Musicians including Paul Simon, Carlos Santana, and Herbie Hancock have signed a petition in protest of the recent Grammy category cuts, arguing that ethnic music will be unfairly and adversely affected. more ›

Author Steve Almond reads from and discusses his latest book Rock and Roll Will Save Your Life tonight at Skylight Books at 7:30 pm. The book is a memoir from the perspective of a writer/critic who lives, breathes and obsesses over music, and whose life milestones are marked by a soundtrack. Almond is the author of the essay collection (Not that You Asked), the story collections My Life in Heavy Metal and The Evil B.B. Chow, the nonfiction book Candyfreak, and the novel Which Brings Me to You, co-written with Julianna Baggott. Free. more ›

This week the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association announced the Hollywood Bowl 2009 Summer season. Board members, the press, and LA Philharmonic/Hollywood Bowl staff gathered on the stage at the Bowl to find out what is on the schedule this summer. The highlights are many. more ›

A few weeks ago, LAist was invited to see Herbie Hancock perform live, at the Nissan Live studio in Century City. For those of you who are unfamiliar with it, Nissan Live Sets on Yahoo! Music is a series of performances attended by fans (plus a friend) for an intimate show of around 400 that features A-list artists, and released only on Yahoo! Music. Previous shows mentioned by LAist include Iggy and the Stooges, Lenny Kravitz, PJ Harvey, and Wyclef Jean. Other artists featured include Beck, Christina Aguilera, Maroon 5, the Mars Volta, and Trisha Yearwood. more ›

Herbie Hancock is, hands down, one of the best Jazz musicians of time. After all, he won two Grammy Awards this year including Album of the Year for 'River: The Joni Letters'. And because Los Angeles is so cool like that with all the filming and stuff that goes on here, a week from this Thursday, you can be see him live, for free, in an intimate setting (as intimate as 400 people gets). more ›

Ethan and Joel Coen, aka the Coen Brothers took home the biggest prizes at tonight's Academy Awards for the film "No Country For Old Men." It wasn't even the best film they've done but then again, Herbie Hancock. Jon Stewart ran the show as he did last year but could do no wrong with Regis Philbin there in the wings. more ›

The Lakers aren't the only team with a new big man. more ›

Grammy nominations were announced early this morning in Los Angeles. Kanye West's album "Graduation" earned eight nods, including Album of the Year and Rap Album of the Year. The increasingly unstable Amy Winehouse garnered six nominations for "Back to Black," including Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best New Artist. Surprisingly, Bruce Springsteen did not get an Album of the Year nod for "Magic." Other nominees in... more ›

Here's the mix: Download or listen to the mix above which contains the songs and their related articles below: - Spoon "Infinite Pet" for show review by Staci Goodner - No Age "Everybody's Down" for a story/show review by Joshua Pressman - Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings "Tell Me" for a CD review by tomdog - MIA "Galang" for a show review by Joey Maloney - Cake "War Pigs" cuz they play on 11/30 at... more ›

Artist: Herbie Hancock Album: River: The Joni Letters Label: Verve Records Release Date: 9/25/07 I haven't had a chance to review a release from a "living legend" until this album arrived in my PO box. Herbie Hancock seems like someone who has done it all: a jazz icon unafraid of technology, a winner of multiple Grammy awards and an Oscar, and a virtuoso live performer - but he's never been a lyricist, and had never... more ›

Hot Hot Heat @ Henry Fonda Roky Erickson, The 1990s @ The El Rey Josie Cotton @ Key Club Killola @ Safari Sam's Pinback @ The Wiltern Glassjaw @ Avalon The Spazmatics @ Dragonfly The One AM Radio @ Tangier Tribute to Herbie Hancock @ The Kodak Early risers: The Hollow Trees @ Kidspace Children's Museum - Pasadena (noon) photo by Joey Maloney... more ›

Joe Zawinul was perhaps the most innovative of the creative leaders of "jazz fusion." With Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, John McLaughlin, and Tony Williams, Zawinul helped shape the very electric sound of Miles Davis' touring band of the late 60's and contributed key compositions to the cornerstone recordings of jazz fusion, 1969's In a Silent Way and 1970's Bitches Brew. Zawinul may be best remembered as a founding member of Weather Report, the fusion... more ›

photo of Stevie Wonder and Jason's dad by Jason Toney more ›

Under the Influence of Giants @ Key Club more ›

Coffee juggernaut Starbucks recently named former Herbie Hancock manager Alan Mintz to be its newest player to help in the quest for more of your disposable income. According to the Los Angeles Times, Mintz will help Starbucks shape its entertainment offerings and help it become more of an entertainment destination for consumers. more ›