Massachusetts Celebrates International Jazz Day on April 30

Devlin’s in Brighton

The global community of jazz fans celebrated International Jazz Day on April 20, 2016, by performing live concerts, bringing music to the classrooms and singing the praises of this distinctly American art form that is now shared around the globe.

Massachusetts has a vibrant, year-round jazz scene that attracts musicians from across the globe, including Central and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia.

Many come here to study or teach at schools like the Berklee College of Music, New England Conservatory, and UMass/Amherst and many others. See a list of Massachusetts colleges offering jazz courses.

JazzBoston held its JazzWeek from April 22-May 1 this year leading up to the International Jazz Day celebrations. 

MassJazz offers live jazz concerts throughout the year, as well as information on jazz radio programs, organizations, and promoters.

Here is a schedule of Jazz and Blues festivals in Massachusetts in 2016.

For information about visiting Massachusetts any time of year, contact the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism. 

Re-imagine Mexico Concert at Berklee College of Music in Boston on May 5

Mexican music and culture is taking front stage on Thursday, May 5, 2016 at 8:00 p.m. at the Berklee Performance Center in Boston's Back Bay.  

Entitled Reimagine Mexico: A Musical Celebration, the 90 minute program features Berklee students performing original songs written or arranged by Mexican students, with a special performance by Berklee alumnus Alexander Acha, winner of the Latin Grammy Award for Best New Artist. 

The concert is a joint collaboration of Berklee College of Music and the Consulate General of Mexico. Admission is free. 

The concert is part of Berklee’s global initiatives, which include opportunities for students to experience Latin American culture. At Berklee, students can minor in performance studies in Latin music and pursue focused studies in Latin music. Artists can also participate in Berklee Latino, the college’s Spanish-language program, in Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.

The Consulate General of Mexico’s Cultural Program aims to foster a deeper knowledge of cultural diversity in New England through literature, poetry, cinema, theater, music, visual arts, and gastronomy.

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

Live Jazz in Massachusetts This Weekend, April 22-24, 2016

SFJazz Collection 

Here is a sampling of live jazz & blues scene in Massachusetts the weekend of April 22-24, 2016.   

FRIDAY, April 22

Karrin Allyson
Scullers Jazz Club
400 Soldiers Field Road
Boston
scullersjazz.com

April 22
Roomful of Blues
Regattabar
Harvard Square, Cambridge
regattabar/

April 22
Jay Geils All Star Quintet
Bull Run Restaurant, Shirley
bullrunrestaurant.com

April 22 
Yonghyun Lee: Hardcore Jazz Party
Red Room at Café 939
939 Boylston St., Boston
berklee.edu

SATURDAY, April 23
Delfeayo Marsalis and Ellis Marsalis
Scullers Jazz Club
400 Soldiers Field Road
Boston
scullersjazz.com

April 23
Second Annual Makanda Saturday Night Dance Party
Hibermain Hall
184 Dudley St., Roxbury
makandaproject.com

April 23 
Howard Brubeck’s Dialogues Combo
Littleton High School
56 King St., Littleton
littletonps.org

SUNDAY, April 24
SFJAZZ Collective
Berklee Performance Center
136 Mass Ave, Boston
berkleebpc.com 

April 24 
Duo Laroo/Byrd W Jason Schwartz & Jon Fisher
Chez Albert
178 N Pleasant St., Amherst
facebook.com

In addition, check out Jazz Week 2016 organized each year by JazzBoston, which runs from April 22 to May 1. 

Find more upcoming jazz by visiting MassJazz.com.   For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com. 

Live Jazz in Massachusetts tonight: Kevin Harris, Minguel Zenon, Women of the World on Thursday, February 11

There is always great live jazz in Massachusetts, but check out these three special concerts taking place on Thursday, February 11, 2016!

Invictus! With Kevin Harris
Berklee Performance Center
136 Mass Ave, Boston 

Kevin Harris 

Miguel Zenon’s Big Band
Fine Arts Center
University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Miguel Zenon

Women of the World

Scullers Jazz Club
400 Soldiers Field Road
Boston

 Check out MassJazz.com for ongoing jazz in Massachusetts.

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

Live Jazz in Massachusetts in February 2016.

Cyrille Aimee at Scullers on February 14

Check out the MassJazz schedule of live jazz in Massachusetts in February 2016.

Performers range from saxophonists Gerald Albright and Miguel Zenon to pianist Donal Fox and trumpeter Terence Blanchard to vocalists Linda Eder and Tony Award winner Betty Buckley.

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

For visitor information go to MassVacation.com.

Annual John Coltrane Memorial Concert Takes Place in Boston on October 24

The 38th annual John Coltrane Memorial Concert is taking place at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 24, 2015 at the Blackman Auditorium at Northeastern University in Boston.

The theme of this year's concert is Ornette 'N Trane, a tribue to Ornette Coleman and John Coltrane. Eric Jackson, popular jazz host on WGBH, is serving as Master of Ceremonies.

Tickets to the concert are $30 general admission and $25 for seniors and students.  They can be purchased at the ticket office the night of the performance.

Read more about the John Coltrane Memorial Concert, and the Educational Outreach Program.

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

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com.

2015 Pittsfield CityJazz Festival Features Randy Brecker, Greg Hopkins and Frank Vignola

The 2015 Pittsfield CityJazz Festival is underway this week, featuring trumpet masters Randy Brecker and Greg Hopkins, guitar virtuoso Frank Vignola and other great performers.  The festival runs through Sunday, October 18, 2015 and includes a variety of concerts.

Here is a full schedule of performances and activities.

The Pittsfield CityJazz Festival is produced by Berkshires Jazz, Inc, a non-profit group formed in 2009 to present jazz performances and promote jazz education in Berkshires County in Western  Massachusetts.

Find more live jazz in Massachusetts by visiting MassJazz.com.

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