A Night At The Cotton Club 2 (#CottonClub2)

EVENT LINK: http://yebiescottonclub2.eventbrite.com/

TIBH: Ella Fitzgerald

On this date in 1996 the great Ella Fitzgerald went to be with the ancestors after 79 years. The amazing jazz singer and soloist went by many names including "First Lady of Song" and "Lady Ella,".

Miles "The Trumpet Man" Davis...

Miles Davis, one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, was born on this date in 1926 in Alton, Illinois. Davis was at the forefront of almost every major development in jazz from World War II to the 1990s. His sound was one only made by him and was constantly evolving.

Today In Black History: Thelonious Monk

On this date in 1982 the great Thelonious Monk passed away in New Jersey and went to be with the ancestors. Monk was 64 years young. Thelonious was a jazz pianist and composer who is considered one of the greatest musicians America has ever produced. Monk is the second most recorded jazz composer after Duke Ellington. By many accounts he is the founder of bebop. He is one of five jazz musicians to have been featured on the cover of Time.

#CottonClubEssentials For The #UptownRenaissance [Mix]

DJ Spicoli and I put together jazz and jazz influenced songs for a mix called #CottonClubEssentials For The #UptownRenaissance.  This mix has a little bit of everything on it from many genres. Make sure you download this mix and blast it around the house or in the car as you get ready for this saturday's event.  Once again to get tickets for the occasion go HERE. 

Download: #CottonClubEssentials For The #UptownRenaissance [Mix]

This Week's Question

This week's question is "what is your favorite song with a jazz sample and why?" Please include what song the sample came from. Below are details on how to play and win.


I’m will be giving away a ticket EVERY FRIDAY from now until the event to loyal YEBIES readers and supports via twitter. To win free tickets this is what you'll have to do:

1. Follow @yebies and @yebiesonline on Twitter.

2. Retweet this either the old or new way.

3. Send your best answer to the question of the week to info@yebies.com

The winner will be picked by the end of each friday, and will be notified via twitter and then by email with details.

And The Blues Began...

William Christopher Handy who is widely known as the "Father of the Blues" published the first recored blues song "Memphis Blues" on this date in 1912.

Janelle Monáe – Tight Rope f. Big Boi

All I can say is "its about time". Janelle gives us “Tightrope” which is the first single off her upcoming albums(EPs),’ the Metropolis Suites II & III: The ArchAndroid. Tomorrow “Tightrope”, along with another The ArchAndroid track, “Cold War”, will go on sale exclusively at Janelle Monae’s website. It will be available everywhere on the 23rd of February. Janelle is currently on tour, so check here at in a city near you. Here's the list of remaining stops.

LISTEN/DOWNLOAD: Janelle Monáe – Tight Rope f. Big Boi

Gil Scott-Heron – I’m New Here [Album Stream]

The album comes out next week but you can hear the entire LP right here. Please still go out and support this great artist. After listening go check out GilScottHeron.

Nneka on WNYC Soundcheck [Audio]

Nneka's debut U.S. album, Concrete Jungle will be in stores tomorrow so earlier today she was a guest on WNYC's Soundcheck. Check below for the interview, as well as an listen to some music off the album live.

The Birth Of "Miss Peaches" aka Etta James

On this date in 1938 Etta James was born Jamesetta Hawkins in Los Angeles, California, to an unmarried 14-year-old. Etta would go on to have a career that would span over 40 years. For years Etta James has been one of the most overlooked Blues and R&B singers ever. Beyoncé Knowles portrayed the R&B singer in the 2008 film Cadillac Records, which was loosely based on the rise and fall of James's Chess Records.

Gil Scott-Heron – Me And The Devil [Video]

Gil Scott-Heron's first album in 16 years drops February 9th entitled I’m New Here.

Related: YEBies Birthdays...

Corinne Bailey Rae x Soundcheck Preview [Video]

Corinne Bailey Rae recently filmed a Soundcheck interview session for the January 26th release of her new album The Sea. In this preview clip, she speaks on her favorite recent album (Dear Science) and being influenced by the music of The Rolling Stones, Sly Stone & Jimi Hendrix as well as the possibility of reinterpreting their music for album bonus tracks. Corinne’s full Soundcheck will release on 1.15 at Soundcheck.walmart.com/Corinne-Bailey-Rae

YEBies Birthday: Cab Calloway

On this date in 1907 Cabell "Cab" Calloway III was born in Rochester,NY. Calloway was a great bandleader and the first jazz singer to sell a million records. Calloway was a master of scat singing. Calloway's band featured performers including trumpeters Dizzy Gillespie and Adolphus "Doc" Cheatham, saxophonists Ben Webster and Leon "Chu" Berry, New Orleans guitar ace Danny Barker, and bassist Milt Hinton.

Too Marvelous for Words - Art Tatum

On this date in 1909 Arthur Tatum Jr was born in Toledo, Ohio. Tatum is considered by many as the greatest jazz pianists of all time. It was often said was so good on the piano words were never necessary for his music. Art was born blind in one eye with only very limited vision in the other. He was a child prodigy who learned to play by ear in church. He developed a incredibly fast playing style, without losing accuracy which would go on to become his trademark. He would go on to set the bar for which all other jazz pianist would be measured.



Dizzy Gillespie - "First you speak of Art Tatum, then take a long deep breath, and you speak of the other pianists.

Today In Black History

On this date in 1945 Donny Hathaway was born in Chicago, Illinois. Few people will ever be able to leave such a lasting mark in the music as the one left by Donny. During his short 33 years here, Donny Hathaway was a singer, songwriter, arranger, conductor, record producer,and instrumentalist.

Happy 49th Birthday Branford Marsalis.

Great jazz saxophonist Branford Marsalis was on this date in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana in 1960. The movie Mo' Better Blues featured Marsalis's music throughout the film. Find out more about this great musician and our great genre of music on his site.

Here is Denzel Washington playing some of Branford's stuff in Mo' Better Blues