Massachusetts Promotes Its Vibrant Jazz Scene

(Boston) – Massachusetts boasts one of the nation’s most vibrant jazz scenes, according to the 7^th Annual MassJazz Travel Guide issued by Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism (MOTT). 

The 40-page MassJazz Guide highlights hundreds of jazz festivals, concerts, night clubs, college courses and related jazz activities across the Bay State this summer and through spring 2016.  The Guide is free and available at visitor centers around the state and at jazz clubs, hotels, restaurants and college campuses. 

You can read the digital online 2015 MassJazz Guide here.

Top jazz artists performing in Massachusetts in the coming months include Diana Krall, Cassandra Wilson, Chris Botti, Trombone Shorty, Manhattan Transfer, Harry Connick, Jr., Lizz Wright, Ron Carter and Arturo Sandoval.

“Jazz is part of the state’s creative economy,” said Assistant Secretary of Business Development Nam Pham. “The creative economy employs over 100,000 residents and helps to define our quality of life and our appreciation of the arts community.”

Profiled in this issue are impresario Fred Taylor of Scullers Jazz Club; Jose Masso, radio host of !Con Salsa! on WBUR; Israeli clarinetist Anat Cohen; Hungarian pianist Laszlo Gardony; orchestra leader Mark Harvey of MIT: and three jazz students from Berklee College of Music.

  

Rich Doucette, Executive Director of MOTT, praised Massachusetts’ vibrant statewide jazz scene for its “international flavor, with musicians from 100 countries living or studying here.”

In addition to details on the Bay State’s jazz festivals and concerts, the 2015 MassJazz Guide lists jazz radio programs, college courses, jazz brunches, night clubs and organizations, as well as tourism offices throughout the state.

MOTT launched MassJazz in 2009 to promote the Commonwealth’s vibrant jazz scene to visitors and residents.  For more details, visit MassJazz.com or follow on twitter @massjazz.

 For information about visiting Massachusetts, go to massvacation.com. 

You won't be feeling Blue at these Massachusetts festivals

Mass Jazz has updated the 2015 schedule of jazz festivals taking place throughout Massachusetts, from June through October.

The season begins with Django in June, running from June 16th through the 21st in Northampton, and wraps up with the Pittsfield City Jazz Festival, on October 9th through the 18th in Pittsfield.  

Click here to see the complete schedule of the jazz festivals.

Mass Jazz operates out of the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism and promotes the state's vibrant jazz scene to residents and tourists throughout the year.

To keep up to date and find more information on live jazz in hotels, clubs, campuses, concert halls and other cultural venues throughout Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com.

Bass Masters Wooten and Bailey at Berklee Performance Center on June 13

Jazz and funk bass masters Victor Wooten and Steve Bailey are joined by acclaimed drummers J.D. Blair and Derico Watson for an evening of songs from the bass repertoire, including Wooten's solo material, and jazz classics.  It takes place at the Berklee Performance Center in Boston's Back Bay on Saturday, June 13, 2015 at 8:00 p.m.

The concert is in conjunction with the Victor Wooten/Berklee Summer Bass Workshop. The evening's repertoire will include a demonstration of bass extremes,  Students participating in the program may take the stage to show off their skills alongside the bass masters.

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

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com.

Jazz Guitarist John Pizzarelli Performs with New Philharmonia Orchestra in Newton on June 12

The New Philharmonia Orchestra is presenting an Evening with John Pizzarelli, renowned jazz guitarist, at the First Baptist Church in Newton on Friday, June 12, 2015 at 8:00 p.m.

Tickets start at $35 and can be purchased online or at the box office.

Guest conductor for the event is Bo Winiker, and master of ceremonies is Ron Della' Chiesa.

Read about the concert and special guests here.

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

For visitor information go to MassVacation.com.

2nd Annual Plymouth Rock Assurance Jazz Fest is May 22-23

The 2nd annual Plymouth Assurance Jazz Fest is taking place on May 22-23, 2015 at the Spire Center for the Performing Arts in Plymouth, starting at 7:00 p.m. each night.

Popular jazz host Eric Jackson serves as master of ceremonies both nights.

The Friday night line-up includes the Johnny Souza Quintete, Marshall Wood Quartet featuring vocalist Donna Byrne and the Harry Allen Quartet. Purchase tix for Friday night here.

The Saturday night line-up includes Yoran Israel and High Standards, Cassandre McKinley and the Paul Broadnaz Trio, and the Joey Calderazzo Trio.  Purchase tix for Saturday night here.

The Plymouth Assurance Jazz Fest kicks off a full season on live jazz festivals in Massachusetts that run through October, 2015.  Here is the complete schedule.

Find year round jazz in Massachusetts at MassJazz.com, or follow on twitter @massjazz.

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com. 

2015 Schedule of Jazz Festivals in Massachusetts

MassJazz has released the 2015 schedule of jazz festivals taking place across the Commonwealth from May through October.Massachusetts

The season kicks off with the Plymouth Rock Assurance Jazz Festival on May 22-24, 2015 and ends with the Pittsfield CityJazz Festival on October 9-18, 2015. Here is the compete schedule.

MassJazz operates out of the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism, and promotes the state's vibrant jazz scene to residents and visitors throughout the  year.

For up to date information on live jazz in Massachusetts hotels, clubs, campuses, and cities and towns, visit MassJazz.com.

Massachusetts Celebrates Jazz All Year Round

Governor Charlie Baker recently declared April 2015 to be Jazz Month in Massachusetts, a tribute to the state's vibrant, year-round jazz scene.

You can find details by visiting MassJazz.com.

For information about visiting Massachusetts, go to MassVacation.com.