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Kurt Elling
Elling may be the greatest male Jazz singer of all time. ~ Jazz Review
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February 2012: Jazz speaks the language of love
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Kurt Elling: Passion WorldSpecial guests: Regina Carter and Anat Cohen
February 14, 2012, 8:00 PM
Symphony Center 220 S. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL
Jazz speaks all languages, especially the language of love.
For this passionate Valentine's Day show at Chicago's Symphony Center, Kurt is joined by special guests Regina Carter on violin and Anat Cohen on clarinet and saxophone to explore the language of love in a journey around the world. Kurt performs internationally famous ballads of love and loss in their original tongues - English, French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, and Italian. Whether you're a native speaker or not, the meaning is of the heart is clear. Regina Carter - a 2006 MacArthur Fellow - adds her unique fusion of world music and jazz violin to this performance, coming off of hugely successful projects such as Reverse Thread. Anat Cohen, who has recently gained momentum as a bandleader in addition to her prowess as a clarinetist and saxophonist, joins Elling and Carter for this exciting performance. Tickets are still available, and check out the cool 3D Seat Selector, too! | |
Be My Valentine
Lizz Wright & Kurt Elling
 February 18, 2012, 8:00 PM
Orchestra Hall
1111 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis, MN
On Valentine's weekend, Saturday, February 18, Kurt and the Quintet perform on a double bill with Lizz Wright at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis.
Lizz Wright's smoldering, sensual voice packs an emotional wallop, wowing audiences.
Kurt's rich baritone soars in vocal flights, astonishing listeners with his technical mastery and emotional depth.
For this show, they each bring their singular sound to the Minneapolis stage for unforgettable solo sets, delivering a delectable Valentine treat.
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The 54th Annual Grammy Awards
And the envelope, please . . .
Once again, Kurt has been nominated for a Grammy for Best Vocal Jazz Album! Congratulations to all of this year's vocal jazz nominees:
 'Round Midnight Karrin AllysonConcord Jazz
The Mosaic Project Terri Lyne Carrington & Various ArtistsConcord Jazz
The Gate Kurt EllingConcord Jazz
American Road Tierney Sutton (Band)BFM Jazz
The Music Of Randy Newman Roseanna VitroMotéma Music
The Jazz Awards will be announced during the Pre-Telecast on Sunday, February 12, from 1:00-3:30 pm PST.
The Pre-Telecast includes Grammy awards in 68 categories. It will be live streamed internationally on the Grammy website at grammy.com/live. The Pre-Telecast will also be available as video on demand for 30 days following the awards.
The Pre-Telecast is co-hosted by current Grammy nominee Dave Koz and Recording Academy Los Angeles Chapter President and rapper MC Lyte.
The Pre-Telecast features performances by Kim Burrell, Le'Andria Johnson, Kelly Price, and Trin-I-Tee 5:7 in a "Ladies of Gospel" segment, as well as mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, singer/songwriter Steve Earle, and New Orleans' Rebirth Brass Band.
Presenting the first Grammy Awards of the night will be current nominees Gerald Clayton, Chick Corea, Brandon Heath, Arturo O'Farrill, OK Go, Corinne Bailey Rae, and Esperanza Spalding, as well as Grammy-winning producer Jimmy Jam.
Later that evening, LL Cool J hosts the CBS broadcast from 8:00-11:30 PT/ET (7:00 CT), which features gala entertainment and the various pop music awards, including Record of the Year, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year.
Kurt won his first Grammy at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards in 2010 for Dedicated to You: Kurt Elling Sings the Music of Coltrane and Hartman, after receiving eight prior nominations. Often called the outstanding male singer of his generation, he takes none of this for granted.
"There are several jazz musicians who are my seniors in age and accomplishment but [who] never had the pleasure of receiving an award," says Kurt. "Nominations, yes, but never an award. While I revel in the memories of my own Grammy moment, I also know how it feels to walk away empty-handed."
The Recording Academy has gone all out in its use of digital, mobile, and social media for the 2012 Grammys, including some very cool apps. To learn more, check out this article from Mashable.
And be sure to tune in to the Pre-Telecast live stream for all the Jazz Awards!
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POEMJAZZ: A cool new CD featuring
poet Robert Pinsky
& pianist Laurence Hobgood
POEMJAZZ treats a voice speaking poetry as having a role like that of a horn: speech with its own poetic melody and rhythm, in conversation with what the music is doing. To put it simply, POEMJAZZ is a conversation between the sounds of poetry and music.
Three-time U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky is a dynamic, prodigious, prolific, relevant, and true "people's poet," a rhythmic original who has resonated with jazz music since early in his life. Laurence plays while Robert reads - in a spontaneous, unfolding, improvised musical conversation.
Kurt says, "The sympathetic reverberations between the music of poetry and the poetry of music have rarely been so fully amplified as they are on this recording. I wish we could all hear new work like this all the time."
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(c) Eric Antoniou
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Laurence is tremendously excited by this collaborative project. Robert Pinsky told The Paris Review, "In jazz, as in poetry there is always that play between what's regular and what's wild. That has always appealed to me."
Pinsky also remarked, "In my opinion the medium of poetry is not words, not images, not lines.The medium for poetry is one person's voice. It's the human body. Breath."
For more, see The Sounds Poems Make: How the sax led Robert Pinsky to poetry - and now to jazz collaboration.
Robert Pinsky and Laurence Hobgood present their first live concert, "An Evening of POEMJAZZ," on February 24, 2012 at The Regattabar Jazz Club, Charles Hotel, Cambridge MA. Their second live concert is March 16 at Carnegie Room Concerts, Nyack Library, Nyack, NY.
A limited-edition CD of POEMJAZZ with a booklet of poems will be released on February 24 and is available at the Pinsky & Hobgood live performances and at Circumstantial Productions.
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Lyrics
Kurt Elling Second Edition Edited by Richard Connolly Circumstantial Productions The new, expanded edition of Kurt's book of original lyrics is now in Kurt's Store.
This elegantly designed book contains 33 lyrics, 27 from the first edition and 6 new ones, plus Kurt's expanded introduction on vocalese. The new lyrics include Waking the Dreamclock (2008), Samurai Cowboy (2008), Late Night Willie (2009), La Vie en Rose (2010), Love's a Tangled Road (2010), and They Speak No Evil (2010).
This book is a must for serious collectors, those doing research, and anyone who wants a special Kurt Elling keepsake. Visit Kurt's Store for your very own signed copy. Lyrics was edited by Richard Connolly and designed and published by Circumstantial Productions. | |
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Grammy nominated!
The Gate
Kurt Elling with Laurence Hobgood, and featuring John Patitucci, John McLean, Bob Mintzer, Terreon Gully, Kobie Watkins, and Lenny Castro. Produced by Don Was. The perfect Valentine's gift, or a great way to introduce Kurt's music to all your jazz loving friends, or just because. 
Watch the behind-the-scenes
video and listen to Don Was
talk about The Gate, Kurt, and the band.
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 Short Takes
Kurt plays Not My Job on the February 11 edition of NPR's "Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!" It's sure to be hilarious.  Check your local listings for broadcast times. Or you can download the podcast later.
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What Is the Beautiful? by The Claudia Quintet +1 featuring Kurt Elling & Theo Bleckmann was named the #5 Best Vocal Album in the 2011 Rhapsody Jazz Critics Poll.  Ben Ratliff of the New York Times also included the title tune, which Kurt performs, in his list of top ten singles for 2011.
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Bonus video: Kurt talks about what a jazz singer is and does (03:59) Master Class: Kurt Elling - What is a Jazz Singer? v
To all Kurt fans in South Africa: The Kurt Elling Quartet will be performing at Bassline in Newtown, Joburg for two shows, August 24 & 25! The Bassline website doesn't show any gigs past early April, but please be assured, these shows are confirmed. So mark your calendars, save the dates, & make your plans to be there. And please let all of your jazzy friends know about Kurt's first visit to South Africa. It's the perfect chance to introduce his music to new fans. v
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| FEBRUARY-MARCH Gigs |
February 11, 2012
Kurt Elling plays "Not My Job" on
NPR's Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!
Check local listings for your NPR station
or listen to the podcast afterward
February 12, 20121:00 pm - 3:30 pm PSTThe 54th Annual Grammy Awards Pre-Telecast Awards Ceremony
for 68 categories, including jazz Live streamed on the Web
Video available for 30 days afterward
February 14, 2012Kurt Elling: Passion WorldWith special guests: Regina Carter, violin Anat Cohen, clarinet & saxophone Symphony Center220 S. Michigan Avenue Chicago, IL
February 18, 2012Lizz Wright and Kurt EllingBe My ValentineOrchestra Hall1111 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, MN
February 24, 2012
An Evening of POEMJAZZ
featuring Robert Pinsky & Laurence Hobgood
The Regattabar Jazz Club at the Charles Hotel One Bennett Street Cambridge, MA
Note: Kurt is not performing on this gig.
March 16, 2012
An Evening of POEMJAZZ
featuring Robert Pinsky & Laurence Hobgood
Carnegie Room Concertsat The Nyack Library 59 S. Broadway Nyack, NY Note: Kurt is not performing on this gig.
March 24, 2012
The Metropole Orchestra Invites Kurt Elling
Grand Finale of the Arrangers Workshop
LantarenVensterOtto Reuchlinweg 996 (Wilhelminapier) Rotterdam, THE NETHERLANDS
March 25, 2012
Mad Toast Presents:
Concert at 3:30 pm Improv Music Workshop at 6:00 pm
Laurence Hobgood, with with Sally deBroux, Laurie Lang, and John Becker The Brink Lounge701 East Washington Ave Madison, WI Note: Kurt is not on this gig.
Coming up!
In April Kurt travels to New Zealand to perform with Rodger Fox's Wellington Jazz Orchestra. Sadly for all his friends in Australia, he won't be able to stop by this trip. While Kurt's in New Zealand, the Laurence Hobgood Quartet plays two shows in St. Louis. Then at the end of the month, there are several performances on the U.S. East Coast of the limited-engagement Kurt Elling Swings Sinatra.
Kurt's upcoming gigs in 2012 are on the Touring page on his website. That's where you'll always find the most current information. Check there often, as new dates are always being added.
To bring the KEQ to a stage near you Kurt and Laurence are on the road about 200 nights a year. They only perform where they've been invited (by people who write checks!) and they don't get to set their own itinerary. To hear Kurt and the band play in your city, region, or country, please ask your favorite jazz clubs or festivals to book them through Kurt's new booking agency, IMN (International Music Network). Thank you! |
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Your Moment of Elling . . .
One of the definitions of happiness
is a feeling of losing your self-consciousness.
You're here now.
You fall in love with music because
you get in the swing of it
and you forget everything but the present moment.
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