Hank Crawford, whose distinctively funky and soulful saxophone was a staple in the Ray Charles band before it became widely recognized as a solo force in the jazz world, died last week at his home in Memphis.  He was 74. “He has a rich, throbbing tone and a way of phrasing like a blues singer,” Jon Pareles wrote in The New York Times in 1986. “Mr. Crawford’s solos are artfully shaped, but they convey a naked emotionality.” Read more here.

Court: Prince Stole His Hit
An Italian court has ruled that Prince stole his 1994 hit, “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World,” from two Italian writers. The Roman Court of Appeals agreed that Prince borrowed heavily from “Takin’ Me to Paradise,” which was written by Bruno Bergonzi and Michele Vicino, Billboard reports.  The court ruled that Prince can no longer distribute the song in Italy. In addition, he may have to pay royalties to Bergonzi and Vicino and their publishers that he has collected to date. That will be determined later, if another hearing confirms the song was plagiarized. “Our song was first released in 1983, at the height of the Italian dance boom and it appeared on assorted compilations that were distributed internationally,” Bergonzi told Billboard.com. “When we first heard Prince’s song we immediately took action, but this case has been dragging on for 15 years and it isn’t over yet, such is the slowness of the Italian legal system. We only decided to go public with our story now.”   

  
Inauguration List is Indeed A-List
The performance list for President-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration has blown up to include an eclectic mix of mega-stars – from the biggest names in hip hop to legends of bebop. Among those participating in the official kickoff at the Lincoln Memorial on Jan. 18 are R&B stars Beyoncé, John Legend, Mary J. Blige and Usher; jazz legend Herbie Hancock; soul-stirrer Stevie Wonder; and hip-hopper will.i.am; rocker Bruce Springsteen; and country-western crooner Garth Brooks. Read more here.

Jazz great Freddie Hubbard, one of the most influential trumpeters of his generation, died Monday, about a month after suffering a heart attack. He was 70. Hubbard was pronounced dead at Sherman Oaks Hospital, fellow trumpeter David Weiss told The Associated Press. Hubbard, who earned a Grammy in 1972 for “First Light,” made more than 300 recordings, including such notable discs as “Open Sesame” and “Going Up” for Blue Note. He was best known for his aggressive, articulate style. Born in Indianapolis, Hubbard studied at the Arthur Jordan Conservatory of Music and the Indianapolis Symphony before heading to New York in 1958. Once in New York, he joined forces with Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis, Cannonball Adderley and John Coltrane, among other jazz legends. He once told Down Beat magazine that, “I met Trane at a jam session at Count Basie’s in Harlem in 1958. He said, `Why don’t you come over and let’s try and practice a little bit together.’ I almost went crazy. I mean, here is a 20-year-old kid practicing with John Coltrane. He helped me out a lot, and we worked several jobs together.” One of the musicians greatly influenced by Hubbard is fellow Grammy-Award winner Wynton Marsalis. “He influenced all the trumpet players that came after him,” Marsalis told The Associated Press earlier this year. “Certainly I listened to him a lot. … We all listened to him. He has a big sound and a great sense of rhythm and time and really the hallmark of his playing is an exuberance. His playing is exuberant.”

Wayman Tisdale hopes procedure stops bone cancer
Ex-NBA player Wayman Tisdale has undergone a partial amputation of his right leg, in hopes that it prevents the spread of bone cancer. Tisdale, who worked the paint for Indiana, Sacramento and Phoenix before beginning a successful career as a jazz bassist, discovered the disease after he fell and broke the same leg early last year. He announced plans to undergo the procedure on his Web site before it was reported as a successful operation this week: “This may sound drastic, but I have put it in God’s hands and now have peace, knowing that this is the best way to put this disease in check.” Tisdale, 44, plans to resume touring and promoting his latest album Rebound, which he says was inspired by the health challenge.