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Lil Wayne nominated for eight Grammys

by Jay Lustig/The Star-Ledger

Thursday December 04, 2008, 4:31 PM

GETTY IMAGESRapper Lil Wayne is nominated for eight Grammys

It's catch-up time for the Grammys.

Lil Wayne, a major rap artist for almost a decade, can win his first Grammys in February. And Radiohead, arguably the most important rock band of its generation, can win its first major one, as "In Rainbows" was nominated for album of the year. (Radiohead's previous two wins were in alternative-rock categories.)

Following Lil Wayne, who is up for eight Grammys, Coldplay has the most nominations, with seven, and Jay-Z, Ne-Yo and Kanye West have six each. Nominees in some of the most important categories were announced Wednesday as part of an hour-long prime-time special on CBS -- an attempt to publicize the show in a way that a simple press conference couldn't.

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Soweto Gospel Choir spreads holiday spirit

by Marty Lipp/For The Star-Ledger

Thursday December 04, 2008, 2:40 PM

OLIVER NEUBERTThe singers of the Soweto Gospel Choir spice up their church music with South African polyrhythms.

Soweto Gospel Choir. When: Tomorrow at 8 p.m. Where: New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Prudential Hall, 1 Center St., Newark. Howmuch: $21-$82. For tickets, call (888) 466-5722 or visit njpac.org.

Gospel music may be as American as sweet-potato pie, but on the other side of the planet, gospel took another path and picked up indigenous sounds from South Africa.

The music, as performed by the Soweto Gospel Choir, which is in the midst of a U.S. tour, has the joyous choral hallelujahs and soaring calls of its American cousin, but it moves to the bouncing polyrhythms of the Johannesburg townships.

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Pianist Tyner enjoys performing with guitarists

by Zan Stewart/The Star-Ledger

Thursday December 04, 2008, 1:50 PM

SCOTT LITUCHY/THE STAR-LEDGER"I love what I'm doing," says veteran jazz pianist McCoy Tyner. "That helps keep you in a good frame of mind."

McCoy Tyner. Where: Blue Note, 131 W. 3rd St., near Sixth Avenue, New York. When: Tuesday through Dec. 14, 8 and 10:30 p.m. Howmuch: $45 music charge/tables, $30/bar, $5 minimum. Call (212) 475-8592 or visit bluenotejazz.com. What else: Tyner shares billing with singer Dianne Reeves, Dec. 19, 8 p.m., at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, 1 Center St., Newark. $23-$92. Call (888) 466-5722 or visit njpac.org.

The innovative jazz piano giant McCoy Tyner is a man who can make his instrument resemble a thunderclap with his attack at full power, a whispered confidence with his contrasting, feathered touch.

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Annex to Cleveland's rock'n'roll shrine opens in Manhattan

by Jay Lustig/The Star-Ledger

Thursday December 04, 2008, 1:43 PM

SARA JAY WEISSAuthentic elements are featured in the CBGB exhibit at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's New York annex.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Annex NYC. Where: 76 Mercer St. (between Spring and Broome streets), New York. When: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays (last admission 8:30 p.m.), 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sundays (last admission 6:30 p.m.). Howmuch: $31; $22 children 4-12; $29 seniors. Call (646) 786-6680 or visit rockannex.com.

"New York City really has it all," sang Joey Ramone of The Ramones in the band's 1977 song, "Sheena Is a Punk Rocker." The city comes a little closer to reaching that ideal with the opening of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Annex NYC.

Artifacts include remnants (the awning, the cash register, the graffiti-covered phone booth) of the CBGB nightclub where The Ramones honed their sound, and the guitar Johnny Ramone played at the band's last show.

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Benjamin Verdery grooves to the music of Bach and Hendrix

by Bradley Bambarger/The Star-Ledger

Thursday December 04, 2008, 12:57 PM

Benjamin Verdery. When: 8 p.m. Saturday. Where: 92nd Street Y, Lexington Avenue at 92nd Street, New York. Howmuch: $25-$48; call (212) 415-5500 or visit to 92y.org.

NEW YORK -- Many virtuosos become virtuosos because they hone their world down not only to their specific instrument but to their particular genre. Guitarist Benjamin Verdery is not that kind of virtuoso.

Verdery's musical horizon is wide. An hour-long conversation with him -- apropos of his recital Saturday at Manhattan's 92nd Street Y -- runs from J.S. Bach to Jimi Hendrix, from contemporary composers to Brooklyn indie-rock band the National. The 53-year-old credits early FM radio.

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