Jay-Z

So... Jay-Z is retired... right... just like Jordan was...

Anyway, check out Jay-Z in his seventh solo album, Kingdom Come. It was just released around Thanksgiving and it debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200.

Let's see if it even comes close to The Black Album...

John Legend

...or maybe he doesn't...

but in any case, if you loved John Legend in his debut album, Get Lifted, then you're sure to enjoy his second release entitled, Once Again.

Oh, and by the way, He'll be in concert on Wed, Nov 8th, 6:30pm at the State Theatre in Detroit. Check Ticketmaster for details...

...and let's get lifted once again...

Justin Timberlake

I know you've already heard Justin Timberlake's "My Love" & "SexyBack." Now check out the entire FutureSex/LoveSounds album. You won't be disappointed... I promise!

Oh yeah, after you've listened to the CD a few times, come back to this blog and let us know what you think...

Sunday, October 29, 6:30 pm at EMU's Pease Auditorium is Revenge of the Book Eaters. It's a fall fundraiser for the local 826michigan, a non-profit writing center.
Dave Eggers will be a guest, as well as the reknown Davy Rothbart The emcee for the evening is Martin Bandyke, and performing live are the Cowboy Junkies. So, it's an extra-ordinary mix of music and books. See the full line-up and ticket information at 826michigan

Not much, except that today, October 10, is the birthday of both Thelonious Monk and Giuseppe Verdi. Thelonious Monk, born in North Carolina in 1917, is best known as one of the prime inventors of bebop, a kind of jazz that uses repitition of sound to create a jumpy, irregular phrasing out of standard tunes. Monk played music with the likes of Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and John Coltrane. His two most popular albums are Brilliant Corners and Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane.

Giuseppe Verdi was born in Parma, Italy in 1813. His first opera, Oberto, performed at La Scala, was a modest success. After the tragic death of his wife, Verdi vowed he would never compose again but after reading the brilliant libretto of Nabucco, he changed his mind. Verdi wrote a total of 26 operas, his most famous, Rigoletto, La Traviata and Falstaff.

old time music

Here in Ann Arbor we have an abundance of musical resources available.

I'm mostly interested in Traditional music that’s often labeled Folk Music. Some of my favorites on radio include Folks Like Us with host Matt Watroba on WDET 101.9 FM, Saturdays from 11a.m to 2 p.m. and The Folk Tradition on WKAR-FM 90.5, every Sunday at 6:00 p.m. hosted by Bob Blackman. There's also a multitude of great music shows on the U of M student run station WCBN 88.2 FM (limited broadcast range of 200 watts). I especially enjoy their "The Down Home Show" when Tex is the host. It's obvious that he enjoys presenting the music. It's on Saturdays Noon to Three.

Don't forget the Ann Arbor District Library has at all Library locations an excellent collection of cd's of all types of music for customers to take home and enjoy.

This five piece band from Toronto will be in Ann Arbor at Borders downtown on October 4th at noon for a short, but FREE concert. Martin Bandyke, from 107one, will interview the band. BNL's now have their own label, Desperation Records, with Barenaked Ladies Are Me recently released.
http://www.bnlmusic.com/

Michigan Theater has posted the schedule for the 2006-2007 Not Just for Kids Movie Series, and there is an exciting lineup. The theater is partnering with the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra, producing a great experience full of music, movies and theater. The library has many books to compliment the lineup including Peter and the Wolf, Junie B. Jones and Henry and Mudge.

Jazz fans won't want to miss the performance of the Alice Coltrane Quartet at Hill Auditorium on Saturday, September 23. Sponsored by the University Music Society, the concert features Alice Coltrane, her son Ravi, Charlie Haden, and Roy Haynes and celebrates the legacy of the late jazz great John Coltrane. Tickets can be purchased online, by phone, or in person at the Michigan League Ticket Office.

Godsmack

If so, then you need to see Sully and the rest of Godsmack in concert this Friday, Sept. 15th at 7 pm at the DTE Energy Music Theatre (yes, yes, it's the old Pine Knob).

Also performing are Rob Zombie and Shinedown.

If you decide to go, revisit this AADL blog and leave a comment about the concert...

Enjoy!