Free 2013 MassJazz Guide now available at Tourism Centers in Massachusetts

The Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism has issued the 5th annual MassJazz, a 44 page booklet guide to jazz festivals, concerts, campus events and other jazz activities taking place in Massachusetts this summer and fall.

The MassJazz guide is free and available at these locations in Massachusetts.

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

To explore the arts and cultural scene in Massachusetts, visit MassVacation.com.

Blues Legend Buddy Guy Performs at Lowell Summer Music Series on Saturday, August 3

Blues master Buddy Guy is performing at the Lowell Summer Music Series in Lowell, Massachusetts on Saturday, August 3, 2013 at 7:30 p.m.

The concert takes place at Boarding House Park at 40 French Street in downtown Lowell.  Tickets to the concert are $44 in advance and $50 at the gate.  Tickets can be reserved online. 

The Louisiana-born musician is considered the pioneer of the Chicago rhythm and blues style which influenced a generation of musicians like Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Find year round details on jazz and blues in Massachusetts by visiting MassJazz.com.

To explore the arts and cultural scene in Massachusetts, visit MassVacation.com.  

Jazz Trumpeter Chris Botti Performing August 2 and 3 in Hyannis and Cohasset, Massachusetts

Chris Botti, one of world's best selling jazz artists, is performing two concerts in Massachusetts this weekend.  On Friday, August 2, Botti and his band play at the Cape Cod Melody Tent in Hyannis, Cape Cod, and on Saturday, August 3, at the South Shore Music Circus in Cohasset.

Both concerts begin at 8:00 p.m.  You can order tickets online through the Melody Tent or the Music Circus. 

Also, MassJazz is announcing the winner of free tickets and dinner to each show on Wednesday, July 31.  Here's how to enter the contest.

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

To explore the arts and cultural scene in Massachusetts, visit MassVacation.com. 

Jacob's Pillow - Jazz and Musical Theatre Program runs July 29 through August 18

The annual Jazz and Musical Theatre summer course at Jacob's Pillow Dance in Becket, Massachusetts opens today and runs through Sunday, August 18, 2013.  The course is led by Broadway choreographer Chet Walker and faculty includes directors, composers/arrangers, choreographers and musicians from Broadway.

The dancers present their work to the general public on August 3, 10, and 17, as part of Jacob's Pillow's free outdoor performing arts series.

Here is a schedule of dance concerts taking place through the summer at Jacob's Pillow Dance.

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

To explore the arts and cultural scene in Massachusetts, visit MassVacation.com. 

Berkshire Gateway Jazz Weekend Taking Place in Lee on July 25-29

Jazz guitarist Freddie Bryant



The 2nd annual Berkshire Gateway Jazz Weekend is taking place from Thursday, July 25 through Monday, July 29, 2013 in the town of Lee, Massachusetts.

Highlights of this year's festival are concerts at the First Congressional Church in Lee featuring Freddie Bryant & Kaleidoscope on Friday, July 26, and Phil Woods with the Greg Caputo Big Band on Saturday, July 27.  Here is ticket information. 

In addition, there are a series of other activities, including jazz outdoors, an art exhibit, and roving musicians in downtown Lee.  For details on related events, visit Berkshire Gateway Jazz Weekend.

These events are presented by Berkshires Jazz, Inc. and Berkshire Gateway Preservation, Inc.

Find more details on jazz in Massachusetts by visiting MassJazz.com

For information about visiting Massachusetts, visit MassVacation.com.

 

Preservation Hall Jazz Band Performs at Boston's Summer Arts Weekend in Copley Square on Friday, July 26

The world-famous Preservation Hall Jazz Band from New Orleans is performing at this year's Summer Arts Weekend festival at Copley Square in Boston's Back Bay.  The Band performs on Friday, July 26 at 9:20 p.m.

Friday night's schedule also includes Noe Socha, Della Mae, and Dr. John and the Nite Trippers.

The weekend series, free to the public, is presented by The Boston Globe and WGBH.

The series takes place on Saturday and Sunday.  For complete details visit Summer Arts Weekend. 

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

To explore the arts and cultural scene in Massachusetts, visit MassVacation.com. 

Outside the Box presents free concert with Women of the World at Boston City Hall Plaza on Sunday, July 21

Women of the World, an ensemble of outstanding musicians from Japan, India, Haiti, United States, Italy and Mexico, is performing a free concert on Boston City Hall Plaza on Sunday, July 21, 2013 at 3:00 p.m.  The group formed in 2008 when Berklee College of Music grad Ayumi Ueda sought to create an all-women's ensemble dedicated to world peace.  Women of the World performs in twenty-one languages.

The concert is part of Outside the Box, a new arts festival launched in Boston by philanthropist Ted Cultler, and is one of the final events of the nine day fest, which runs from July 13-21.

Today's Outside the Box schedule includes live music and culinary demonstrations on City Hall Plaza.  

Massachusetts is home to one of the most vibrant performing arts scenes in the world.  To explore the arts and cultural scene in Massachusetts, visit MassVacation.com. 

Outside the Box Presents Shye Ben Tzur & The Rajasthan Gypsies at Boston City Hall Plaza on Sunday, July 21

Shye Ben Tzur & The Rajasthan Gypsies are closing out the 9-day Outside the Box performing arts festival with a free concert at Boston City Hall Plaza on Sunday, July 21, 2013 at 4:00 p.m.

The band combines Jewish and Indian musical traditions, creating a unique brand of music that connects culture and religious pluralism.  The concert is presented by the Boston Jewish Musical Festival.

Today's Outside the Box activities on City Hall Plaza run from 11:00 a.m. to 5:10 p.m., and include live music and culinary demonstrations throughout the day. 

Outside the Box is the newest performing arts festival in Massachusetts, with over 200 free performances taking place on Boston Common and City Hall Plaza between July 13-21.  The performers include local, national and international acts in music and dance, theater and cabaret, comedy and children's shows and spectacle art.

To explore the arts and cultural scene in Massachusetts, visit MassVacation.com. 

Blues Legend James Montgomery Performs Free Concert on Boston City Hall Plaza at Outside the Box Festival on Friday, July 19

Local blues legend James Montgomery and his band perform a free concert on Boston's City Hall Plaza on Friday, July 19, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. The concert is part of the inaugural Outside the Box arts festival taking place in Boston from July 13-July 21. 

Montgomery, a renowned blues harmonica player, has performed with Bruce Springsteen, James Cotton, the Allman Brothers and other musicians throughout his forty-year career.  

Outside the Box is the newest performing arts festival to spawn in Massachusetts in recent years, with over 200 free performances taking place on Boston Common and City Hall Plaza.  The performers include local, national and international acts in music and dance, theater and cabaret, comedy and children's shows and spectacle art.

To explore the arts and cultural scene in Massachusetts, visit MassVacation.comhttp://www.massvacation.com/explore/arts/.

Pink Martini is Performing at Cape Cod Melody Tent in Hyannis on Saturday, June 29

Pink Martini, the international, cross-over ensemble influenced by classical, jazz and pop music, is performing in concert at the Cape Cod Melody Tent in Hyannis on Saturday, June 29, 2013 at 7:30 p.m.  Tickets to the show range from $31.75 to $57.75 and can be purchased online or at the venue.

You can also win a pair of tickets to see the show along with dinner.

Formed in 1994, the band has performed around the world over the past two decades.  Pink Martini is releasing its seventh studio album this fall, entitled Get Happy.

Here is a full schedule of concerts at the Cape Cod Melody Tent this summer.

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

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com and CapeCodChamber.org.

Saxophonist Ravi Coltrane Performs at Scullers Jazz Club in Boston on Thursday, June 20

Legendary jazz saxophonist Ravi Coltrane is performing at Scullers Jazz Club in Boston on Thursday, June 20, 2013 at 8:00 and 10:00 p.m. Tickets to each show are $25 and can be purchased online or at the door.

Coltrane is promoting his new album, Spirit Fiction, on the Blue Note Label.

Here is a schedule of upcoming concerts at Scullers.

For year round jazz in Massachusetts, in concert halls, clubs, hotels, college campuses and outdoor festivals, visit MassJazz.com.

For visitor information go to MassVacation.com.

Jazz Guitarist John McLaughlin & the 4th Dimension Performing at Berklee in Boston on June 22

John McLaughlin & the Fourth Dimension are in concert at the Berklee Performance Center in Boston's Back Bay on Saturday, June 22, 2013 at 8:00 p.m.

Tickets to the show are $35 and $45 and can be purchased online or at the venue.  The concert is presented by Absolutely Live Entertainment and Scullers Jazz Club.

McLaughlin, founder of the seminal Mahavishnu Orchestra in 1971, has been an influential jazz guitarist over the past forty years, and continues to expand the music and its influence around the world.

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

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com.

Jazz Festival Season in Massachusetts Kicks Off in New Bedford on Saturday, June 15

The 2013 jazz festival season in Massachusetts gets off to a good start this weekend with the second annual New Bedford Jazz Fest, taking place from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 15, 2013 at Fisherman's Pier Three in downtown New Bedford. Among the featured performers are the  Marcus Monteiro Quartet, Southcoast Jazz Orchestra, and the Latin Jazz Vision Ensemble.  Here is a full line-up.

Throughout the summer and fall Massachusetts comes alive with over a dozen jazz festivals plus dozens of jazz concert series taking place.  You can find full details on jazz year round in Massachusetts by visiting MassJazz.com.   

For tourism information visit MassVacation.com.

Gypsy Jazz at the Burren in Davis Square, Somerville on Tuesdays

Jazz fiddler and mandolin player Jason Anick and his band The Swingers play gypsy jazz at the Burren Pub in Davis Square, Somerville on Tuesday nights throughout the summer from 8:30 to 11:30 p..m.

Anick is an instructor at the Berklee College of Music and is said to be the finest jazz violinist and mandolin player of his generation.

The Burren Pub has live music seven nights a week and is considered one of the best Irish pubs in the United States.  It has an eclectic line-up of music, including Irish, jazz, blues, rock and world music.

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

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

Cole Porter Week at French Cultural Centre in Boston Celebrates American Song Writer

The French Cultural Centre in Boston's Back Bay is celebrating American songwriter Cole Porter this week, in recognition of Porter's contribution to music and culture. Porter was deeply influenced by France and Paris in particular.

On Tuesday, June 11, 2013, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. the Centre is hosting a lecture by Desmond Colborne, a South African native who now lives in France.

On Saturday, June 15, 2013, the Centre hosts a special gala celebration, A Parisian Soirée with Cole Porter, from 7:00  to 10:00 p.m.. The evening includes dancing, drinks, hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction and live music featuring Cole Porter’s masterpieces by New England Conservatory musicians specializing in the works of Cole Porter.

To purchase your tickets to this special event, please contact reception at 617-912-0400 or info@frenchculturalcenter.org. RSVP required by June 12.

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

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