Alto Saxophonist Patrick Cornelius Performs this Wednesday Night at Berklee's Cafe 939 in Boston

Patrick Cornelius and friends are performing at Berklee's Cafe 939 in the Red Room on Wednesday, December 11. The concert is part of WBGO and NPR Music's The Checkout series. Tickets for this event are $10 for the public, or $5 with a Berklee ID, and available for purchase online at the venue's site. The show kicks off at 8:00 p.m..

This concert series aims to bring back acclaimed Berklee alumni to their alma mater for a performance in an intimate setting. For this occasion, Cornelius is performing a musical set he wrote, based on Alan Alexander Milne's children's book When We Were Very Young. On this project, Cornelius remarked, "This project has had perhaps more personal meaning to me than anything else I've done in my career."

Cornelius is being accompanied on stage by Kendrick Scott (drums), Peter Slavov (bass), Nick Vayenas (trombone), Jason Palmer (trumpet), Gerald Clayton (piano), John Ellis (saxophone), and Miles Okazaki (guitar).

For more event details, visit the NPR Music page here, or the Cafe 939 site here.

You can find year round details on jazz in Massachusetts at MassJazz.com.

For visitor information go to MassVacation.com.

Laszlo Gardony Quartet Performing at Newton High School on December 7

The Laszlo Gardony Quartet is performing at Newton High School this Saturday, December 7, 2013 at 8:00 p.m.. Gardony, who just released his new album Clarity earlier this year, is taking the stage with sax player Stan Strickland, bassist John Lockwood and drummer Yoron Israel.  

Tickets are $20 per guest, or $10 for students. Tickets are available at Newton High School starting at 7:00 p.m. on the night of the concert.  More information on the show is available at Highland Jazz website.

Gardony, a native of Hungary who now lives in Boston and teaches at Berklee College of Music, has been universally praised for his artistry as a jazz musician. JazzReview wrote that “Gardony is clearly a pianist worthy of a larger audience… (he) incorporates music from different cultures in his compositions and the result is a splendid melting pot that displays harmonious expressions with gentle sonic compressors.”

You can find year round details on jazz in Massachusetts at MassJazz.com.

For visitor information go to MassVacation.com.

Jay Messer Jazz Quintet Performing at Baba Louie's in Pittsfield on December 6th

Jazz guitarist  Jay Messer and his quintet are performing at Baba Louie's Backroom on Depot Street in Pittsfield this Friday, December 6, 2013, at 8:00 p.m.,  as part of the city's holiday festivities taking place all month.  

Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door, and can be purchased online through Berkshiresjazz.org, or by calling (413) 442-7718.

Messer is a veteran guitarist who has has performed with Marion Brown, the Paradise City Jazz Band, Herb Ellis, John Norris and other jazz artists. His quintet includes Rob Faulkner, Felipe Salles, Dave Santoro and Claire Areius.

The show is part of Pittsfield's monthly Artwalk, which takes place in the city's Upstreet Cultural District and showcases regional artists.

You can find year round details on jazz in Massachusetts at MassJazz.com.

For visitor information go to MassVacation.com.

Jazz Bass Legend Eddie Gomez Performing at the Lily Pad Thursday, December 5th

Eddie Gomez, the legendary bassist with two Grammy Awards, is playing with his quintet at Cambridge’s Lily Pad in Inman Square on Thursday, December 5^th, at 9:15 PM. This show is a rare opportunity to see this legend perform in an intimate venue for a really great price.

Gomez is iconic in not only the jazz world, but also in classical, blues and contemporary music.  The 69-year-old artist hails from Puerto Rico and is mostly recognized for his eleven-year stint with the Bill Evans Trio. Some of the artists that Gomez has worked with include Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Nancy Wilson and Chick Corea, and non-jazz artists like Art Garfunkel.

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door the night of the show. For more information, go to the Lily Pad’s site here.

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

For visitor information go to MassVacation.com.

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.

Paula Cole Performing at the Narrows Center for the Arts in Fall RIver on Saturday, November 2

Grammy award winner Paula Cole is performing at the Narrows Center for the Arts in Fall River on Saturday, November 2, 2013 at 8:00 p.m.  Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 the day of the concert, and you can purchase the tickets online.

Cole is a Massachusetts native who attended the Berklee College of Music.  She has been nominated seven times for a Grammy, and is about to release her seventh solo album next spring.

Here is a schedule of upcoming concerts at Narrows Center for the Arts.

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

For visitor information go to MassVacation.com.

Jazz Singer Pat Braxton Performs at Scullers Jazz Club on Wednesday, October 30

Jazz vocalist Pat Braxton is performing at Scullers Jazz Club in Boston on Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at 8:00 p.m..  Tickets to the show are $25 and can be purchased online or at the door.

Based in the Boston area, Braxton won the 2012 Best Jazz Singer of the Year award from the New England Music Urban Awards, and has been nominated for the Boston Music Awards jazz category. She is influenced by Billie Holiday and other great singers of the jazz pantheon.

For a schedule of upcoming concerts at Scullers Jazz Club, located at 400 Soldiers Field Road at the Doubletree Suites by Hilton Hotel, click here.

For year round details on jazz in Massachusetts, including festivals, night clubs, campus events, radio programs and more, visit MassJazz.com.

Find visitor information by going to MassVacation.com or BostonUSA.com.

Charles Neville headlines an all-star jazz and blues concert in Florence, MA on Sunday, October 27

 

Legendary saxophonist Charles Neville is performing at VFW Hall in Florence on Sunday, October 27, 2013 at 7:30 p.m.  Tickets are $12 at the door, with proceeds benefitting Stand Up To Cancer, a non-profit group that supports innovative cancer research.  He is joined by a host of excellent musicians, including Peter J. Newland and RadioXile, flutist Peter H. Bloom of the Aardvark Jazz Orchestra, and the Lonesome Brothers. 

 

A member of the Grammy Award-winning group the Neville Brothers from New Orleans, Charles is an iconic performer of jazz, blues, funk, R&B and Americana music.  Performing with Charles at the show are Mark Pappas on guitar, Chet Pasek on drums, Guy DeVito on bass and Ralph Whittle on keyboard.

 

For information on the October 27 show, call 413-625-6710.  Here are directions to the hall.

 

Find year round jazz on Massachusetts by visiting MassJazz.com

 

For visitor information go to MassVacation.com.

UMass Amherst Celebrates 150 Year Anniversary with Three Concerts in Boston on Friday, October 25

The University of Massachusetts at Amherst, celebrating 150 years in 2013 as a center of excellence, is bringing its award-winning, 400 member Minutemen Marching Band to Boston on Friday, October 25, for three concerts around the theme, Stand for UMass Day.   UMass alumni are encouraged to wear something maroon and join the festivities.

The opening ceremony takes place at the Grand Staircase in the Massachusetts State House at 11:00 a.m., followed by a free concert by the band on the front steps of the State House.  Then the Minutemen will parade through the streets to Faneuil Hall, where they will give a free performance at 1:00 p.m.

Later, on Friday evening at 8:00 p.m., UMass presents a concert live at Boston Symphony Hall, featuring the marching band along with the university wind ensemble, orchestra, jazz ensemble and chamber choir.  Tickets to the concert are $30 and can be purchased online or at the venue.

Find more about collegiate college bands in Massachusetts as well as live jazz year round by visiting MassJazz.com.

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



 

Northeastern University hosting panel discussion on musician John Coltrane on October 24

Dr. Leonard Brown

Northeastern University Center for the Arts and Friends of John Coltrane Memorial Concert  are presenting a forum called Jubilee Songs and Expressions of Freedom at the John D. O'Bryant African American Institute on Thursday, October 24, 2013 at 6:00 p.m.

Panelists include Myran Parker-Brass, jazz vocalist, executive director of the arts at Boston Public Schools, and co-rounder of the New England Spiritual Ensemble,  Dr. Leonard Brown, jazz saxophonist, head of the John Coltrane Memorial Concert and Northeastern professor, and Emmet G. Price III, professor of music at Northern University.

This year's annual John Coltrane Memorial Concert is takng place on Saturday, November 23, 2013 at Northeastern University.

Find year round details on jazz in Massachustts at massjazz.com.

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com.
 

Jazz Master JD Parran Performs at UMass/ Amherst on Thursday, October 24

Multi-instrumentalist and recording artist JD Parran is performing in concert at the Bezanson Recital Hall at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst on Thursday, October 24, 2013 at 8:00 p.m.

Tickets are $10 general admission and $5 for college students.

Parran has collaborated with Anthony Braxton, Hamiet Bluiett, John Lindberg and others, and has recorded on numerous albums, including two of his own albums.

Here is a schedule of other jazz concerts at the Fine Arts Center at UMass/Amherst this fall and winter.

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

For visitor information go to MassVacation.com.

 

Arsenal Center for the Arts features the music of Frederick Loewe on October 19

The American Songbook: The Jazz View series continues on Saturday, October 19, 2013 with the songs of Frederick Lowe, taking place at the Arsenal Center for the Arts in Watertown.

Born in Australia, Loewe was best known for his work with Alan Jay Lerner on the Broadway hits, Brigadoon, My Fair Lady, Gigi and Camelot.   Some of his songs include "On the Street Where You Live" and "Almost Like Being in Love."

 Tickets to the show are $24, general admission, and can be purchased online or at the venue.

The series is directed by two faculty members at the Berklee College of Music - composer/saxophonist Larry Monroe and vocalist Donna McElroy - and explores the intersection of the American Songbook with jazz, focusing on an individual songwriter for each concert.

Here is a schedule of upcoming concerts in the American Songbook series.

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

For visitor information go to MassVacation.com.

Makanda Project with Odean Pope performing in Roxbury on Friday, October 11

Odean Pope

 

The Makanda Project, featuring guest tenor saxophonist Odean Pope, perform in concert at the Boston Public Library auditorium on Dudley Street in Boston's Roxbury neighborhood, on Friday, October 11, 2013, from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m.  The concert is free and open to the public.

Here is a recent performance by Makanda Project, which is dedicated to the music and compositions of the late Boston musician Makanda Ken McIntyre.

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

For tourist information, go to MassVacation.com.

Grace Kelly Performs at Scullers Jazz Club in Boston on Friday, October 11

Jazz saxophonist Grace Kelly is performing at Scullers Jazz Club in Boston on Friday, October 11, 2013 at 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.  Tickets to the show are $25 and can be purchased online and at the door.  Dinner and show is $65.00.

The 10:00 p.m. show is being aired live on WGBH-FM, on Eric in the Evening, hosted by jazz radio legend Eric Jackson.

Kelly is a noted musician, composer, and educator who attended Berklee College of Music at age 16 and has since then toured the world with her quintet and many notable jazz performers.

Here is a schedule of upcoming jazz events at Scullers in October.

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

For visitor information go to MassVacation.com.

 

Aardvark Jazz Orchestra opens 41st season at Scullers Jazz Club in Boston on October 9

The Aardvark Jazz Orchestra is opening its 41st season as one of the region's premier jazz ensembles, with a performance at Scullers Jazz Club in Boston on Wednesday, October 9, 2013 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets to the show are $20, or $60 for dinner and show, and can be purchased online or at the venue.

The theme of the opening concert is Blues and Other Hues, and Aardvark will explore the compositions of Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, and Mark Harvey, music director of the orchestra.

Here is a schedule of upcoming shows by the Aardvark Jazz Orchestra, and a schedule of shows at Scullers in October.

You can find details on jazz year round in Massachusetts by visiting MassJazz.com.

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