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.

10th annual Honk! Festival of Street Bands Performs in Massachusetts Weekend of October 9-11

The Honk! Festival of Activist Street Bands returns to Massachusetts this weekend for the 10th annual celebration of live music and spectacle.

Marching bands and street bands come from all across North America, and as far away as France, to participate in Honk!  Here is a roster of this year's performers.

Among the local favorites: AfroBrazil, Dirty Water Brass Band, Emperor Norton's Stationary Marching Band and the Expandable Brass Band.

On Friday, bands like the Leftist Band from Portsmouth, NH and the Les Vilains Chicots from Paris, France, perform on Boston Common on a day of action in solidarity with workers. On Saturday, the action shifts to Davis Square, Somerville, and on Sunday, finishes up in Harvard Square, Cambridge.
Here is the full schedule of performances.

You can find live music throughout the year in Massachusetts by visiting MassJazz.com.

Berklee Beantown Jazz Fest Kicks off Season of Live Jazz in Massachusetts

Alissia and the Funketeers Perform at BeanTown on September 26

Jazz is everywhere in Massachusetts – on college campuses, in hotels and restaurants, night clubs and coffee shops, concert halls and outdoor venues. And it flourishes all year round.

Last Spring, Governor Charlie Baker issued a Proclamation declaring April to be Jazz Month in Massachusetts, calling jazz “one of America’s most treasured imports” and praising the state’s “rich jazz heritage.”

The 2015 fall festival season kicks off with the Berklee Beantown Jazz Festival in Boston’s South End. The free, annual, outdoor festival runs from noon to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 26, 2015.  The festival stretches across six blocks, filled with live music on multiple stages, an array of food vendors from all over the world, and local artisans who are selling their wares.

This year’s theme is Jazz: The Voice of the People, and features amazing contemporary artists like trumpeter Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, clarinet master Felix Peikli, the Mosaic Project featuring Terri Lyne Carrington and Jaguar Wright, Latin percussionist Eguie Castrillo Orchestra, sax player George Garzone, and New Orleans singer Ledisi. Beantown also features dozens of great performers from the Berklee College of Music faculty and students. Here is a full roster of performers.

Below is a schedule of other upcoming jazz festivals in Massachusetts through October, 2015.

September 27-October 4
JazzFest Falmouth 2015
Three-time Grammy Nominee Denise Donatelli, Toni Lynn Washington, Jon Weber, Goodis & Glenn are among the performers. Also, outdoor jazz strolls, jazz brunch and lectures.

October 8-11
HONK! Festival
Davis Square, Somerville
Harvard Square, Cambridge
Activist street bands from all over the world converge to Honk! each year. The 2015 roster includes Brazil, Italy, Germany and Britain. Check out local favorites Dirty Water Brass Band and Samba Tremeterra, as well as the Hot 8 from New Orleans.

October 9-18
Pittsfield City Jazz Festival
Six-time Grammy winner Randy Brecker performs with the Greg Hopkins Jazz Orcestra, plus jazz virtuoso Frank Vignola, the poupular jazz crawl on Columbus Day weekend, jazz prodigy concert, jazz brunch, and nightly jazz in clubs and restaurants.

October 9
Holyoke Latin Jazz Festival
Holyoke War Memorial Auditorium
Downtown Holyoke
Latin Jazz bands include Victor Sterling & Sabor a Timba, WILO & DeLomas & Sones Band and Dino & Su Alegre Swing.

For year round info on live jazz, visit MassJazz.com.  For visitor information go to MassVacation.com.

Newton Jazz Festival Celebrates "100 Years of Frank & Billie" September 18th, 2015.

 

Get ready to scat and swing into fall as New England Jazz Enrichment Foundation presents, The Newton Jazz Festival (NJF), as part of the 2015 Newton Jazz and Wine Festival. Join them for, "100 Years of Frank & Billie" to celebrate the 100th birthdays of the two biggest legends in jazz; Frank Sinatra and Billie Holiday. Come and listen to some of the area's best vocalists with this all-star lineup at Newton Veteran's Auditorium at City Hall, located at 1000 Commonwealth Ave. in Newton, MA on September 18th, 2015.

 

Swing by, relax, and break it down with our great line-up of musicians, including:

Dale LePage- Multi-award winning New England entertainer performing a blend of soul and swing

Lydia Harrell- Also known as The Lovely Singer with her sultry and soulful voice

Tracy Clark-Native Bostonian with vocals that sound like "velvet and silk"

David Thorne Scott-An associate professor at Berklee College of Music with unbelievable musical talent

And last but not least, trumpeter/vocalist Christine Fawson along with pianist Mark Shilansky, bassist Keala Kaumeheiwa and Steve Langone on drums

General Admission Seating: $35.00
Balcony Seating: $20.00

Purchase your tickets here.

This event is presented by the New England Jazz Enrichment Foundation, the Power of Music and Community Coming Together.

You can find year round details on live jazz and blues in Massachusetts, including festivals, concerts, night clubs, radio programs and campus events, by visiting MassJazz.com

Find Visitor Information at MassVacation.com and Bostonusa.com

Rolling Stone, Italian Edition, Publishes Story on Jazz Scene in Massachusetts

Here is a story on the jazz scene in Boston, Massachusetts, published in Rolling Stone, Italian edition.

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

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com.

FREE Springfield Jazz & Roots Festival Taking Place on Saturday, August 8

An all-star line-up of jazz and roots musicians are set to perform at the Springfield Jazz & Roots Festival in Court Square, Springfield, MA on Saturday, August 8, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The festival is free and open to the public.

Among the performers: Big Chief Donald Harrison with jazz keyboard legend Lonnie Smith; Avery Sharpe and the New England Gospel Choir, featuring Angel Rose and Charles Neville; Elan Trotman; Jeff Holmes Quartet and more.

Here is a full list of this year's performers.

You can find a schedule of jazz festivals throughout Massachusetts in 2015 by visiting MassJazz/Festivals.

For year round details on live jazz in the Bay State, visit MassJazz.com.

For tourism in formation, go to MassVacation.com.