Rodgers and Hart, the Gershwins, Harold Arlen, and so many more. Without seeing the cover, you’d never even know his “MTV Unplugged” album was an “MTV Unplugged” album just by listening to it. His last studio album, “The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern,” speaks to his appreciation of the craft of songwriting embodied by the entire Great American Songbook era, and how a singer can work in dialogue with that songwriter even decades after their death to create meaning.
- 7/23/2023
- by Christian Blauvelt
- Indiewire
The upcoming Asian American feature film “Chopin,” starring Eddie Liu and Violett Beane, officially wrapped a 25-day shoot on June 4. Announced last year, the film is now in post-production and scheduled for an early 2024 premiere.
The film is the feature directorial debut of Vincent Lin, a successful commercials director and co-founder of Valiant Pictures. The film, written by Lin, also stars Golden Horse Film Award winner Leon Dai and Taiwanese legend Wu Min (“The Queen!”).
It tells the story of Chopin Wu (Liu), who returns home to small-town America where he grew up, to amend an estranged relationship with his workaholic father (Dai). With a sudden appearance from his ailing grandmother (Wu), he is confronted by a past he had left behind. Chopin is forced to re-examine old relationships, embrace a heritage he once denied and discover the importance of family and identity.
Additional cast includes Jake Manley (“The Order...
The film is the feature directorial debut of Vincent Lin, a successful commercials director and co-founder of Valiant Pictures. The film, written by Lin, also stars Golden Horse Film Award winner Leon Dai and Taiwanese legend Wu Min (“The Queen!”).
It tells the story of Chopin Wu (Liu), who returns home to small-town America where he grew up, to amend an estranged relationship with his workaholic father (Dai). With a sudden appearance from his ailing grandmother (Wu), he is confronted by a past he had left behind. Chopin is forced to re-examine old relationships, embrace a heritage he once denied and discover the importance of family and identity.
Additional cast includes Jake Manley (“The Order...
- 7/11/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Five of New York’s Most Celebrated Companies,
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theatre,
Ballet Hispánico, Dance Theatre of Harlem, and New York City Ballet,
Return for Five Nights as part of Summer for the City at Lincoln Center
Free: July 25-29, 2023 at 7:30pm
Made possible by Chanel
New York, NY – Five of NYC’s most iconic dance companies—Ballet Hispánico, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, and Dance Theatre of Harlem—return for the third annual Baand Together Dance Festival, sharing the spotlight and an outdoor stage as a part of Lincoln Center’s second annual Summer for the City.
From July 25–29, audiences will be treated to exciting evenings of programming curated collaboratively by the artistic directors of the companies, featuring works that are quintessential of each company’s style and brilliance, as well as the World Premiere of Pas...
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theatre,
Ballet Hispánico, Dance Theatre of Harlem, and New York City Ballet,
Return for Five Nights as part of Summer for the City at Lincoln Center
Free: July 25-29, 2023 at 7:30pm
Made possible by Chanel
New York, NY – Five of NYC’s most iconic dance companies—Ballet Hispánico, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, and Dance Theatre of Harlem—return for the third annual Baand Together Dance Festival, sharing the spotlight and an outdoor stage as a part of Lincoln Center’s second annual Summer for the City.
From July 25–29, audiences will be treated to exciting evenings of programming curated collaboratively by the artistic directors of the companies, featuring works that are quintessential of each company’s style and brilliance, as well as the World Premiere of Pas...
- 6/21/2023
- by Music Martin Cid Magazine
- Martin Cid Music
Decades ago, “when the Clash was falling apart” – as the band’s bassist Paul Simonon tells it – Joe Strummer wanted to return to his roots busking in public. So he and the band journeyed to the north of England to play in the streets. “We slept on a lot of people’s sofas, because we left our credit cards and money behind and lived on what we earned in the street,” Simonon remembers on a Zoom from his home in London. “We had enough to get to the next town and something to eat.
- 4/6/2023
- by Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
At this stage of his life, you could forgive Smokey Robinson for coasting off past glories. The 83-year-old icon wrote some of the most enduring songs in American history during his time at Motown and with the Miracles, not to mention the pop hits (“Just to See You” and “One Heartbeat”) he scored in the Eighties.
But Robinson still feels a need to create, which is why his new album, Gasms, comes out April 28. It’s his first LP in nearly a decade. “I’m still in the record business and I still write songs,...
But Robinson still feels a need to create, which is why his new album, Gasms, comes out April 28. It’s his first LP in nearly a decade. “I’m still in the record business and I still write songs,...
- 3/23/2023
- by Andy Greene
- Rollingstone.com
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