All About Jazz — The Princes Noire by Nadine Cohodas, is an exhaustive but plodding biography that tries to pin down a musical artist surrounded by myth. Like her unprocessed voice and Bach-meets-barrelhouse piano style, Nina Simone's life story is peculiar, beaut... more info

MTV.com News — Film focuses on Simone's relationship later in life with her assistant.By Kara Warner Mary J. Blige Photo: Getty Images Fresh off her role in Tyler Perry's "I Can Do Bad All by Myself," Mary J. Blige has signed on to play legendary crooner ... more info

Pitchfork — Rolling Stone reports that the Roots and John Legend have teamed up to record an album of covers of 60s and 70s socially conscious soul songs. The project was originally inspired by an attempt at an Arcade Fire cover, but that song didn't end up maki... more info

Guardian Music — Expressive Balkan singer known as the mother of Gypsy soulThe Gypsy singer Ljiljana Buttler, née Petrovic, who has died of cancer aged 65, was one of the most celebrated singers in Tito's Yugoslavia. Her deep, resonant voice and soulful phrasing dre... more info

Guardian Music — Taking its title from a track by the Montreal indie collective, Wake Up will feature protest songs from the 60s and 70sThe Roots and John Legend are recording a covers album inspired by an Arcade Fire song – but without any tracks from the Montreal... more info

Totally Fuzzy — G O D said... EPHEDRINE SYMPHONY-live at the draft house tavern,ft.myers,florida,january 13th,1993.some tim buckley and the fall are covered and some original beatnik jazz punk. WHORESHACK-four-track-the instrumental giants,recorded on a real 4-track... more info

MTV.com News — British duo put a bluesy twist on 'I Put a Spell on You' for the fundraising effort.By James Montgomery Joss Stone (file) Photo: Ian Gavan/ Getty Images Wednesday night's (April 21) "Idol Gives Back" event featured performances by everyone ... more info

Guardian Music — Barbican, LondonDee Dee Bridgewater has a technique and musicality that bests most performers of her generation, and her understanding of the "great American songbook" makes pretenders pale in comparison. But she's rarely content to just come on stag... more info

All About Jazz — SONGSTRESS ROBIN MCKELLETO RELEASE MESS AROUND ON E1 MUSICALBUM SHOWCASES A NUMBER OF GENRESINCLUDING SOUL, BLUES, AND JAZZU.S. TOUR DATES IN SUPPORTOF MAY 4TH RELEASE"I've wanted to do this kind of album for a long time. It's a project that spans a ... more info

Totally Fuzzy — Mr Moodswings said... Jazz/Lounge: PINK MARTINI "HANG ON LITTLE TOMATO" Folk: RICHARD & LISA THOMPSON "THE END OF THE RAINBOW, AN INTRODUCTION TO..." Post-Rock: SALARYMAN "SALARYMAN" Punk/Indie Rock: CHINA DRUM "GOOSEFAIR" Alt. Metal: INCUBUS "S.C.I.... more info