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Soundcheck

Thursday, June 01, 2006
  • Sa-Ra Creative Partners
    Sa-Ra Creative Partners (Ubiquity Records)

    Santa Monica Soul

    The next wave of American soul music is being created in an unexpected place, Santa Monica, California. Find out why the upscale L.A. enclave has become a breeding ground of soul. Plus, avant-garde-jazz vocalist and composer Theo Bleckmann has performed every kind of music from jazz to modern classical. He talks about his new album of show tunes, Las Vegas Rhapsody: The Night They Invented Champagne. Finally, choreographer Pascal Rioult explains why he set his latest improvisational dance piece to the music of Mozart.

Santa Monica Soul

Siddhartha Mitter, correspondent for the Boston Globe, talks about the revival of soul in sunny Los Angeles.

Theo Bleckmann

Avant-garde/jazz vocalist and composer Theo Bleckmann talks about his new album of Vegas-inspired show tunes.
» Theo Bleckmann at Joe's Pub
» Theo Bleckmann's Web site

Dancing to Mozart

Choreographer Pascal Rioult explains why he set his latest improvisational dance piece to Mozart.

Best Live Performances of 2008

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We revisit memorable in-studio performances from Toumani Diabaté, Cat Power, Regina Spektor, and others.

The Year in Music and Branding

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Pop music and advertising go together like peanut butter and jelly. Grey Group music director Josh Rabinowitz shares his picks for the best song picks and ad campaigns of 2008.

Critics Week

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Music writers look back at the year's best pop, rock, hip hop, classical, jazz, Latin and world albums. Plus: the worst music of the year and the best online music. Read our critics' lists here. And don't forget to cast your vote in our best-albums poll.

Noteworthy New York

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We have invited musicians and artists to help us select their favorite cultural destination in the neighborhood where they live. From parks and coffee shops to bowling alleys and museums, the options are as diverse as our group of contributors.