Brownstone Digital, Inc. announced this week that it has launched Jazz It Up!, an online, interactive jazz news and entertainment program. The show will air bi-weekly (or twice a month), co-produced and hosted by reputable jazz authority Greg Thomas. Thomas has worked with the Jazz Museum in Harlem, writes for All About Jazz-NY and contributes jazz radio programs on WBAI-NY (99.5 FM).
During programming, viewers will be able to click on the video screen to receive information on the program or artist they are watching. According to the press release, upcoming shows will present features on grand masters Jon Hendricks (at Birdland) and Grady Tate (from the Blue Note); saxophonist Tia Fuller (now playing in Beyonce’s all-female backup group) at Sweet Rhythm; the recent IAJE conference, with performance clips and interviews with a range of artists including NEA Jazz Master Nancy Wilson (and recent Grammy Award-winner), trumpeter Jon Faddis (pictured) and saxophonist Donald Harrison; local Harlem organ legend Jimmy “Preacher” Robins live at Showman’s, and much more, for instance an education segment featuring jazz education consultant Laura Johnson and Robert O’Meally, Director of the Center for Jazz Studies at Columbia University.
Regular segments of Jazz It Up! include:
· “Jazz History”: a glimpse at pioneering events, places and people in jazz
· “Featured Artist(s)”: Q&A session and/or live performance by established and up-and-coming artists
· “Industry Buzz”: a rundown of the biggest, newest and latest events and news in jazz
· “The Jazz Cat’s Meow”: the newest music technology used by jazz musicians
· “Jazz Insider”: a sit-down with big wigs at jazz labels, club owners and event producers
· “JazzEd”: conversations with jazz historians and professors/teachers
· “Youth in Jazz”: a look at what young people are doing in the jazz genre
· “Visual Reverberation”: jazz compositions as interpreted by film students and video artists
· “JazzNique”: the different styles and techniques of jazz, from swinging and scatting to riffs and improvisation, will be explained and demonstrated
More information and a promotional trailer can be found at www.jazzituptv.com.
