Online Jazz Festival, May 12- 14

Have you enjoyed the jazz posts here at The Tech Desk? Well, there is more music coming your way. As part of the launch of its new database, Jazz Music Library, database publisher Alexander Street Press is hosting an Online Jazz Festival from May 12 to May 14. Not only will the Jazz Music Library be free for this time, but there will also be contests, free music downloads, and drawings for free CDs.

Jazz Music Library features over 18,000 audio tracks from over 3,800 different artists. Labels that comprise the database include Verve, GRP, Fantasy, Concord Jazz, Original Jazz Classics, and many more. Be sure to go here starting Tuesday, May 12 to participate in the Alexander Street's First Annual Online Jazz Music Festival. For more information about the festival, click here.

Mr. Rogers Swings During Jazz Month

One more for Jazz Appreciation Month:

Holly Yarbrough's Mister Rogers Swings! is a fine collection of swinging, jazzy, uptempo covers of songs from classic episodes of the old children's television show, Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood. Imagine grooving to the cool sounds of "Won't You Be My Neighbor," with a big, brassy band backing sweet, passionate vocals.

[via boingboing]

Fun Friday: Jazz Appreciation Month Edition

April is Jazz Appreciation Month. To celebrate, enjoy this excellent YouTube video of John Coltrane's Giant Steps.

So What? 50 Years Ago Today

On March 2, 1959, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley and others recorded So What for the definitive jazz album, Kind of Blue.

Sit back for a minute and groove to the mellow sounds.