Martha’s Vineyard Jazz and Blues Summerfest 2018 Taking Place on August 30-September 2

Jazzmeia Horn

The Martha’s Vineyard Jazz and Blues Summerfest 2018 (August 30-September 2) is a perfect way to head into the Labor Day weekend.  Performers include Jazzmeia Horn, Sage, Alyson Williams and Maysa. Tickets are available online. 

A Summerfest Marketplace features an array of vendors, artists, crafts and beverage tasting opportunities for festival-goes. 

Summerfest was launched in 2008 by music promoter Sheila Baptista to celebrate women in jazz, and is produced by Lewis & Kirk, Inc. 

Sage

Martha's Vineyard was recently named one of America's 12 best islands by CNN Travel. 

Find more details on visiting Martha's Vineyard and Massachusetts. 

Jazz Festivals in Massachusetts in August 2018

Gloria Ryan, Springfield Indie Soul Festival 

August marks the peak season for live jazz in Massachusetts, with eight terrific jazz festivals slated over the next three weeks!  Boston, Salem, Springfield, Provincetown, Martha’s Vineyard and Rockport are great summer destinations for their natural beauty, dining and hospitality assets, and for live jazz.

Performers range from local favorites like vocalist Pat Braxton, sax player Grace Kelly and the Salem High Jazz Band to internationally acclaimed artists like Dianne Reeves, Kurt Elling, Pedrito Martinez and Monty Alexander.

You can find a full summer & fall schedule of jazz & blues festivals in Massachusetts go to MassJazz.com/festivals.  Here is a run-down of August jazz festivals:

The 14^th Annual Provincetown Jazz Festival (August 9 & 13), organized by popular jazz drummer Bart Weisman, is a perfect celebration of P-Town’s cultural richness.  On Monday, August 13, the festival moves to the Cotuit Center for the Arts in Cotuit, with performances by the Tim Ray Trio and vocalist Daryl Sherman.

The 6^th Annual Rockport Jazz Festival (August 9-12) has attracted leading international performers on the jazz circuit to this beautiful seaside town.  This year’s lineup includes saxophonist Grace Kelly, vocalist Kurt Elling, pianist Monty Alexander and the Joe Lovano Classic Quartet.  The concerts are held in the breathtaking Shalin Liu Performance Center.

The 5^th Annual Springfield Jazz & Roots Festival (August 11) features Latin jazz performers, including saxophonist Maceo Parker, Afro-Cuban singer and percussionist Pedrito Martinez, vocalists Sweet Honey in the Rock, guitarist Jon Cleary and bassist Avery Sharp. An opening jazz parade through downtown Springfield is led by New Orleans native Henri Smith.

The 8^th Annual Jazz on the Vineyard (August 11-12) celebrates jazz on Martha’s Vineyard, a wonderful summer destination.  Five-time Grammy winner Dianne Reeves, just named as a 2018 Jazz Master by the National Endowment for the Arts, is this year’s marquee performer. The festival supports the Student Achievement through Opportunity (SATO) and provides educational opportunities for talented young scholars.

The 12^th Annual Salem Jazz & Soul Festival (August 18-19) attracts over 6,000 people to the Salem Willows each year for a free festival featuring top local groups.  This year watch the Salem High Jazz Band, Ethan Santos, The Darlings, First Friday Funk, Allstar Revue and Big Sam’s Funky Nation.

The Springfield Indie Soul Festival (August 25) feature vocalist Gloria Ryan, R&B Artist Heshima Moja, Singer/Songwriter Mr. Qwes, soul roots rockers Toussiant Liberator and the Naya Rockets, roots music/hiphop/jazz band Malado Music, vocalist Tia Shanae and soul singer SuCh.

The 8^th Annual Boston Jazz Festival (August 25) at the Raymond L. Flynn Maritime Park in the Seaport District pays tribute to jazz’s African American roots.  This year’s festival features Ron Savage Trio, Wali Ali, Amazing Z.Y.G, the GroovaLottos, Sivan Arbel, Erena Terakubo and Pat Braxton.

Launched in 2008 by music promoter Sheila Baptista, Martha’s Vineyard Jazz and Blues Summerfest 2018 (August 30-September 2) is a perfect way to head into the Labor Day weekend.  Performers include Jazzmeia Horn, Sage, Alyson Williams and Maysa. A Summerfest Marketplace features an array of vendors, artists, crafts and beverage tasting opportunities.

In addition to the vibrant festivals that attract visitors worldwide, the distinct jazz scene carries into neighborhoods and communities throughout Massachusetts. For more on where to find and celebrate jazz in the Bay State, visit MassJazz.com.

Springfield Jazz & Roots Festival, August 11, Features Top Jazz and Roots Performers

The fifth Annual Springfield Jazz & Roots Festival takes place on Saturday, August 11 in Court Square, downtown Springfield. The internationally heralded festival draws visitors from throughout the Northeast and has become a powerful expression of civic pride, uniting our region’s diverse cultural communities through music, arts, education, and revelry.

Among the performers at this year’s festival: Maceo Parker, Pedrito Martinez Group, Sweet Honey in the Rock, Jon Cleary, Avery Sharpe and more. Here is the full festival schedule.  

Other features of the festival include a Second Line Parade of musicians to kick off the parade led by New Orleans native Henri Smith.  The parade is a tribute to the late and beloved musician Charles Neville.  Also, a program about Songs from the Civil Rights Era; a Festival Tasting Experience; and an After-Festival party. 

Find more jazz and blues festivals in Massachusetts this summer and fall.

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com. 

Free Cambridge Jazz Festival on Sunday, July 29

The 5th Annual Cambridge Jazz Festival takes place on Sunday, July 29 at Danehy Park in Cambridge.  The event runs from noon to 6 p.m. and is free to the public.

This year's headliners include Terri Lyne Carrington & Special Guests, Gabrielle Goodman, Receita de Samba featuring Anna Borges & Bill Ward, MND FLO and the Ron Savage Trio. Find bios of the performers here.

Gabrielle Goodman

On Saturday, July 28, there is a panel discussion entitled Jazz & Gender: Challenging Inequality and Forging a New Legacy at 47 Howard Street in Cambridge.  Find ticket information here.

Find other jazz festivals in Massachusetts this summer and fall.

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com.

50TH ANNUAL FESTIVAL BETANCES CELEBRATES PUERTO RICAN + LATIN CULTURE IN MASSACHUSETTS

The 50th Annual Festival Betances is taking place on July 21-22, 2018 at Villa Victoria, located at 100 W. Dedham Street in Boston’s South End.

The two-day festival celebrates Puerto Rican culture, including music, dance, food, visual arts and other traditions. In addition, the festival features a parade, traditional cuisine, arts and crafts, a greased pole competition, children’s activities like face painting and inflatables, and other activities that highlight the diversity of Latino culture.

Among the performers this year are world-renowned artists including Andy Montañez, Giro López, Julio César Sanabria, and 3NITY featuring Zayra Pola.

Here is a video of 3NITY performing Summertime. Band members met at the Berklee College of Music, forming the first all-female Latin band in Boston.

The festival is organized each year by Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción is a non-profit organization and a dynamic community development corporation that started in the South End neighborhood of Boston, to address displacement of low-income families due to urban development. IBA offers affordable housing and supportive programming to improve the knowledge, life skills and health of participants of all ages.

Festival Betances is named after Ramón Emeterio Betances, a Puerto Rican patriot whose medical contributions benefited Latin America, the Caribbean, and the United States. He also became a leader in awakening national consciousness in Puerto Rico, and is considered one of the foremost intellectuals of the 19th century. There is a plaza and a mural dedicated to him where the festival is held.

Read more about the Massachusetts United for Puerto Rico Fund launched in October 2017 by the Boston Foundation and elected officials such as Governor Charlie Baker and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh. Dr. Vanessa Calderon-Rosado, Chairwoman of the Advisory Committee, is CEO of Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción.

Find more jazz and world music festivals in Massachusetts this year by visiting MassJazz.com.

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com.

Free Tito Puente Latin Music Series in Boston City Parks, July 5 - August 9

The 11th Annual Tito Puente Latin Music Series is taking place in Boston parks from July 5 through August 9.  Co-sponsored by the Berklee College of Music, Boston Parks & Recreation Department, Inquilinos Boricuas en Accion (IBA) and other groups, the concerts are free and open to the public.

The series is named for Tito Puente, the Harlem-born son of Puerto Rican parents who was a pioneer in fusing jazz and Latin American music.

Enjoy free salsa dance lessons at select concerts by Meta Movements Latin Dance Company.

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

For visitor information go to MassVacation.com.

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Jazz Pianist Yoko Miwa Performs at Regattabar in Harvard Square on June 1

Photo by Steven Sandick

The Yoko Miwa Trio is performing at the Regattabar jazz club inside the Charles Hotel in Harvard Square, Cambridge at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, June 1, 2018.

Show tickets are available online or by calling 617 395-7757.  Yoko is joined by Brad Barrett on acoustic bass and Scout Goulding on drums. 

A native of Kobe, Japan, Yoko first came to Boston in 1997 on a full scholarship.  Today she is a full time teacher there, teaching about 30 students a semester.  She performs regularly with her trio in Boston and New York City.

Find more jazz in Massachusetts at MassJazz.com.

For information about visiting Massachusetts go to MassVacation.com.

Jazz in Massachusetts This Weekend - Joshua Redman, Los Van Van, Pink Martini, Keyon Harrold & More

Los Van Van from Cuba

Check out great live jazz coming up in greater Boston this weekend, May 18-20, 2018.

Friday, May 18
Sal “The Voice” Valentinetti
The Cabot Theatre
286 Cabot Street, Beverly
thecabot.org/events/category/concerts

Pink Martini
Berklee Performance Center
105 Mass Ave, Back Bay, Boston
berklee.edu/

Keyon Harrold
Scullers Jazz Club
400 Soldiers Field Road
Allston, Boston
scullersjazz.com/upcoming-events/

Broken Shadows
Regattabar Jazz Club
Charles Hotel
Harvard Square, Cambridge
regattabar/

Saturday, May 19
Joshua Redman & Brooklyn Rider
Berklee Performance Center
105 Mass Ave, Back Bay, Boston
berklee.edu/

Sunday, May 20
Fred Taylor Presents
Los Van Van from Cuba
Hosted by Jose Masso, WBUR’s Con Salsa
Somerville Theatre
somervilletheatre.com

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

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com. 

Pink Martini Performs at Berklee on May 17-18

Pink Martini comes to the Berklee Performance Center in Boston's Back Bay at 8 p.m. on May 17-18, 2018. Purchase tickets online or at the venue. 

With a repertoire that crosses genres of classical, jazz, and golden-era pop music, Pink Martini draws inspiration from music from all over the world and performs in 22 languages.

The self-proclaimed “little orchestra” is celebrating the 20th anniversary of Sympathique, its first and most popular album.

Here is a schedule of upcoming concerts at Berklee Performance Center. 

Find year round details on live jazz & blues in Massachusetts at massjazz.com.

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com. 

Jazz Legend Ron Carter Performs at Regattabar in Harvard Square on May 11-12

The Ron Carter Trio, led by one of jazz's most influential bass players, is performing four concerts at the Regattabar in the Charles Hotel, Harvard Square, on May 11-12, 2018.

The group performs at 7:30 and 10:00 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday nights. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling 617 395-7757. 

Considered among the most original, prolific, and influential bassists in jazz history, Carter has more than 2,200 albums to his credit, according to his biography. He has recorded with greats including: Tommy Flanagan, Gil Evans, Lena Horne, Bill Evans, B.B. King, the Kronos Quartet, Dexter Gordon, Wes Montgomery, and Bobby Timmons, Jaki Byard, Eric Dolphy and Cannonball Adderley.

From 1963 to 1968, Ron was a member of the classic and acclaimed Miles Davis Quintet. He was named Outstanding Bassist of the Decade by the Detroit News, Jazz Bassist of the Year by Downbeat magazine, and MVP by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. He earned two Grammy awards, one in 1993 for Best Jazz Instrumental Group, and another in 1998 for “Call Sheet Blues” from the film “Round Midnight.”

Find year round jazz at MassJazz.com.

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com. 

  

INTERNATIONAL JAZZ DAY IS CELEBRATED IN MASSACHUSETTS AND AROUND THE WORLD

International Jazz Day is being celebrated in over 190 countries around the world on Monday, April 30, 2018.  Adopted by UNESCO, the celebration is meant to highlight the power of jazz as a force for freedom and creativity, while promoting intercultural dialogue through respect and understanding.

Schools, universities, libraries, jazz clubs, performing arts centers, artists and arts organizations all participate in International Jazz Day, according to UNESCO.

Among the activities taking place in Massachusetts were a gathering at Wally's Cafe in Boston hosted by JazzBoston and a free concert at New England Conservatory's Brown Hall, featuring jazz faculty members and students.

The worldwide celebration began in New Orleans in the United States and culminated in St. Petersburg, Russia.

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

Berklee Be-Bop Guitar Ensemble Performs at Mosesian Center for the Arts in Watertown on April 25

The Be-Bop Guitars, an all-Berklee faculty guitar ensemble, performs at the Mosesian Center for the Arts at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 25, 2018.

Purchase tickets online.

Led by John Baboian, artistic director for Jazz at the Mosesian Series, the ensemble features five guitars, trumpet, vibes bass and drums.

Find year round jazz in Massachusetts at MassJazz.com.

For visitor information go to MassVacation.com.

Brad Mehldau Trio Performing Six Shows at Scullers Jazz Club in Boston, April 19-21

The Brad Mehldau Trio is performing six shows at Scullers Jazz Club in Boston, from April 19-21, 2018, including 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. shows nightly.  Tickets are available online.

One of the most lyrical and intimate voices of contemporary jazz piano, 

the New York Times called Mehldau "the most influential jazz pianist of the last 20 years." 

Find more live jazz in Massachusetts year round at MassJazz.com.

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com. 

Jazz Week 2018 Celebrates Live Jazz in Greater Boston, April 20-30, 2018

Jazz Week 2018, the celebration of live jazz in greater Boston organized by JazzBoston, kicks off on Friday, April 20, and runs through Monday, April 30. 

JazzBoston describes Jazz Week as "a collaboration of Greater Boston’s jazz musicians, venues, presenters, and publicists to celebrate the music and the dynamic and diverse year-round jazz scene that makes Boston one of the world’s great jazz cities. 

More than 100 venues participate, with new ones signing on each year, such as the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA), which is participating in Jazz Week for the first time. 

This year, legendary radio host Eric Jackson of WGBH is being honored and celebrated with a series of events in his honor on the 40th anniversary of his show, Eric in the Evening. 

Jazz Week ties into the national observance of April as Jazz Appreciation Month celebrated by the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC.  Since 2012, International Jazz Day is celebrated worldwide on April 30. 

Makanda Project with Chico Freeman Performing Free Concert in Dudley Square on April 14

 The Makanda Project featuring Chico Freeman performs at the Bruce C. Bolling Center in Dudley Square, Roxbury at 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 14, 2018.  Also performing is the Boston Citywide String Orchestra.

The concert is free and open to the public. 

The Makanda Project is an ensemble dedicated to performing the previously unrecorded compositions of Makanda Ken McIntyre.  The group is based in Boston, Massachusetts, (Makanda’s hometown) and was formed in 2005.  Since then The Makanda Project has been giving regular free concerts in Boston’s Roxbury neighborhood and also performing outside of Boston – sharing what they believe is something unique and special about Makanda’s music, and adding their own individual and collective voices to his compositions.  

Find more live jazz concerts in April throughout Massachusetts.  

For more about jazz in Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com.

To visit Massachusetts, go to MassVacation.com. 

Portuguese Singer Ana Moura in Concert at Berklee Performance Center on Friday, April 6

Internationally recognized Fado singer Ana Moura is in concert at the Berklee Performance Center in Boston's Back Bay at 8 p.m. on Friday, April 6, 2018.

Tickets are available online or at the venue. The concert is presented by World Music/CRASHarts.

Fado is a distinct song tradition that originated in the neighborhoods and cafes of Lisbon, Portugal.

Here is a schedule of upcoming concerts at the Berklee Performance Center.

Find year round jazz in Massachusetts at MassJazz.com.

Berklee Celebrates Shakespeare's Influence on Jazz, Literature and Culture

Berklee Global Jazz Institute Summit presents Love Supreme, celebrating the impact of William Shakespeare, Maya Angelou, Geri Allen, Kahlil Gibran, Gabriela Mistral, John Coltrane, and Martin Luther King Jr. on today’s global jazz era.

The concert will feature Danilo Pérez, BGJI founder and artistic director; Terri Lyne Carrington, Zildjian chair in performance; Joe Lovano, Gary Burton chair in jazz performance; and other special guests as well as BGJI ensembles.

The Berklee Global Jazz Institute (BGJI) is a performance program designed to foster creativity and musicianship through various musical disciplines, with pianist and composer Danilo Pérez as its artistic director.

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

Jazz Trumpeter & Composer Terence Blanchard Student Ensembles at Berklee Performance Center on February 27

Renowned trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard, is hosting a concert with Berklee student ensembles at the Berklee Performance Center at 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 27, 2018.

Tickets can be purchased online or at the venue.

 Blanchard is a visiting scholar at Berklee's Jazz Composition Department.

Here is a schedule of upcoming concerts at the Berklee Performance Center.

Find year round jazz in Massachusetts at MassJazz.com.

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com. 

Jazz Vocalist Jane Monheit Performs Two Shows at Scullers on Friday, February 23

Acclaimed jazz vocalist Jane Monheit is performing two shows at Scullers Jazz Club in Boston on Friday, Feburary 23, 2018 at 8  and 10 p.m..

Tickets are available to purchase online or at the venue.  

Blessed with “a voice of phenomenal beauty,” according to Stephen Holden, New York Times, Monheit has established herself as one of today’s best and most important vocalist-musicians.

On her most recent recording, TheSongbook Sessions: Ella Fitzgerald,  Monheit pays tribute to Ella while sharing a definitive portrait of herself, guided by her producer, arranger and trumpeter Nicolas Payton. 

Ever since winning first runner up in the 1998 Thelonius Monk International Jazz Vocal Competition, Monheit's career has continued to grow and go in new directions.  Known as a contemporary specialist with the Great American Songbook, 

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

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com. 

Carla Bruni in Concert at Berklee Performance Center on February 15

Italian-born Carla Bruni is giving at concert  at the Berklee Performance Center in Boston's Back Bay at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 15, 2018.  

Bruni is touring in support of her fifth album, French Touch, a collection of adaptations of well-known songs by Depeche Mode, AC/DC, Willie Nelson, the Clash and others.

Purchase tickets online or at the venue. 

Find a schedule of upcoming concerts at Berklee Performance Center. 

For more information on the jazz scene in Massachusetts, read the current issue of MassJazz Guide or visit MassJazz.com.

For visitor information go to MassVacation.com. 

Live Jazz this weekend with Monty Alexander Trio, Lee Konitz, Amy Black Band and Bill Charlap Trio

Bill Charlap Trio

Check out four great jazz acts coming to town this weekend at Scullers and Regattabar. 

Here is a full list of jazz clubs in Massachusetts. 

Friday, January 26

Monty Alexander Trio
Scullers Jazz Club
400 Soldiers Field Road
Allston, Boston
scullersjazz.com/

Lee Konitz 90th Birthday Celebration
Regattabar Jazz Club
Charles Hotel
Harvard Square, Cambridge
regattabar

Saturday, January 27
Amy Black Band
Regattabar Jazz Club
Charles Hotel
Harvard Square, Cambridge
regattabar

Bill Charlap Trio
Scullers Jazz Club
400 Soldiers Field Road
Allston, Boston
scullersjazz.com/

For year round jazz in Massachusetts visit MassJazz.com.

For visitor information go to MassVacation.com. 

Afro-Cuban All Stars in concert at Berklee Performance Center on January 14

World Music/CRASHarts is presenting the Afro-Cuban All Stars at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, January 14, 2018 at the Berklee Performance Center in Boston's Back Bay. 

Concert tickets are available online or at the venue. 

The 13-piece dream team features Cuba’s hottest musicians, brought together by musical director Juan de Marcos González (the musical arranger for the original Buena Vista Social Club recording). Paying tribute to Cuban music, this multigenerational lineup features members from Cuba’s leading bands, including Orquesta Tropicana, Los Van Van, Sierra Maestra, and more.

Here is a calendar of upcoming events at Berklee Performance Center.

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

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com. 

Saxophonist Marcus Strickland Performs at Scullers on January 6

Jazz saxophonist Marcus Strickland is performing at Scullers Jazz Club in Boston at 8 p.m. on Saturday, January 6, 2018.  Tickets to the show are available online or at the venue. 

Considered part of the jazz vanguard of his generation, Strickland worked for several years with legendary drummer and Roxbury native Roy Haynes, as well as with Christian McBride, Mos Def and others. 

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

To learn about visiting Massachusetts, go to MassVacation.com.