February 28th will mark the release of one of the best albums of this year, Black Radio by the Robert Glasper Experiment. We are beyond thrilled to be hosting the album release show (also on February 28th) at the Highline Ballroom. If you remember anything about the special guest lineup for the album, you already know it’s going to be a night for the books. Find more details further down in this post.

Also, on February 29th Rob and the crew will be getting down on the CBS Late Show With David Letterman with special guests Lupe Fiasco and Bilal. It, too, will be a fine evening.

Enter our contest to win tickets to one of several national tour dates, including the NYC release show!

Event Details
Robert Glasper Experiment’s Black Radio Album Release Show
w/ Special Guests Chrisette Michele, DJ ?uestlove, Lalah Hathaway & more

Highline Ballroom
New York, NY

All Ages

Tickets: $35.00 advance / $40.00 day of show
Purchase tickets

General Admission Standing Room
First come, first seated

Limited seating available
Full dinner menu available

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Full list of national tour dates after the jump

[Click on image for complete gallery]

Words by Evangeline Kim

APAP’s 55th Annual Conference:
New York’s cosmopolitan nature becomes charged with fresh new energies, both local and global, each January, as more than 3400 national and international performing arts leaders and special guests of the Association of Performing Arts Presenters (APAP) descend upon the city for their annual conference with more than 350 exhibitors in the expo halls at the Hilton (January, 6-10, 2012). The world’s entrepreneurial presenters and agents gear up for the event months in advance to organize close to 1300 showcases in the performing arts. These relatively brief, live performance experiences spark tremendous anticipation for the coming year’s prospects.

Read more after the jump

Jose James will be presenting material from his upcoming album No Beginning, No End on February 10th and February 11th at the Harlem Stage Gatehouse.

Enter our ticket giveaway contest on Facebook.

His recent projects include guest performances with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra’s “A Tribute to Billy Strayhorn” at Rose Theater, as well as touring internationally with McCoy Tyner’s .” He was recently voted 2011 “DownBeat Critics Poll”.

The Harlem Stage Gatehouse
150 Convent Ave. at W. 135 St.
New York, NY 10031
212) 281-9240 x19

Friday February 10th & Saturday February 11th
7:30PM & 9:30PM
$20 Members / $25 General | For More Info

On January 15th, Jose James performed a very private show at Rose Bar, co-organized by Giant Step and Gramercy Park Hotel.

100 lucky people had the opportunity to attend that intimate session where  Jose James  performed with his four-member band.

Last night Jay-Z performed the second of his two historic nights at New York’s Carnegie Hall benefiting the United Way of New York City and Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation. We were lucky enough to attend and witness the event – Backed by an orchestra conducted by Jeri Lynne Johnson (of Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra) and the Illadelphonics featuring Questlove and Bilal amongst others.

Jay-Z delivered classics such as “99 Problems,” “Hard Knock Life,” “Run This Town,” and “Empire State Of Mind” with the help of Alicia Keys, of course. Bilal gave us a special rendition of Billy Joel’s “New York State of Mind” before Nas took the stage to join in before going into “If I Ruled The World,” There was also a beautiful rendition by the orchestra of Gil Scott Heron’s “New York Is Killing Me.”

The night was classic New York bringing together tuxedo NY set with hip hop heads, a couple of NY Giants players, Chris Rock (who was celebrating his birthday) and even John Mcenroe (to name a few).

One to tell the kids about for sure.

(Apologies for the poor photo quality – we got what we could get!)

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Megaproducer Ski Beatz will be releasing Twilight on February 14th and we are pretty much beside ourselves with this trailer. Woven along with the silky jazz sonics are visuals of Curren$y, Stalley, Smoke DZA, Mikey Rocks, Da$h, Tabi Bonney, and other guest collaborators. Really hoping he releases an instrumentals only version as well!

Also later this month, February 22nd, join Ski for his album release party in NYC!

Event Details
Ski Beatz 24Hr Karate School Presents Twilight
Performances by Ski Beatz and The Senseis, CPlus, Rugz D.Bewler, Da$h, McKenzie Eddy, Sean O’Connell + more.

February 22, 2012
10PM

Le Poisson Rouge
158 Bleecker St
New York, NY

Tickets: $10
Purchase tickets

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New York City, we hope to see you for the next CHURCH event, at Drom, Friday February 3rd. Last month was a huge success and we look forward to another amazing experience. Come for a two-set affair: from the jazz trio Reimagined to live electronic house music for the dancefloor with world-renowned DJ, producer, remixer, composer, Musician, and Tru Thoughts recording artist Mark de Clive-Lowe (MdCL).

Online ticket sales are closed. Tickets will be available at the door.

Mark de Clive-Lowe’s CHURCH monthly series continues the first Friday of every month.

DROM
Friday, February 3rd
Doors: 9:00PM – 4:00AM
21+
For More Info

It is a new day. D’Angelo returns to the spotlight after over 10 years with a European tour that kicked off in Stockholm, Sweden yesterday. Above, catch a clip from his performance of “Chicken Grease” and below, you’ll find video from “Sh*t Damn Motherf*cker.” A few new songs were unveiled as well, including “Sugar Daddy,” “The Charade,” and “Another Life.”

In watching these videos, it’s evident that D’Angelo is happy to be up on stage and share with his adoring fans. And in case you were second guessing, indeed the man is killing it and singing like he’s always known – hopefully a prelude to a new era of some earth-shifting music.

European Tour Dates
Jan 27 – VEGA – Copenhagen, Denmark
Jan 29 – Le Zénith – Paris, France
Jan 30 – Paradiso Grote Zaal – Amsterdam, Netherlands
Jan 31 – Paradiso Grote Zaal – Amsterdam, Netherlands
Feb 3 – O2 Academy Brixton – London, UK

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Join us on February 1st with celebrity DJ Kenny Summit as he celebrates the launch of his brand new record label, Good For You Records! Live performances and DJ sets galore. Did we mention the complimentary Heineken Bar from 10PM – 11PM? Yep.

Event Details
Good For You Records Label Launch Event
w/ Sunny Daze, Grand Puba, The Artifacts, Barbara Tucker & more
Wednesday, February 1st

10PM – 4AM

Tammany Hall
152 Orchard Street
(btw Rivington & Stanton)
New York, NY

Admission: Free w/ RSVP
RSVP on Facebook

The famed Red Bull Music Academy will be hosting three back to back events with some New York musical legends to celebrate the application phase for this year’s program. For those unfamiliar, RBMA is an international music workshop held in a different city each year. In 2011, musicians were brought to Madrid, this year the Academy will be held in New York City.

See below for details all the awesomeness to ensue!

Also, be sure to enter our contest to win a free pair of tickets!

Event Details
The Gary Bartz Project with featured guests Bilal & Aloe Blacc
Wednesday, January 25th
8:30pm @ Yoshi’s San Francisco
1330 Fillmore St.
Purchase tickets

The Stretch Armstrong & Bobbito Show (+ DJ Shortkut)
Thursday, January 26th
10pm @ Mighty SF
119 Utah St.
Purchase tickets

Masters at Work: Kenny Dope & Little Louie Vega
Friday, January 27th
10pm @ 103 Harriet
1015 Folsom St.
Purchase tickets

See remaining flyers after the jump

LA, gear up for some sexy time with John West and some very special guests compliments of VIBE. Reminise to “Lovely” and other tunes from John’s self titled EP as we ready ourselves for his upcoming debut album, which will be sure to delight.

Enter our contest to win tickets to the show!

Event Details
VIBE Presents John West
+ Jon Mcxro, Tiron & Ayomari, Tha Boogie
Wednesday, January 25

Doors: 7:30 PM
Show: 8:00 PM

The Roxy
9009 W.Sunset Blvd
West Hollywood, CA

Advance Tickets: $15
Purchase tickets

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