Berklee College of Music Breaks Ground for 16 Story Tower in Boston

On Thursday, November 30, 2011, the Berklee College of Music broke ground  for a 16-story, $100 million new dormitory and music center for the school's student population, located at 160 Massachusetts Avenue in Boston.

Attending the groundbreaking were Roger Brown, president of Berklee, Tom Menino, mayor of Boston, and a number of local public official, school officials and neighborhood leaders.

Completion is expected in fall 2013, and will include 770 beds, a two-story dining hall, a 400-seat performance center for students, plus practice rooms, student lounges, and on-street retail shops.

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

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

New Music Festival at Boston Conservatory Features German Saxophonist Phillipp Staudlin on Friday, December 2

Phillipp Staudlin

 

Day two of The Boston Conservatory's  New Music Festival features currents in contemporary composition overseas.

Entitled Jumpin into the Future: new Music Evolved From Jazz, the event takes place Friday, December 2, 2011 at 8:00 p.m.at the Boston Conservatory Theatre, located at 31 Hemenway Street.  The event is free to the public.

Guest Artists include the I/O Ensemble featuring saxophonist Philipp Stäudlin. Works include DW:16–Songbook 1 by Bernhard Lang, as well as works by Edison Denisov and others.

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

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

Grammy Awards 2012 Jazz and Latin Nominees

Jazz and Latin nominations for the 54th annual Grammy Awards were announced last night by The Recording Academy.  Among the jazz artists nominated are Chick Corea, Terri Lyne Carrington, Kurt Elling, Tierney Sutton, Arturo O'Farrill and Christian McBride.  

For a full list of jazz nominations, click here.

For a full list of Latin nominations, click here.

The Grammy Awards take place on Sunday, February 12, 2012 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, and are televised live.  You can follow updates on the Grammys Facebook or Grammy Twitter.

To follow live jazz in Massachusetts throughout the year, visit MassJazz.com.

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

Music of Charles Mingus featured at Brandeis University Jazz Ensemble Concert in Waltham on December 3

Director Bob Nieske 

The Jazz Ensemble at Brandeis University is performing the music of Charles Mingus at Slosberg Recital Hall, 415 South Street in Waltham, on Saturday, December 3, 2011, starting at 8:00 p.m.  The concert is free and open to the public.

The 20-person student ensemble is led by jazz bassist and professor Bob Nieske. 

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

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

Highland Jazz Series in Newton presents the Laszlo Gardony Quartet on Saturday, December 3

The Highland Jazz Series is presenting the Laszlo Gardony Quartet to perform Rhapsody in G on Saturday, December 3, 2011 at 8:00 p.m. at Newton South High School in Newton.

Tickets are $18 in advance ($17 for seniors) and $20 at the Door, and can be purchased online.  Students pay $10.

Laszlo, a noted jazz composer and pianist, is joined by Stan Strickland on sax, Yoron Israel on drums and Sean Farias on bass.

For a full schedule of the Highland Jazz Series 2011-2012 season, click here.

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

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

Jazz Artists Gunther Baby Sommer and Wadada Leo Smith Perform at UMass Amherst on December 2

Jazz artists Gunther 'Baby' Sommer and Wadada Leo Smith are performing  at Bezanson Hall, Fine Arts Center at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst on Friday, December 2, 2011 at 8:00 p.m.

The show is part of the Solos and Duets Series produced by the Fine Arts Center.  Tickets are $10/$5 and can be purchased online.

Günter ‘Baby’ Sommer is one of the master musicians of contemporary European jazz, a percussionist of enormous originality and humor, who has recorded with Cecil Taylor, Peter Brötzmann and Günter Grass. Trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith is a hugely influential trumpeter and educator, who has worked with every major improviser of the last 40 years.

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

For tourist information visit MassVacation.com.

Holy Cross Jazz Ensemble's Winter Concert is Thursday, December 1 in Worcester

The award-winning Jazz Ensemble at Holy Cross College in Worcester is performing its annual winter concert on Thursday, December 1, 2011 at 8:00 p.m. at Brooks Concert Hall at One College Street.  The event is free and open to the public.

Directed by woodwind professional Michael Monaghan, the Jazz Ensemble will perform songs from the Great American Songbook.

To find out more about jazz concerts, campus events, night clubs, radio stations and jazz brunches throughout Massachusetts year round, visit MassJazz.com.

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