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African artists have always been particularly open to outside influences, but this concert was remarkable both for the extraordinary array of styles and the skill with which they were blended together.

Richard Bona is a distinguished jazz player who has worked with the likes of Pat Metheny and Joe Zawinul, but here the Cameroonian bassist was out to show that jazz and blues are just part of his range. He and his band constantly changed direction, from African songs to funk, flamenco, Brazilian and Caribbean influences, mixed in with quirky demonstrations of his musicianship that veered towards good-humoured cabaret. This musical kaleidoscope was held together by light bass runs that provided the foundation for guitar, keyboard and horn solos from his impressive band. Bona’s gently exquisite vocal work was equally notable.

He looked like a pop star, sporting dreadlocks and jeans, but opened with a drifting song dominated by his high, delicate voice, before showing off the band’s dynamic range with a switch to jazz funk. From then on, the changes kept coming, from the mellow African tune M’Bemba Mama to the excursion into brassy Indian styles on Shiva Mantra, and a dazzling display of musicianship and technology in which he sampled his own solo vocals, adding layers of overdubs.
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The Recording Academy has added songs by James Brown, Bob Marley, the Beach Boys, Louis Armstrong and others to its Grammy Hall of Fame, bringing the total number of titles in the collection to 851.

The latest batch of 25 recordings added to the list includes Brown’s 1966 “It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World” and Marley’s 1973 album “Catch a Fire,” which the Jamaican reggae great recorded with his band The Wailers, the academy said.

Also on the list was the Beach Boys’ 1965 song “California Girls,” jazz master Louis Armstrong’s 1931 “Lazy River” and the 1972 comedy album “Class Clown” from George Carlin, who died last year.

The 25 recordings added to the Grammy Hall of Fame will be displayed along with the rest of the collection at the Grammy Museum in downtown Los Angeles.

Earlier this month, Alicia Keys told Billboard.com that since her album, “The Element of Freedom,” was pushed back from Dec. 1 to Dec. 15, she used the additional time to work on possibly “the most exciting collaborations of my career yet.” Now her label, J Records, confirms the album includes a duet with Beyoncé as well as one with newcomer Drake.

“Put It In A Love Song” features Beyoncé, while “Unthinkable (I’m Ready)” has background vocals by Drake. There’s also the reggae-tinged “Love is My Disease;” the 80s-inspired “This Bed;” and first and second singles “Doesn’t Mean Anything” and “Try Sleeping With a Broken Heart,” which are at No. 18 and No. 41 on this week’s R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, respectively.

“Element of Freedom” features production from Jeff Bhasker, Swizz Beatz, longtime collaborator Kerry “Krucial” Brothers and Drake’s producer, Noah “40″ Shebib.

In support of “Element,” Keys is set to appear on “The Today Show,” “Oprah,” “Late Show with David Letterman,” and “The View,” among others, in coming weeks. Additionally, she will perform an intimate, sold-out concert in New York City on Dec. 1 (World AIDS day and the original release date of the album), with 100% of the proceeds being donated to the “Keep A Child Alive” charity. The event will be streamed live on YouTube at 8 p.m. EST.

Rihanna has admitted she reunited with Chris Brown after he assaulted her in February but changed her mind when she realised she was setting a bad example to her fans.

Rihanna admits she was “wrong” to go back to Chris Brown after he assaulted her.

The ‘Umbrella’ singer - who was left battered and bruised after her ex-boyfriend attacked her in February at a pre-Grammys party - says she had convinced herself it wouldn’t happen again and wanted to give their relationship another go.

She told US TV show ‘Good Morning America’: “I was so far in love, so unconditional that I went back. It’s humiliating to say this happened. To accept that? It’s a traumatising experience.

“I stayed. I even went back after he beat me, which was wrong. But again … I’m a human being, and people put me on a very unrealistic pedestal. And all these expectations, I’m not perfect. Also it’s pretty natural for that to be the first reaction. … It’s completely normal to go back. You start lying to yourself. The minute the physical wounds go away you want this thing to go away. This is a memory you don’t want to have ever again.”

Meanwhile, Chris blames his lack of anger management on the attack but still couldn’t believe he had assaulted her.
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Chris Brown has received an “extremely favorable” report from probation officials overseeing his felony assault case, a judge said.

Brown appeared in a Los Angeles courtroom on Thursday (Nov. 19) to offer a judge his first progress report since being sentenced for beating ex-girlfriend Rihanna earlier this year. He talked and laughed with his lawyer before the hearing, which took less than 10 minutes.

The R&B singer is serving five years of probation and must attend domestic violence counseling and perform six months of community labor in Virginia.

Brown’s attorney, Mark Geragos, says Brown has already done 100 hours of community labor in Richmond, Va.

Los Angeles Patricia Schnegg said Brown has also paid all of his court-ordered fees and fines.

Both Brown and Rihanna are trying to put the beating behind them by focusing on their careers. Rihanna has a popular new single titled “Russian Roulette.” Brown is due to release his third album on Dec. 8.

Brown is due back in court for another progress report on Feb. 18. Schnegg told Brown that once he completes his community service and counseling sessions, she won’t require him to come back to court every three months.