 |
 
|
|
¡Cubanismo! 2004 US Tour Cancelled - Visas Denied The Rosebud Agency has just learned that The American Embassy today refused all visa applications for all members of ¡Cubanismo!. It is with great regret that we must inform their US fans that their entire tour of the United States has been cancelled. Despite the current political climate, as well as The State Department's policy statement last February concerning musicians who have received salary from the Cuban Government, this news comes as a great shock to all concerned. NO Cubanismo musician has ever received salary from the Cuban Government. Since the group's first tour in 1993, they have never been denied entry to the US. This record of reliability was a matter of great pride for Jesus Alemany and his musicians. We apologize for this inconvenience to the band's fans and we sincerely hope that a new policy in the future will place greater importance on cultural exchange than on political concerns and that ¡Cubanismo! will be able to return to the United States as soon as possible. John Hammond Wins Down Under Blues Album of the Year John Hammond’s most recent release, Ready For Love, was voted 2003’s Blues Album of the Year by the readers of Rhythms - Australia’s Roots Music Monthly. Released in 2003 on Back Porch Records, Ready For Love was produced by David Hidalgo of Los Lobos fame. Hammond, one of the world’s premier acoustic blues artists, was also just nominated again as ‘Acoustic Blues Musician of the Year’ (an award he won most recently in 2002) in the Blues Foundation's W. C. Handy Awards. Rosebud Lauded For Green Work Environment The Rosebud Agency was spotlighted in the March 3, 2004 issue of the "San Francisco Bay Guardian" for being one of the first businesses examined for certification in the ‘City by the Bay’s’ Green Business Program. "The voluntary program gives ‘green certification’ to businesses with exceptional environmental practices. Participating companies must show they go beyond simple compliance with standards to reduce waste, minimize resource consumption, and prevent pollution." Rosebud was lauded for its solar-powered office operation, its various recycling programs (reusing everything from envelopes and boxes to packing peanuts) and its composting efforts. The Guardian noted that the Green Business Program coordinator, Virginia St. Jean, "seemed blown away by The Rosebud Agency". Bay Area Green Business Program >> The Bad Plus' "Give" in stores March 9 Columbia Records released Give, the eagerly awaited new studio album from The Bad Plus, on Tuesday, March 9, 2004. Arguably the biggest jazz breakout story of 2003, The Bad Plus--Reid Anderson (bass), Ethan Iverson (piano), and David King (drums)--connected with the jazz world and beyond with These Are The Vistas, the renegade jazz trio's debut album on Columbia Records. In addition to receiving outstanding critical praise from Newsweek, Esquire, Blender, Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, NPR, The New Yorker, The Fader, Washington Post and countless others, These Are The Vistas, was recently hailed by Rolling Stone as one of the Top 50 Albums of 2003, Ranked #1 Jazz Record of the year by CMJ New Music Report and came in at #6 on Jazz Times’ 50 Best Albums of the Year list. With Give, The Bad Plus ups the ante on the promise of These Are The Vistas and delivers the group's most challenging, and satisfying, collection to-date. For the trio's new album, The Bad Plus has teamed up once again with the Grammy-winning producer Tchad Blake, whose experimental signature sound has graced projects by Peter Gabriel, Pearl Jam, Los Lobos, Tom Waits, Elvis Costello as well These Are The Vistas. Give is The Bad Plus at its best, a pure and formidable musical experience, a rollicking sonic adventure combining engaging and sophisticated new group compositions alongside witty and provocative cover versions of songs by the Pixies ("Velouria"), Ornette Coleman ("Street Woman"), and Black Sabbath ("Iron Man"). |
