September 10, 2005

Jay-Z Working To Sign The Roots

Def Jam president/CEO Jay-Z is not resting on his laurels. The artist tells Billboard he is mulling the creation of the label Def Jam Left, which he describes as “an artist-driven label with very low deals so people are not pressured by first-week SoundScan [sales], so we can build artists.” Jay-Z is also hoping to make the Roots the first signee to the imprint.

“I’m talking to the Roots right now,” he adds. “I’m confident to put out there that we might make this happen. The label would probably begin at the top of the year, but I hope to have the Roots signed by the time they get off their international tour.”

In late April, Roots drummer ?uestlove told Billboard.com the group was about 60% finished with a new album, “Game Theory.” The set is tipped to feature a collaboration with Black Star’s Mos Def and Talib Kweli called “Where I Come” and another song with just Mos Def, “Workin’ on It.” The Roots were previously signed to MCA and then Geffen.

Meanwhile, Jay-Z admits he is wrestling with whether to remain retired as an artist. His last studio set was 2003’s “The Black Album,” but he has since popped up on occasion as a guest on songs by Kanye West and Young Jeezy, among others.

“You all are hearing things from me — you just haven’t heard an album,” he says. “Who knows? I’m still going in the studio, getting on remixes and things like that. But it’s the people. When people want something bad enough, it happens. And they want it bad (laughs). I’m trying to hold out, but I don’t know how long I can.”

Source billboard.com.

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Coltrane Bootleg Heads To CD

Jazz legend John Coltrane’s oft-bootlegged 1965 performances at New York’s Half Note will be given their first authorized release next month. Due Oct. 11 via Impulse!, “One Down, One Up: Live at the Half Note” is sourced from the late Coltrane’s own master tapes and produced by his son, Ravi.

The material here was recorded at March 26 and May 7, 1965, shows, with Coltrane backed by pianist McCoy Tyner, bassist Jimmy Garrison and drummer Elvin Jones. Of particular note is a nearly 28-minute version of “One Down, Own Up” that has long been said to be one Coltrane’s most impressive live improvisations.

The album is another fall boon for jazz collectors, coming a few weeks after the Sept. 27 release of the Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane’s “At Carnegie Hall.” As previously reported, the Blue Note set chronicles a previously unreleased 1957 performance at Carnegie Hall by the two acts, who only worked together for six months.

Here is the track list for “One Down, One Up”:

Disc one:
Introductions and Announcements
“One Down, One Up”
Announcements
“Afro Blue”

Disc two:
Introductions and Announcements
“Song of Praise”
Announcements
“My Favorite Things”

Source billboard.com.

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CBGB Fights Eviction Notice

Seven days after its lease expired, legendary New York rock club CBGB received an eviction notice from its landlord — a move the club’s owner predicted yesterday (Sept. 8) would move the bitter fight over the venue’s future into the courtroom.

“This was expected,” said CBGB owner Hilly Kristal. “We were hoping it would come. Now it becomes a court battle.”

The eviction notice was served Wednesday evening. The building landlord, the nonprofit homeless advocacy group the Bowery Resident’s Committee, reiterated its call for CBGB to “vacate the premises both voluntarily and expeditiously.”

BRC executive director Muzzy Rosenblatt confirmed the eviction notice was served, but declined to comment further.

Just hours before the club’s lease expired at midnight on Aug. 31, the BRC announced it would not renew the agreement after a five-year fight over the monthly $19,000 rent. The BRC, which holds a 45-year lease on the building, houses 250 homeless people above the club. CBGB is its lone commercial tenant.

Through it all, CBGB has vowed to remain open and has shows scheduled throughout September.

Source billboard.com.

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