After five long years The Cinematic Orchestra (TCO) , headed by Jason Swinscoe , is finally releasing their third album Ma Fleur this summer (5/7 in Europe via Ninja Tune , 6/5 in the US via Domino ). The album was conceived back in 2005 when Swinscoe finished the preliminary tracks and handed them to a screenplay writer friend in Paris. After two years of going back and forth, exchanging ideas, the record's been completed, featuring three singers...

The heart and soul of Jamiroquai , Jay Kay is calling it quits with his current record company. Spurring the decision, his ex-label, Sony BMG had slowly been souring his deal over the years. "I haven't been happy there for a while," Jay confessed to NME . "I've had some ups and downs but in the end the downs were just too many. When we talked about me leaving, I jumped at the chance." Nasty rumors that Jay was leaving the music business spread through yesterday's...

2007 Brit award winner, James Morrison has just announced summer dates in forest locations to follow up his UK tour that commences tomorrow. In collaboration with the British Forestry commission, Morrison's scheduled five concerts around the island, four in June and one in July. The pastoral backdrops will no doubt serve to enhance the blissful sunny afternoons and steamy night performances to come – but fans will want to bring...

Martin Scorsese finally took home his first ever Oscar last night after a winless record during his four decade long career. Having previously been nominated 7 times (5 for direction, 2 for screenplay), Scorsese surprisingly never produced work that was deemed worthy of the trophy despite the commercial success of his last movie, The Aviator (2004). Best known for Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, and Raging Bull , it’s perplexing as to how this award had eluded...

The Bowery Presents are importing Uruguayan singer/song composer Jorge Drexler to perform at Town Hall , NYC on Tuesday, March 6th. Best known for his spectacular "Al Otro Lado Del Rio (In The Other Side Of The River)," the theme song to The Motorcycle Diaries , Jorge won an Academy Award in 2004 for it, setting a precedent for the first foreign language song to achieve the distinction. His music, fitting somewhere between traditional latin, acoustic folk,...

Modern soul virtuoso Raphael Saadiq embarks on a solo expedition the next few months, a quest to top his previous works Instant Vintage and Ray Ray . After manning the production helm for soulster Lionel Richie and soulstresses Kelis, Joss Stone and Angie Stone , Saadiq notified Billboard.com of his plans to take "three or four months" to create "a record that you can clap your hands to -- that simple. It's gonna be Raphael." His...

Last week, Ozomati announced a competition entitled "Make Your Own Ozomatli Video Contest." Due by the 15th of March, the winning video for their new single "City Of Angels" off of Don’t Mess With The Dragon (released April 3rd) will score $2000 and a screening at a USC symposium featuring the band. Surely the band name (Aztec for monkey), album...

Cornelius is back in business in America. Two months ago the man behind Cornelius, Keigo Oyamada , sought out a US label to put out his newest LP Sensuous (out April 24), and he found EverLoving , an imprint which has had success with several soundtracks like Donnie Darko and Dogtown and Z-Boys as well as with multi-platinum artist Jack Johnson . Already scheduled to perform Saturday, April...

Anthony Wilson (better known as Tony) of Manchester’s Hacienda club and Factory Records fame recently had his right kidney removed when an excessive deleterious growth was discovered in the organ. Best known for managing and spotlighting seminal bands the Happy Mondays, New Order, and Joy Division , the 56 year old legend will begin supplementing his current cancer drug treatment with chemotherapy next week at Withington’s Christie Hospital. Glorified...

Coachella's practically sold out. With well over 2 months before the actual festival's scheduled to take place, the event has been reported to be completely booked – all 3-day passes are gone and only Friday has limited tickets still available . Headline acts Rage Against The Machine, Bjork, Red Hot Chili Peppers , and Jesus And Mary Chain will be performing...