36th Jazz Showcase at UMass/Amherst Features Movie Soundtracks on March 9

UMass/Amherst Department of Music and Dance presents its 36th annual Jazz Showcase of the department’s top instrumental and vocal jazz ensembles, at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 9  in the Fine Arts Center, Bowker Auditorium.

The showcase includes performances by Jazz Ensemble I, Chapel Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Lab, Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Chamber Jazz Ensemble and student and faculty soloists.

The ensembles are directed by professors Jeffrey W. Holmes, Catherine Jensen-Hole, Thomas Giampietro and Felipe Salles and graduate students.

This year's showcase features works from a variety of movie soundtracks, including blockbusters like “Star Wars,” “The Godfather,” “The Lion King” and “Rocky,” along with selections from the Austin Powers and James Bond series.

Ticket are $3 for UMass students; $5 for other students, seniors & children; and $10 for the general public. Tickets may be purchased at the Fine Arts Center Box Office, by phone at 413/545-2511, or online at www.fineartscenter.com/musicanddance.

For year round jazz in Massachusetts visit MassJazz.com.

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com. 

Live Music in Massachusetts this Week features Joe Lovano & Dave Douglas, Madeleine Peyroux & Ricki Lee Jones, Mary Wilson, Kenny Barron, New Black Eagle Jazz Band, Gary Burton & Makoto Ozone and Duke Robillard

There is some amazing live jazz, soul and blues taking place in Massachusetts in the first week of March, according to MassJazz.com.

Performers range from female stars like Mary Wilson (of the Supremes), Madeleine Peyroux and Ricki Lee Jones, to jazz greats like Joe Lovano & Dave Douglass, Kenny Barron, New Black Eagle Jazz Band, Gary Burton & Makoto Ozone, and blues legend Duke Robillard. 


March 2
Madeleine Peyroux and Ricki Lee Jones
The Wilbur Theatre
246 Tremont Street, Boston
thewilbur.com

March 2
Joe Lovano & Dave Douglass Quintet
Regattabar
Charles Hotel
Harvard Square, Cambridge
getshowtix.com

March 3-4
Mary Wilson of the Supremes
Scullers Jazz Club
400 Soldiers Field Road
Allston, Boston
scullersjazz.com

March 3-4
Kenny Barron Trio
Regattabar
Charles Hotel
Harvard Square, Cambridge
getshowtix.com

March 4
New Black Eagle Jazz Band
Amazing Things Art Center
160 Hollis Street, Framingham
amazingthings.org

March 5
Gary Burton and Makoto Ozone Duets
Berklee Performance Center
136 Mass Avenue
Back Bay, Boston
berklee.edu

March 5
Duke Robillard
Bull Run Restaurant
Route 2A, Shirley
tickets.bullrunrestaurant.com

For year round jazz, visit MassJazz.com.

To find out about visiting  Massachusetts, go to MassVacation.com.

Live Jazz & Blues in Massachusetts this Saturday, February 25, 2017

Other than Boston Band

Looking for some quality music in Massachusetts this weekend?  Check out these live jazz and blues shows taking place around the state from the February calendar on MassJazz.com.

Saturday, February 25:

Chris Brubeck’s Triple Play
Mechanics Hall
321 Main Street, Worcester
mechanicshall.org

Sugar Ray & the Bluetones
Amazing Things Art Center
160 Hollis Street, Framingham
amazingthings.org

Ameranouche
Third Life Studio
33 Union Square, Somerville
thirdlifestudio.com

Greg Hopkins Sextet
Spire Center for the Performing Arts
25 ½ Court Street, Plymouth
spirecenter.org

Other than Boston
Darryl’s Corner Bar + Kitchen
604 Columbus Avenue
South End, Boston
dcbkboston.com


Here is a full list of jazz clubs in Massachusetts and concert venues.  See what's happening near you!

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

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.