China has become such an important market for U.S. entertainment companies that one studio has taken the extraordinary step of digitally altering a film to excise bad guys from the Communist nation lest the leadership in Beijing be offended.

Rhythm Road artists represent the new generation of musical ambassadors, reaching beyond concert halls to interact with other musicians and the general public.

A new musical group will literally be jazzing things up today at an annual charity performance by Harvard University here. A capella singers Harvard Voxjazz will join the Harvard Krokodiloes, the Radcliffe Pitches and the Harvard Din & Tonics for ‘Harvard in Hamilton For Habitat V’.

Maximum India has been everything it was expected to be – a resounding success – but for its films: old art house productions, usual suspects pulled out from the stable of ponies reserved for film festivals. The host, Kennedy Center, is aware of the criticism, but is taking it on the chin.

Jazz wins hearts and minds. It’s a rhythmic diplomat, reflective and conversant by its nature. That’s the idea behind the Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad, a project produced by Jazz at Lincoln Center and sponsored by grants from the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, now embarking on its seventh series of journeys.

Members of the famous Mayurbhanj Chhau Group from Orissa, India are on their way to the West Indies for several performances and workshops from March 14 to 20. This is under the aegis of the High Commissioner of India, Malay Mishra and Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Cultural Cooperation.

Just a fortnight before the massive tsunami devastated north-eastern Japan, nearly 300 passionate Japanese nationals in the City were enjoying themselves, exhibiting aspects of their cultural heritage and embracing elements of Indian mores.

Since the whole deal with the public vote for the 2014 Winter Olympics to be held in Sochi began back in September [RUS], the issue seems to have been all but “non-political”: from the selection of 11 emblems-finalists at the end of the solicitation period to the actual call-in and SMS vote on February 26 2011, televised [RUS] on the state channel ORT.