Van Morrison

For live music lovers, Tuesday night was a clash of the titans: Van Morrison, Jay-Z, Jewel and Snoop Dogg all performed at different Baltimore venues. It's rare to see such a diverse lineup of star musicians at once in Baltimore. Here are excerpts from reviews of the four shows, which originally appeared on the night life and music blog Midnight Sun: Jay-Z at 1st Mariner Arena: : Jay-Z's performance was a 90-minute hit parade that toured through "The Black Album," "Vol. 2 ... Hard Knock Life" and the rapper's latest No. 1 album (his 11th to debut at No. 1, which surpasses Elvis' record)

For live music lovers, Tuesday night was a clash of the titans: Van Morrison, Jay-Z, Jewel and Snoop Dogg all performed at different Baltimore venues. It's rare to see such a diverse lineup of star musicians at once in Baltimore. Here are excerpts from reviews of the four shows, which originally appeared on the night life and music blog Midnight Sun: Jay-Z at 1st Mariner Arena: : Jay-Z's performance was a 90-minute hit parade that toured through "The Black Album," "Vol. 2 ... Hard Knock Life" and the rapper's latest No. 1 album (his 11th to debut at No. 1, which surpasses Elvis' record)

Spending of the green: Celebrating St. Patrick's Day? Here's a rundown from SmartMoney magazine of what some of the essentials cost in five U.S. cities. A copy of "Irish Heartbeat," the CD by Van Morrison and The Chieftains, runs from $14.99 in Tulsa, Okla., to $16.99 in Virginia Beach, Va. A six-pack of Guinness stout ranges from $7.29 in Omaha, Neb., to $12.50 in Pittsburgh. A one-hour lesson in step dancing ranges from $5 in Omaha and Pittsburgh to $70 in Boston.Keeping track: AT&T, one of the most widely held stocks, is also the most closely followed by securities analysts.

FILM 'This is It' : In life, Michael Jackson was anything but subdued. So it's no surprise that his theatrical sendoff will be the biggest thing (and pretty much the only thing) at the box office this week. "High School Musical" director Kenny Ortega leads a behind-the-scenes look at the King of Pop's final days. In theaters Wednesday. CONCERT Jay-Z: : Fresh off his latest album, "The Blueprint 3," the reigning king of hip-hop is on tour this fall, mostly hitting college towns, but Baltimore has also made the cut. We may have Hopkins and Towson to thank for a rare big-name show without the D.C. drive.

After eight albums, Cassandra Wilson was still classified as a young jazz singer with promise.Then came her ninth release, "Blue Light 'Til Dawn." Now she's the jazz singer of today. What's more, a lot of people with no particular interest in jazz are turning into Wilson fans."Yes, I'm surprised," the New York-based Ms. Wilson says of her burgeoning popularity. "Pleasantly surprised. The response people have to the album has been amazing. I'm still trying to figure it out."She laughs. "But I guess it's not something I need to figure out. Whatever it is, it's cool."

If members of the Woodstock generation don't already feel like museum pieces, this week they they'll have a new reason to do so. On Saturday, the New York State Museum in Albany will unveil a 35th anniversary exhibition exploring the celebrated "three days of peace, love and music" that took place in and around Woodstock, N.Y., in August 1969. The centerpiece will be "Spirit of the Woodstock Generation: The Photographs of Elliott Landy," featuring images captured by one of the festival's two official photographers.

De Niro, Van Morrison are first up on Fallon's show If Jimmy Fallon is nervous about the premiere of his new gig as Late Night host, he'll have show-biz heavyweights Robert De Niro and Van Morrison to lean on. They'll be the guests for Fallon's March 2 debut hosting the NBC late-night show. Fallon replaces Conan O'Brien, who has his final show tonight before heading out west to take over the Tonight Show in June. Morrison will perform material from his critically praised Astral Weeks album.

Even Michael Radford admits it's a change.The British director most noted for two exceedingly ill-tempered films -- "White Mischief," the story of a murder in drunken, debauched Kenya in the 1930s, and "1984," a savage version of the famous Orwell novel -- has now returned to the screen with a surprisingly gentle, sun- and love-filled film about a poet and a postman."

IIBoyz II Men (Motown 314 530 323)Given the number of heavy-breathing harmony acts that have washed onto the R&B charts in the wake of Boyz II Men's initial success, it would be easy to imagine these four Philadelphians delivering a second album that's just as sex-obsessed as the latest from H-Town or Silk. But "II" not only doesn't find the Boyz running with the pack, but actually shows them adding extra depth and individuality to their sound. It helps, of course, that the quartet is working with top-notch producers like Dallas Austin, Babyface, L.A. Reid and the team of Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis.

IT'S A LITTLE after 6 on a perfect evening at the Inner Harbor when the great Jr. Cline and the Recliners launch into Van Morrison's "Moondance," the familiar chords echoing across the still water, inviting an entire downtown to grab a beer and let go of another steamy workday. Tonight's gig is the annual deck-opening party at McCormick & Schmick's. Around patio tables heaped with crab cakes and steamed crabs, preppy guys with cell phones clipped to their belts sip Coronas with lime, and women in sundresses laugh and puff Virginia Slims menthols.

De Niro, Van Morrison are first up on Fallon's show If Jimmy Fallon is nervous about the premiere of his new gig as Late Night host, he'll have show-biz heavyweights Robert De Niro and Van Morrison to lean on. They'll be the guests for Fallon's March 2 debut hosting the NBC late-night show. Fallon replaces Conan O'Brien, who has his final show tonight before heading out west to take over the Tonight Show in June. Morrison will perform material from his critically praised Astral Weeks album.

If members of the Woodstock generation don't already feel like museum pieces, this week they they'll have a new reason to do so. On Saturday, the New York State Museum in Albany will unveil a 35th anniversary exhibition exploring the celebrated "three days of peace, love and music" that took place in and around Woodstock, N.Y., in August 1969. The centerpiece will be "Spirit of the Woodstock Generation: The Photographs of Elliott Landy," featuring images captured by one of the festival's two official photographers.

IT'S A LITTLE after 6 on a perfect evening at the Inner Harbor when the great Jr. Cline and the Recliners launch into Van Morrison's "Moondance," the familiar chords echoing across the still water, inviting an entire downtown to grab a beer and let go of another steamy workday. Tonight's gig is the annual deck-opening party at McCormick & Schmick's. Around patio tables heaped with crab cakes and steamed crabs, preppy guys with cell phones clipped to their belts sip Coronas with lime, and women in sundresses laugh and puff Virginia Slims menthols.

Spending of the green: Celebrating St. Patrick's Day? Here's a rundown from SmartMoney magazine of what some of the essentials cost in five U.S. cities. A copy of "Irish Heartbeat," the CD by Van Morrison and The Chieftains, runs from $14.99 in Tulsa, Okla., to $16.99 in Virginia Beach, Va. A six-pack of Guinness stout ranges from $7.29 in Omaha, Neb., to $12.50 in Pittsburgh. A one-hour lesson in step dancing ranges from $5 in Omaha and Pittsburgh to $70 in Boston.Keeping track: AT&T, one of the most widely held stocks, is also the most closely followed by securities analysts.

How long Has This Been Going OnVan Morrison (Verve 314 529 136) Although Van Morrison has been flirting with jazz since 1968, when he recorded "Astral Weeks" with Richard Davis and Connie Kay, he only just got around to his first jazz date. Recorded last year at Ronnie Scott's in London, "How Long Has This Been Going On" is a straight-ahead blowing session that could as easily have taken place in the '50s. Morrison and his mates are by no means dilettantes; in addition to longtime sidemen Georgie Fame and Pee Wee Ellis, the singer recruited such top-drawer British jazz talent as Guy Barker, Alan Skidmore and Alec Dankworth.

Even Michael Radford admits it's a change.The British director most noted for two exceedingly ill-tempered films -- "White Mischief," the story of a murder in drunken, debauched Kenya in the 1930s, and "1984," a savage version of the famous Orwell novel -- has now returned to the screen with a surprisingly gentle, sun- and love-filled film about a poet and a postman."

How long Has This Been Going OnVan Morrison (Verve 314 529 136) Although Van Morrison has been flirting with jazz since 1968, when he recorded "Astral Weeks" with Richard Davis and Connie Kay, he only just got around to his first jazz date. Recorded last year at Ronnie Scott's in London, "How Long Has This Been Going On" is a straight-ahead blowing session that could as easily have taken place in the '50s. Morrison and his mates are by no means dilettantes; in addition to longtime sidemen Georgie Fame and Pee Wee Ellis, the singer recruited such top-drawer British jazz talent as Guy Barker, Alan Skidmore and Alec Dankworth.

"What's a moon dance, anyway?" Her words float casually from the next room.My 10-year-old is listening to her favorite CD of the week -- Van Morrison. Before that, she and a friend spent an entire Saturday choreographing an intricate dance-gymnastics combination to the strains of "Honky Tonk Woman" by the Rolling Stones. One of my sons is partial to Led Zeppelin, but his brother's allegiance does not swerve from Eric Clapton -- plugged or unplugged. In the car, they are as likely to pop in the Neil Young tape as their mother.

After eight albums, Cassandra Wilson was still classified as a young jazz singer with promise.Then came her ninth release, "Blue Light 'Til Dawn." Now she's the jazz singer of today. What's more, a lot of people with no particular interest in jazz are turning into Wilson fans."Yes, I'm surprised," the New York-based Ms. Wilson says of her burgeoning popularity. "Pleasantly surprised. The response people have to the album has been amazing. I'm still trying to figure it out."She laughs. "But I guess it's not something I need to figure out. Whatever it is, it's cool."

IIBoyz II Men (Motown 314 530 323)Given the number of heavy-breathing harmony acts that have washed onto the R&B charts in the wake of Boyz II Men's initial success, it would be easy to imagine these four Philadelphians delivering a second album that's just as sex-obsessed as the latest from H-Town or Silk. But "II" not only doesn't find the Boyz running with the pack, but actually shows them adding extra depth and individuality to their sound. It helps, of course, that the quartet is working with top-notch producers like Dallas Austin, Babyface, L.A. Reid and the team of Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis.