New Orleans Christmas on Stage at the Larcom Theatre in Beverly on December 14-15

Jazz fans in New England are receiving a special holiday treat this year - a New Orleans Christmas.

Henri Smith and his band, New Orleans Friends and Flavors, take the stage at the Larcom Theatre in Beverly for a special Christmas concert of New Orleans jazz and blues mixed with gospel and Christmas classics.

Smith, a popular artist from New Orleans who moved to Massachusetts after Hurricane Katrina, has worked with musical legends like Charles Neville, Danny Heath, Amadee "Castenell" and Kermit Ruffins, who was featured  in the hit HBO series Treme.

Tickets can be purchased here, and range in price including $19, $29 and $39. This show is all ages and starts at 7:30 PM (doors close at 7 PM).

Find year round details on jazz in Massachusetts at MassJazz.com.

For visitor information go to MassVacation.com.

Arturo Sandoval Coming to Scullers Jazz Club in Boston Thanksgiving Weekend as part of the "Dear Diz" Tour

Arturo Sandoval is performing at Scullers Jazz Club Thanksgiving weekend as part of the "Dear Diz" Tour. Sandoval, a renowned jazz musician from the outskirts of Havana, Cuba, is a nine time Grammy-Award winner with 19 nominations, six Billboard awards, and an Emmy. Sandoval has performed with Woody Herman, Woody Shaw, Bill Conti, John Williams (of the Boston Pops), Alicia Keys and Tony Bennett at the Super Bowl.

Sandoval's tour is focused on honoring his mentor Dizzy Gillespie, a master of jazz who helped usher in the era of Be-Bop in American jazz.
 

Sandoval is preforming Friday, November 29, through Sunday, December 1. Show times are 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 4:00 p.m. on Sunday.

Tickets can be purchased here for $45, or for a special rate of $85 for dinner and show.

Find year round details on jazz in Massachusetts at MassJazz.com.

For visitor information go to MassVacation.com.

36th annual John Coltrane Memorial Concert Taking Place in Boston on November 23

The New England Spiritual Ensemble and the John Coltrane Memorial Concert Ensemble are performing at the 36th annual John Coltrane Memorial Concert at Blackman Theater at Northeastern University on Saturday, November 23, 2013 at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $32, or $27 for students and seniors, and can be purchased online or at the theater. 

Jazz radio personality Eric Jackson is host for the evening.  The theme of this year's concert is Jubilee Songs, to mark the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation and the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights movement.

The John Coltrane Memorial Concert is organized each year by Dr. Leonard Brown, associate professor of African American Studies and Music at Northeastern University.

Find year round details on jazz in Massachusetts at MassJazz.com.

For visitor information go to MassVacation.com.



 

Blues Legend Ronnie Earl & the Broadcasters in Concert at Regent Theatre in Arlington on November 16

Blues guitarist Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters are performing live at the Regent Theatre in Arlington on Saturday, November 16, 2013 at 8:00 p.m.

Tickets are $28-$38 and be purchased online or at the theater the night of the concert.

B.B. King said Earl is "one of the most serious blues guitarists you can find today. He makes me proud."

Earl is an associate professor of guitar at Berklee College of Music.

Here is a schedule of upcoming concerts, musicals, films and other activities at Regent Theatre.

Find year round details on jazz throughout Massachusetts by visiting MassJazz.com.

For visitor inforarmation go to MassVacation.com and BostonUSA.com.


 

Jazz Legend Gary Burton at Berklee Performance Center on Tuesday, November 12

 

Seven time Grammy Award winner and renowned jazz vibraphonist Gary Burton is in concert at the Berklee Performance Center in Boston on Tuesday, November 12, 2013 at 8:00 p.m.

Tickets to the concert are $28 ($16 for students with ID) and can be purchased online or at the concert hall.

Burton will also introduce his just-released auto-biography, Learning to Listen.  Each audience member will get a copy of the book as part of the festivities. 

The evening will feature Burton in conversation with Bob Blumenthal, Grammy Award winning music reporter.

Here are upcoming events at the Berklee Performance Center.

Find year round details on jazz year round in Massachusetts at MassJazz.com.

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com and BostonUSA.com.
 

Berklee College of Music celebrates Alejandro Sanz on Wednesday, November 6th

 
Alejandro Sanz, a celebrated artist in Latin music, is coming to Boston this week to receive an honorary doctor of music degree from the Berklee College of Music.  A concert celebrating his work is taking place at the Berklee Performance Center at 8:15 p.m. on Wednesday, November 6^th.  Tickets are $8-$24 and can be ordered online or at the venue.

Born in Spain, Sanz is already a musical legend in his own right. He has sold over 22 million albums, received sixteen Latin Grammys, three American Grammys, and released fifteen albums. “I am excited to honor Alejandro Sanz for being one of the most important Latin artists and composers in the world, as well as for his contributions to flamenco music,” said Javier Limón, executive director of the Berklee Mediterranean Music Institute, which is producing the concert.

More information on this concert can be found here.

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

For tourism information go to MassVacation.com.

 

Hollywood Reporter Names Boston's Berklee College of Music the Top Hollywood Music School

The Berklee College of Music in Boston was named the Number One Hollywood music school in the world, according the Hollywood Reporter, which took a survey of industry insiders to rank the top 10 music schools making an impact in the movie and music industries there.

"The college’s impressive complement of Grammy, Emmy, and Oscar winners was among the distinctions that earned it the top spot in this inaugural list of Hollywood feeder institutions. Commercial music expert Timothy Taylor put it simply: “Berklee people are everywhere in L.A.”" wrote the Berklee Office of Communications.

Here is the full story from Hollywood Reporter.

Berklee beat out other top music schools including Julliard School of Music, UCLA, USC and the Royal College of Music in London.

The New England Conservatory of Music, also based in Boston, was ranked Number Eight.

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

For tourism information go to MassVacation.com.