“[He] composed ambitious classical and choral works, released nearly 100 albums” – including the first jazz album to sell a million copies – “and remained a charismatic and indefatigable performer into old age. In December 2010, … his quartet won the readers’ poll of DownBeat magazine as the best group in jazz – 57 years after he first won the poll.”
Author: Matthew Westphal
L.A. MoCA Looks At Partnership With USC
“Los Angeles’ Museum of Contemporary Art and the University of Southern California are in talks about a possible partnership that would link the ambitious private university with the fiscally struggling downtown museum.”
Eileen Moran, 60, Visual Effects Wizard
She was “a visual effects producer who helped create the look of a bevy of blockbuster movies – from the ethereal world of Avatar down to King Kong’s 460 billion strands of wind-rustled specially lighted fur” and the Middle Earth of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Agreement Ends Spokane Symphony Strike
“The Spokane Symphony musicians and board of directors announced today they have reached an agreement settling a four-week strike. After a weekend of intense bargaining, the musicians voted Monday night to approve a two-year contract that includes an 11 percent pay cut and three weeks unpaid personal leave.”
How The New York Film Critics Circle Voting Went Down
Many of the ballots were surprisingly close – even to the participants. Salon‘s Andrew O’Hehir fills us in (as far as he’s allowed).
‘Illustrated Journalism’ For The iPad Age
“Launched with $34,000 in grants, Symbolia: The Tablet Magazine of Illustrated Journalism, a digital journal designed for the iPad that specializes in comics and illustrated nonfiction reports, debuts today in the app store.”
Penn Museum Moves To Draw Public To Its Archaeological Treasures
“The museum, formally called the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, has over the years become an internationally renowned treasure trove for scholars researching ancient civilizations. Now to mark its 125th anniversary, and its founding on Dec. 6, 1887, the museum is undertaking an ambitious effort to become more accessible to the public.”
Ballet Boyz Catch Flak For Tweeting Nude Publicity Photo
“On or about November 21st the Ballet Boyz official Twitter account posted an image of the company’s dancers. Taken in what appears to be a dressing room, all but two of the dancers are completely naked.” (Their privates were not visible.) “A caption attached to the message read ‘Wouldn’t you just like to be a fly on the wall …?'” (Let the pearl-clutching begin.)
Miami City Ballet Receives Largest Grant In Its History
After a tumultuous year that saw both financial difficulties and the rancorous departure of founder Edward Villella, the company seems to have received a vote of confidence with a $5 million grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
Palm Beach Symphony Replaces Its Musicians, Who Call For Boycott
“The union accuses Ramon Tebar, who is music director of the symphony and [also of] Florida Grand Opera, of replacing the majority of the symphony’s orchestra with the opera’s musicians, without telling the musicians he was dissatisfied with their performance or giving them a chance to improve.”