US Air Force Jazz Ensemble Performing Free Concert at Mechanics Hall in Worcester on Wednesday, December 7

The US Air Force jazz ensemble, Band of Liberty, is performing a free lunchtime concert at Mechanics Hall in Worcester on Wednesday, December 7, 2011 at noon.

It's part of the Brown Bag lunch series sponsored by Mechanics Hall, along with WICN 90.5 FM and Bank of America.

Made up of 13 outstanding musicians from around the country, the Band of Liberty jazz ensemble takes pride in preserving the heritage of America's true art form - jazz.  The band is based at Hanscom Air Force base in Massachusetts.

For year round jazz and blues events in Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com.

For tourist information visit MassVacation.com. 

Tenor Sax Standout Seamus Blake Performs at Berklee's 939 Cafe on Wednesday, December 7

Jazz saxophonist Seamus Blake is performing at the Red Room at Cafe 939 in Boston on Wednesday, December 7, 2011 at 8:00 p.m.  Tickets to the performance are $10 general admission and can be purchased online.

The concert is part of a new NPR/ WBGO Jazz 88 FM concert series called The Check Out - Live at Berklee, which features New York-based critically acclaimed alumni from Berklee College of Music.  The performances is broadcast live in New York to WBGO Jazz 88.3 FM's 350,000 listeners and streamed worldwide on NPRmusic.org. The shows will also be audio podcast from Checkoutjazz.org and from NPRmusic.org.

Born in England and raised in Canada, Blake is recognized as one of the finest exponents of contemporary jazz performance and composition.

For a schedule of upcoming performances at Cafe 939, click here.

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

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

Berklee College of Music Breaks Ground for 16 Story Tower in Boston

On Thursday, November 30, 2011, the Berklee College of Music broke ground  for a 16-story, $100 million new dormitory and music center for the school's student population, located at 160 Massachusetts Avenue in Boston.

Attending the groundbreaking were Roger Brown, president of Berklee, Tom Menino, mayor of Boston, and a number of local public official, school officials and neighborhood leaders.

Completion is expected in fall 2013, and will include 770 beds, a two-story dining hall, a 400-seat performance center for students, plus practice rooms, student lounges, and on-street retail shops.

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

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

New Music Festival at Boston Conservatory Features German Saxophonist Phillipp Staudlin on Friday, December 2

Phillipp Staudlin

 

Day two of The Boston Conservatory's  New Music Festival features currents in contemporary composition overseas.

Entitled Jumpin into the Future: new Music Evolved From Jazz, the event takes place Friday, December 2, 2011 at 8:00 p.m.at the Boston Conservatory Theatre, located at 31 Hemenway Street.  The event is free to the public.

Guest Artists include the I/O Ensemble featuring saxophonist Philipp Stäudlin. Works include DW:16–Songbook 1 by Bernhard Lang, as well as works by Edison Denisov and others.

 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.

Grammy Awards 2012 Jazz and Latin Nominees

Jazz and Latin nominations for the 54th annual Grammy Awards were announced last night by The Recording Academy.  Among the jazz artists nominated are Chick Corea, Terri Lyne Carrington, Kurt Elling, Tierney Sutton, Arturo O'Farrill and Christian McBride.  

For a full list of jazz nominations, click here.

For a full list of Latin nominations, click here.

The Grammy Awards take place on Sunday, February 12, 2012 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, and are televised live.  You can follow updates on the Grammys Facebook or Grammy Twitter.

To follow live jazz in Massachusetts throughout the year, visit MassJazz.com.

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

Music of Charles Mingus featured at Brandeis University Jazz Ensemble Concert in Waltham on December 3

Director Bob Nieske 

The Jazz Ensemble at Brandeis University is performing the music of Charles Mingus at Slosberg Recital Hall, 415 South Street in Waltham, on Saturday, December 3, 2011, starting at 8:00 p.m.  The concert is free and open to the public.

The 20-person student ensemble is led by jazz bassist and professor Bob Nieske. 

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.

Highland Jazz Series in Newton presents the Laszlo Gardony Quartet on Saturday, December 3

The Highland Jazz Series is presenting the Laszlo Gardony Quartet to perform Rhapsody in G on Saturday, December 3, 2011 at 8:00 p.m. at Newton South High School in Newton.

Tickets are $18 in advance ($17 for seniors) and $20 at the Door, and can be purchased online.  Students pay $10.

Laszlo, a noted jazz composer and pianist, is joined by Stan Strickland on sax, Yoron Israel on drums and Sean Farias on bass.

For a full schedule of the Highland Jazz Series 2011-2012 season, 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.

Jazz Artists Gunther Baby Sommer and Wadada Leo Smith Perform at UMass Amherst on December 2

Jazz artists Gunther 'Baby' Sommer and Wadada Leo Smith are performing  at Bezanson Hall, Fine Arts Center at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst on Friday, December 2, 2011 at 8:00 p.m.

The show is part of the Solos and Duets Series produced by the Fine Arts Center.  Tickets are $10/$5 and can be purchased online.

Günter ‘Baby’ Sommer is one of the master musicians of contemporary European jazz, a percussionist of enormous originality and humor, who has recorded with Cecil Taylor, Peter Brötzmann and Günter Grass. Trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith is a hugely influential trumpeter and educator, who has worked with every major improviser of the last 40 years.

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

For tourist information visit MassVacation.com.

Holy Cross Jazz Ensemble's Winter Concert is Thursday, December 1 in Worcester

The award-winning Jazz Ensemble at Holy Cross College in Worcester is performing its annual winter concert on Thursday, December 1, 2011 at 8:00 p.m. at Brooks Concert Hall at One College Street.  The event is free and open to the public.

Directed by woodwind professional Michael Monaghan, the Jazz Ensemble will perform songs from the Great American Songbook.

To find out more about jazz concerts, campus events, night clubs, radio stations and jazz brunches throughout Massachusetts year round, visit MassJazz.com.

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

Jazz Featured at Boston Conservatory's New Music Festival, December 1-4

This year's annual New Music Festival at the Boston Conservatory, December 1-4, 2011, is entitled Jumpin into the Future: New Music Evolved From Jazz.  

Gunther Schuller is the musical director.

The program features works by renowned composers such as Bernard Lang, Edison Denisov, Robert Graettinger, Pierre Hurel, Charles Mingus, John Coltrane and Schuller. 

The concerts take place at 8:00 p.m. each evening at the Boston Conservatory Theatre, located at 31 Hemenway Street,  and are free to the public. 

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

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

Pandelis Karayorgis Jazz Trio at the Lily Pad in Cambridge on Wednesday, November 30

Jazz pianist and composer Pandelis Karayorgis and his Trio perform at the Lily Pad Jazz Club in Cambridge, Massachusetts on Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at 9:30 p.m. Tickets are just $10.

Karayorgis is joined by Jeff Charland on the bass and Luther Gray on drums.  The trio has been described as "one of the best progressive piano trios anywhere" by the Boston Globe.

For upcoming performances in December at the Lily Pad, located at 1353 Cambridge Street in Inman Square, click here.

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

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

Jazz Guitarist Alex Baboian Performs at Langham Hotel Boston on Wednesday, November 30

Jazz guitarist Alexander Baboian is performing at the BOND Lounge | Restaurant at the Boston Langham Hotel on Wednesday, November 30, 2011, from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m.

A member of the acclaimed Berklee World Jazz Octet, Baboian performed recently at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC.  To see footage of that concert, click here.

The BOND Jazz Experiment highlights emerging artists and accomplished performers covering the jazz spectrum, including classic jazz from the American Songbook, rhythm and blues and funk.  BOND  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 reservations call 617 956-8765.

For a full schedule of artists through December, click here.

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

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

Jazz Pianist Yoko Miwa Performs at Zygomates in Boston on Saturday, December 3

Jazz pianist Yoko Miwa is performing at Les Zygomates Wine Bar at 129 South Street in Boston on Saturday, December 3, 2011 at 8:00 p.m.

Born in Kobe, Japan, Miwa has been a mainstay on the jazz scene in Boston since 1997.  She is an Assistant Professor in the Piano Department at Berklee College of Music.

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

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

Today! ArtsEmerson has one day sale for 2011-12 season on Monday, November 28

ArtsEmerson in Boston is having a one-day sale for its 2011-12 theatre season on Monday, November 28, 2011, with tickets available for the extraordinary price of $25.   The sale is applicable for six plays coming to Boston between January-April 2012.

To find out more details on the one-day sale, click here. 

ArtsEmerson is an exciting new theatre series launched in 2010 that brings world-class theatre to Boston.  To read more, click here.

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

Jazz Saxophonist Joe Lovano & Dave Douglas Quintet at Scullers Jazz Club on November 29-30

Acclaimed jazz sax player Joe Lovano is performing with the Dave Douglas Quintet at Scullers Jazz Club  in Boston on November 29-30, 2011.  They'll perform two shows each night, at 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.

Tickets to the show are $25 each, which you can purchase online, and dinner/show is $67 per person.  To reserve for dinner and the show, call 617 562-4111.

For a schedule of upcoming jazz performances at Scullers Jazz Club, click here.

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

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