Beauty and the Beast - 3D version
We had barely welcomed the New Year, when the cinematographic 3D stories invaded us once again: a welcomed surprise in this direction is the release of the animated film that brings back to the viewers the story of the beautiful Belle and the prince who was transformed into the Beast. Starting Friday, January 13th, 2012, the new production Beauty and the Beast, created by Walt Disney Studios, directed by Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise, can be viewed in cinemas.
Also, we have good news for the Broadway shows lovers, because Beauty and the Beast started on December 27th, 2011, this time as a musical, a tour that takes place in a number of cities in the USA and Canada, until January 29th, 2012. Based on the score created by Alan Menken with lyrics signed by Howard Ashman, the show reunites as cast, under Rob Roth's stage direction, Dane Agostinis and Emily Behny. From the land of winter musicals - like The Nutcracker or Anastasia, Beauty and the Beast brings magic to the new year.

Sydney Jazz Festival
We make a total change of… direction and arrive in the blink of an eye in the southern hemisphere, all the way to Surry Hills, in the suburbs of Sydney, where on January 13th the third edition of Jazz groove Summer Festival opens. There, in Australia, January is the sunniest month of the year, so the locals thought, fully justified, to organize, during three days, a festival dedicated to jazz. So, starting 2010, at the Surry Hills Theatre the most diverse activities are happening: musical workshops for children, lectures and novel musical evenings. Amongst the musicians invited today on the stage of the Jazzgroove Summer Festival, there are also the members of the Trio led by guitarist James Muller including percussionist Tim Firth and contrabass player Alex Boneham.
James Muller was born in Adelaide, in South Australia, in 1974 and began studying guitar at age 12, approaching jazz four years later. After playing alongside representatives of the genre from his home country, the guitarist moved, in the summer of 1996, to Sydney, becoming one of the most appreciated musicians of his generation. With a discography containing four albums, James Muller won an award at the Wangaratta Jazz Festival in 2000, receiving two Mo awards the following year- granted by the Australian entertainment industry - for the best jazz instrumentalist and for the best jazz group - alongside the members of James Muller Trio.

Chucho Valdes begins a new year at Carnegie Hall
Year 2012 also opens on the stage of the prestigious Carnegie Hall of New York with a long awaited concert: Chucho Valdes, one of the most representative Cuban pianists of the last decades, will sustain a jazz concert, taking place on January 21st. The South American musician - who began his career in 1978 with the band Irakere - is returning to Carnegie Hall to present pieces from his most recent album, released in 2010: the CD entitled Chucho`s steps, that was designated, at last year's edition of the Grammy Awards, 'The best Latin jazz album'. About this disc - containing a series of praises to remarkable personalities of American jazz, amongst whom Art Tatum, John Coltrane and Branford Marsalis - Chucho Valdes said that 'it probably represents the highpoint of his career so far'.
The Cuban pianist - who today lives in southern Spain, at Malaga - saw the light of day in 1941 and is the son of the equally famous Bebo Valdes, the two pianists accomplishing together in2008, an album that appeared under the aegis of Sony label. Until now, Chucho Valdes has received no less than four Grammy awards, confessing about his future album, currently in progress, that it will be inspired by the flamenco tradition and the Arabian music alike.