Chickens Coming Home to Roost Award
Last fall, Dr. Dre was sued by an Indian composer who said the producer used a sample of the composer's music in Truth Hurts' hit single "Addictive" without permission and without giving credit. The composer accused Dre of "cultural imperialism" and "perpetuating racial and ethnic stereotypes." Dre said the composer was simply trying to capitalize on his celebrity. (Phillip Brasor)
While Japan's best improvisers are usually found playing in small clubs to even smaller audiences, this year two veteran acts edged into the mainstream. Yuji Katsui's Rovo and Naruyoshi Kikuchi's Date Course Pentagon Royal Garden now play to massive crowds. Improvisation is still the root of both groups, but in this case, it is coupled with a dance floor-friendly beat. Can this trend be taken to the next lev- el? Though easily packing ever bigger venues like Akasaka Blitz, Rovo still doesn't sell many records. But then again, neither did the Grateful Dead. (Suzannah Tartan)
Earlier this year Hermeto Pasqual, the brilliant multi-instrumentalist from Brazil, and Marshall Allen, saxophonist for and leader of the Sun Ra Arkestra, met in a Shibuya bar. Did they talk heavy music theory? Nope. War stories from the road? That's old hat. Instead, the white-haired Brazilian showed a bemused Allen how to play the chromatic scale on the tiny valve he'd plucked from the bottom of some squeaky little plastic doll. (Tom Bojko)
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