Wayne Shorter Performing at Berklee's Jazz Summit in Boston on April 25

NEA Jazz Master and saxophonist Wayne Shorter is performing at Berklee's Global Jazz Summit for Humanity and Peace on Monday, April 25, 2011 at 8:15 at the Berklee Performance Center in Boston.

The concert - which celebrates the one year anniversary of the Berklee Global Jazz Institute -  features Shorter along with Danilo Perez, Joe Lovano, Terri Lyne Carrington and John Patitucci, all from Berklee's renowned faculty, and Berklee students. 

Tickets to the concert are $20, $15 reserved seating and can be ordered online or by calling 617 747-2261. 


The concert launches the Jazz Summit for Humanity and Peace, which takes place April 25-27.  Shorter will appear at the Museum of Fine Arts from 2:00 -5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 26 to present a screening of The Fountainhead, and will discuss the films' influence on his music and creative process.

Then on Wednesday, April 27, from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Shorter will appear at the Boston Public Library to teach a master class on jazz.  All of these events are open to the public.

Shorter's visit to Boston is supported by the National Endowment for the Arts' Jazz Masters program, which celebrates exceptional contributions to the advancement of jazz. 

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

For a complete list of jazz clubs, concert venues, campus events, Sunday brunches and jazz festivals taking place year round in Massachusetts, visit www.massjazz.com.

For tourist information about Massachusetts, visit www.MassVacation.com.

Jazz Saxophonist Grace Kelly Performing at The Fireplace in Brookline on Tuesday, April 19

Alto sax player Grace Kelly is performing at The Fireplace Restaurant in Brookline, Massachusetts on Tuesday, April 19, 2011 at 9:30 p.m. 

Kelly, an 18 year old musical prodigy,  has been playing saxophone since the age of ten, and has toured around the world, playing with an all star cast of great musicians like Wynton Marsalis and Phil Woods.

The Fireplace, located at 1634 Beacon Street, has live jazz on Wednesday and Latin music Thursday nights, and has an award winning menu prepared by Chef Jim Solomon.

For a complete list of jazz clubs, concert venues, campus events, Sunday brunches and jazz festivals taking place year round in Massachusetts, visit www.massjazz.com.

For tourist information about Massachusetts, visit www.MassVacation.com.

Tower of Power - Three Nights at Scullers Jazz Club in Boston, April 19-21, 2011

Tower of Power, the veteran jazz / soul ensemble noted for its extraordinary rhythm and horns section, is performing three nights at Scullers Jazz Club in Boston on April 19-21, 2011.

Formed in 1968, the band has perfected a distinct brand of music referred to as urban soul music by founding member Emillio Castillo.

Tickets to the show are $45 and can be ordered online.

For a list of upcoming performances at Scullers, click here.

For a complete list of jazz clubs, concert venues, campus events, Sunday brunches and jazz festivals taking place year round in Massachusetts, visit www.massjazz.com.

For tourist information, visit www.MassVacation.com  and www.BostonUSA.com

Live Jazz in Boston Tonight, Sunday, April 17, 2011, Eve of the Boston Marathon

Al Vega Trio at Lucky's Lounge

Sunday, April 17, 2011 -- Live jazz and blues in Boston area tonight:

Blues on Sunday

Beehive Jazz Club

541 Tremont Street

South End, Boston 

Beehive.com

Traditional Jazz Jam Session 

with Trumpet Player Jason Palmer

Wally’s Jazz Café

427 Massachusetts Avenue

South End, Boston

wallyscafe.com/

Al Vega Trio

Tribute to Frank Sinatra

Lucky’s Lounge

355 Congress Street, Boston

luckyslounge.com/

Lee Childs and Kurt Wenzel

Top of the Hub

Prudential Center

Back Bay, Boston

TopoftheHub

 For a full list of jazz clubs, concerts, campus events, and other jazz related activities, visit MassJazz.com.

International Jazz Marathon Weekend in Greater Boston - April 15-17, 2011

Japanese Pianist Yoko Miwa

When world-class marathon runners from around the world come to town for the Boston Marathon this weekend, they will get to enjoy an international line-up of jazz musicians performing in some of the area’s top jazz clubs and concert venues.

“Boston is the place to be for world class runners each April, and it’s also a gathering spot for great jazz musicians all year long,” says Michael Quinlin, head of MassJazz, a group that promotes the vibrant jazz scene throughout Massachusetts along with the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism.   

"There is a terrific array of American jazz and blues taking place this weekend, along with a host of amazing musicians from Brazil, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Korea, Japan, China, Germany and Canada," Quinlin says.

Among the highlights: American jazz guitarist John Abercrombie, blues guitarist Ronnie Earle, sax player Dick Johnson and drummer T.S. Monk; Puerto Rican percussionist Eguie Castriollo; Chinese pipa performer Wu Man; Brazilian singer and composer Filo Machado; Japanese pianist Yoko Miwa and many more. 

For a complete list of jazz clubs, concert venues, campus events, Sunday brunches and jazz festivals taking place year round in Massachusetts, visit www.massjazz.com.

For tourist information, visit www.MassVacation.com  and www.BostonUSA.com.

Selected Performances This Weekend

Friday, April 15
T.S. Monk
Scullers Jazz Club
Doubletree Hotel
400 Soldiers Field Road, Boston
Scullersjazz.com/

Eguie Castriollo & Orchestra  (Puerto Rico)

Regattabar at the Charles Hotel
Harvard Square, Cambridge
regattabar/

Gonzalo Grau (Venezuela)

The Beehive Club

541 Tremont Street, Boston

beehiveboston.com/

Sooim Cho: Muzikholic (Korea)

Berk Recital Hall

Berklee College of Music

1140 Boylston Street, Boston

berkleemusic.com

Kronos Quartet/ Bang on a Can/ Wu Man
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Kresge Auditorium
77 Mass Ave. Cambridge
mit.edu/

John Abercrombie

Johnny D’s Uptown Club

17 Holland Street

Davis Square, Somerville

http://www.johnnyds.com/artist/johnabercrombie.html

Saturday, April 16

Berklee Spring Fest (International)

Featuring El Frente, Bob Marley Ensemble, Grace Kelly Experience, Foxtrot and more.

Prudential Center

800 Boylston Street, Boston

berklee.edu

Michael Borgida & Company

Café Luna

403 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge

cafeluna-centralsq.com

Filo Machado (Brazil)

The Beehive Club

541 Tremont Street, Boston

beehiveboston.com

Manguito Latin Band

Darrly’s Corner Bar

601 Columbus Avenue

South End, Boston

darrylscornerbarboston.com

Wilson Jazz One (Canada)

Lily Pad

1353 Cambridge Street, Cambridge

http://www.lily-pad.net/

Harvard Wind Ensemble and Sunday Jazz Band
Lowell Lecture Hall
Harvard Square, Cambridge
hcs.harvard.edu  

Dick Johnson: All Start Tribute
Highland Jazz Series
Newton South High School, Newton
highlandjazz.org  

Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters
Blue Ocean Music Hall
4 Oceanfront North, Salisbury
northshorepavilion.com

Yoko Miwa Trio (Japan)

Les Zygomates Wine Bar + Bistro

120 South Street

Boston

http://www.winebar.com/music.html

Sunday, April 17

Jazz for Japan

Featuring Richard Stoltzman, Bert Seager Jazz Trio, jazz pianist Yoko Miwa and more.

Intercontinental Hotel

510 Atlantic Avenue, Boston

Sushi Spectacular for Japanese Disaster Relief Fund

japansocietyboston.org

Be-Bop Guitars

Shalin Liu Performance Center

37 Main Street, Rockport

rockportmusic.org

Big Band of the Helmholtz-Gymnasium (Germany)

Boylston Schul-Verein

8 County Street (Route 109), Walpole

germany.info

Traditional Jazz Jam Session

Wally’s Jazz Café

427 Massachusetts Avenue

South End, Boston

wallyscafe.com/

Tribute to Frank Sinatra

Al Vega Trio

Lucky’s Lounge

355 Congress Street, Boston

luckyslounge.com/

Jazz Guitar Master John Abercrombie Performs at Johnny D's Uptown club in Somerville on Friday, April 15

Master guitarist John Abercrombie is performing at Johnny D's Uptown club in Davis Square, Somerville, on Friday, April 15, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $22-$25 and can be ordered online.  Dinner/concert tickets are also available.

Born in New York and raised in Connecticut, Ambercrombie attended the Berklee College of Music and began playing in local Boston clubs like the Jazz Workshop and Paul's Mall, two clubs started by jazz impresario Fred Taylor. 

After graduating from Berklee he became a popular session musician in New York, where he played with Gato Barbieri on his classic album, Under Fire, and then joined up with drummer Billy Cobham and the Brecker Brothers for an illustrious career as one of his generation's finest guitarists.

For a full schedule of upcoming events at Johnny D's, click here.

For year round details on jazz nightclubs, concerts, campus events, brunches and festivals throughout Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com.

For tourist information, visit MassVacation.com or BostonUSA.com.

Impresario Fred Taylor talks about his life in jazz with WGBH host Steve Schwartz on Friday, April 15

Boston's legendary jazz promoter, Fred Taylor, is going to be on the radio with jazz host Steve Schwartz this Friday, April 15, from 8:00 p.m. to Midnight on WGBH 89.7 FM.

To listen to the show via Live Stream, click here. 

In June 2010, Taylor received a Heroes Award from the Jazz Journalists Association for his lifelong work in promoting jazz and other musical genres. 

To read a profile of Fred Taylor in the 2010 MassJazz Travel Guide, click here.

The co-founder and owner of the legendary Jazz Workshop and Paul's Mall, Taylor is also the creator of the Tanglewood Jazz Festival, where he was artistic director from 2001 to 2007.  Fred is currently entertainment director of Sculler's Jazz Club in Boston.
 
For year round details on jazz nightclubs, concerts, campus events, brunches and festivals throughout Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com.

For tourist information, visit MassVacation.com or BostonUSA.com.

Jazz Drummer Yoron Israel and High Standards Perform at Tatant Cafe in Roxbury on Thursday, April 14

Jazz drummer Yoron Israel and his quartet, High Standards, appear at Cafe Tatant at the Roxbury Center for the Arts in Boston on Thursday, April 14, starting at 7:30 p.m.

The veteran musician - who is assistant chairman of the percussion department at Berklee College of Music - has performed with jazz giants like Kenny Burrell, Ahmad Jamal, Pharoah Sanders and Abbey Lincoln, and has recorded on over 100 albums.

His band includes Lance Byrant on sax, Laszlo Gardony on keyboards and Ron Mahdi on acoustic bass.

The performance at Cafe Tatant is part of a weekly jazz dinner series.  The doors open at 6:30 for cocktails; dinner is served at 7:00 p.m., and the music begins at 7:30 p.m.   Cost of dinner is and show is $28 per person of $54 for a couple; and cost of the performance alone is $12.  Tickets can be ordered online.

For year round details on jazz nightclubs, concerts, campus events, brunches and festivals throughout Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com.

For tourist information, visit MassVacation.com or BostonUSA.com.

In the Mood Revue - featuring big band jazz of the 1940s - coming to Lowell Auditorium on Friday, April 15

In the Mood, a musical revue of the 1940s, is coming to the Lowell Memorial Auditorium this Friday, April 15, 2011, at 7:30 p.m., featuring the music of Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey and other big band leaders of that era.

Tickets are $39.50 and can be ordered online or by calling 978 454-2299.

In the Mood is touring nationally, and includes a 13 piece orchestra, six singers and a host of dancers to recapture the magic of the 1940s big band era.

For a complete list of concerts coming up at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium, click here.

For year round details on jazz nightclubs, concerts, campus events, brunches and festivals throughout Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com.

For tourist information, visit MassVacation.com.

Argentinian Singer Silvina Moreno performing at BOND Lounge in Boston on Wednesday, April 13

Argentinian singer Silvina Moreno is performing at BOND Restaurant | Lounge at the Langham Hotel in Boston this evening, Wednesday, April 13, 2011, from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m.

Moreno moved from Buenos Aires to Boston in 2008 to attend the Berklee College of Music, and since then has performed with jazz legends like Bobby McFerrin and Jorge Drexler. She has appeared at the Salem Jazz & Soul Festival and other venues in the region. 

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 year round details on jazz nightclubs, concerts, campus events, brunches and festivals throughout Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com.

For tourist information, visit MassVacation.com or BostonUSA.com.

Astronaut Cady Coleman and Ian Anderson - a Flute Duet Out of this World

American astronaut Catherine "Cady" Coleman and Scottish flutist Ian Anderson from the band Jethro Tull played the first-ever flute duet between Earth and space.

The duet played the tune Bourree in E minor by Johann Sebastian Bach.  It was in honor of Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gargarin, who became the first man to enter outer space fifty years ago today, on April 12, 1961.  On that day, President Kennedy congratulated Russian Premier Khrushchev by telegram, and it marked the race between the USA and Russia to put a man on the moon.

A video of today's duet by Coleman and Anderson was posted on the NASA web site:

Saxophonist Daniel Bennett - Performing Live on WICN and at Liberty Hotel on Wednesday, April 13

Innovative jazz saxophonist Daniel Bennett is giving an interview and performance on WICN 90.5 FM Public Radio on Wednesday, April 13, 2011 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. 

In the evening Bennett and his group perform an acoustic jazz set at the Liberty Bar in Boston's Liberty Hotel, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.

A graduate of the New England Conservatory in Boston, Bennett's music was described by the Boston Globe as "a mix of jazz, folk and trance."

For a complete list of musical programming at WICN, click here.

For year round details on jazz concerts, nightclubs, campus events, Sunday Brunches, festivals and more, visit MassJazz.com.

For tourist information, visit MassVacation.com.

Wally's Jazz Cafe in Boston Features Female Musicians on Wednesdays

Wally's Cafe, one of Boston's legendary jazz clubs, has a regular feature every Wednesday night from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. called Birth of LaFemme, celebrating the work of female musicians.  This Wednesday, April 13, the night is devoted to female vocalists.

Located at 427 Massachusetts Avenue in Boston's South End, Wally's has been a fixture in the city's jazz nightlife since 1947, when Joseph L. Walcott, a Barbadian immigrant, first opened Wally's Paradise across the street from the current location. 

Since then Wally's has been a gathering spot for famous and aspiring jazz musicians, including students from nearby Berklee College of Music, New England Conservatory, Longy School of Music and Boston Conservatory.

For year round details on jazz concerts, nightclubs, campus events, Sunday Brunches, festivals and more, visit MassJazz.com.

For tourist information, visit MassVacation.com and BostonUSA.com

126th Boston Pops Season filled with Jazz, Dixieland, Gospel and More

The 2011 season of the Boston Pops - which runs from May 11 through June 26, 2011 - has a great line-up of jazz, gospel and Dixieland along with patriotic, classical, and Broadway performances.

On May 17-18, Mardi Gras in May features the Dukes of Dixieland as guests artists with conductor Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops, performing classic standards like When the Saints Go Marching In.

On May 31-June 1 jazz singer and pianist Michael Feinstein performs with Lockhart and the Orchestra with selections from the American Songbook.

One June 3-4 singer Ellis Hall - the former lead singer of Tower of Power - performs his exciting mix of funk, soul and R&B hits from the music of Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder and others.

One June 14-15 conductor Thomas Wilkins and guest artist Byron Stripling cover the iconic music of Benny Goodman and Louis Armstrong.

One June 18 conductor Charles Floyd and artistic director Dennis Slaughter, along with the Boston Pops Gospel Choir, present a full evening of inspirational gospel music.

On June 23-24, Lockhart and the Boston Pops round out the American Songbook with music by Irving Berlin, Richard Rodgers and George Gershwin.

For a full schedule of concerts in the 2011 Boston Pops season, click here.

For year round details on jazz concerts, nightclubs, campus events, Sunday Brunches, festivals and more, visit MassJazz.com.

For tourist information, visit MassVacation.com.

Tammy Scheffer Sextet Performing at Beehive in Boston on Tuesday, April 12

Celebrating their debut album, Wake Up, Fall Asleep, the Tammy Scheffer Sextet is performing at the Beehive Jazz Club in Boston's South End on Tuesday, April 12, 2011 from 8:00 p.m. to Midnight.

Born in Belgium and raised in Israel, Ms. Scheffer is a talented singer and composer whose band includes Andrew Urbina (alto sax), Steve Pardo (tenor sax), Lefteris Kordis (piano), Brad Barrett (bass) and Ronen Itzik (drums).

For a full schedule of jazz events at the Beehive, click here.

For year round details on jazz concerts, night clubs, campus events, brunches and festivals throughout Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com.

For tourist information visit MassVacation.com.