Chicago Performs at the Cape Cod Melody Tent in Hyannis on August 2

Chicago performs at the Cape Cod Melody Tent in Hyannis at 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 2, 2017.

Tickets can be found online or at the Melody Tent Box Office.

Chicago is an American rock band with a distinctive jazz sound, thanks to its horn section.  It is known as the longest-running and most successful groups of all time. Chicago was recently ranked #9 in Billboard magazine’s recent Hot 200 All-Time Top Artists, and was inducted into the 2016 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 

Find year round jazz in Massachusetts at MassJazz.com.

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com

4th Annual Cambridge Jazz Festival Features Tia Fuller, Pieces of a Dream, Receitas de Samba, Ron Savage Trio and Berklee All Stars on Sunday, July 30

Tia Fuller 

The 4^th Annual Cambridge Jazz Festival takes place on Sunday, July 30 from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Danehy Park in North Cambridge.  Here are directions. 

The festival is free but donations are encouraged.  Eric Jackson, popular jazz radio host on WGBH, is master of ceremonies.

Among the performers:

Tia Fuller, saxophonist and faculty member at Berklee College of Music who has toured with Beyoncé;

Pieces of a Dream, an American R&B and jazz group from Philadelphia;

Receitas de Samba, a samba duo featuring Bill Ward and Anna Borges; 

The Ron Savage Trio featuring Eula Lawrence; and 

Berklee Summer Jazz Workshop All Stars directed by Terri Lyne Carrington. 

See full Bios here.

The festival's mission is to entertain, and inform people about the American art of jazz through live performances, and provide inspiration and scholarship to young musicians in the community.

Find year round jazz in Massachusetts at MassJazz.com.

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com

Jazz Singer Amanda Carr Performs at Maudslay Arts Center in Newburyport on Saturday, July 29

Popular jazz singer Amanda Carr and her group Les Femmes de Chanson perform at the Maudslay Arts Center in Newburyport at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 29, 2017.

Tickets can be purchased online at Eventbrite.com.

A multi-styled vocalist and pianist, Amanda Carr was nominated for the Boston Music Award’s “2016 Jazz Artist of the Year.”  She has performed with some of the country's leading orchestras, from the Boston Pops to the Glenn Miller Band.

Find year round jazz in Massachusetts at MassJazz.com.

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com

Jazz Artist Esperanza Spalding Joins Harvard Faculty in Music Department

Jazz bassist, singer, arranger and composer Esperanza Spalding has joined the faculty of the Department of Music at Harvard University as Professor of the Practice, with an appointment beginning spring 2018.

According to a press release issued by Harvard, "Spalding will teach a range of courses in songwriting, arranging, improvisation and performance, while also bringing her commitment to music as a voice for social justice."

Spalding is a four-time Grammy winner and has five critically acclaimed solo albums, and has won numerous awards for her playing.  She taught at the Berklee College of Music from 2005-2008 after graduating from Berklee with a Bachelor of Music.

Find year round jazz in Massachusetts by visiting MassJazz.com.

For visitor information go to MassVacation.com.

Top Jazz Musicians Gather for Tribute Concert to Fred Taylor at Berklee Performance Center, September 12

Berklee College of Music is honoring Fred Taylor with a tribute concert at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 12 at the Berklee Performance Center in Boston. 

The concert is part of an effort by the school to establish a Fred Taylor Scholarship Fund to nurture future students in music business and music performance at Berklee.

You can purchase tickets or donate to the Fund online. 

Artists slated to perform live at the tribute concert include Kurt Elling, Danilo Perez, Terri Lyne Carrington, Grace Kelly, Catherine Russell, Kat Edmonson, John Patitucci, Jason Palmer, Bo Winiker and more, with a special appearance by Pat Metheny.

Artists to appear via pre-recorded video include Bill Charlap, Steve Tyrell, Esperanza Spalding, Christian McBride, Ahmad Jamal, Hiromi, Chris Botti and Herbie Hancock.

Saxophonist Grace Kelly and NPR's Robin Young serve as emcees. 

Founder of Paul’s Mall and the Jazz Workshop, longtime artistic director of Boston’s Scullers Jazz Club and an integral part of Boston’s jazz scene, Fred Taylor is a beloved figure in the jazz, blues and rock communities.  Many of the leading artists of our time - Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, Miles Davis and Dianna Ross - were presented in Boston by Taylor.   He is also credited for developing new talent, including Norah Jones, Esperanza Spalding, Chris Botti, Kat Edmonson and Grace Kelly. 

Find year round jazz in Massachusetts at MassJazz.com.

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com. 

Paula Cole Performs at the Shalin Liu Performance Center in Rockport on July 28

Paula Cole performs at the Shalin Liu Performance Center in Rockport at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, July 28, 2017.

Tickets can be purchased online.

Paula Cole is a Grammy winning artist whose music features early to mid-20^th century American jazz.

Find year round jazz in Massachusetts at MassJazz.com.

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com

Chicago & The Doobie Brothers Performs at Blue Hills Bank Pavilion in Boston on July 26

Chicago & The Doobie Brothers performs at the Blue Hills Bank Pavilion in Boston at 7:15 p.m. on Wednesday, July 26, 2017.

Tickets can be found online at LiveNation.com

Chicago is an American rock band with horns, and is known as the longest-running and most successful rock groups of all time.

The Doobie Brothers are an American rock band with elements of folk, R&B, and little bit of soul.

Find year round jazz in Massachusetts at MassJazz.com

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com

Hot Club of Cowtown Performs at Firehouse Center for the Arts in Newburyport on July 26

The Hot Club of Cowtown performs at the Firehouse Center for the Arts in  Newburyport at 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 26, 2017.

Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online or at the venue.   The Firehouse Center is located at Market Square in Newburyport.

For the past 20 years, the trio's individual virtuosity blends jazz, blues, country and bluegrass.  Here is info about the band.

Find year round jazz in Massachusetts at MassJazz.com.

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com. 

Jazz Pianist Paul Broadnax & Friends Perform at Maudslay Arts Center in Newburyport on July 23

Well-known jazz pianist Paul Broadnax and Friends perform at the Maudslay Arts Center in Newburyport from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 23, 2017. 

Tickets to the show are $20 and can be purchased online through Eventbrite.

Broadnax has performed throughout the world, and has played with well-known jazz artists like Clark Terry, Cab Calloway, Donna Byrne, Rebecca Parris and Lionel Hampton.

The Maudslay Arts Center has a full summer program of great music.

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

To find out about visiting Massachusetts, go to MassVacation.com.

Chris Lydon's Meditation on Transcendentalists and Jazz Artists

Open Source host Christopher Lydon has a great riff on the connections between the 19th century transcendentalist philosophers and the 20th century jazz artists.

Both Ralph Waldo Emerson and Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington were gods of their respective centuries, Lydon says, and "liberators of individual geniuses" around them.

Both Emerson and Ellington were "itinerant performers" traveling the country, and both were "inescapably American."

Lydon also likens Henry David Thoreau to jazz singer Billy Strayhorn.

Here is the full video.



Open Source is doing a series of radio broadcasts in celebration of the 200th anniversary birth of Henry David Thoreau.

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

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com.

Berkshires Jazz Presents 100th Birthday Salute to Buddy Rich with the Greg Caputo Big Band on July 22

Berkshires Jazz celebrates the 100th birthday of jazz drummer legend Buddy Rich with a concert by the Greg Caputo Big Band at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 22, 2017 at the Lee Meeting House Congregational Church in Lee, MA.

Tickets to the show are $25 in advance and can be purchased online.  The price at the door on the night of the concert is $30.

The Congregational Church is located at 25 Park Place in Lee.

Caputo is considered a leading ambassador for classic swing and big band jazz.  He has performed with Count Basie, Artie Shaw, Harry James, Nelson Riddle, Benny Goodman , Sheila Jordan, Sammy Davis Jr. and many others.

Find year-round jazz in Massachusetts by visiting MassJazz.com.

For tourist information, go to MassVacation.com.

Jazz + Blues Music Festivals in Massachusetts Through October 2017

The Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism (MOTT) has compiled its 2017 schedule of jazz + blues music festivals taking place throughout the Commonwealth this summer and fall.

See the entire MassJazz Festival season here.  In addition to jazz and blues, the festival schedule also includes related musical genres such as American roots, Brass Bands and Latino.

MassJazz.com was created with MOTT in 2009 as a way of highlighting the robust live jazz and blues scene in Massachusetts.  You can find details on jazz clubs, radio stations, college courses, concert venues and events-by-month at MassJazz.com.

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com.

2017 Betances Festival Celebrates Boston's Latino Music, Dance, Cuisine and Culture

Festival Betances is one of New England's most popular Latino festivals, offering musical and dance performances, cuisine, heritage and culture for families.  Named for Ramon Emeterio Betances, a 19th century Purto Rican who founded a hospital and advocated for his fellow citizens, the festival represents the diversity of Latino culture.

This year's musical line-up features top salsa stars such as Vinny Rivera, Alexander Faria Orchestra, Jorge Arce and the Humano Multicultural Project, the Eric German Orchestra, Zayra Pola & 3nity, Ray De La Paz Orchestra, and Johnny Rivera.  Here are descriptions of the performers.

Find year round jazz in Massachusetts by visiting MassJazz.com.

For visitor information go to MassVacation.com.

Tanglewood Holds Centennial Celebration Concert Honoring Ella Fitzgerald on July 9

Photo courtesy of EllaFitzgerald.com 

A centennial concert in honor of jazz great Ella Fitzgerald is taking place at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 9, 2017 at Seiji Ozawa Hall at Tanglewood.  Tickets range from $12 to $55 and can be purchased at the venue.

Featured  guests include Dawn Upshaw, soprano; Stephanie Blythe, mezzo-soprano; Lee Musiker, piano; members of the Boston Pops; and TMC vocal fellows.

Ella Fitzgerald was born in 1917, and became one of the most influential vocalists of the 20th century.  Known as the First Lady of Song, Fitzgerald won 13 Grammys and sold over 40 million albums.

Here is a schedule of performances at Tanglewood this summer.

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

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com.

JAZZ IN JULY Returns to UMass Amherst Campus on July 10-21

The annual Jazz in July Summer Music Program is taking place on July 10-21, 2017 at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.

Founded over 30 years ago by the UMass/Amherst music department, Jazz in July brings together top jazz performers and educators to work with students for an intensive week of jazz instruction and improvisation.

In addition to the classes, the instructors and students also stage a series of concerts open to the public.  Here is a schedule of performances.

Find year round jazz in Massachusetts by visiting MassJazz.com.

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com.

Darryl's Corner Bar + Kitchen features live jazz with trumpeter Darren Barrett on Sunday, July 9

Darren Barrett 

Darryl's Corner Bar + Kitchen in Boston's South End has a full line-up of live music this week, featuring rhythm and blues musicians from Berklee College of Music; a classic big band; and Canadian Grammy Award winning trumpeter Darren Barrett.  Here is the schedule below:

Thursday July 6 : Aaron Venable & Co. (7:00 p.m.)

Friday, July 7 : Briana'Lise & The Fellas (7:00 p.m.)

Saturday, July 8 : DCBK House Band (7:00 p.m.)

Sunday, July 9 : Darren Barrett Band (6:00 p.m.)

Here is the menu at Darryl's. 

Find year round jazz in Massachusetts by visiting MassJazz.com.

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com. 

Bobby Keyes Jazz Trio Performs at Maudslay Arts Center in Newburyport on July 8

The Maudslay Arts Center presents the Bobby Keyes Trio in concert at the  at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 8, 2017.  Tickets to the show are $28 and can be purchased online or by calling 978 499-0050.

Bobby Keyes is a versatile guitarist who blends a range of music - jazz, r&b, country, pop and swing - into a distinct American sound.   His newest album is Dojogobo.

Located in Newburyport, the Maudslay Arts Center is now in its 25th year of staging live music through the summer.  Here is the upcoming schedule.

Find more about jazz in Massachusetts by visiting MassJazz.com.

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com.