Anat Cohen Rings in the New Year in Boston at Berklee Performance Center

Jazz musician Anat Cohen is performing as part of Boston's First Night activities at the Berklee Performance Center.

The concert is being broadcast by WGBH 89.7 FM and kicks off NPR's annual worldwide broadcast, Toast of the Nation. She performs two sets, at 8:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m..

A native of Tel Aviv, Israel, Cohen is one of jazz's brightest young stars. The saxophonist and clarinetist was recently named Clarinetist of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association. Her quartet features Jason Linder on Piano, Joe Martin on bass, and Daniel Freema on drums.

For more information on Anet Cohen's concert in Boston, visit berklee.edu/.

Vocalist Linda Eder at Berklee Performance Center, November 28

Linda Eder, who possesses one of the great contemporary voices of our time, celebrates the release of her new album, Sound Track.

Tickets include a special meet-and-greet with the artist after the show.

Tickets: $75 Golden Circle, $50, $40, $30, reserved seating

Berklee Performance Center

136 Massachusetts Avenue

Boston MA 02115

For details on jazz year round in Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com.

Amanda Carr & Kenny Hadley Big Band Jazz Brunch

The New England Center for the Performing Arts is presenting Amanda Carr and the Kenny Hadley Big Band jazz brunch at Mechanics Hall in Worchester on Sunday, November 15 at noon.

The event is being hosted by WBZ radio personality Jordan Rich.

The event includes a culinary feast promptly at noon followed by a big ban program. Joining Ms. Carr and the band is a chorus of singers from the Franklin Performing Arts Company.

Tickets to the brunch/concert are available by contacting Mechanics Hall at 508 752-0888 or visiting mechanicshall.org.

Reserved premium seating is $55 and general seating is $45.

The concert is supported by WICN, 90.5 FM, Worchester's Jazz and Folk Station.

For more details on jazz in Massachusetts, visit massjazz.com/.

Northeastern University Reflects on Legacy of John and Alice Coltrane on November 13

Northeastern University presents a discussion entitled The Coltranes and Humanism: Spirituality, Music and Sound, on Friday, November 13. It takes place from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the John D. O’Bryant African American Institute, 40 Leon Street on campus. The event is free and open to the public.

The events starts with a roundtable discussion that includes master musician/scholar Yusef Lateef, joined by Professor Tammy Kernodle, and Northeastern professors Emmett Price and Leonard Brown. They’ll address the humanist legacy of the Coltranes, including the significance of John Coltrane’s iconic status.

According to the press release, the round-table is followed by a discussion with audience members about "the relationship between music and Black America’s struggle for freedom and equality; how the Coltranes’ music has helped shape global expressions of spirituality and politics; and how we can rethink humanism and the humanities from the perspective of music."

This event is co-sponsored by the Northeastern University Humanities Center, the John D. O’Bryant African-American Institute, and the Departments of African American Studies, Religion & Philosophy, Women's Studies, Sociology & Anthropology, and Music.

Convenient T stops are on the Green (Northeastern) and Orange (Ruggles) Lines. For more information, call 617-373-8700.

For information about Northeastern’s program on John Coltrane, visit jcmc.neu.edu/john_coltrane.php

For more details on jazz in Massachusetts year round, visit massjazz.com

Fred Ho at Harvard, November 4

Fred Ho, a one-of-a-kind revolutionary Chinese American baritone saxophonist, composer, writer, producer, political activist and leader of several music ensembles, is in concert with the Harvard Jazz Band on November 4 at Lowell Hall, 17 Kirkland Street, in Cambridge.

“Fred Ho's style is a genre unto itself, a pioneering fusion of free-jazz and traditional Chinese music that manages to combine truculence and delicacy with such natural ease that it sounds positively organic,” wrote Larry Birnbaum in Down Beat Magazine.

The concert is open to the general public. Tickets are $10.00, and for students and seniors, $8.00.

For more details, visit harvard.edu/

For details on jazz in Massachusetts, visit massjazz.com/

5th annual Pittsfield CityJazz Festival in Western Massachusetts runs October 7-17

The 5th annual Pittsfield CityJazz Festival gets underway this week with 18 jazz performances throughout the city, including performances by jazz guitar virtuoso Frank Vignola, and international jazz legend, pianist Dave Brubeck (see picture).

For more details, visit berkshiresjazz.org

Wednesday, October 7

Royal Hartigan Group

Berkshire Athenaeum

One Wendall Ave,

413 499-9480, 7:00 p.m.

Friday, October 9

Eagles Stage Band
Pittsfield City Hall Steps
Rain Location: City Council Chambers, Noon

Dave Winchester-Piano
Joe's Lunchbox
137 North St.,

413-997-4500, 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

We B 3 Organ Trio
The Lantern Restaurant
445 North St.,

413-448-2717, 9:00 p.m.-Midnight

Dave Brown Trio., Mission Bar & Tapas
438 North St. 8:00-11:00 p.m

Ted Murray Quartet
Patrick's Pub
Park Square, 413-499-1994, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Allen Livermore Trio
Pittsfield Brew Works
34 Depot St., 413-997-3506, 8:00 – 11:00 p.m.

Saturday, October 10

Ted Murray Quartet
Patrick's Pub
Park Square, 413-499-1994, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Fran Curley Trio
Pittsfield Brew Works
34 Depot St., 413-997-3506, 8:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m.

We B 3 Organ Trio
The Lantern Restaurant
445 North St., 413-448-2717, 9:00 p.m.-Midnight

Thursday, October 15

Dan Broad with Allen Livermore
& Students from Berkshire Community College (BCC)
Intermodal Transportation Center
Columbus Avenue @ North St., 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Andy Kelly's Dixieland Ambassadors
Crowne Plaza
Park Square, 413 499-2000, 5:00 -8:00 p.m.

The Inbetweens
Dottie's Coffee Lounge
444 North St., 413 443-1793, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Industrial Jazz Group
Downtown, Mobile Sound Stage

5:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Frank Vignola Master Class
Berkshire Music School
30 Wendell Ave., 413 442-1411, 7:15 p.m.

Friday, October 16

Frank Vignola in Concert

Top of the Crown Lounge

Crowne Plaza Hotel

Park Square, 413 499-2000, 7: 30 p.m.

Saturday, October 17

Dave Brubeck Quartet & Berkshires Jazz Youth Ensemble

Colonial Theatre

111 South Street. 413 997-4444, 8:00 p.m.

Sunday, October 18

Jazz Jam

Lichtenstein Center for the Arts

18 Renne Ave, 413 499-9348, 3:00 p.m.

Trumpet Player Leroy Jones Plays Special Concert in Marblehead, October 10

New Orleans jazz trumpeter Leroy Jones returns with his Quintet to Marblehead, Massachusetts for a concert on Saturday, October 10, beginning at 8:00 p.m. at the Unitarian-Universalist Church, 28 Mugford Street in the historical town of Marblehead, on Boston's North Shore.

The special concert concludes the 25th season of the Marblehead Summer Jazz Series, where Jones has been a long-time favorite, having played to sold-out audiences in 1996 and 2002.

Gene Arnould, producer of the series, said that "Leroy's performance would be the icing on the 25th Season Cake."

Joining Leroy on the bandstand is Paul Longstreth on piano, Mitchell Player on bass, and Jerry Anderson on drums. Craig Klein, the trombone player who appeared with Jones at his earlier performances is touring with his own trombone band so the Trombone Chair will be filled by Leroy’s wife, Katja Toivola, a native a Finland.

“We’re delighted,” said Arnould. “Leroy has been telling me for years what a great player she is and now we get to hear her for ourselves. It couldn’t be better!”

Tickets for the Leroy Jones performance are $25 in advance and $27 at the door. Preferred Seating tickets are available at $35 and Reserved (Benefactor) Seating is available for $48. Tickets may be purchased in Marblehead at Arnould Gallery, 111 Washington Street, or the Spirit of ’76 Bookstore, 107 Pleasant Street.

They may be purchased on line at marbleheadjazz.org/. Tickets and information can also be had by calling the Summer Jazz Hot Line, 781-631-1528.

For more details on jazz in Massachusetts throughout the year, visit massjazz.com.

Cape Cod's JazzFest Falmouth 2009 Features O'Farrill, Martino and other jazz stars on October 2-3

Arturo O'Farrill

Arturo O’Farrill, Pat Martino, Dominique Eade and other jazz stars highlight JazzFest Falmouth 2009, which runs Friday, October 2, and Saturday, October 3, in Falmouth on Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

The popular festival, in its second year, has quickly emerged as a high caliber celebration of jazz that showcases nationally renowned musicians alongside the area’s top jazz artists.

Among the performers scheduled on Friday evening: vocalist Candida Rose, the Pat Ryan Group, Cape Cod Conservatory Big Band, Livio Freitas, Progression 28, Two Cool, the Russ Wilcox Band, Mwalin, and Stage Door Canteen.

On Saturday, the schedule includes the Falmouth High School Band and CJOY(Conservatory Jazz Orchestra for Youth), Quintology, Jonathan Batiste, the Greg Hopkins Big Band with vocalist Dominique Eade, Pt Martino, and the Arturo O’Farrill Sextet.

Special guests hosts at the festival include Eric Jackson, host of “Jazz with Eric in the Evening” on WGBH, Naomi Arenber, host of Folk on WGBH, and Falmouth’s own Billy Brackett.

Tented Lawn Seating is $25 in advance and $35 the day of the event. Preferred seating and sponsor tickets also are available.

Detailed festival and ticket information is available at www.JazzFestFalmouth.org.

JazzFest Falmouth is presented by ArtsFalmouth, an alliance of artists, cultural organizations, businesses and individuals who believe in the importance of art for the vitality and future of the Falmouth and the Upper Cape. A non-profit volunteer organization, ArtsFalmouth is open to all art and cultural organizations and individual artists in the area.

For year round information on jazz in Massachusetts, visit http://www.massjazz.com/.

Junior Mance & Randy Weston Honor Thelonius Monk in Massachusetts

sueauclairpromotions.com/JuniorMance

sueauclairpromotions/RandyWeston.html

For a full list of jazz in Massachusetts, visit massjazz.com

Daniela Schachter Performing at Berklee on Monday, September 28

Italian pianist, vocalist, composer and arranger Daniela Schachter is performing from her new CD, Purple Butterfly, in Boston, when she plays a concert with her quartet at the Berklee Performance Center on Wednesday, September 28, at 8:15 p.m.

Winner of the Mary Lou Williams Jazz Piano Competition in 2005 and many other awards, Schachter first came to the United States on a full scholarship to the Berklee College of Music. She has performed around the world with some of jazz’s leading artists, and has appeared on Marion McPartland’s NPR program. McPartland described her as “a beautiful Italian import, a brilliant young pianist and singer is taking America by storm.”

The quarter features Bill Pierce on tenor saxophone, Jeff Galindo on trombone, Oleg Osenkov on upright bass, Yoron Israel on drums, Daniela Schächter on piano and vocals.

Tickets: $10 ($2 students) www.berkleebpc.com

For more information on jazz in Massachusetts, visit http://www.massjazz.com/.

Berklee BeanTown Jazz Festival Goes Outdoors on Saturday, September 26

The week-long Berklee BeanTown Jazz Festival culminates this Saturday, September 26, with a free, outdoor festival in Boston's historic South End neighborhood

The festival runs from noon to 6:00 p.m., featuring three music stages spread over six blocks on Columbus Avenue, at the corner of Massachusetts Avenue.

In addition to a stellar line-up of music, the festival offers fun activities for the whole family as well as an opportunity to learn more about jazz, musical instruments, and some of the city's jazz clubs, educational courses and vibrant scene.

More than 80 vendor booths will offer arts, crafts, accessories, and great food representing a variety of countries.

"This festival is a testament to Boston's reputation as a music hub and its dedication to jazz and producing and nurturing great artists," says Terri Lyne Carrington, BeanTown Jazz Festival artistic director. "As a native and recent returnee to the area, I'm thrilled for this chance to give back to the community by throwing a big party for Boston. I hope people come out to fraternize with their neighbors, enjoy the delicious food, and hear some incredible music."

See festival map at beantownjazz.org/

For more information about jazz throughout Massachusetts, visit http://www.massjazz.com/.

Kickin' the Blues, Featuring David Sanborn, Kevin Mahogany, and Amina Claudine Myers

On Friday, September 25, the 9th annual Berklee BeanTown Jazz Festival presents an all star line-up of jazz greats in a concert entitled Kickin' the Blues.

The line-up includes six-time Grammy winner David Sanborn, considered one of the greatest saxophone players; Amina Claudine Myers, keyboard player, composer, actress and educator; and Kevin Mahogany, one of the great jazz vocalists of our time (see photo).

The concert starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Berklee Performance Center, 136 Massachusetts Avenue, in Boston's Back Bay. [Map]

Tickets: $45, $35, $25, reserved seating. Purchase tickets through Ticketmaster.

For more information about jazz throughout Massachusetts, visit http://www.massjazz.com/.

Branford Marsalis Performs at the Berklee BeanTown Jazz Festival, September 23

The 9th annual Berklee BeanTown Jazz Festival continues all week, with saxophonist Branford Marsalis and his Quartet playing at the Berklee Performance Center on Wednesday, September 23, at 8:00 p.m.

The Quartet features Branford Marsalis on saxophone, Eric Revis on bass, Joey Calderazzo on piano, and, a new addition to the band, 18 year old drummer Justin Faulkner, who replaces the protean drummer, Jeff "Tain" Watts.

World-renowned saxophonist Branford Marsalis, born in 1960, has always been a man of numerous musical interests, from jazz, blues and funk to such classical music projects as his Fall 2008 tour with Marsalis Brasilianos. The three-time Grammy winner has continued to exercise and expand his skills as an instrumentalist, a composer, and the head of Marsalis Music, the label he founded in 2002 that has allowed him to produce both his own projects and those of the jazz world’s most promising new and established artists.

For the full schedule of the Berklee BeanTown Jazz Festival, click here.


Berklee BeanTown Jazz Festival
The Branford Marsalis Quartet
Wednesday, September 23, 2009, 8:00 p.m.
Berklee Performance Center
136 Massachusetts AvenueBoston MA 02115 [Map]
Tickets are $41 and $35.

Berklee BeanTown Jazz Festival, September 18-26, 2009

The 9th annual Berklee BeanTown Jazz Festival is underway this week, with dozens of great jazz performances on tap throughout Boston and Cambridge from September 18-26, 2009.

Twenty bands and over 130 musicians are slated to perform at the Berklee Performance Center (BPC), Scullers Jazz Club, Regattabar, Wally’s Café, Berklee’s Café 939, and David Friend Recital Hall through the week.

See complete schedule here.

This year’s artistic director is Terri Lyne Carrington, a world-renowned jazz drummer, Berklee faculty member and past performer at the Festival. She has toured extensively with Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, and Al Jarreau, and was nominated for a Grammy for her album, Real Life Story, and as producer for the Dianne Reeves album, That Day.

Highlights of this year's BeanTown Festival include three-time Grammy-winning saxophonist and Berklee alumnus Branford Marsalis (September 23, BPC); Kickin' the Blues, a concert featuring six-time Grammy-winning saxophonist David Sanborn and vocalists Amina Claudine Myers and Kevin Mahogany (September 25, BPC); multi-Grammy-nominated vocalist Kurt Elling (September 25-26, Scullers); influential pianist/composer Ahmad Jamal (Sept. 18-19, Regattabar); and Love and Hunger, an original play about the life and work of Billie Holiday, written and performed by Berklee students (September 24, David Friend Recital Hall).

The BeanTown Festival culminates on Saturday, September 26 with a free, outdoor festival from noon to 6:00 p.m., on three stages, in Boston’s South End neighborhood, at the corner of Mass Ave and Columbus Ave. In addition to continuous live performances, the six-block festival features more than 80 vendor booths with arts, crafts, accessories and food, as well as family events, including inflatable attractions, photos, face painting, temporary tattoos, coloring and crafts, free food and beverage snacks and a musical instrument petting zoo.

For more information, please contact 617 747-2261 or visit beantownjazz.org.

About the Festival:

Nine years ago, Darryl Settles (partner of the Beehive Jazz Club in Boston's South End and several other venues) produced the South End's first jazz festival and had a surprise turnout of nearly 10,000 people. From this beginning, The BeanTown Jazz Festival has grown to become Boston's most popular outdoor festival, attracting large crowds to the festival grounds on Columbus Avenue each year.

Italian Guitarist Massimo Sammi Debuts new CD at Regattabar, October 6

Join guitarist Massimo Sammi as he celebrates the release of his debut CD First Day in concert at the Regattabar, Charles Hotel, One Bennett Street, Cambridge.

First Day is a musically and conceptually daring recording debut of immense depth and beauty inspired by the film A Beautiful Mind. Sammi combines both a musical storyboarding of the film with a musical application of mathematician John Nash's theories to free jazz improvisations.

Sammi, a native of Genoa, Italy, came to the U.S. in 2006 to study Jazz Composition with Ken Schaphorst and Michael Gandolfi at New England Conservatory.

Joining Sammi is the all-star group featured on the CD: saxophonist George Garzone, bassist John Lockwood, drummer Yoron Israel, and special guest vocalist Dominique Eade.

Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. show are $16. Call 617-661-5000 or log on to regattabarjazz.com/.

A streaming video documentary about the making of First Day is available here.

CHARLIE KOHLHASE & EXPLORER'S CLUB AT JOHNNY D'S, SEPTEMBER 9

Charlie Kohlhase and his Explorer's Club band - Kohlhase on alto, tenor & baritone saxophones; Matt Langley on tenor & soprano saxophones; Jeff Galindo on trombone; Eric Hofbauer on guitar; Jef Charland on bass and the tandem drumming of Miki Matsuki and Chris Punis - celebrate the release of their debut CD "Adventures" (Boxholder Records) in concert at 8:30 and 10 p.m. on Wednesday, September 9 at Johnny D's 17 Holland Street, Davis Square in Somerville, Massachusetts.

Admission is $10.

Call 617-776-2004 or log on to www.johnnyds.com.

BARRENCE WHITFIELD AND THE SAVAGES PERFORM IN SALEM, SEPTEMBER 19

The Salem Jazz and Blues Festival holds a major fundraiser on Saturday, September 19, starting Barrence Whitfield and the Savages.

The special concert features Whitfield – one of New England’s legendary R&B Singers – reunited with his original soul band, the Savages, in a special concert entitled “Soul Lotta Love.” It takes place at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 94 Washington Street, in Salem.

Tickets are $15.00 and are available online at the Festival’s web site: Salemjazzsoul.org/music_soullottalove2009.html

The fundraiser also features an auction where more than a dozen exciting prize packages, from nights out on the town to spa treatments and more are being offered.

The Salem Jazz and Soul Festival is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that produces free concerts for the public and raises money to support music education programs.

For more information, contact info@salemjazzsoul.com or visit SalemJazzSoul.org

32nd ANNUAL JOHN COLTRANE MEMORIAL CONCERT IN BOSTON, SEPTEMBER 26-27

The music and life of legendary jazz saxophonist John Coltrane is being celebrated in Boston next month at the 32nd annual John Coltrane Memorial Concert. This annual gathering of Boston’s jazz musicians, artists, African-American leaders and music lovers showcases Coltrane’s musical genius as well as his spiritual wisdom and optimism about transforming society through music and culture.

This year's John Coltrane Memorial Concert includes two concerts taking place on September 26 and 27 (see details below), featuring a host of world-class musicians who will reflect upon the rich musical and spiritual legacy of 'Trane through contemporary interpretations of his works.

The inspiration for this year’s weekend of events is drawn from John Coltrane’s early solo album entitled “The Believer” which was recorded in the late 1950’s while he was still a member of the Miles Davis sextet.

The John Coltrane Memorial Concert was started in 1977 in Boston and since 1986 has been run by the Department of African American Studies at Northeastern University, thanks to the efforts of saxophonist Leonard Brown, co-founder of the JCMC and a faculty member in the department.

The master of ceremonies at both concerts is Eric Jackson, host of one of the nation's premier jazz radio programs, "Eric in the Evening" on WGBH-FM radio in Boston.

At the opening concert on Saturday at Blackman Theater, organizers are using the occasion to honor Edmund Barry Gaiter, Executive Director of the National Center of Afro-American Artists and Museum for his 40 years of leadership, advocacy and vision.

Also affiliated with this year’s activities is the Ascension art installation created by artists of the African American Master Artists in Residence Program (AAMARP) at Northeastern’s Ryder Hall at 11 Leon Street. The exhibit runs from September 1-28 and is open from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

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September 26/ Saturday
John Coltrane Memorial Concert:

The Believer, Concert 1
Blackman Theater @ Northeastern University
360 Huntington Avenue, Boston

Starring the 14 piece all-start John Coltrane Memorial Ensemble, featuring Carl Atkins (sax), Leonard Brown (sax), Sa Davis (percussion), Mark Harvey (trumpet), Tim Ingles (bass), John Lockwood (bass), Bill Lowe (tuba), Jason Palmer (trumpet), Bill Pierce (sax), George W. Russell Jr. (keys), Syd Smart (percussion), Stan Strickland (sax/flute), Alvin Terry (percussion) & Gary Valente (trombone). Click here for samples of the Ensemble’s previous work.

September 27/ Sunday
John Coltrane Memorial Concert:

The Believer, Concert 2ACT/Roxbury Hibernian Hall
184 Dudley Street, Roxbury

Starring master instrumentalist and vocalist Stan Strickland (sax/flute), who will perform a unique tribute to ‘Trane’s legacy with his ensemble including John Lockwood (bass), Laslzo Gardony (keys), & Yoron Israel (drums), along with appearances by members of The John Coltrane Memorial Ensemble (Bill Lowe on tuba, Syd Smart on percussion, Jason Palmer on trumpet & Leonard Brown on sax).

Ticket: $20 general admission; $17 NU faculty & staff, WGBH Members, non-NU students, seniors; $15 NU students.For advance tickets and information: 617-373-4700 (TTY 617-373-2184), www.gonu.com/tickets; for tickets day of show, cash only at the door.

The sponsors of this year’s John Coltrane Memorial Concert include Northeastern University WGBH, ACT Roxbury and the National Center of Afro-American Artists.

For updates on sponsors and other pertinent information, log onto www.jcmc.neu.edu or call 617-373-8700.

For press information, please contact Mary Curtin at 617-241-9664, 617-470-5867 (cell), marycurtin@comcast.net

KAT EDMONSON SEXTET ADDED TO THE JAZZ CAFÉ AT THE TANGLEWOOD JAZZ FESTIVAL

Vocalist Kat Edmonson and her Sextet performs on Sunday, Sept 6, at 12:30 pm in the Jazz Café at the Tanglewood Jazz Festival in Lenox, Massachusetts.

The Austin-based vocalist made her Northeast debut in June at the Jazz Standard in New York. Edmonson’s first CD, “Take to the Sky,” includes selections from Cole Porter, Henry Mancini, John Lennon and Carol King. “Take to the Sky” was mastered by industry superstar, Doug Sax (Pink Floyd, Bette Midler, Neil Young).

Edmonson’s original song, “Lucky” (previously released as an MP3) was featured on the nationally broadcast television program, “The United States of Tara,” produced by Steven Spielberg on the Showtime network.

Nate Chinen of the New York Times says Edmonson … “is a promising young jazz singer with a kittenish voice and an amiably relaxed style,” and Michael Corcoran of the Austin-American Statesman, calls her “Austin’s Great Jazz Hope.”

The Jazz Café is an informal, cabaret-style venue featuring emerging artists. Past Jazz Café performers have included Esperanza Spaulding, Grace Kelly, Sachal Vasandani, Aaron Parks and Spencer Day, among many others. Admission to the Café is free with a ticket to the main stage event that follows—A Piano Duet with Kenny Barron and Mulgrew Miller followed by the 2009 Grammy winning Vanguard Jazz Orchestra.

Ms. Edmonson replaces the previously scheduled Steven Santoro Quartet. Mr. Santoro was invited to travel to the UK with Sting to record his upcoming DVD.

For complete ticket information and an overview of the festival which takes place September 4-6, go to tanglewoodjazzfestival.org or call SymphonyCharge at 888-266-1200.

Classical Bluesical Jazzi Festival on Martha's Vineyard, August 29

The First Annual Martha’s Vineyard Classical, Bluesical, Jazzi Festival (The CBJ Festival) takes place on Saturday, August 29, 2009, at Union Chapel, Kennebec Avenue in Oaks Bluff.

Headlining the event is SAGE, an all-woman ensemble that delivers a unique brand of hot jazz, funk, and Latin licks, with classical grooves. SAGE features Lakecia Benjamin on alto saxophone, Bernice Brooks on drums, Miki Hayama on piano, Kersten Stevens on violin, Miriam Sullivan on bass and Ragan Whiteside on flute and vocal.

The concert starts at 7:00 p.m. and is free to the public.

Returning to the Vineyard to perform with SAGE is äj, (pronounced ahhsh) a contemporary jazz, blues and R&B ensemble from New York, by way of St. Louis. Featuring Andrea and James Rohlehr (pictured above), Äj is a unique ensemble of singers, songwriters and producers that has enriched the American Music landscape with many compositions heard on television and radio.

The CBJ Festival is designed to bridge and unify the music interests of jazz connoisseurs and young people, promoting intergenerational cultural exchanges based on themes of respect, humanity, environment and scholarship, says Sheila Baptista of Lewis and Kirk Music, Inc. one of the event organizers along with AndJam Enterprises.

For more information contact: 914 837-1995 or lewisandkirkmusic@yahoo.com.

BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA ANNOUNCES 2009 TANGLEWOOD JAZZ FESTIVAL, SEPTEMBER 4-6

The Boston Symphony Orchestra will present its annual Labor Day Weekend Tanglewood Jazz Festival September 4-September 6, 2009 at the Orchestra’s summer home in the Berkshire Hills in Lenox, Massachusetts.

Jazz greats highlighting this year’s festival include Paquito d’Rivera (pictured left), Regina Carter, Nnenna Freelon, Kenny Barron, Mulgrew Miller, John Pizzarelli, Jessica Molaskey, Kurt Elling, Harry Allen, Bucky Pizzarelli, Aaron Weinstein, Dave Holland, Steve Nelson, Chris Potter, Robin Eubanks, Antonio Hart, Gary Smulyan, Nate Smith, Alex Sipiagian, Jon Faddis, David Hazeltine, Wallace Roney, Sean Jones, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Harolyn Blackwell and Mike Garson. All shows will be held in Seiji Ozawa Hall.

For additional information, bios, and photos n the performing artists, please review the electronic press kit at TanglewoodJazzFestival.org/presskit.

On Friday, September 4, at 8 p.m. the 2009 Tanglewood Jazz Festival will open with “An Evening with Paquito d’Rivera” in which the famed clarinetist performs pieces from his Latin jazz and classical repertoires. A 2005 NEA Jazz Master, winner of the 2008 Downbeat Reader’s Poll for best clarinetist and guest artist on Yo-Yo Ma’s most recent recording, Songs of Joy & Peace, d’Rivera has extensive expertise in both the jazz and classical music worlds.

On Saturday, September 5 at 2 p.m., John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molaskey (in her Tanglewood debut) will tape their popular radio program, “Radio Deluxe,” at the festival for later broadcast on more than 60 stations nation-wide. Normally broadcast from their living room “high above Lexington Avenue,” the Tanglewood program will officially take Radio Deluxe on the road for the first time since the program’s inception in 2005. The show’s format, marked by the duo’s urbane, sophisticated humor, inventive playlist, and extensive knowledge of the Great American Songbook, is expanding its repertoire to include such rock era voices as Randy Newman and Joni Mitchell. “Radio Deluxe” from Tanglewood will feature special guests Kurt Elling, Bucky Pizzarelli, Aaron Weinstein and Harry Allen.

On Saturday, September 5 at 8 p.m., jazz violinist and MacArthur Fellowship recipient, Regina Carter will perform with her quartet in a program titled “Reverse Thread,” which includes material from her Paganini project plus music from Mali, Senegal, and Uganda. O Magazine said “Carter is a knockout violinist who leads a knockout band.”

Following Ms. Carter will be Grammy nominated jazz vocalist, Nnenna Freelon and classical vocalist, Harolyn Blackwell, in “Dreaming the Duke,” a program that celebrates the legacy and influences of the great Duke Ellington with innovative solo pieces, duets with chamber and jazz quartets and intimate vocal-piano selections. Noted pianist and arranger, Mike Garson, whose work with David Bowie and in jazz and classical genres has earned him high praise as an arranger, will perform as accompanist and musical director. They will perform classical Ellington standards and selections from Ellington’s famed “Black, Brown and Beige Suite.”

The Sunday afternoon concert on September 6 will open at 2 p.m. with a rare and exclusive piano duet featuring Kenny Barron and Mulgrew Miller on two nine-foot Steinways performing spontaneous improvisations on original and jazz standard compositions. Performed at the 2005 Marciac Jazz Festival in France, this program has only been performed a few times in the U.S. and in Europe. Barron recently received the BNY Mellon Jazz 2008 Living Legacy Award by the Bank of New York/Mellon.

Barron and Miller will be followed by one of the most enduring large jazz ensembles in the U.S., the Grammy-winning Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. Founded by Thad Jones and Mel Lewis, the orchestra received a Grammy Award in 2009 for its recording, Monday Night Live at the Village Vanguard (Planet Arts Records) in the “Best Large Jazz Ensemble” category. For over four decades the Orchestra has performed on Monday nights at the world-famous jazz club, the Village Vanguard in New York.

Closing the festival on Sunday, September 6, at 8 p.m. will be trumpeter Jon Faddis and his Quartet with guest trumpeters Sean Jones and Wallace Roney. “The Majesty of the Trumpet” is a celebration of the role of the trumpet in jazz throughout the past century, from Louis Armstrong to Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie and more.

Jon Faddis will be bassist and big band leader, Dave Holland, with his all-star band including Chris Potter, Jaleel Shaw, Gary Smulyan, Steve Nelson, Nate Smith, Alex Sipiagian and Robin Eubanks. A native of the United Kingdom, Holland worked extensively with Miles Davis, Stan Getz, Jack DeJohnette and Herbie Hancock in addition to performing with chamber orchestras and classical composers.

Jazz Café artists this year include saxophonist Benny Reid, pianist and vocalist Michael Kaeshammer, pianist Evgeny Lebedev, vocalist Steven Santoro and violinist Ben Powell. Jazz Café events are free with a ticket to the main stage event.

For the first time, “The Jazz Session” produced and hosted by Jason Crane, will be on-site in the jazz tent conducting interviews with musicians and ticket holders for podcast downloading at thejazzsession.com and at allaboutjazz.com.

Tickets for the 2009 Tanglewood are available by calling SymphonyCharge at 888-266-1200 or online at tanglewood.org and in person at the Tanglewood Box Office in Lenox. For further information, please call SymphonyCharge at 888-266-1200 or visit our website at tanglewoodjazzfestival.org.

The Tanglewood Jazz Festival’s online media partner is jazzcorner.com.


2009 Tanglewood Jazz Festival
Ticket Prices
Friday, September 4, 6:30 p.m.
Benny Reid Quartet
Jazz Cafe
Admission free with ticket to main stage event

Friday, September 4, 8 p.m.
An Evening with Paquito d’Rivera
$41/$48/$59/lawn $17

Saturday, September 5, 12:30 p.m.
Michael Kaeshammer
Jazz Café
Admission free with ticket to main stage event

Saturday, September 5, 2 p.m.
“Radio Deluxe” with John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molaskey
Special guests Kurt Elling, Bucky Pizzarelli, Aaron Weinstein, Harry Allen
Live taping for national radio broadcast
$32/$40/$55/lawn $18

Saturday, September 5, 6:30 p.m.
Evgeny Lebedev Trio
Jazz Café
Admission free with ticket to main stage event

Saturday, September 5, 8 p.m.
“Reverse Thread” with the Regina Carter Quartet
“Dreaming the Duke” with Nnenna Freelon, Harolyn Blackwell and Mike Garson
$45/$60/$75/lawn $19

Sunday, September 6, 12:30 p.m.
Steven Santoro Quartet
Jazz Café
Admission free with ticket to main stage event

Sunday, September 6, 2 p.m.
“A Piano Duet” with Kenny Barron and Mulgrew Miller
Vanguard Jazz Orchestra
$32/$40/$55/lawn $18

Sunday, September 6, 6:30 p.m.
Ben Powell Quartet
Jazz Café
Admission free with ticket to main stage event

Sunday, September 6, 8 p.m.
“The Majesty of the Trumpet” with the Jon Faddis Quartet and special guests
Sean Jones and Wallace Roney
Dave Holland Octet with Chris Potter, Robin Eubanks, Jaleel Shaw,
Alex Sipiagian, Gary Smulyan, Nate Smith, Steve Nelson
$41/$48/$59/lawn $17

All day lawn pass Saturday and Sunday
$34

For additional information, bios and photos on the performing artists, please review the electronic press kit at tanglewoodjazzfestival.org/presskit or contact:

Boston Symphony Orchestra:
Bernadette Horgan (bhorgan@bso.org) and Kathleen Drohan (kdrohan@bso.org)
413-637-5280

Dawn Singh Publicity:
Dawn Singh
dawn@dawnsinghpublicity.com
617-765-4012 (google voice)

PROVINCETOWN JAZZ FESTIVAL, AUGUST 14-16

The 5th Annual Provincetown Jazz Festival™ takes place on August 14 - 16, 2009 at the Provincetown High School in Provincetown, Massachusetts.

This is the only three-day Jazz Festival on Cape Cod and features local, national and international musicians, including:

. Shawnn Monteiro (Providence vocalist). Pictured above.

. New York's Finest Jazz Ensemble, The Police Jazz Ensemble from New York City, are making their Cape Cod debut.

. String of Pearls (vocal trio from New York City).

. Beat Kaestli (Swiss vocalist).

. Krisanthi Pappas (Boston vocalist).

. Jim Robitaille (guitar) & John Harrison III (piano).

. Andy Solberg (guitar); Fred Boyle (piano); Bryan Rizzuto, Bill Miele & Laird Boles (bass) and Bart Weisman (drums).

There will be three concerts at the Provincetown High School:
Friday, August 14, 8:00 pm
Saturday, August 15, 8:00 pm
Sunday, August 16, 1:00 pm.

Tickets are $25.00 per concert and a portion of the proceeds are donated to worthy causes in Provincetown.

For schedules, sponsors and ticket information please visit http://www.provincetownjazzfestival.org/

SALEM JAZZ & SOUL FESTIVAL - August 15th – 16th

(Photo: Boston Horns, by Tom Uellner)

SALEM, MA – The third annual Salem Jazz & Soul Festival is coming to Salem with a full music program of concerts on Saturday & Sunday, Aug. 15 & 16.
The lineup for the festival is: Saturday, August 15, from 10:45 a.m. – 7 p.m., Salem High School Jazz Ensemble, Manami Morita & Randy Runyon Quintet, Gregorio Uribe Big Band, the Brotherhood of Groove, Sea Monsters, Revolutionary Snake Ensemble , with a special appearance by the Boston Typewriter Orchestra.

For Sunday, Aug. 16, from 11:30 a.m. – 6 p.m., the lineup is: Qwill & the Further from Zen Orchestra, Soul Force V, Jordan Valentine & the Sunday Saints and The Boston Horns Big Band. The MC for the festival on Saturday will be Holly Harris, from www.ultimateblues.com. Sunday’s MC will be the great local saxophonist, Henley Douglas, Jr.

A group of area residents and music enthusiasts have worked hard through the winter and summer months putting together this festival. The free, family-friendly event will present a dynamic program of jazz, funk and soul performed by some of the hottest bands from Boston and the North Shore. Proceeds from the Festival will support music education and cover the expenses for putting on the festival.

As in past years, there will be a full complement of vendors at the Festival offering a wide range of arts and crafts, goods and services for festival goers.

Salem Jazz & Soul Festival concerts are free and family-friendly events that present a dynamic program of jazz, funk and soul performed by some of the most accomplished bands from the area. For more information on the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival, please visit www.salemjazzsoul.com

RESTAURANT WEEK BOSTON – FINE DINING IN A BEAUTIFUL CITY

Boston’s semi-annual Restaurant Week is upon us, and there’s no better way to enjoy the city’s hospitality at its finest than by sitting down to a meal.

This year Restaurant Week in Boston runs from August 9-14 and 16-21, and over 200 restaurants are participating, according to Patrick Moscaritolo, head of the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau, which organizes the event.

Moscaritolo says it’s a chance for the city’s best chefs “to get creative and showcase seasonal New England ingredients, farm fresh herbs and produce, and local seafood all at a tremendous value to diners. It’s also the perfect time to enjoy the region’s outdoor cafes, patios and harborside dining.”

A number of restaurants with live jazz are participating, here is a sampling:

• Boston's Downtown: Les Zygomates
• Boston's South End: Beehive Jazz Club and Petit Robert Birstro
• Boston's Back Bay: Oak Room at Fairmont Copley Plaza, Skipjack's Restaurant and Top of the Hub Restaurant
• Boston's Waterfront: Lucky's Lounge
• Cambridge: Upstairs on the Square
• Brookline: The Fireplace
• Belmont: Savinos

For more details on Restaurant Week Boston, visit the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau web site at http://www.bostonusa.com/

For more information on jazz in Massachusetts, visit http://www.massjazz.com

(Photo: Chef Rachel Klein, Aura Restaurant at Seaport Boston Hotel)

NPR: A Swing Through Massachusetts

From A Blog Supreme: NPR Jazz by Felix Contreras

So you're ready to take that jazz vacation you've been wanting to do. You've picked a city and now you're ready to dive into finding venues, schedules, concerts, hotels, restaurants.

The state of Massachusetts has just made that jazz trip much easier to put together with MassJazz, a new web site and travel guide that creates a one-stop shopping service for jazz trips to the Bay State.

Michael P. Quinlin is the director of MassJazz, run out of the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism. I shot him some questions via e-mail about the project, and what's in it for jazz fans and musicians.
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Just to be clear about the way it works is: I can find a festival, concert or club performance I want to attend, I can use the Web site to contact the club to buy tickets, then search for a hotel in the area and maybe even cruise some of the near by restaurants for a pre-concert meal?

Quinlin: Yes, that's exactly how the Web site is set up. The concerts are organized by month with links to the venue tix office. The hotels we've listed are all 'jazz friendly' -- offering some combination of live concerts, lounge jazz or jazz brunches on a regular basis. Same with the restaurants and clubs. You can check out local colleges to learn about jazz lectures, workshops and sessions, or touch base with local jazz organizations.

This makes a lot of sense, putting jazz fans on the radar of your state's travel industry. It seems like such a no-brainer. Why didn't it happen before?

Quinlin: States like Massachusetts have so many visitor amenities to offer tourists -- colonial history, JFK Library, Cape Cod, the Berkshires, the Boston Pops and the BSO, the Red Sox -- so very often cultural treasures like jazz remain hidden. But once we pitched the idea to tourism officials, they were immediately enthusiastic.

Do you know if any other states offer this kind of service?

Quinlin: I'm not aware of any other states promoting jazz as an element of tourism per se -- though several city tourism agencies -- like New Orleans and Montreal -- have successfully marketed their cities as jazz destinations.

This also seems to be an opportunity to dive in and explore the jazz musicians who don't have big recording contacts but are still making great music all around the state (the so called 'local musicians').

Quinlin: True, you can go to jazz clubs in Boston's South End and hear terrific jazz students who are perfecting their chops, on their way to professional careers. Or go down to Cape Cod and catch seasoned veterans like Lou Columbo, or to the Acton Jazz Club in Acton and hear solid jazz musicians like Bruce Gertz or Paul Broadnax.

Can you offer a couple of examples of upcoming shows this fall that caught your attention as a jazz fan?

Quinlin: Let's see, Paquito D'Rivera plays the Tanglewood Jazz Festival in Lenox over Labor Day. Kurt Elling is playing in Boston and Ahmad Jamal is in Cambridge, as part of Berklee's BeanTown Jazz Festival in September. In October Dave Brubeck headlines the Pittsfield Jazz Festival, and Wayne Shorter plays at Jordan Hall in Boston. I could go on but I better not!

What are the biggest jazz venues in the state?

Quinlin: Sculler's in Boston and Regattabar in Cambridge are the two main jazz clubs -- both located in hotels -- they bring in the world's best jazz musicians year round. The Berklee Performance Center, Boston Symphony Hall and Hanover Theatre in Worcester are important jazz venues. And a lot of jazz takes place on a local, grassroots level, away from the big venues. We compiled over 80 venues where jazz is played regularly, in the suburbs, towns and villages across the state.

Are there any out of the way venues that more people should now about?

Quinlin: In Boston, Wally's Jazz Club and the Beehive Jazz Club, both in the South End, are excellent; you'll find great musicians every night of the week. Nimrod's in Falmouth on Cape Cod has fine local jazz, and the Northampton Hotel in Northampton is starting up a new jazz brunch on weekends.

Are jazz club owners warming up to the idea?

Quinlin: Well, there's definitely a curiosity about whether a larger marketing outreach to the travel industry can benefit jazz locally -- from the small clubs to the concert venues. Tourists tend to spend more money since they're on vacation, so there's an economic rationale in targeting them. Part of our mission is to connect large convention groups already coming to town to the local jazz scene. So when 5,000 dentists or 15,000 seafood suppliers come to the Boston Convention Center for their annual meetings, we want to get them into the clubs, hotel lounges and concert halls to hear jazz.

Are you a jazz fan? Did you come across any surprises about Massachusetts jazz history in doing the work for setting this up?

Quinlin: I am a lifelong jazz fan from a family of jazz lovers. During the research of MassJazz, I was pleasantly surprised to learn about the Lenox jazz school in western Mass during the 1950s, which jazz drummer George Schuller and others have made a great film about, called Music Inn: A Documentary Film. And I've been surprised to discover how successfully schools like Berklee are cultivating a 21st century connection to jazz and good music generally through their global outreach.

Do jazz fans come mostly from the U.S.? What about other countries?

Quinlin: I think jazz fans are ubiquitous; you can find them anywhere you look. Massachusetts focuses its domestic marketing efforts on the New England and Mid-Atlantic states, since those tourists can drive, fly or take a train here easily. A lot of attendees at the Tanglewood Jazz Festival for example, are New Yorkers who are both astute and appreciative of jazz. Internationally, our plan is to target European nations -- France, Holland, Germany and Britain -- with longtime jazz loyalty, and get MassJazz into the hands of tour operators, travel agencies and other travel-related outlets that specialize in niche marketing. And if the program is successful, we'll roll it out to other regions of the world.

Esperanza Spalding Studied Here (and other Massachusetts Jazz Tourism Slogans)

From: Peter Hum's Jazzblog.ca at Ottawa Citizen

"Just yesterday I modestly proposed here that the Canadian government, which is so keen to dispense stimulus funding for pursuits and projects related to tourism, fund or at least support home-grown jazz and the musicians and venues who present it. Today, I see that the great state of Massachusetts gets it.The Bay State recently announced a new marketing initiative to woo jazz tourists and the tourism industry. The details are here, at massjazz.com..."

Massachusetts Upbeat about Jazz Tourism

New Marketing Initiative Celebrates Bay State’s Jazz Scene

(Boston) - Massachusetts is singing the praises of its vibrant jazz scene to visitors this summer, as tourism officials introduce MassJazz, a new marketing initiative to promote the Bay State’s extensive jazz activities year round to the tourism industry.

Organizers of the campaign have issued a 40-page MassJazz Travel Guide detailing hundreds of outdoor and indoor concerts, jazz festivals, nightclubs, radio programs, hotel brunches and jazz connections for out-of-town visitors and local residents. Details are also available on MassJazz.com.

“The beauty of jazz is its influence from musical cultures from across the world, while remaining a distinctly American art form,” said Governor Deval Patrick. “We want to translate the unique features of Massachusetts’s jazz heritage into a strong tourism brand that appeals to both domestic and international visitors.”

While promoting jazz concerts, festivals and clubs, organizers also plan to support the state’s hospitality industry by publicizing jazz gigs and jazz brunches in hotels, restaurants and other venues.

“All summer and fall visitors can hear great jazz from Boston to the Berkshires, Cape Cod to the North Shore, and everywhere in between,” said Betsy Wall, executive director of the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism. “Our goal is to offer jazz as a new way of showcasing the many cultural and hospitality amenities Massachusetts has to offer.”

Wall pointed to the strong jazz presence in regions across the state, with festivals taking place in Boston, Falmouth, Lenox, Marblehead, Melrose, Pittsfield, Provincetown, Salem and Worcester over the next four months.

“Of the many cultural riches we have in Massachusetts, our jazz treasures deserve to be celebrated in the tourism industry,” said MassJazz founder Michael P. Quinlin, who developed the campaign with Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism, Berklee College of Music, Tanglewood Jazz Festival and other jazz advocates in the state.

Quinlin said that Massachusetts has a stellar tradition of producing popular jazz musicians like pianist Chick Corea, drummer Roy Haynes, saxophonists Sonny Stitt, Phil Woods and many others.

In addition, Massachusetts offers some of the world’s best jazz study programs at Berklee College of Music, New England Conservatory, UMASS/Amherst and other universities throughout the state. Numerous jazz leaders have studied or taught in Massachusetts, including Quincy Jones, Diana Krall, Branford Marsalis, Esperanza Spalding, Archie Shepp and Yusef Lateef.

“Today thousands of young people are studying music here, and there is a long tradition of jazz musicians learning their craft here and taking it out to the rest of the world,” said Tom Riley, vice president of external affairs at Berklee. The college also hosts the annual BeanTown Jazz Festival in Boston each September, which draws upwards of 70,000 participants.

In addition to bolstering visitor attendance at BeanTown, Tanglewood and a dozen other jazz festivals across the state, organizers hope to develop music education as a tourism product too. They’ll also promote summer jazz courses offered at local universities and at cultural venues like Jacob’s Pillow, which offers jazz dance workshops each July.

The MassJazz Travel Guide is available for free in tourism centers around the state and in local concert venues, jazz clubs, hotels and restaurants. It is being distributed to incoming conventions, tour operators and travel agencies throughout North America and to select international outlets.

For up-to-date information about jazz activities year round, visit http://www.massjazz.com/. To request further information, contact MassJazz at 617 696 9880 or massjazz@comcast.net

About MOTT:

Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism (MOTT) is the state agency dedicated to promoting Massachusetts as a leisure-travel destination. MOTT serves as a leader in the tourism industry, working with the public and private sectors to stimulate the Massachusetts economy by generating state and local tax revenues, creating jobs and supporting the growth of travel-related businesses. Tourism is an integral part of the state’s economy, generating over $887.2 million in state and local taxes and $14.2 billion in travel related expenditures. The industry supports 125,800 in-state jobs.
For more information visit http://www.massvacation.com/.

About MassJazz:

MassJazz is a concerted, statewide effort initiated in 2009 to promote a full range of live jazz performances, community events, educational courses and related cultural activities to the convention and visitors industry. Working with the state’s travel and tourism agencies, MassJazz is developing a singular program that brands Massachusetts as a jazz destination for domestic and international visitors. Its goal is to develop visitor packages with hotels, restaurants, performing arts venues and travel services to create an alluring new tourism campaign that stimulates the local economy.