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.

Makanda Project jazz ensemble is profiled in Boston Globe

The Makanda Project and its work in bringing jazz back to Roxbury in Boston has been profiled in The Boston Globe by Alexandra Legend Siegel.  To read the full story, click here.

The group was formed in honor of the late Makanda Ken McIntyre, a Boston-born jazz musician and educator who composed over 400 pieces of music in his life. The Makanda Project continues the legacy of Makanda through live concerts and educational programs.

Their next performance takes place at the Dudley Branch of the Boston Public Library on Saturday, April 23, 2011 from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m.  Jazz  musician Craig Harris is the featured artist.

The concert is free and open to the public.  For more information call617 442-4414. 

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.

JazzBoston's 5th anniversary of JazzWeek Taking Place April 29-May 8, 2011

Hundreds of jazz events are schedule for the 5th anniversary of JazzWeek 11', taking place in greater Boston the week of April 29 to May 8, 2011.

JazzWeek is organized by JazzBoston, which has compiled over 200 events in 80 venues throughout the Boston area, including night clubs, concert halls, campuses, libraries, radio stations and more.

To find a complete schedule of events for JazzWeek 11, click here.

To read a proclamation from Governor Deval Patrick naming April as Jazz Month in Massachusetts, click here.

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

For tourist information, visit MassVacation.com.

Liberty Big Band Performing in Pittsfield on April 8 as Part of Jazz Appreciation Month

The U.S. Air Force jazz ensemble, Liberty Big Band, is performing a special concert on Friday, April 8, 2011 at the Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, as part of Jazz Appreciation Month across the United States.

The 16-piece ensemble- which has been entertaining music lovers for over 25 years -  is based at Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford, Massachusetts.

The concert features trumpet legend Marvin Stamm, a long-time soloist for the Stan Kenton Orchestra. Stamm is also conducting a workshop with the Pittsfield High School jazz band.

Both the concert and workshop are free to the public, and are being presented by Berkshires Jazz, Inc., a non-profit- organization that promotes jazz year round in Massachusetts and hosts the annual Pittsfield City Jazz Festival each October.

The concert is also part of the 250th anniversary celebration of the City of Pittsfield, according to Edward Bride, president of Berkshire Jazz.

Also, Governor Deval Patrick proclaimed April 2011 as Jazz Month in Massachusetts to celebrate the state's vibrant jazz scene across the Commonwealth.

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

For tourist information, visit MassVacation.com

Armen Donelian Trio Performing at Castle Street Cafe in Great Barrington this Friday, April 8

The Armen Donelian Trio is performing at the Castle Street Cafe in Great Barrington, Massachusetts on Friday, April 8, 2011 from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. 

Led by Armenian-born composer and jazz pianist Armen Donelian, the trio includes drummer George Schuller and bassist David Clark. 

Located at 10 Castle Street in Great Barrington, the Castle Street Cafe has live jazz every weekend. For an upcoming schedule, click here.

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

For tourist information, visit MassVacation.com 

Governor Deval Patrick Declares April as Jazz Month in Massachusetts

Governor Deval Patrick has issued a proclamation declaring April 2011 to be Jazz Month in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The proclamation praises the legacy of jazz  as an American art form and the contributions of Massachusetts jazz performers like Chick Corea from Chelsea, Roy Haynes from Roxbury, Phil Woods from Springfield and others.

And the proclamation points to the 5th annual Jazz Week in greater Boston sponsored each year by JazzBoston, which takes place April 29 through May 8, 2011.

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

For tourist information, visit MassVacation.com.

Radio Host Eric Jackson Presents Jazz Sax Star Grace Kelly in Live Concert at WGBH in Boston, Tonight at 9:00 p.m.

Jazz saxophone virtuoso Grace Kelly and her Band is performing live this evening, Wednesday, April 6, 2011, on the popular program Jazz on WGBH with Eric Jackson at 9:00 p.m. in Boston, Massachusetts.

You can listen to the program live at 89.7 FM or online at wgbh.org/listen/jazz.

A native of Massachusetts, Kelly is an 18 year old child prodigy on the saxophone who has performed with jazz greats like Wynton Marsalis, Phil Woods and Dave Brubeck. 

Eric Jackson is a legendary jazz radio DJ who has hosted a nightly jazz show on WGBH since 1975.

To find a complete schedule of jazz on WGBH, click here. 

For year round jazz concerts, radio programs, night clubs, campus events, Sunday brunches and festivals throughout Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com. 

Jazz Pianist Sharik Hansan Plays at BOND Lounge in Boston on Wednesday, April 6

Bangalore-born jazz pianist Sharik Hansan is performing at BOND Lounge at the Langham Hotel in Boston on Wednesday, April 6, 2011 from 7: 00 to 10:00 p.m.

Hansan studied at Oberlin College and Conservatory of Music in Ohio, the Longy School of Music in Boston and the Bill Evans Piano Academy in Paris, France.

His performance is part of the BOND Jazz Experiment held every Wednesday night at BOND Lounge, featuring emerging jazz artists from Boston's vibrant jazz community.

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

For tourist information, visit MassVacation.com.

Broadway Star Liz Callaway Headlining 5th Anniversary Celebration at Arsenal Center for the Arts in Watertown on April 6

Broadway star Liz Callaway, acclaimed for her leading roles in Cats and Miss Saigon and Three Musketeers among others, is headlining the 5th anniversary celebration of the Arsenal Center for the Arts in Watertown, Massachusetts on Wednesday, April 6, 2011.

Also on hand for the festivities: local television arts reporter Joyce Kulhawik of WBZ-TV and radio personality Candy O'Terry of WMJX, Magic 106.7 FM.

 The festivities begin at 7:00 p.m. with an elegant reception and music by Berklee professor and alto saxophonist Larry Monroe, director of the Center's American Songbook Series.

The performance by Liz Callaway begins at 8:00 p.m.  Tickets are $85 and include pre- and post-receptions and can be ordered online or by calling 617 923-8487.

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

For tourist information, visit MassVacation.com.

French Jazz Pianist Michel Legrand at Regattabar in Cambridge on April 4 & 6

French composer, singer and pianist Michel Legrand is performing with his trio at the Regattabar Jazz Club at the Charles Hotel in Harvard Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts on Monday, April 4 and Wednesday, April 6, 2011. 

Tickets are$38.00 and can be purchased online.

Legrand won five Grammy Awards for his compositions and was nominated 27 times during his illustrious career.  Among them were the sound tracks to the Thomas Crowne Affair, the Summer of 42, Yentl and Never Say Never.

He is performing at Regattabar with bassist Francois Moutin and drummer Lewis Nash.

For a full schedule of upcoming events at Regattabar, 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.

Harvard University's '40 Years of Jazz' featured in Boston Globe & Boston Herald

The Boston Globe and the Boston Herald each had excellent stories on the upcoming events celebrating 40 years of jazz at Harvard University this week.

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

For tourist information, visit MassVacation.com.

Jazz Appreciation Day Taking Place in Salem, Massachusetts on Saturday, April 2

The Salem Jazz & Soul Festival in Salem, Massachusetts is putting on a Jazz Appreciation Day concert at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 2, 2011 at the Salem Five Community Room, 210 Essex Street in Salem.

The free event features the SJSF All Stars, starring Henley Douglas, Jr. on sax, Garret Savluk on trumpet, Squantch on trombone, Dave Walker on bass and John Iltis on drums.

The event also features an art competition by local students in grades three to five.  You can cast your vote for the best student art, and winners will be recognized at the Salem Jazz & Soul Festival in August.

On Saturday, April 9, the Salem Jazz & Soul Festival holds its annual fundraiser at the Peabody Essex Museum, to support the non-profit group's free concerts and music education programs throughout the year.

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.

Jazz Vocalist Shelley Neill Performing at Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center on Friday, April 1

Premier jazz vocalist Shelley Neill and her masterful band of musicians from Berklee College of Music are performing on Friday, April 1, 2011 at the Jazz Club at Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center in Cambridge Massachusetts, starting at 8:00 p.m..

Tickets to the show are $15-$20 and can be ordered online.  The doors open at 7:00 p.m. and dinner, snacks, winer and beer are available for purchase.

Neill will be performing songs from her album, Irish Eyes, Gypsy Soul, and will be accompanied by  Laszlo Gardony on piano, Ron Mahdi on bass and Yoron Israel on drums

For a schedule of upcoming activities at the Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center, 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.

Toots Thielemans and Kenny Warner at Scullers Jazz Club in Boston on Thursday, March 31

Jazz harmonica virtuoso Toots Thielemans and pianist Kenny Warner are wrapping up a two-day set at Scullers Jazz Club in Boston on Thursday, March 31, 2011 at 8:00 p.m.

Tickets to the show are $35, or $73 dinner and show, and can be ordered online.

Born in Brussells, Belgium, Thielemans has been a consummate jazz star for six decades, performing with Charlie Parker and others. He received a 2009 Jazz Masters Award from the National Endowment for the Arts, and was christened a Baron by the King of Belgium.

Kenny Warner is a world-renowned pianist from Brooklyn NY who reaches the emotional and spiritual planes of jazz.

Scullers is located at the Doubletree Suites by Hilton Hotel, 400 Soldiers Field Road in Boston's Allston neighborhood.  For a schedule of upcoming concerts at Scullers Jazz Club, click here.

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

For tourist information, visit MassVacation.com.

Jazz Violinist Ada Pasternak Performing at BOND Lounge in Boston on Wednesday, March 30

Violinist Ada Pasternak is performing on Wednesday, March 30, 2011 at BOND Lounge at the Langham Boston Hotel from 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. 

Born in Moscow, Russia, Pasternak moved to the United States and studied with her aunt, Aysa Meshberg in New York.  She received a Presidential Scholarship to Berklee College of Music, where she studied performance. 

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.

Vote for Boston's Best Jazz Act in Boston Phoenix/WFNX 23rd annual Music Poll

Bostonians can to vote on the city's best jazz act in the 23rd annual Best Music Poll sponsored by the weekly newspaper Boston Phoenix and WFNX radio station.

Among the nominations for Jazz:

Either/Orchestra
Florencia Gonzalez
Grace Kelly
Yoko Miwa
Natraj
Jason Palmer

There is also room for a write-in nomination on the ballot.  Voting ends on May 12, 2011 and the winner will be announced in June.

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

For tourist information, visit MassVacation.com.

Smithsonian Institute's Jazz Appreciation Month Highlights Women Musicians

The Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC is celebrating its 10th annual Jazz Appreciation Month in April 2011.  The annual celebration pays tribute to jazz both as an historic and living art form, and encourages educators, jazz societies, musicians and the general public throughout the country to take part.

The 2011 JAM celebration honors the legacy of women jazz performers  "who helped transform race, gender and social relations in the U.S. in the quest to build a more just and equitable nation."  This year's JAM poster depicts the legendary jazz artist Mary Lou Williams.  The poster was designed by Keith Henry Brown.

Also, the National Museum of American History has developed a blog tribute to Dr. Billy Taylor (1921-2010), one of the premier jazz pianists, educators and elder statesman of the jazz world. 

For a schedule of events participating in Jazz Appreciation Month in Washington DC, click here.


For year round jazz concerts, night clubs, campus events, brunches, educational programs and festivals in Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com.

For tourist information, visit MassVacation.com.

Jazz Stamp issued by US Post Office in New Orleans on March 26, 2011

The United States Postal Service has issued a Jazz commemorative stamp (44 cents) as a tribute to jazz, America's musical gift to the world, and to the musicians who play it. The stamp was officially released in New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz, on Saturday, March 26, 2011.

According to the USPS Press Release, Art Director Howard  Paine designed the stamp to showcase the work of Paul Rogers, an artist from Pasadena, CA.  Rogers was inspired by the cover art from vintage jazz record albums.

Thurgood Marshall, Jr., Vice Chairman of the Postal Services Board of Governors, said, "With this evocative jazz stamp, we celebrate the music and the musicians who play it in studios, clubs and concert halls and on festival stages....Jazz is a pastime that brings people together, regardless of race, ethnicity or background."

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.

Singer Michelle Cruz Performing at Cafe Tatant in Roxbury on Thursday, March 31

Popular jazz vocalist Michelle Cruz from Providence is performing at Cafe Tatant at the Roxbury Center for the Arts at Hibernian Hall in Boston on Thursday evening, March 31, 2011.  

She'll be performing songs from her new debut album, The Recovery.

Cafe Tatant is a dinner club setting with upscale cuisine prepared by George Huggins of Ethnica Gourmet.  Doors open for drinks at 6:30 p.m., dinner is served at 7:00 p.m. and the show starts at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets for the dinner and show are $28, or for two guests, $54.  Tickets to just the show are $12.   To order online, click here.

For a list of upcoming performances at Roxbury Center for the Arts, click here.

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

For tourist information, visit MassVacation.com.
 

Pianist George Winston Performs at Natick Center for Arts on Saturday, March 26

New Age pianist and composer George Winston is performing at the Natick Center for the Arts on Saturday, March 26, 2011, at 8:00 p.m.   Tickets are $37-$42 and can be ordered online.

Winston's release of his album Autumn in 1980 began a movement toward clear, melodic music with strains of jazz, classical, and folk music. 

For a full schedule of events at Natick Center for the Arts, click here.

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

For tourist information, visit MassVacation.com.

We Four Perform John Coltrane Tribute at UMass/Amherst on Saturday, M arch 26

We Four, an ensemble of jazz masters, performs a tribute to saxophonist John Coltrane at Bowker Auditorium on Saturday, March 26, 2011, at 8:00 p.m.

 Tickets to the event are $15-$25, and for college students and youth 17 and under, admission is $10.

We Four is comprised of four stellar jazz musicians: tenor sax player Javon Jackson, drummer Jimmy Cobb, pianist George Cables, and bassist Peter Washington.

The concert is sponsored by WFCR, 88.5 FM. 

For a full schedule of music events at UMass/Amherst's Bowker Auditorium, click here.

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

For tourism information visit MassVacation.com.

Blues Guitarist Paul Speidel Celebrates New CD Release at the Acton Jazz Club on March 25

In celebration of its new CD, Retro Rocket, the Paul Speidel Band is performing at the Acton Jazz Club in Acton, Massachusetts on Friday, March 25, 2011 at 9:00 p.m.

Tickets to the show are $12 at the door, or $10 online.

Speidel, a Chicago native reared on the blues, is an electrifying blues guitar player who plays a range of jazz, rock, blues and R&B.

For a full schedule of events at Action Jazz Club, click here. For directions to the club, click here.

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

For tourist information, visit MassVacation.com.

Grammy Winners Stanley Clarke and Victor Wooten Performing at Royale in Boston on Thursday, March 24

Legendary jazz bassist Stanley Clarke and fellow-Grammy Award winner Victor Wooten perform tonight, March 24, 2011, at Royale Night Club in Boston at 7:00 p.m..

Tickets to the show are $27 and can be ordered online.

Clarke won a Grammy at this year's Grammy Awards ceremony for Best Contemporary Jazz Album.  The Philadelphia native has revolutionized the bass guitar and continues to perform throughout the world.  

Wooten is a five-time Grammy Award winner who was deeply influenced by Clarke, and came to prominence during his time with Bela Fleck and the Flecktones.  Clarke, Wooten and Marcus Miller have released a new album, Thunder, to great acclaim.

For a schedule of upcoming concerts at Royale, click here.

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

For tourist information, visit MassVacation.com.

Adagio Big Band Performing at Mechanics Hall on Friday, March 25

The Adagio Big Band is performing at Mechanics Hall in Worcester on Friday, March 25, 2011 at 8:00 p.m.  The band performs an impressive variety of contemporary and classic jazz, from Cab Calloway and Frank Sinantra to Diane Krall and Brian Seztler.

Tickets are $22.50 and $32.50, and a dinner/show combination is $52.00.  Tickets are available online.  Dinner is served at 5:30 p.m. and reservations are required.

For a full schedule of concerts at Mechanics Hall, click here.

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

For tourist information, visit MassVacation.com.

Samantha Farrell Returns to BOND Lounge at Boston Langham Hotel on Wednesday, March 23

Rising star Samantha Farrell has a return engagement at BOND Lounge at Boston Langham Hotel on Wednesday, March 23, 2011 from 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.

The singer/songwriter, originally from Boston and now living in Los Angeles, has been described by Ben Evans of the Huffington Post as possessing "a liquor-honey voice, deft guitar work and slightly melancholic tones that meld to form an arching and elegant aural tapestry."

Samantha's show is part of the new BOND Jazz Experiment that features upcoming and established jazz artists on Wednesday nights.  A special menu is available.  For reservations, call 617 956-8765.

For a full schedule of artists coming to the BOND Restaurant and Lounge, click here.

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

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

Guitar Master Al DiMeola Performs in Fall River on Tuesday, March 22

Jazz guitar virtuoso Al DiMeola performs with his band World Sinfonia at the Narrows Center for the Arts in Fall River, Massachusetts on Tuesday, March 22, 2011, at 8:00 p.m.

Tickets to the show are $50 and $25 for children, and can be ordered online.

DiMeola is a pioneer in fusing jazz and world music, a prolific composer, and a seasoned performer whose career dates back to the 70s fusion band, Return to Forever.

For a schedule of upcoming events at Narrows Center for the Arts, click here.

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

For tourist information, visit MassVacation.com.

Roomful of Blues Performing in Ipswich on Friday, March 18

Legendary blues band Roomful of Blues is performing on Friday, March 18, 2011 at the Ipswich Performing Arts Center in Ipswich, Massachusetts.

Tickets to the concert are $22 and $18 for students, and can be ordered online or at the door.

The concert is presented by the North Shore Jazz Project, and proceeds benefits the Ipswich High School music program.

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

NPR's Go Green for St. Patrick's Day Jazz List

A BlogSupreme on National Public Radio (NPR) has come up with a jazz sampler in honor of St. Patrick's Day.  Heading the list is the classic rendition of Danny Boy by pianist Bill Evans, released in 1963. 

Also included on the list: Snakes by David Sanborn.

Writes NPR: "Here are five jazz songs that wear the green, at least in their titles. We start with a gorgeous version of a song regarded by many as Ireland's unofficial national anthem. And we'll end with a musical nod to those pesky snakes that the Irish no longer have to worry about."

For full details on jazz concerts, night clubs, campus events, brunches and festivals in Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com.

Joe Morello, Springfield Native and Jazz Drummer (1928-2011)

Joe Morello, drummer for the Dave Brubeck Quartet, died at his home in New Jersey on Saturday at age 82.

A native of Springfield, Massachusetts, Morello was sight-impaired as a child and studied the violin, performing at age nine with Boston Symphony Orchestra as a soloist in the Mendelsohn Violin Concerto, according to his biography.  He switched to the drums at age 15.

Brubeck released a statement, saying: "Drummers worldwide remember Joe as one of the greatest drummers we have known.  Many people consider the rhythm section of Eugene Wright and Joe Morello in my quartet as being one of the most consistent, swinging rhythm sections in jazz. ... His drum solo on 'Take Five' is still being heard around the world."

On the Home Page of Morello's web site was a simple note:  

 

"It is with great sadness that we report Joe's passing on March 12, 2011.His impact on the world of music and on all those whose lives he touched will live forever."

 

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

Boston Jazz Club Featuring Irish Music this St. Patrick's Day, March 17

Boston's popular jazz club, the Beehive, is holding its annual Erin Go Beehive to celebrate St. Patrick's Day on Thursday, March 17, 2011, from 5:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m., partnering with the Boston Irish Tourism Association.

Featured performers this year include Matt & Shannon Heaton, harpist Maeve Gilchrist, Irish drummer Paddy League, and singer Sheila Linnehan.

Beehive Chef Rebecca Newel has put together a distinctive Irish menu that includes Corned Beef & Cabbage flatbread with Sauerkraut & Cheese, Finaan Haddie Smoked Fish & Chips with malt vinegar aioli and slaw, and Grilled Lamb Chops with Colcannon mashed potatoes.

There is no cover charge but reservations are suggested by calling 617 42300069.

The Beehive is located at 541 Tremont Street in Boston's South End.

For a schedule of upcoming events at Beehive, click here.

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

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

Rick DiMuzio Quintet Performing at Arsenal Center for the Arts on Monday, March 14

Saxophonist and Berklee Professor Rick DiMuzio performs with his Quintet at the Arsenal Center for the Arts in Watertown, MA on Monday, March 14, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $22.50 and can be ordered online.

For a schedule of upcoming events at the Arsenal Center for the Arts, click here.

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

Makanda Project with Warren Smith Performing at Dudley Branch of Boston Public Library in Roxbury on March 12

The Makanda Project, dedicated to the compositions of Boston musician Makanda Ken McIntyre, is performing at the Dudley Branch of the Boston Public Library on Saturday, March 12, 2011 from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m.  Jazz percussionist Warren Smith is the featured artist.

The concert is free and open to the public.  For more information call617 442-4414. 

McIntyre was a gifted musician and educator who composed over 400 pieces of music in his life. The Makanda Project continues the legacy of Makanda through live concerts and educational programs.

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.

Jazz Singer Billie Holiday Being Inducted into National Women's Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, New York

Billie Holiday, famed American jazz vocalist, is one of eleven women being inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame later this year, on September 30-October 1, 2011 in Seneca Falls, NY, the birthplace of the American Women's Rights Movement.

Holiday (1915-1959) was considered one of the greatest jazz vocalists of all time, noted the press announcement, writing:

"Billie Holiday forever changed the genres of jazz and pop with her unique style.  Holiday began her career as a singer in Harlem nightclubs in 1931, without formal musical training.  She went on to record and tour with a number of famous musicians like Benny Goodman and Lester Young, and officially began recording under her own name in 1936.  Holiday, known for her deeply moving and personal vocals, remains a popular musical legend more than fifty years after her death."

Since forming in 1969, the National Women's Hall of Fame has inducted 236 women. The two other jazz  musicians who have been inducted were also vocalists: Ella Fitzgerald and Bessie Smith. 

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

For tourist information visit MassVacation.com.

Japanese Pianist Yoko Miwa debuts at Regattabar Jazz Club in Harvard Square on Wednesday, March 9

Acclaimed Japanese jazz pianist Yoko Miwa is performing at the Regattabar Jazz Club at the Charles Hotel in Harvard Square, Cambridge, on Wednesday, March 9, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.   Tickets to the show are $20 and can be purchased online.

Her trio includes Greg Loughman on acoustic bass and Scott Goulding on drums.

Born in Kobe, Japan, Yoko studied classical and jazz piano, then won a scholarship to Berklee College of Music.  She has toured with numerous performers like Kevin Mahogany and played with Arturo Sandoval, Jon Faddis and many others.  

As part of Women's History month, Yoko is dedicating this concert to jazz vocalist Sheila Jordan.

For a schedule of upcoming concerts at the Regattabar, click here.

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

For tourist information, visit MassVacation.

Jazz Singer/ Pianist Yvonne Aubert Playing at BOND Restaurant in Boston on March 9

Yvonne Aubert, an up-and-coming jazz singer and pianist from New Hampshire, is performing with her trio at BOND Restaurant & Lounge at the Langham Boston Hotel on Wednesday, March 9, 2011 from 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.

Aubert is joined by Mark Zaleski on acoustic bass and Shinya Fukumori on drums.

 It's part of the BOND Jazz Experiment taking place Wednesday nights at the restaurant, featuring emerging artists excelling in jazz. For a full schedule of events, click here.

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

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

Jazz Pianists Fred Hersch + Jason Moran Perform at NEC in Boston on March 8

Jason Moran

A free concert by two formidable jazz pianists, Fred Hersch and Jason Moran, is taking place at Jordan Hall in Boston on Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at 8:00 p.m. 

Both pianists are faculty members at the New England Conservatory and are highly regarded as collaborate artists. 

Moran is completing his first year of teaching at NEC, and is a MacArthur Foundation fellow.  Hirsch has been on the NEC faculty since the 1980s and has been called by Downbeat Magazine "one of the small handful of brilliant musicians of his generation."

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