New Cambridge Jazz Festival Launches in Massachusetts on July 27

Grammy winners, local artists and jazz legends are all slated to perform at the first annual Cambridge Jazz Festival, taking place on Sunday, July 27 at the University Park Commons on Sydney Street outside of Harvard Square.

Jazz drummer and Grammy Award winner Terri Lyne Carrington and Motown legend Valerie Simpson are headlining the stage, along with jazz pianist George W. Russell Jr. and his trio, vocalist Dominique Eade, jazz drummer Ron Savage and his trio and Fernando Brandao and  the Berklee Brazilian All Stars.  Here is the complete schedule, and bios of the artists.  

The festival, which is free and open to the public, is being organized by Larry Ward, a former Cambridge City Councilor, and jazz musician Ron Savage, with help from numerous supporters, including City Manager Rich Rossi and Deena Anderson of Harvard’s Arts First program.

Ward, who describes himself as “a jazz lover for years and years,” came up with the idea after running a club and bringing in jazz acts near Central Square.  He met up with jazz drummer Ron Savage to discuss the idea, and “he and I had the same vision – it was uncanny – of what could possibly be.
 
An important perspective of the festival organizers, Ward says, is “the constant need to bridge younger musicians with some of the more established musicians. “ 

In addition to the music, the festival also has also organized a Taste of Cambridge selection of food trucks and local vendors supplying a diverse selection of foods.  

The Cambridge Jazz Festival also marks the launch of the Johnny Hodges Fund, a new initiative to support college scholarships and music education for Cambridge students, while celebrating the late Hodges (1906-1970), a Cambridge native who is considered one of the great saxophonists in jazz.

Here is a schedule of jazz festivals inMassachusetts this year.

 

Roxbury Rocks Music Festival features jazz on Saturday, July 19

The 1st annual Roxbury Rocks Music Festival is taking place at Roxbury Community College in Boston on Saturday, July 19, 2014 from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m.

Among the featured jazz performers: the John Kordalewski Trio and Ron Murphy Group.

Here is a full schedule of jazz festivals in Massachusetts this summer and fall.

You can find year-round details on live jazz in Massachusetts at massjazz.com.

For visitor information, go to massvacation.com.

 

Elle Varner Headlines the 3rd annual Onset Beach Jazz Festival on Saturday, July 19

 

Elle Varner 

 

The 3rd annual Onset Beach Jazz Festival is taking place on Saturday, July 19, 2014 from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m.  Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online.

This year's line-up includes singer, songwriter and multiinstrumentalist Elle Varner, trumpeter Tom Browne, pianist Andy McWain, Positivity and Voices of the Future.

 

Tom Browne

 

The festival takes place at the Lillian Gregerman Band Shell. Here are directions.

 

The Onset Beach Jazz Festival supports the Music Instruments for Middle School Students (MIMSS), which keeps music alive in middle schools by helping students secure instruments.

 

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

 

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Django in June taking place in Northampton on June 17-22, featuring the music of Django Reinhardt

The annual Django in June celebration of the music of gypsy jazz artist Django Reinhardt is taking place in Northampton from June 17-22, 2014.

The celebration kicks off on June 17 with the Django camp, which gives musicians the opportunity to immerse themselves in the repertoire of the great Belguin musician.  Some of the world's best Django musicians are on hand to teach the unique guitar style that made Reinhardt a legendary artist.

There are also two great concerts are taking place at the Academy of Music in downtown Northampton: on June 20, featuring premier gypsy jazz band Latcho Drom, and Samson Schmitt; on June 21, Les Doigts De L'Homme.

For a full schedule of jazz festivals and concerts taking place in Massachusetts this summer, visit MassJazz.com.

For visitor information go to MassVacation.com.

 

3rd annual New Bedford JazzFest Taking Place on Saturday, June 14

The third annual New Bedford JazzFest is taking place from 2:00 - 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 14, 2014 on Pier 3 along the city's waterfront.  

The event features great local and regional jazz performers and showcases local artists and food.  Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 the day of the festival, and can be purchased online or at the venue.

This year's line-up includes Ethmology, Southcoast Jazz Orchestra, jazz singer Shawnn Monterio and the John Harrison Trio, and the MonterioBots, led by Marcus Monterio.

An historic port city rich in heritage and culture, New Bedford was the world's most famous whaling port in the 19th century, captured by the literature by Herman Melville and others.  Today, New Bedford is the nation's number one commercial fishing port.

New Bedford is also rich in cultural attractions, including music and ethnic festivals, culinary events, literary activities and historical tourism.  And nearby UMass/Darmouth has an excellent music department, specializing in jazz, world music, classical and gospel.

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

For visitor information go to New Bedford Department of Tourism or MassVacation.com.

Berkshires Gateway Jazz Weekend Taking Place June 5-8 in Lee

 

New Black Eagle Jazz Band

The annual Berkshires Gateway Jazz Weekend is taking place in Lee, Massachusetts from June 5 through June 8, 2014.  Tickets are available online.

 

Among the headliners this year: Sonny & Perley, the Sounds of Shearing and the New Black Eagle Jazz Band. 

 

These events, plus other events, take place at venues in and around Lee, including the Spectrum Theater and First Congregational Church.  Here is a schedule of events.

 

Massachusetts has numerous jazz festivals taking place throughout the Commonwealth through October.  Here is a schedule of 2014 jazz festivals in Massachusetts.

 

For year round information on live jazz, college courses, jazz clubs, radio programs and more, visit MassJazz.com.

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com.

 

 

 

Boston Pops Presents Gatsby Night at Symphony Hall, May 28-30

The Boston Pops, led by maestro Keith Lockhart, is presenting a jazz-filled Gatsby Night at Boston Symphony Hall from May 28-30, 2014. 

The show features the Hot Sardines from New York City, making its Boston Pops debut.  Tickets to the show are $24-94 and can be purchased online or by calling888 266-1200.

Here is the remaining schedule of Boston Pops concerts this season through June 14, 2014.
 
Find year round details on cultural activities in Massachusetts by visiting massjazz.com.

For visitor information go to massvacation.com.