Saturday, February 19, 2011

Black History Month: Tribute to Lena Horne at Berklee Performance Center in Boston on February 22, featuring Jo Thompson


Jazz musicians, dancers and professors  - led by vocalist Jo Thompson - are gathering in Boston for a tribute to Lena Horne - a trailblazer in music,dance, film, human and civil rights.  The event takes place on Tuesday, February 22, 2011, at the Berklee Performing Center, located at 136 Massachusetts Avenue in Boston's Back Bay.  For directions click here.

General admission is $10 and tickets can be ordered online.  The show begins at 8:15 p.m.

Along with this all-star big band concert, the tribute includes a clinic with Thompson and a panel discussion featuring Berklee faculty members who recount their stories of working as musicians during this turbulent period in American history.

The event is part of Black History Month celebrations in Boston. For a list of resources, click here.

For a schedule of upcoming events at Berklee Performance Center, click here.

For year round jazz in Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com.

Friday, February 18, 2011

Reagle Music Theatre presents The Mills Brothers and Gina Eckstine in Waltham on February 20



The Famous Mills Brothers, who made an indelible contribution to the American Songbook with hits like Paper Doll and Lazy River, are performing at the Robinson Theatre in Waltham on Sunday, February 20, 2011 at 2:00 p.m.  They'll be joined by rising star Gina Eckstine, daughter of famed jazz vocalist and bandleader Billy Eckstine.

The show is presented by the Reagle Music Theatre, one of the leading community theater organizations in New England.  Tickets to the show are $35-$50 and can be ordered online or by calling 781 891-2330 or 781 901-5600.  For directions to Robinson Theatre at 617 Lexington Street, click here

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

Thursday, February 17, 2011

James Montgomery performing at Back Page, a new jazz club in Lowell, on February 18


Blues legend James Montgomery and his band officially open the new Back Page Jazz & Comedy Club in Lowell, Massachusetts on Friday, February 18, 2011 at 8:00 p.m. Admission is $15 at the door, first come, first served.

Considered one of the most dynamic blues performers today, Montgomery learned from the masters in his native Detroit - James Cotton, John Lee Hooker and Junior Wells.  He's toured with every major blues artist on the scene -- the Allman Brothers, B.B. King, Bruce Springstein, Bonnie Rait -- the list goes on.

Located at 15 Kearney Square in Lowell, the Back Page Jazz & Comedy Club is on the ground floor of the old Lowell Sun Newspaper building.  For a list of upcoming music and comedy performances, click here.

For year round jazz clubs, hotel brunches, concerts, campus events and jazz festivals, visit MassJazz.com.

For visitor information to Massachusetts, visit MassVacation.com


Tuesday, February 15, 2011

BOND Restaurant at Boston's Langham Hotel Launches a Wednesday Night Jazz Series Starting February 16

Silvina Moreno

A cool new place to hear live jazz in Boston is starting up on Wednesday, February 16, 2011 when BOND Restaurant & Lounge kicks off  The BOND Jazz Experiment with Argentinean Silvina Moreno, a singer and songwriter specializing in Tango. 

BOND Jazz Experiment, which runs from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. each Wednesday, highlights emerging artists and accomplished performers covering the jazz spectrum, including classic jazz from the American Songbook, R&B and funk.  For reservations call 617 956-8765.

Located at the Langham Boston Hotel,  the BOND Restaurant & Lounge is open seven days a week, offering gourmet sandwiches for lunch, afternoon tea, and global cuisine for dinner, plus an extensive wine list and distinctive cocktails. A special jazz menu is available on Wednesdays.

For a full schedule of artists through April visit BONDBoston.com and click on events.

For year round jazz in concert halls, clubs, hotel lounges and college campuses throughout Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com

For tourist information, visit MassVacation.com.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Jazz Jam at the Island Merchant in Hyannis with Bart Weisman on February 20


A live jazz jam hosted by drummer Bart Weisman takes place on Sunday, February 20, 2011, at The Island Merchant at 302 Main Street in Hyannis, Cape Cod.  The music goes from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. and there is no cover charge.

Weisman, a well known jazz musician on Cape Cod, started the annual Provincetown Jazz Festival, which takes place this year on August  12, 13 & 15, 2011. 

For a full schedule of upcoming jazz sessions, concerts and gigs by the Bart Weisman Trio, click here.

For year round jazz throughout Massachusetts, including concerts, festivals, night clubs and jazz brunches, visit MassJazz.com

For tourist information on Cape Cod, visit CapeCodChamber.com and MassVacation.com.


Berklee's Esperanza Spalding Wins Grammy Award for Best New Artist



Jazz singer and bassist Esperanza Spalding won the Best New Artist of the Year award at this year's 53rd Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California. 

A graduate of the Berklee College of Music, Spalding is an inventive composer and performer whose latest recording, Chamber Music Society, is influenced by classical, jazz, folk and world music.  The Portland, Oregon native has been touring the world over the past two years.  She last performed locally at Sanders Theatre in Cambridge in October.

Spalding is one of thirty-three Berklee alumni or faculty  nominated for a Grammy Award this year, along with John Mayer, Makeba Riddick, Danielo Perez and others.  For a complete list, click here.  

For a full schedule of upcoming jazz concerts, night clubs, campus events and jazz brunches throughout Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com
 
For visitor information, visit MassVacation.com

Saturday, February 12, 2011

David Garrett Performing at Boston Symphony Hall on February 15


Virtuoso violinist David Garrett is performing at Boston Symphony Hall on Tuesday, February 14, 2011 at 8:00 p.m.  Tickets are $32.50 - $42.50 and can be ordered online.


For year round jazz in Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com

For tourist information visit MassVacation.com

Friday, February 11, 2011

Bill Charlap Trio Performing at Regattabar in Cambridge on February 11-12


Pianist Bill Charlap performs with his trio this weekend at the Regattabar at the Charles River Hotel in Harvard Square, Cambridge, on Friday and Saturday, February 11-12, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.

Considered one of the world's premier jazz pianists, Charlap is joined by Peter Bernstein on guitar and Sean Smith on bass.  Tickets to the show are $25 and can be ordered online

For a full schedule of jazz at the Regattabar this winter, click here.

For year round jazz in Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com

For visitor information, visit MassVacation.com



Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Tierney Sutton Band Performing at Harvard on Thursday, February 10

Acclaimed jazz vocalist Tierney Sutton and her band are giving a master class at the New College Theatre, 10-12 Holyoke Street in Cambridge on Thursday, February 10, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.

The band is celebrating its third consecutive Grammy Nomination for "Best Vocal Jazz Album." 
Members of the band are Christian Jacob, Trey Henry, Kevin Axt and Ray Brinker. 

The event is presented by Learning From Performers at the Office for the Arts at Harvard, a visiting artist program that allows students to interact with professionals in all disciplines. 

On Friday, February 11, the Tierney Sutton Band is performing at Sanders Theatre in Harvard Square, as part of the Celebrity Series of Boston season.

For year round jazz in Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Jazz Singer Amanda Carr Appearing at Chianti Jazz Lounge in Beverly on Sunday, February 13


Jazz vocalist Amanda Carr is performing two special shows at the Chianti Tuscan Restaurant & Jazz Lounge, 265 Cabot Street in Beverly Massachusetts on Sunday, February 13, 2011 at 1:00 and 3:00 p.m.

Tickets to the show are available online for $18, or at the door the day of the concert for $20. The concert is sponsored by North Shore Jazz Project, which promotes jazz year round north of Boston.

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

For tourist information on Massachusetts, visit MassVacation.




National Public Radio Reveals 100 Quintessential Jazz Songs


(February 7, 2011) National Public Radio released its list of "100 Quintessential Jazz Songs" based on feedback from listeners of Jazz24.org and NPR Music.

Here are the top ten:

  1. Dave Brubeck, "Take Five"
  2. Miles Davis, "So What"
  3. Duke Ellington, "Take The A Train"
  4. Thelonious Monk, "Round Midnight"
  5. John Coltrane, "My Favorite Things"
  6. John Coltrane, "A Love Supreme (Acknowledgment)"
  7. Miles Davis, "All Blues"
  8. Weather Report, "Birdland"
  9. Stan Getz & Astrud Gilberto, "The Girl From Ipanema"
  10. Benny Goodman, "Sing, Sing, Sing"
For year round jazz in Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com

Monday, February 7, 2011

Boston's Beehive Jazz Club - Four Days of Luv'n to Celebrate Valentine's Day


The Beehive Jazz Club in Boston's South End is celebrating Valentine's Day from Friday, February 11 through Monday, February 14 -- four days of great food, cocktails and live performances. 

The Beehive is located at 541 Tremont Street in Boston's South End.  To get full details of the Valentine Day extravaganza, click here.

For year round jazz in Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com

For tourist information, visit MassVacation.com

Saxophonist Wayne Shorter at Berklee Performance Center on February 8


Six-time Grammy Award winner Wayne Shorter brings his quartet to Boston for a concert at the Berklee Performance Center on Tuesday, February 8, 2011 at 8:00 p.m.

Tickets are $46-$66 and can be ordered online

Considered one of the most inventive and daring musicians and composers of his generation, Shorter began his career playing with John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins and Miles Davis.  In 1970 he formed Weather Report with keyboardist Joe Zawinal, creating a new style of jazz fusion.  In recent year's he's worked with smaller ensembles, and in 2007 he partnered with some of the world's leading orchestras to to unveil his symphonic repertoire.

For a full schedule of events at Berklee Performance Center, click here.

For year round jazz in Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com

For tourist information, visit MassVacation.com.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Boston's Cafe Tatant pays tribute to jazz legend Abbey Lincoln on February 3



Jazz vocalist Diane Richardson pays tribute to the late, great Abbey Lincoln on Thursday, February 3, 2011 at Cafe Tatant at the Roxbury Center for the Arts in Boston.  She'll be joined by percussionist Yoron Israel, trombonist Bill Lowe, bass player John Lockwood and keyboard player John Kordalewski.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for cocktails; dinner is served at 7:00 p.m. and the show begins at 7:30 p.m.  Tickets are $12 for the show, or $28 for meal and show.  For advance reservations, contact Dillon Bustin at 617 849-6322 or dbustin@madison-park.org, or, you can order tickets online.

For more information on the show, including the menu, click here.

For year round jazz in Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com

For tourist information, visit MassVacation.com.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Black History Month: Ayana McDonald Performing at Boston's Villa Victoria on February 5


Gospel and R&B singer Ayana McDonald is performing at the Villa Victoria Center for the Arts in Boston's South End on Saturday, February 5, 2011 at 11:30 a.m.  She'll be joined by various performances by local youth and community groups. 

The free event - featuring, music, dancing and soul food - is one of many Black History Month celebrations taking place across Boston.  For more information call 617 927-1707 or RSVP to the event on Facebook.

The center is located at 85 W. Newton Street.

For year round jazz in Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com

For tourist information, visit MassVacation.com

Sun Broadcasting Corp Launches Sun Music Live Shows at Wally's Cafe Jazz Club this Fall

Sun Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) has begun production of Sun Music Live. The inaugural shows set at  Wally’s CafĂ©  in Boston will f...