Thursday playlist: The music business suffers, babe, but the music thrives Jazz at Lincoln Center, 1. Medley: Thine Alone, etc. Al Payne 2. An Astro Nation of the United Worlds of Outer Space ? Sun Ra 3. Mr. Tough ? Yo La Tengo 4. Metche New ? Mahmoud Ahmed 5. Wedding Dress ? Sam Amidon 6. Horsetail Feathers ? Final Fantasy (Download here.) So here's some of what I've been listening to lately. And as it happens, I've heard all these acts live. Al Payne was my grandfather. He passed away a couple of years ago, and my Uncle Dave did a lot of work with some old live recordings he?d.

Meet the NEA's new Jazz Masters The National Endowment for the Arts' latest class of official .".Jazz Masters.".includes vocalist and guitarist George Benson, drummer Jimmy Cobb.alto saxophonist Lee Konitz, harmonica and guitar player .".Toots.".Thielemans, trumpeter Snooky.".Young, and recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder.  All estimable choices, each receiving $25,000, opportunities to participate in photo shoots and public appearances and introduction an official ceremony on October 17 at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Plus, Steve Wonder . Tickets.

Tale of an unlucky innocent Tale of an unlucky innocent A Central Asian woman's memoir of her harsh lifeBy Maria Browning.

Almost Famous Almost Famous Mike Birbiglia isn't quite big-time, but he's not complainingBy Julie Seabaugh Select a Calendar Category Art: Openings .&.ReceptionsArt: OngoingArt: AnnouncementsTheater: OngoingTheater: Opening More .>.>.CONVENTION COVERAGE 2008 Demver Where were all the prostitutes at the DNC? Posted Tuesday, September 2 Busting Cindy Adams' balls, and other WTF moments from the Democratic National Convention Posted Friday, August 29 Shepard Fairey, creator of iconic . Ticket.

Stamp That "Latin Jazz" On Monday, September 8th, the U.S. Postal Service will issue a first-class stamp saluting Latin jazz. That's it, to the left. Michael Bartalos, a children's book author as well as  a designer, created the stamp. He wrote and illustrated the rhyming picture book Shadowville, published by Viking in 1995. His book does indeed feature bold graphics like the ones in the stamp as it tags along with shadows at night.".Crossing oceans and a hill/They all head to Shadowville.".The lively bunch. Jazz at Lincoln Center at .

Stamp That "Latin Jazz" On Monday, September 8th, the U.S. Postal Service will issue a first-class stamp saluting Latin jazz. That's it, to the left. Michael Bartalos, a children's book author as well as  a designer, created the stamp. He wrote and illustrated the rhyming picture book Shadowville, published by Viking in 1995. His book does indeed feature bold graphics like the ones in the stamp as it tags along with shadows at night.".Crossing oceans and a hill/They all head to Shadowville.".The lively bunch. Jazz at Lincoln Center tickets.

Modlin Center News For Immediate Release Tuesday, September 2, 2008 Contact: Samantha Sawyer, Marketing Director (804) 287-6893 The Modin Center presents eighth blackbird ?strange imaginary remix? Dennis DeSantis, sound designer Wednesday, September 17, 2008, 7:30 pm Camp Concert Hall, Booker Hall of Music RICHMOND, Va - The Modlin Center welcomes the return of Grammy Award-winning ensemble-in-residence eighth blackbird on Wednesday, September 17, 2008 at 7:30 pm in Camp Concert Hall. eighth blackbird. ticket broker.

How Jazz Can Change Your Life (The Leonard Lopate Show: Tuesday, 02 September 2008) Pulitzer Prize-winning musician and composer Wynton Marsalis says that understanding jazz can improve your personal life, your creativity, and even your career! His new book is Moving to Higher Ground: How Jazz Can Change Your Life. Event: Wynton Marsalis will be in conversation with Geoffrey C. Ward Tuesday, Sept. 2 at 7:30 pm Barnes .&.Noble Lincoln Center. ticket brokers.

Chicago hears Ornette Coleman - This is our music An estimated 20,000 to 30,000 listeners of all ages, genders, races, religions - Americans and visitors from abroad, too - enjoyed the directly expressive, highly personalized music of Pulitzer Prize-winner Ornette Coleman as the finale of the outdoor Chicago Jazz Festival last Sunday night. The attentive, mellow and celebratory audience response, including a standing ovation throughout the 5000 seats nearest the bandshell in Grant Park, suggested that improvisation created without a priori.tickets.

What I Did Over Summer Vacation tickets, Friends back home on the prairie occasionally like to compare my Manhattan rent to their mortgages, as if people in New York pay astronomical fees to stay inside. This summer has been a good one for going outside, with a trove of free concerts to bask in. Two great WFMU-sponsored shows - Sonic Youth and The Feelies at Battery Park on the Fourth of July and The Ex with Getatchew Mekurya at Lincoln Center Out of Doors on August 20th - topped the list Four days after the Ethiopunk explosion.