When worldwide fame and notoriety have been achieved, taking your music into outer space is the only place left to go.

On April 12th Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson will be taking part in a duet with US astronaut Colonel Catherine Coleman to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Russian astronaut Yuri Gagarin’s first manned space flight in 1961.

However, this duet is no ordinary collaboration. Whilst Anderson will be live on stage in Perm, Russia, Coleman will be in orbit in the International Space Station as she contributes to Ian’s truly out of this world concert.

Coleman’s part of the performance will be screened by video link to the audience in Perm from somewhere in the galaxy as part of this gravity defying gig.

The pair will be playing an excerpt from Bouree from Tull's STAND UP album.

Coleman has been practicing her Ian Anderson trade mark of playing the flute whilst standing (or in her case floating) on one leg. For 3 months, Anderson's flute accompanied Cady Coleman and her own flute in orbit allowing her to perfect her Anderson stance ahead of the duet

DAVID AMRAM: The First 80 Years Jazz, a spectacular, historic celebration of a true American original whom the Washington Post has described as “one of the most versatile and skilled musicians America has ever produced,” will be presented by Jazz Forum Arts on Thursday, November 11, 2010 at 7:30 PM at Peter Norton Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway at 95th Street, in Manhattan, it was announced by Mark Morganelli, Executive Director of the presenting organization. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Clearwater, the organization founded by Pete Seeger, as well as the Woody Guthrie Foundation

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The historic concert will feature:

· The New York premiere of Amram’s “Symphonic Variations on a Song by Woody Guthrie” performed in memory of Odetta by the 60-piece Queens College Orchestra, conducted by Maurice Peress. The work will be introduced by Nora Guthrie, who commissioned it with support from the Guthrie Foundation, based on her father’s song “This Land is Your Land.”  

·The New York premiere screening of the finale of the recent production of Amram’s 1968 comic opera “Twelfth Night” with a libretto by the late Joe Papp, which will be introduced by Bernard Gersten, Executive Producer of the Lincoln Center Theater and former co-producer with Joe Papp of the New York Shakespeare Festival.

·The first ever concert performance of excerpts from Amram’s classic film scores, “Splendor in the Grass” (1960), and “The Manchurian Candidate” (1962), performed by the Brooklyn Conservatory Jazz Ensemble, directed by Earl McIntyre, and The Jazz & Gospel Choirs, directed by Renee Manning.

· “En memoria de Chano Pozo” for Latin/jazz group and symphony orchestra, performed in memory of  Dizzy Gillespie by the Queens College Orchestra, conducted by David Amram, with guest soloists Candido (congas) and Bobby Sanabria (timbales) with Amram himself on piano, pennywhistles and percussion.  

·“One Heart, Many Voices,” performed by Amram’s Middle Eastern Trio with Avram Pengas (guitar and Bazookie) and Israeli singer/songwriter David Broza.

·Malachy McCourt will introduce Amram’s  “The Fox Hunt From Cork Meets The Blues From New York,” performed by Larry Kirwan (Black 47), John McEuen (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band), Amram’s Latin/Jazz Ensemble and dancers from the Stella Adler School of Acting.

·Actor John Ventimiglia (The Sopranos) will read excerpts from Jack Kerouac’s “On The Road” followed by performance Kerouac/Ginsburg/Cassady title song from the 1959 Best Documentary Film “Pull My Daisy.”

The star-studded salute will also include filmed 80th birthday wishes from Pete Seeger, Arlo Guthrie, Willie Nelson, members of the N.Y. Philharmonic, and friends and colleagues from around the country. There will also be appearances and performances by Amram’s friends from the world of theatre, film and music, including actor Keir Dullea (2001: A Space Odyssey), Josh White Jr., Patience Higgins,  the Amram Family Band and current members and alumni of Amram's quartets from the past 40 years, as well as other surprise guests.  

The entire concert will be filmed by Lawrence Kraman for his documentary film “David Amram: The First 80 Years,” segments of which will be shown for the first time at this concert. To see links for the trailer, visit here and for the poster.

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During his illustrious career, David Amram has composed more than 100 orchestral and chamber music works; numerous scores for Broadway theater and film; two operas, and the score for the landmark 1959 documentary Pull My Daisy, narrated by novelist Jack Kerouac.  He is also the author of three books, published by Paradigm Publishers.  A pioneer player of jazz French horn, he is also a virtuoso on piano, numerous flutes and whistles, percussion, and dozens of folkloric instruments from 25 countries, in addition to being a renowned improvisational lyricist.  Amram has collaborated with Langston Hughes, Dizzy Gillespie, Dustin Hoffman, Johnny Depp, Willie Nelson, Thelonious Monk, Odetta, Elia Kazan, Arthur Miller, Charles Mingus, Lionel Hampton, Tito Puente and Leonard Bernstein, who chose him as The New York Philharmonic's first composer-in-residence in 1966.  One of Amram's most recent works, Giants of the Night, a flute concerto, was commissioned and premiered by Sir James Galway.  Today, as he has for over 50 years, Amram continues to compose music while traveling the world as a conductor, soloist, bandleader, visiting scholar, and narrator in five languages.  He celebrates his 80th birthday on November 17th.  Additional information is available at http://www.davidamram.com/

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Tickets for DAVID AMRAM: The First 80 Years are: $75, $55 and $35 (members, students, seniors: $70, $50 and $30; children: $65, $45 and $25) and can be purchased at the Symphony Space Box Office, 212.864.5400, or at http://www.symphonyspace.org.  For information about Jazz Forum Arts, call 888.99.BEBOP, or visit http://www.jazzforumarts.org/.

Digitalism is back with their first new tunes in three years and you can be sure to count on other-worldly goodness. For the German Electronic duo, it’s not a case of understanding the mystery of the stars above but recording it. "Blitz" is the long awaited single from the electronic explorers who have created a big bang of their own. This song is a supernova that explodes through the speakers, bringing with it a euphoric state of consciousness, and while we may know there are far greater things happening within this moment, all you can do is dance.

Orbiting the world's conscience for years with the singles "Idealistic," "Zdarlight," "Jupiter Room"and "Pogo", a track that XLR8R Magazine called “one of the few singles released this year that successfully bridges the gap between the grittiest dance music and post-pop,” Blitz marks the start of the long journey home for Jens Moelle and İsmail Tüfekçias their heroic space odyssey nears closer to earth.

But now we must embrace the anti-gravity movements Digitalism have beamed down in anticipation for their return in the form of “Blitz” and the all-consuming space groove of “Stratosphere.”

Discovering a galaxy of new sounds and rhythmic activity, all reports indicate that the duo are almost ready to bring their collective movements back to earth when they release their long awaited second album next year; their 2007 debut LP Idealism stood out among a sea of similar-minded acts, attributed to their ability to so deftly walk the line of rock and electronic, and prompting Pitchfork to iterate that among their peers “Digitalism turn out to be the artists probably most dedicated of all to the idea of merging rock and electronic dance music.”

It has been an epic journey, one that Digitalism are prepared to share…

After the overwhelming response to Safe Inside the Day in February 2008, the unique Baby Dee returns with A Book of Songs for Anne Marie, out in North America on 4/20 via Drag City. What was telling about the response to Safe Inside the Day was the purity of reaction. The back story, (let’s face it, Baby Dee is the epitome of the phrase) never overshadowed the fact that she gives everything and that is what connects with critics and audience alike. Harkening to the song cycles and lieder of Schubert and Schumann, the tracks of A Book of Songs for Anne Marie are part of a greater whole, a series of poems set to music. Joined by a talented group of musicians, including Matthew Robinson (cello), Sarah Alden (violin), John Nowel (violin) and John Contreras (cello), Dee will cross the continent, performing these minimally orchestrated, tender songs on piano as only she can: with humor, warmth, and gravity.

Check out the song “Lilacs” off of A Book of Songs for Anne Marie here.

Baby Dee Tour Dates:

Thursday, April 8 - Philadelphia, PA @ World Cafe

Friday, April 9 - Baltimore, MD @ Floristree

Saturday, April 10 - New York, NY @ Santos Party House

Monday, April 12 - Montreal, QC @ La Sala Rossa

Tuesday, April 13 - Toronto, ON @ The Music Gallery

Wednesday, April 14 - Cleveland, OH @ Opening Nights Festival

Thursday, April 15 - Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom

Friday, April 16 - Chicago, IL @ The Hideout

Saturday, April 17 - Cedar Rapids, OH @ CSPS

Sunday, April 18 - Dubuque, IA @ Monks Kaffee Pub

Monday, April 19 - Minneapolis, MN @ Cedar Cultural Center

Tuesday, April 20 - Winnipeg, ON @ West End Cultural Centre

Friday, April 23 - Calgary, AB @ The Big Secret Theatre

Saturday, April 24 - Calgary, AB @ The Big Secret Theatre

Tuesday, April 27 - Vancouver, AB @ Gallery Gachet

Wednesday, April 28 - Seattle, WA @ The Triple Door

Thursday, April 29 - Portland, OR @ The Woods

Friday, April 30 - San Francisco, CA @ Amnesia

Saturday, May 1 - Santa Monica, CA @ McCabes

Sunday, May 2 - Phoenix, AX @ Trunk Space

Monday, May 3 - Albuquerque, NM @ Outpost Performance Space

Wednesday, May 5 - Columbia, MO @ Mojos

Thursday, May 6 - Lexington, KY @ Niles Gallery (UK Campus)

Friday, May 7 - Detroit, MI @ Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit

After spending the better part of two years on the road (including festival stops at Lollapallooza, Glastonbury (UK), Sasquatch, Monolith and tours with The Walkmen, Spoon, Richard Swift, The Cribs, White Denim and Tokyo Police Club). White Rabbits hunkered down in their Brooklyn practice space to set about re-envisioning the dark pop of their debut Fort Nightly, while adding new sounds and influences to achieve an original work.  The result is It’s Frightening, their second full-length album.

White Rabbits signed to TBD Records (US home to Radiohead/Other Lives/Hatcham Social) and erected a makeshift studio in their basement rehearsal space to demo new material.  Band members popped in and out over the course of several months lending ideas and personality to a new batch of songs that defy instant categorization. After enlisting tourmate, friend and songwriter Britt Daniel (Spoon) as producer, the pair began the process of exchanging demos between Brooklyn and Portland.  White Rabbits recorded It’s Frightening over the course of four weeks, only taking a break to play the Transmusicales Festival in Rennes, France.  The sessions were recorded by visionary engineer Nicholas Vernhes (Animal Collective, Deerhunter) at Rare Book Room in Brooklyn, NY.  Taking special care to recreate the unhinged nature of the original demos, the band utilized the wide range of tools in the analog-friendly studio to shape the personal spirit infused in the new tracks.  Upon the completion of tracking, White Rabbits traveled to Austin, TX to mix the record with studio wizard Mike McCarthy (Spoon, Trail Of Dead) using his exceptional ears to transform It’s Frightening into a uniquely rewarding headphone experience.

It’s Frightening plays like a classic reel of tape from start to finish. Opening with the visceral drums of “Percussion Gun,” it is clear that time-off from the road has served the band well.  The many highlights include the emotional centerpiece “Company I Keep,” the new sonic territory of “Lionesse” and the macabre lyrics of “Right Where They Left.”  Fans of Fort Nightly will find much to go weak in the knees over and new listeners are in for an awakening as White Rabbits flip the switch on an already impressive beginning. It’s Frightening is a journey into the playfully dark musings of Everyman.

The lineup: Stephen Patterson (vox/piano), Jamie Levinson (drums), Matthew Clark (drums, guitar), Alex Even (guitar), Gregory Roberts (guitar/vox). A U.S. tour will follow the May release of It’s Frightening.

White Rabbits Tour Dates
4/05: Jefferson Theater, Charlottesville, VA*
4/06: Grey Eagle, Asheville, NC*
4/07: Local 506, Chapel Hill, NC
4/08: The Earl, Atlanta, GA
4/09: The Social, Orlando, FL*
4/10: Jax Live, Jacksonville, FL*
4/11: Club Downunder,  Tallahassee, FL*
4/13: Walters on Washington, Houston, TX*
4/14: The Independent, Austin, TX*
4/16: The Clubhouse, Phoenix, AZ*
4/17: Coachella Festival, Indio, CA
4/20: Urban Lounge, Salt Lake, UT*
4/21: Fox Theater, Boulder
4/23: Sandstone Amphitheater w/ Flaming Lips / Dead Weather / Minus the Bear, Kansas City, KS
4/24: High Noon Saloon, Madison, WI*
4/25: Metro, Chicago, IL*
4/26: Radio Radio, Indianapolis, IN*
4/27: Lee's Palace, Toronto, ON*
4/28: Petit Campus, Montreal*
5/01: Paradise Rock Club, Boston, MA*

*with Here We Go Magic