Capsule reviews of new movie releases

Admission" — What should be a hilarious, long-overdue pairing of two hugely likable, superstar comedians ends up being a major disappointment. As much film and television work as they do individually, Tina Fey and Paul Rudd surprisingly never have worked together. In theory, her smart, zingy persona should mesh beautifully with his easygoing goofiness — or their shared dynamic should bounce, or snap, or have some sort of life to it. Instead, Paul Weitz's direction of Karen Croner's script is tonally erratic: too fast in spots and too much of a slog in others.

It certainly doesn't help that the characters feel like types without much nuance. Even reliable comic veterans like Fey and Rudd can't find much that's new or fresh in these people, and as a result they have zero chemistry with each other. Fey, as a Princeton University admissions officer, is always uptight, precise and emotionally closed-off. Rudd, as the do-gooder founder of an alternative New England high school, is always free-spirited, adventurous and open-minded. Even in the fantasy world of romantic comedies where opposites attract and sparks fly, these two have no business being together. Nat Wolff plays the odd, brilliant student who may be the son Fey's character put up for adoption as a newborn and Lily Tomlin provides the film's few moments of joy as Fey's maverick feminist mother. PG-13 for language and some sexual material. 100 minutes. One and a half stars out of four.

Sunday Kind of Love

Fran Warren, whose 1947 recording of "A Sunday Kind of Love" was one of the classic hits of the big band era, has died.

Alan Eichler, a spokesman for the singer-actress, said Tuesday that Warren died March 4 of natural causes at her home in Brookfield, Conn. She was 87.

Warren's career spanned more than 50 years with hits that included the Tony Martin duet "I Said My Pajamas (and Put On My Prayers)," the Lisa Kirk duet "Dearie" and "It's Anybody's Heart." Her films roles included "Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd."

She frequently appeared and performed on the talk shows of Johnny Carson, Mike Douglas, Merv Griffin and Steve Allen.

Warren is survived by two daughters, a son-in-law and two nieces.

Jazzing it up

In 1935, the notorious Shanghai gangster Du Yuesheng ordered the composer and musician Li Jinhui to create the first all-Chinese jazz group, the Clear Wind Dance Band.

As early as 1927, Li had been experimenting with "Sinofied jazz", merging Western big-band sounds with chord and meter variations on traditional Chinese folk instruments.

Clear Wind played to boozy backroom crowds and was perceived by many as a form of cultural corruption. The music was almost immediately labeled "pornographic" and was later entirely banned in China.

Shanghai jazz had only a brief heyday, but Dave Liang, former Bad Boy Records producer and founder of the electronica group Shanghai Restoration Project, was deeply inspired when he first heard the music on a trip to Shanghai's Peace Hotel 15 years ago.

Shanghai Restoration Project is Liang's attempt to recapture that spirit, combining nostalgia for old Shanghai not with the sounds of bygone eras but au courant Western genres of hip-hop and electronica.

Jim Morrison Documentary Begins Production

Jim Morrison will be memorialized in a new independent documentary that has started production. Before the End: Jim Morrison Comes of Age will give a look into the life of the late Doors singer, examining his early years through his untimely death in July 1971 at age 27.

According to Deadline.com, Before the End will feature interviews with Morrison's family and friends, including his brother Andy Morrison and Doors roadie Gareth Blyth, as well as previously unseen home movies and photographs. Z-Machine filmmakers Jess and Jeff Finn are leading the project.

Morrison and the Doors have been the subject of numerous documentaries already. One recent example, Mr. Mojo Risin': The Story of L.A. Woman – a film about the Doors' final album with Morrison – was released in January 2012.

Alicia Keys Spreads Love

Are you in love tonight?" asked Alicia Keys of her sold-out Staples Center audience last night in Los Angeles, the fourth stop on her North American arena tour. It was early in a night of affection and uplift from the singer, as she sat alone at the piano for a delicate and emotional "Not Even the King."

The song is from last year's Girl on Fire, and it was co-written with British singer Emeli Sandé. Keys has been calling it her favorite song, and she sings its simple message of feeling over profit most nights to her two-year-old son: "What good is a castle surrounded by people/But ain't got a friend that's not on the payroll?"

At 32, Keys is already a dozen years into her career, still operating with a sensibility both hip-hop modern and rooted in the best traditions of classic American soul. She opened her two-hour performance with a few jazzy, smoldering moments of "Empire State of Mind," her collaboration with Jay-Z, which would bookend the night with endless awe and dedication for her hometown.

Rihanna Still Recovering Cancels Second Tour Date in Baltimore

Rihanna's Diamonds World Tour is off to a rough start: the singer is still dealing with the flu and laryngitis and has canceled her show tonight in Baltimore. A statement from Live Nation, reported by the Associated Press, said Rihanna is "still recovering" and suggested fans hold onto their tickets "pending rescheduling show date information."

Rihanna kicked off her Diamonds World Tour last Friday in Buffalo, New York, but canceled her show on Sunday in Boston after falling ill. "#BOSTON this is the hardest thing for me to deal with! I feel like we've been waiting on this day forever, and I'm hurt that I let you down," she tweeted at the time. "I hate disappointing people that never ever let me down!! I'm so embarrassed about this! Thank you for your prayers and well wishes!"

Rock guitarist Alvin Lee dies at 68

British rock guitarist Alvin Lee, founder of the band Ten Years After who burst to stardom with a memorable Woodstock performance, has died. He was 68.

A statement posted on Lee's official website said he died Wednesday unexpectedly from complications following a routine surgical procedure. Lee's manager, Ron Rainey, said the guitarist died in Spain.

"We have lost a wonderful, much loved father and companion," said the statement signed by his daughter Jasmin, wife Evi and former companion Suzanne. "The world has lost a truly great and gifted musician."

The Nottingham, England-born Lee founded the band Ten Years After in 1967. The group first toured the U.S. in 1967, but its popularity exploded following Lee's rousing performance of the song "I'm Going Home" at Woodstock in 1969. Lee's epic and electrifying solos on his Gibson guitar for the 11-minute performance were immortalized in the documentary film about the legendary festival.

Jepsen drops Boy Scouts event over gay rights

Carly Rae Jepsen is canceling her performance at the national Boy Scouts of America Jamboree because of the organization's exclusion of gays.

Jepsen, the Canadian pop singer best known for the inescapable hit "Call Me Maybe," made the announcement Tuesday on Twitter.

"I always have and will continue to support the LGBT community on a global level," she wrote, "... and stay informed on the ever changing landscape in the ongoing battle for gay rights in this country and across the globe."

Rock band Train also has taken a stand, but pursued a different tack in a post on its website Friday. The group asked the BSA to reconsider its policy rather than immediately pull out of the July gathering in West Virginia. The event, held once every four years, is expected to draw more than 45,000 scouts and adults.

Dave Grohl's Sound City Players to Perform at SXSW

Dave Grohl's merry band of rock superstars, the Sound City Players, will continue their string of national shows with a performance at SXSW in Austin, Texas on March 14th. The rotating cast of musicians have already played in Los Angeles, New York and the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, to support the Foo Fighter frontman's directorial debut, Sound City, a documentary about the famed Sound City recording studio in Van Nuys, California, and its accompanying album, Sound City: Real to Reel.

Grohl's Sound City Players lineup at SXSW brings back many familiar faces: Stevie Nicks, John Fogerty, Lee Ving of Fear, Rick Nielsen, Rick Springfield, Brad Wilk of Rage Against the Machine, Corey Taylor of Slipknot and more, according to Billboard. The show will be held at the rock hall Stubbs and the Meat Puppets will open.

SXSW will be a busy week for Grohl: he will also deliver the festival's keynote address on the morning of the Sound City Players' show.

People always commented on the tall one with the glasses

Roger's cousin Claudette told the Detroit Free Press that everyone was drawn to his personality.

"People always commented on the tall one with the glasses," she said. "He was personable, approachable and he loved talking to the women, loved talking to the guys, loved to dance, loved to sing, loved to perform. That was the joy of his life."

His voice can be heard on Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On," with Rogers saying, "It's just a groovy party, man, I can dig it." Mary Wilson of the Supremes said that captured his essence.

"If people want to remember him, they should put that record on and listen to Bobby," Wilson told the newspaper. "That's who he was."

Rogers and The Miracles were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012. He was too ill to attend the ceremony.

He shared songwriting credits with Robinson on The Temptations' "The Way You Do the Things You Do," The Contours' "First I Look at the Purse" and The Miracles' "Going to a Go-Go."

Funeral arrangements through James H. Cole Home for Funerals in Detroit were incomplete Sunday afternoon.

Brian May Speaks Out Against Badger Population Reductions in Britain

In a recent interview with the Guardian, the astrophysicist, animal rights activist and Queen guitarist Brian May expressed concern over the imminent badger culls that are set to take place in Britain this summer, despite overwhelming disapproval from the public, Parliament and scientific community.

"It's kind appealing, 'We're doing something, we're taking action, it's a kind of sexy thing, yeah, we'll go and kill the badgers,'" said May. "But this is a tragedy for Britain's wildlife and it's a tragedy for the farmers as well, I believe, because I think it will drive a wedge between the farming community and the general public, who actually will not stand for this."

May called the government-mandated population reduction "very, very sad" and added the move won't help the farmers fight the spread of bovine tuberculosis, which the badgers have been blamed