Samantha Farrell Returns to BOND Lounge at Boston Langham Hotel on Wednesday, March 23

Rising star Samantha Farrell has a return engagement at BOND Lounge at Boston Langham Hotel on Wednesday, March 23, 2011 from 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.

The singer/songwriter, originally from Boston and now living in Los Angeles, has been described by Ben Evans of the Huffington Post as possessing "a liquor-honey voice, deft guitar work and slightly melancholic tones that meld to form an arching and elegant aural tapestry."

Samantha's show is part of the new BOND Jazz Experiment that features upcoming and established jazz artists on Wednesday nights.  A special menu is available.  For reservations, call 617 956-8765.

For a full schedule of artists coming to the BOND Restaurant and Lounge, click here.

For year round details on jazz clubs, hotel brunches, campus activities, jazz festivals and concerts throughout Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com

For visitor information on Massachusetts, go to MassVacation.com.

Guitar Master Al DiMeola Performs in Fall River on Tuesday, March 22

Jazz guitar virtuoso Al DiMeola performs with his band World Sinfonia at the Narrows Center for the Arts in Fall River, Massachusetts on Tuesday, March 22, 2011, at 8:00 p.m.

Tickets to the show are $50 and $25 for children, and can be ordered online.

DiMeola is a pioneer in fusing jazz and world music, a prolific composer, and a seasoned performer whose career dates back to the 70s fusion band, Return to Forever.

For a schedule of upcoming events at Narrows Center for the Arts, click here.

For details on jazz clubs, concerts, campus events, brunches and festivals in Massachusetts throughout the year, visit MassJazz.com.

For tourist information, visit MassVacation.com.

Roomful of Blues Performing in Ipswich on Friday, March 18

Legendary blues band Roomful of Blues is performing on Friday, March 18, 2011 at the Ipswich Performing Arts Center in Ipswich, Massachusetts.

Tickets to the concert are $22 and $18 for students, and can be ordered online or at the door.

The concert is presented by the North Shore Jazz Project, and proceeds benefits the Ipswich High School music program.

For year round jazz concerts, night clubs, campus events, brunches and festivals throughout Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com.

NPR's Go Green for St. Patrick's Day Jazz List

A BlogSupreme on National Public Radio (NPR) has come up with a jazz sampler in honor of St. Patrick's Day.  Heading the list is the classic rendition of Danny Boy by pianist Bill Evans, released in 1963. 

Also included on the list: Snakes by David Sanborn.

Writes NPR: "Here are five jazz songs that wear the green, at least in their titles. We start with a gorgeous version of a song regarded by many as Ireland's unofficial national anthem. And we'll end with a musical nod to those pesky snakes that the Irish no longer have to worry about."

For full details on jazz concerts, night clubs, campus events, brunches and festivals in Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com.

Joe Morello, Springfield Native and Jazz Drummer (1928-2011)

Joe Morello, drummer for the Dave Brubeck Quartet, died at his home in New Jersey on Saturday at age 82.

A native of Springfield, Massachusetts, Morello was sight-impaired as a child and studied the violin, performing at age nine with Boston Symphony Orchestra as a soloist in the Mendelsohn Violin Concerto, according to his biography.  He switched to the drums at age 15.

Brubeck released a statement, saying: "Drummers worldwide remember Joe as one of the greatest drummers we have known.  Many people consider the rhythm section of Eugene Wright and Joe Morello in my quartet as being one of the most consistent, swinging rhythm sections in jazz. ... His drum solo on 'Take Five' is still being heard around the world."

On the Home Page of Morello's web site was a simple note:  

 

"It is with great sadness that we report Joe's passing on March 12, 2011.His impact on the world of music and on all those whose lives he touched will live forever."

 

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

Boston Jazz Club Featuring Irish Music this St. Patrick's Day, March 17

Boston's popular jazz club, the Beehive, is holding its annual Erin Go Beehive to celebrate St. Patrick's Day on Thursday, March 17, 2011, from 5:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m., partnering with the Boston Irish Tourism Association.

Featured performers this year include Matt & Shannon Heaton, harpist Maeve Gilchrist, Irish drummer Paddy League, and singer Sheila Linnehan.

Beehive Chef Rebecca Newel has put together a distinctive Irish menu that includes Corned Beef & Cabbage flatbread with Sauerkraut & Cheese, Finaan Haddie Smoked Fish & Chips with malt vinegar aioli and slaw, and Grilled Lamb Chops with Colcannon mashed potatoes.

There is no cover charge but reservations are suggested by calling 617 42300069.

The Beehive is located at 541 Tremont Street in Boston's South End.

For a schedule of upcoming events at Beehive, click here.

For year round information on jazz concerts, night clubs, campus events, brunches and festivals, visit MassJazz.com.

For tourist information, visit BostonUSA.com or MassVacation.com.

Rick DiMuzio Quintet Performing at Arsenal Center for the Arts on Monday, March 14

Saxophonist and Berklee Professor Rick DiMuzio performs with his Quintet at the Arsenal Center for the Arts in Watertown, MA on Monday, March 14, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $22.50 and can be ordered online.

For a schedule of upcoming events at the Arsenal Center for the Arts, click here.

For details  on jazz concerts, night clubs, campus events, brunches and festivals year round in Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com.

Makanda Project with Warren Smith Performing at Dudley Branch of Boston Public Library in Roxbury on March 12

The Makanda Project, dedicated to the compositions of Boston musician Makanda Ken McIntyre, is performing at the Dudley Branch of the Boston Public Library on Saturday, March 12, 2011 from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m.  Jazz percussionist Warren Smith is the featured artist.

The concert is free and open to the public.  For more information call617 442-4414. 

McIntyre was a gifted musician and educator who composed over 400 pieces of music in his life. The Makanda Project continues the legacy of Makanda through live concerts and educational programs.

For year round details on jazz concerts, night clubs, campus events, brunches and festivals throughout Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com.

For tourist information visit MassVacation.com.

Jazz Singer Billie Holiday Being Inducted into National Women's Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, New York

Billie Holiday, famed American jazz vocalist, is one of eleven women being inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame later this year, on September 30-October 1, 2011 in Seneca Falls, NY, the birthplace of the American Women's Rights Movement.

Holiday (1915-1959) was considered one of the greatest jazz vocalists of all time, noted the press announcement, writing:

"Billie Holiday forever changed the genres of jazz and pop with her unique style.  Holiday began her career as a singer in Harlem nightclubs in 1931, without formal musical training.  She went on to record and tour with a number of famous musicians like Benny Goodman and Lester Young, and officially began recording under her own name in 1936.  Holiday, known for her deeply moving and personal vocals, remains a popular musical legend more than fifty years after her death."

Since forming in 1969, the National Women's Hall of Fame has inducted 236 women. The two other jazz  musicians who have been inducted were also vocalists: Ella Fitzgerald and Bessie Smith. 

For year round details on jazz concerts, night clubs, campus events, brunches and festivals in Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com.

For tourist information visit MassVacation.com.

Japanese Pianist Yoko Miwa debuts at Regattabar Jazz Club in Harvard Square on Wednesday, March 9

Acclaimed Japanese jazz pianist Yoko Miwa is performing at the Regattabar Jazz Club at the Charles Hotel in Harvard Square, Cambridge, on Wednesday, March 9, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.   Tickets to the show are $20 and can be purchased online.

Her trio includes Greg Loughman on acoustic bass and Scott Goulding on drums.

Born in Kobe, Japan, Yoko studied classical and jazz piano, then won a scholarship to Berklee College of Music.  She has toured with numerous performers like Kevin Mahogany and played with Arturo Sandoval, Jon Faddis and many others.  

As part of Women's History month, Yoko is dedicating this concert to jazz vocalist Sheila Jordan.

For a schedule of upcoming concerts at the Regattabar, click here.

For year-round details on jazz clubs, campus events, concerts, brunches and festivals throughout Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com.

For tourist information, visit MassVacation.

Jazz Singer/ Pianist Yvonne Aubert Playing at BOND Restaurant in Boston on March 9

Yvonne Aubert, an up-and-coming jazz singer and pianist from New Hampshire, is performing with her trio at BOND Restaurant & Lounge at the Langham Boston Hotel on Wednesday, March 9, 2011 from 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.

Aubert is joined by Mark Zaleski on acoustic bass and Shinya Fukumori on drums.

 It's part of the BOND Jazz Experiment taking place Wednesday nights at the restaurant, featuring emerging artists excelling in jazz. For a full schedule of events, click here.

For year round details on jazz night clubs, concerts, campus events, brunches and festivals, visit MassJazz.com.

For tourist information, visit MassVacation.com and BostonUSA.com.

Jazz Pianists Fred Hersch + Jason Moran Perform at NEC in Boston on March 8

Jason Moran

A free concert by two formidable jazz pianists, Fred Hersch and Jason Moran, is taking place at Jordan Hall in Boston on Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at 8:00 p.m. 

Both pianists are faculty members at the New England Conservatory and are highly regarded as collaborate artists. 

Moran is completing his first year of teaching at NEC, and is a MacArthur Foundation fellow.  Hirsch has been on the NEC faculty since the 1980s and has been called by Downbeat Magazine "one of the small handful of brilliant musicians of his generation."

For year round details on jazz concerts, night clubs, campus events and festivals throughout Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com.

Klezmer and Swing Music at the Cotuit Center for the Arts on Cape Cod this Sunday, March 6

Master jazz drummer Bart Weisman, a Provincetown musician and founder of the annual Provincetown Jazz Festival, leads a performance of traditional Jewish klezmer and swing era music at the Cotuit Center for the Arts on Cape Cod, on Sunday, March 6, 2011 at 2:00 p.m.

The Center is located at 4404 Falmouth Road in Cotuit.  For directions click here.


 For year round details on jazz concerts, night clubs, campus events, and festivals in Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com.

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com.

Trumpeter Chris Botti Performing at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium on Friday, March 4

Jazz trumpet player Chris Botti is performing at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium on Friday, March 4, 2011 at 8:00 p.m.

Tickets to the show are $30.50, $46.50 and $56.50 and can be ordered online.

Botti is the best-selling instrumental jazz artist in America, and has won numerous awards for his music.

For a schedule of upcoming concerts at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium, located at 153 Merrimack Street in Lowell, Massachusetts, click here.

For year round details on jazz concerts, clubs, campus events, festivals, radio stations and jazz brunches throughout Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com.

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com.

Jazz Vocalist Charmaine Clamor Performing at Regattabar Jazz Club in Harvard Square on Saturday, March 5

Filipino jazz star Charmaine Clamor is performing two shows at the famous Regattabar jazz club in Cambridge Massachusetts on Saturday, March 5, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.

Tickets to the concert are $22 and can be ordered online.

Hailed as "one of the important and original singers of the decade" by music critic Don Heckman of the Los Angeles Times, Clamor has just released her fourth US album, Something Good, with songs in English, Tagalog and Taglish.

For a complete schedule of upcoming concerts at Regattabar, located at the Charles Hotel in Harvard Square, Cambridge, click here.

For year round details on jazz clubs, campus events, concerts and festivals throughout Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com.

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com. 

Sonny Rollins and Quincy Jones Receive National Medal of Arts from President Obama at White House

Sonny Rollins

President Barack Obama presented the National Medal of Arts to two jazz giants - saxophonist Sonny Rollins, and musician and composer Quincy Jones - at a White House ceremony on Wednesday, March 3, 2011.  

See story by Patrick Jarenwattananon of A Blog Supreme on NPR, and a video of the awards ceremony below:

Other winners from Massachusetts included James Taylor, the singer/songwriter from the Berkshires, Jacob's Pillow Dance, for their outstanding contributions to American culture and the arts and Robert Brustein, founder of the American Repertory Theatre in Cambridge.

For a complete transcript of the ceremony, click here.

For details on jazz concerts, clubs, campus events, and festivals, visit MassJazz.com.

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com

Berklee's High School Jazz Festival Kicks off in Boston on March 5

The 43rd High School Jazz Festival hosted by Berklee College of Music is taking place on March 5, 2011 in Boston.

The event showcases over 3,000 students and 200 big bands, combos, and vocal ensembles from California to New England competing for $175,000 in scholarships to Berklee's summer programs.

The festival includes clinics and concerts by the acclaimed a cappella group Pitch Slapped; faculty drummer Kenwood Dennard; Berklee's Concert Jazz Orchestra; the Global Jazz Institute, City Music, Salsa, and P-Funk ensembles, and more.

For more information, click here.

For year round details on jazz clubs, concerts, campus events and festivals, visit MassJazz.com.

For visitor information visit MassVacation.com.

Jazz at the Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center this Friday, March 4

A great night of jazz is on tap at the Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center on Friday, March 4, 2011.

The Ben Schwendener Group takes the stage at 7:30 p.m., celebrating the release of its new CD Apfelschaun: New Episode.  The group includes pianist composer Ben Schwendener, saxophinist Uew Steinmetz, bassist Bridget Kearney and drummer Michael Calabrese. 

Then at 9:00 p.m. the  Judi Silvano Group performs, bringing a rich selection of jazz classics and some original compositions as well. Vocalist Silvano is joined by reedman Marco Pignataro, basist Bruce Gertz, pianist John Funkhauser and drummer Yoran Israel.

Tickets to each performance are $15 general admission, or $25 for both shows.  Discounts also apply to members of the Multicultural Arts Center and JazzBoston.  You can order tickets to each or both shows online.

For a schedule of upcoming concerts at the Multicultural Arts Center, located at 41 Second Street, click here.

For year round details on jazz clubs, concerts, campus events and festivals throughout Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com.

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com.

Berklee's Women Musicians Network Features 50 Women Musicians at Berklee Performance Center on Thursday, March 3

 Sarah Eide

More than 50 women will grace the stage at the Berklee Performance Center when Berklee’s Women Musicians Network (WMN) presents its 14^th annual concert on Thursday, March 3, 2011 at 8:15 p.m. Tickets to the show are $10 and can be ordered online. 

Female students from countries around the world – including Argentina, Japan, Italy, South Korea, Spain, and the U.S. – will showcase their songwriting, arranging, performing, producing, and engineering talents in this popular concert.

Among the performers: Katie Marshall, Kozue Kuriyama, Sissy Castrogiovanni, Se-eun Kim, Elisa Lomazzo, Sarah Eide, Liz Lohnes, Silvina Moreno, Ariadna Castellanos, and Candy Mabra (China Fox).

For a schedule of upcoming events at Berklee Performance Center, located at 136 Massachusetts in Boston's Back Bay, click here. 

For year round jazz concerts, campus events, jazz clubs and festivals throughout Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com.

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com.

Sax Player Jesse Scheinin Performing at BOND Restaurant in Boston on Wednesday, March 2

Standout saxophonist Jesse Scheinin is performing at  BOND Restaurant & Lounge in downtown Boston on Wednesday, March 2, 2011 from 7:00 to 10:00  p.m.

A native of Santa Cruz, California, Scheinin is at the Berklee College of Music and a regular perform on the Boston jazz scene.

BOND Jazz Experiment, which runs from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. each Wednesday, highlights emerging artists and accomplished performers covering the jazz spectrum, including classic jazz from the American Songbook, rhythm and blues and funk.  For reservations call 617 956-8765.

Located at the Langham Boston Hotel,  BOND Restaurant & Lounge is open seven days a week, offering gourmet sandwiches for lunch, afternoon tea, and global cuisine for dinner, plus an extensive wine list and distinctive cocktails. A special jazz menu is available on Wednesdays.

For a full schedule of artists through April visit BONDBoston.com and click on events.

For year round jazz in concert halls, clubs, hotel lounges and college campuses throughout Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com

For tourist information, visit MassVacation.com.

Elan Trotman Playing at Scullers Jazz Club in Boston on March 1

Boston-based jazz saxophonist Elan Trotman is performing at Sculler's Jazz Club in Boston on Tuesday, March 1, 2011 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets to the show are $20 and can be ordered online.

Trotman, a native of Barbados, is releasing his new album, Love and Sax, a collection of soul-jazz ballads described as expressive and passionate.  It's the second album for Trotman, a graduate of the Berklee College of Music and an up-and-coming star in smooth jazz.

 Scullers Jazz club is located at the Doubletree Suites/ Hilton Hotel at 400 Soldiers Field Road in Boston. For a full schedule of upcoming concerts click here.

For year round details on jazz clubs, campus events, concerts, jazz brunches and festivals throughout Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com

For visitor information on Massachusetts, visit MassVacation.com.

New England Winter Blues Festival at the Blue Ocean Music Hall in Salisbury on Saturday, February 26

The second annual New England Blues Festival gets underway on Saturday, February 26, 2011 at the Blue Ocean Music Hall in Salsibury, Massachusetts, starting at 8:00 p.m.

Tickets are $22-26 and can be purchased at the door or ordered online.

Featured blues bands include Mr. Nick and the Dirty Tricks, the Chris Fritz Band, the Matthew Stubbs Band, and Nick Moss and the Flip Tops.

For a full schedule of upcoming concerts at the Blue Ocean, click here.

For year round jazz in Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com

For visitor information, visit MassVacation.com
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Berklee Jazz Students React to Esperanza Spalding's Grammy Award

New England Cable News did a great local story on students at the Berklee College of Music reacting to the news that Berklee alumni Esperanza Spalding had won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist of the Year.

For year round information on jazz clubs, campus events, concerts and festivals, visit MassJazz.com

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com

Cyrus Chestnut Trio Performing at Regattabar in Cambridge on Friday, February 25

Jazz pianist Cyrus Chestnut and his Trio are performing at the Regattabar Jazz Club at the Charles Hotel in Harvard Square on Friday, February 25, 2011, at 7:30 p.m.  Tickets are $25 and can be ordered online.

Cyrus is joined by Dezron Douglas on bass and Neal Smith on drums.

For a full schedule of jazz at the Regattabar, click here.

For year round information on jazz clubs, campus events, concerts and festivals, visit MassJazz.com

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com

Jazz Singer Kurt Elling Performing at Scullers in Boston on February 25-26

Legendary jazz vocalist Kurt Elling is performing at Scullers Jazz Club in Boston on Friday, February 25, and Saturday, February 26, 2011.  Tickets to the show are $30 and can be ordered online.

For a list of upcoming concerts at Scullers, click here. 

For year round jazz in Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com.

US Census Bureau Pays Tribute to Jazz as Part of Black History Month

John Coltrane

Profile America for the 23rd day of Black History Month, 2011.

It has been called "the only true American art form." Over a century old, it's appreciated around the world -- what else but the music called jazz? A blend of religious and work songs, Spanish and French influences, ragtime and marching bands, all laid over African rhythms, the history of jazz is uniquely tied to the African-American experience. From Jelly Roll Morton to Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker and Miles Davis on to Wynton Marsalis, African-Americans have kept jazz evolving through the decades. Nearly 8 percent of adults in the U.S. attend a live jazz performance at least once a year.

You may Listen or download this story in .mp3 format or as a .wav file.

This special edition of Profile America is a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.

For year round jazz in Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com.

Stan Strickland and Dancers Perform at Boston Center for the Arts on February 24

Jazz saxophone and flute player Stan Strickland is performing with dancers Callie Chapman and Sara June at the Cyclorama at Boston Center for the Arts on Thursday, February 24, 2011 at 8:00 p.m.  Tickets to the show are $20 and can be ordered online. 

A veteran jazz player has performed all over the world, opening for Miles Davis and Sonny Rollins, Strickland  is featured in a film documentary entitled Black Man Up, with Blair Underwood and Lamar Burton.  He has worked with dozens of choreographers, including Alvin Ailey, Jose Limon and Bill T. Jones.

For year round jazz in Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com.