39th John Coltrane Memorial Concert Takes Place at Northeastern University on Saturday, October 29

The 39th John Coltrane Memorial Concert is taking place at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 29, 2016 at the Blackman Auditorium at Northeastern University.

 Tickets are available online or at the venue.

The concert, entitled An Evening of Ballads & Blues, features music composed or made famous  by John Coltrane.   The evening is hosted by Eric Jackson, co-produced by Leonard Brown and Emmett G. Price III.

The concert is organized by the Friends of John Coltrane Memorial Concert (fJCMC) in collaboration with the Northeastern Center for the Arts and Northeastern Department of City and Community Affairs.

The JCMC ensemble includes Carl Atkins (reeds and woodwinds), Billy Buss (trumpet), Consuelo Candelaria (piano), Allan Chase (reeds and woodwinds), Jeff Galindo (trombone), Jason Palmer(trumpet), Nat Reeves (bass), Ron Savage (percussion), Rick Stepton (trombone), Stan Strickland (reeds. woodwinds and voice), Bobby Tynes (reeds and woodwinds).

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

Honk! Fest Street Band Festival in Somerville and Cambridge on October 7-9

Photo by Benjamin Greenberg

Dozens of bands - from Boston to Brazil - are participating in the annual HONK! Festival in Cambridge and Somerville, starting Friday, October 7 and running through Sunday, October 9, 2016.  The festival is free and open to the public.  Here is a schedule of performances. 

Among the bands participating this year are La Fanfare Invisible from Paris,France; Le Ponpier Pony Club from Marseille, France; the Mayday March Band from Pittsburgh,PA;  the Chaotic Insurrection Band from Montreal, QC; the Yes Ma'am Brass Band from Austin, TX; and the Rude Mechanic Orchestra from New York City, NY. 

Among the bands from the New England region are the Dirty Water Brass Band from Boston; the Brass Balagan from Burlington, VT;  the Bread & Puppet Circus Band from Glover, VT;  and the Extraordinary Rendition Band from Province, RI. 

 Here is a list of the bands, or check out Honk! Facebook. 

The festival culminates on Sunday, October 9, with a parade from noon to 2:00 p.m., starting in Davis Square in Somerville and ending in Harvard Square, Cambridge, where the bands will perform for the remainder of the afternoon as part of the Oktoberfest.  

Find year round details on jazz in Massachusetts by visiting MassJazz.com.

For visitor information go to MassVacation.com and CambridgeUSA.org. 

5th annual Holyoke Latin Jazz Festival on Saturday, October 8 at City Hall Ballroom in Holyoke

Ray Gonzalez

The 5th annual Holyoke Latin Jazz Festival is taking place from 6:00 - 11:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 8 at the Holyoke City Hall Ballroom, located at 536 Dwight Street in Holyoke.

Admission is $5-10 and can be purchased online or at the venue.

This year's festival features both Latin jazz and traditional salsa, with performers Heshima Mojo and Ofrecimiento, trumpet player Ray Gonzalez & the Latin Jazz Quintet, and Jesus Pagan & Conjuncto Barrio.

Local food on site include Salsarengue Restaurant, serving Puerto Rican food, and Damn Yankee BBQ, and Waterfront Tavern, serving local craft brews and other drinks.

The event is supported by the Holyoke Local Cultural Council.

Find year round jazz in Massachusetts by visiting MassJazz.com.

For visitor information to to MassVacation.com.

Pittsfield CityJazz Festival, October 7-16, Features Karrin Allyson, Scott Robinson and other Jazz Greats

Jazz vocalist Karrin Allyson, saxophonist Scott Robinson and the U.S. Army Jazz Ambassadors are headlining the 12th annual Pittsfield CityJazz Festival, taking place in Pittsfield, MA from October 7-16, 2016. 

Allyson and the Jazz Ambassadors perform at 7:30 p.m. the Colonial Theatre on Saturday, October 15.  Tickets are available here. 

Robinson and his quartet perform at Flavours Restaurant  at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, October 14.

In addition, the festival includes an annual jazz crawl; a concert in the Jazz Prodigy series; and an exhibit of jazz photography by noted photographer Ken Franckling.  Most of the festival’s events are free.  Here is a full schedule. 

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

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com. 

Aardvark Jazz Orchestra Opens Its 44th Season at Scullers Jazz Club on September 29

The world renowned Aardvark Jazz Orchestra is opening its 44th season at  Scullers Jazz Club at the Doubletree Guest Suites Hotel in Boston on at 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 29, 2016.

The performance includes the world premier of founder Mark Harvey's Northeast Express, and music from Duke Ellington. 

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online or at the venue, or by calling 617 562-4111.

Scullers has recently undergone a complete restoration and moved to the second floor of the hotel, according to jazz promoter Fred Taylor.  Here is a schedule of upcoming performances. 

To find out more about jazz in Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com or read the MassJazz Travel Guide. 

Singer Al Jarreau Headlines Berklee BeanTown Jazz Festival in Boston on September 24

Jazz singer Al Jarreau

Jazz fans from around New England and beyond are heading to Boston today for the annual Berklee BeanTown Jazz Festival, a dazzling display of jazz and related music from around the world.

The festival takes place from noon to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 24, 2016 in the South End neighborhood of Boston at the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and Columbus Avenue.  The festival is free to the public and everyone is welcome.

Headlining this year's festival is jazz vocalist Al Jarreau, considered one of the finest jazz singers of his generation.  He performs at 5:00 p.m. on the Capital One Stage.

Here is a full lineup of performers.

In addition, check out the food court, artisan tents, and meet local organizers of JazzBoston and WGBH radio, including radio host Eric Jackson.

Find details on jazz throughout the year by visiting MassJazz.com or reading the 2016 MassJazz Guide online.  You can also pick up a free copy of the Guide at any of these locations.or at the BeanTown Jazz Festival.

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

Live Jazz & Blues in Massachusetts in September

Marcus Santos's Brazilian Drum Group

Massachusetts, home to some of the best jazz artists, venues and college programs in the world, has a full line-up of live jazz and blues this September, according to MassJazz.com.

The September schedule includes headliners like Al Jarreau, Marcia Ball and blues legend Chris Smither to local favorites like Aardvark Jazz Orchestra and the Jay Geils New All Star Band.

You'll find nightly jazz at iconic clubs like Wallys and the Beehive in Boston's South End to the Green Street Cafe in Great Barrington.

The schedule includes Sunday jazz brunches from the Plum Island Grille in Newbury to Ryles Jazz Club in Cambridge.

And don't miss these jazz, blues & world music festivals in September:

• Martha's Vineyard Jazz & Blues Summerfest on Martha's Vineyard, September 1-3
• Stone Soul Festival in Springfield,  September 1-4
• Brazillian Independence Day Festival in Boston, September 11
• Berklee BeanTown Jazz Festival in Boston, September 24
• Newton Jazz Fest in Newton, September 25

Read about the current jazz scene in the MassJazz Guide.

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