Berklee High School Jazz Festival is Saturday, February 11 in Boston

The annual Berklee High School Jazz Festival is taking place on Saturday, February 11, 2017 at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston's Back Bay.

The largest event of its kind in the United States, the festival is free and open to the public.

The festival features big bands, combos, and vocal jazz ensembles from around the U.S. and other countries performing and competing throughout the day. 

All ensembles are adjudicated by a panel of Berklee’s top faculty and will receive a written critique of their performance. Top-ranked ensembles will be awarded partial scholarships to Berklee’s FiveWeek Summer Performance Program, and individual students are invited to audition for tuition scholarships towards the full-time program or our Five Week Summer Performance Program.

Here are details on the awards. 

Massachusetts has a vibrant jazz community throughout the year.  Find details at MassJazz.com.

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

John Kordalewski Trio performing at Third Life Studio in Somerville on February 4

Jazz pianist John Kordalewski and his trio perform at the Third Life Studio in Somerville at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 4, 2017.  He is accompanied by Carlos Pino on bass and Kesvian Naidoo on drums.

Tickets to the show are $15 and can be purchased online or at the venue. 

John is the originator of the Makanda Project, an all-star jazz band devoted to the compositions of the late Makanda Ken McIntyre. 

The concert is part of the Mandorla Music Series, which represents the diversity and spectrum of jazz.  

Find year round information on live jazz throughout Massachusetts at MassJazz.com.

For visitor information go to MassVacation.com. 

Live Jazz, Blues & World Music this February in Massachusetts

Miguel Zenon

Massachusetts is offering amazing live jazz, blues and world music throughout the month of February, according to MassJazz.  See schedule here. 

Atop the schedule are two shows on Friday, February 10:  saxophonist Miguel Zenon and his quartet perform at Villa Victoria in Boston’s South End, while jazz vocalist Regina Carter, performing her show, Simply Ella, at the Sanders Theatre in Cambridge, 

Other great performers include Mindi Abair, Linda Eder, Beantown Swing Orchestra, Paula Cole, Dianne Reeves, Cyrille Aimee, Bebel Gilberto, John Scofield and Chris Brubeck.

Check out these jazz clubs and concert halls for more details on the venues.

For year round live music in Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com. 

2017 Berklee Chinese New Year Concert

Yazhi Guo

The annual Chinese New Year Concert at Berklee is taking place at 8:00 pm. on January 31, 2017 at the Berklee Performance Center at 136 Massachusetts Avenue in Boston's Back Bay.

Tickets are $12 at the door. 

The concert is an annual celebration among Chinese and other Asian populations at Berklee. A collaboration between the Chinese Student and Scholar Association and Bridge the Gap, this year's concert aims to connect cultures and musicians, and to bridge the cultural gap between Western and Eastern music. 

The development of Chinese music will be condensed into a 90-minute program, with unique arrangements of both Chinese folk songs and pop music, along with dance and other forms of performance, to show the audience a brand new perspective on China.

Find out more about Berklee College of Music. Read story on Chinese pop star and Berklee alumni Leehom Wong. 

For year round information on live jazz, blues and world music in Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com. 

Boston University Commemorates Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with Duke Ellington Concert

Photo of Randall Keith Horton by Conor Doherty, courtesy of BU Today

Boston composer, arranger and musician Randall Keith Horton is presenting at concert entitled "Hope, Despair and the Blues," in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Monday, January 16 at the GSU Metcalf Ballroom at Boston University.

The concert features music of the Sacred Concerts of Duke Ellington performed by BU’s Big Band and the Inner Strength Gospel Choir and conducted by Mr. Horton.  

Read a full description of the concert, and of Horton's connections to Boston and to Ellington, at BU Today. 

Also, read this address by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the importance of jazz, delivered at the Berlin Jazz Festival in 1964, courtesy of Jazz 91.9, Atlanta's jazz station.  

A signifiant collection of Martin Luther King's writings and materials is housed at Boston University's Martin Gotlieb Archival Research Center. 

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

Blues legend Luther "Guitar Jr." Johnson Performs at Bull Run Restaurant on January14

Legendary blues artists Luther "Guitar Jr." Johnson is performing at the Bull Run Restaurant in Shirley, Massachusetts at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 14, 2017.  Tickets to the concert are available online or at the venue.

The Mississippi native moved to Chicago in the 1970s and helped showcase the city's strong blues tradition along with Otis Rush.

Here is a schedule of upcoming performances at Bull Run.

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

Find visitor information at MassVacation.com or MerrimackValley.org.

4th annual Narrows Blues Festival in Fall River on January 13

The 4th annual Narrows Blues Festival, featuring top blues artists, is taking place on Friday, January 13, 2017 at the Narrows Center for the Arts in Fall River.

Tickets can be purchased online for $32 in advance and $37 the day of the show.

This year's festival includes the Eric Gales Band, Davino and the Vagabonds, Nick Schnebelen and Jimmy Bez Blues Band.

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

Find more live jazz and blues in Massachusetts in January here.

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com