Listening to Jazz Workshop Features the Music of Monk at Boston Public Library, Dudley Branch, on Saturday, February 4

Jazz trombonist Bill Lowe and pianist John Kordalewski are leading a Listening to Jazz Workshop at the Boston Public Library's Dudley Branch, 65 Warren Street in Roxbury on Saturday, February 4, 2012, from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. 

The event is free and open to the public.

The workshop helps participants understand common compositional structures (blues and 32 bar song forms) and demonstrates how an improvised solo relates to the composition being played.  

This session features the work of jazz pianist Thelonious Monk, and focuses on his unique approaches and contributions to the art form. 

For year round details on jazz concerts, workshops, campus events, night clubs, radio programs and jazz groups in Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com.

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

Massachusetts Celebrates Black History Month Through February

February is Black History Month across the United States, and Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism has compiled a full list of historical attractions as well as cultural and educational activities taking place to celebrate the Bay State's distinct African-American heritage.

To see the full schedule of Massachusetts activities and venues, click here.

Musical celebrations include a concert at Berklee Performance Center on February 7 entitled Modern Impressionism: da Silva, Mahdi and Savage, featuring original music combining many elements of the African diaspora, including gospel, Brazilian, African, bebop, and R&B.

Then on February 22, the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library is presenting African Dance with Djembe dell'Arte, accompanied by drumming ensemble Troupe Komee Djosee from Mali, West Africa. The performance features authentic African masks and costumes, folk dances of Mali, and a lively drum circle.

To see a full schedule of jazz, blues and world music through February in Massachusetts, click here. 

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

To find out about visiting Massachusetts, go to MassVacation.com.  

Great Jazz in Massachusetts All 29 Days of February

Hugh Masekela

You can find great live jazz all across Massachusetts in February, 2012, every night of the week!  Check out the MassJazz February calendar for dozens of concerts, lectures and gigs. 

A number of world-renowned musicians are performing here in February, including Hugh Masekela, David Sanborn, George Clinton, Larry Coryell, Mike Stern, Earl Klugh and Paula Cole.

And check out jazz at college campuses, including Jason Moran at New England Conservatory, Wynton Marsalis at Harvard, Legendary Ladies of Song at Merrimack College, BC bOp! Jazz Band at Boston College, Two Trombone Trios at UMass/Amherst and George Clinton at Berklee. 

Plus, you'll find great local musicians performing around town, including the Either/Orchestra, Jazz Composers Alliance, Aardvark Jazz Orchestra, Grace Kelly, Yoran Israel, Danielo Perez, Rebecca Parris and Roomful of Blues.

Find year round details on jazz  concerts, campus events, nightclubs, jazz in hotels,  radio programs, jazz brunches and jazz organizations throughout Massachusetts at MassJazz.com.

For tourist information visit MassVacation.com.

Vocalist Samantha Farrell Performing at Chianti Jazz Lounge in Beverly on February 1

Jazz singer Samantha Farrell is performing live at Chianti Tuscan Restaurant & Jazz Lounge in Beverly on Wednesday, February 1, 2012 from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

The singer/songwriter, originally from Boston, 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."

For a schedule of upcoming jazz events at Chianti's click here.

For year round details on jazz clubs, concert venues, campus events, radio programs, weekend brunches and jazz organizations, visit MassJazz.com.

For tourist information visit MassVacation.com.

Vocalist Josh Logan Performs at BOND Lounge in Boston on February 1

Soulful vocalist Josh Logan and his band performs at the BOND Lounge | Restaurant at the Boston Langham Hotel on Wednesday, February 1, 2012,  from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m.

The singer/songwriter writer from New Hampshire has blended a unique sound of soul/blues/pop/rock that has won him fans across the country.

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 this winter, 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.

The Color Purple Comes to UMass/Amherst on January 31-February 1

A special presentation of The Color Purple, Alice Walker's award winning play, is being performed at the Fine Arts Center, University of Massachusetts in Amherst, on Tuesday, January 31 and Wednesday, February 1, 2012. Reserved seating tickets are $45, $35, $20.  To order tickets, click here.

The play is produced by Phoenix Entertainment ~ Joyful Noisemakers LLC. 

For a schedule of upcoming jazz events at UMass/Amherst, click here.

Find year round details on jazz concerts, campus events, night clubs, radio programs, and jazz organizations throughout Massachusetts at MassJazz.com.

For tourist information, visit MassVacation.com, or find details on Western Massachusets. 

Jazz Pianist Yoko Miwa Performing at Les Zygomates in Boston on January 31

Yoko Miwa, jazz pianist, is performing at Les Zygomates Wine Bar at 129 South Street in Boston on Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 5:30 p.m. and through the month of February. 

Click here for a schedule of Miwa's Boston performance schedule.

For details on jazz in Massachusetts throughout the year, including night clubs, concerts, campus events and more, visit MassJazz.com.

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

Jazz Bassist John Patitucci Performs at Regattabar Jazz Club on January 31

Acoustic bassist John Patitucci is the featured performed at a special concert by the Berklee Global Jazz Institute, taking place at the Regattabar Jazz Club in Cambridge on Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online or at the door.

Born in New York City, Patitucci has performed with Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz, Pat Metheny, Wynton Marsalis, Astrud and Joao Gilberto, Joao Bosco, Dori Caymmi and Chick Corea.  He has released six solo recordings, and has two Grammy Awards and fifteen Grammy nominations.

The Berklee Global Jazz Institute (BGJI) is a performance program designed to foster creativity and musicianship through various musical disciplines, with pianist and composer Danilo Pérez as its artistic director. 

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

To find details on jazz concerts, night clubs, radio stations, campus events and jazz festivals throughout Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com.

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

Jazz Pianist Jason Moran at New England Conservatory in Boston for lectures and performances, January 30 - February 2

Jazz pianist, composer and scholar Jason Moran is at the New England Conservatory in Boston this week for a series of artist-in-residence engagements with the NEC faculty, students and staff, as well as the general public. 

Monday, January 30, Moran conducts an Entrepreneurial Symposium at Pierce Hall at 1:00 p.m.

Tuesday, January 31, Moran conducts a Solo Piano Master Class at Keller Room at 1:00 p.m.

Wednesday, February 1, Moran conducts a Trio Master Class at Pierce Hall at 1:00 p.m., where he is joined by other members of his trio, bassist Tarus Mateen and drummer Nasheet Waits.

Thursday, February 2, Moran and his trio introduce the New England premier of In My Mind, which blends music, video and recorded samples for an immersion into the life and art of jazz pianist Thelonious Monk.   The event takes place at NEC's Jordan Hall at 8:00 p.m. Tickets to this event can be purchased online.

To read Moran's notes on the In My Mind project, click here.

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

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com or BostonUSA.com.

Jazz Pianist Laszlo Gardony Performing at Wellesley Free Library on January 29

Jazz pianist and composer Lazlo Gardony  is performing a concert at the Wellesley Free Library in Wellesley, MA on Sunday, January 29, 2012, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

The concert is free and generously funded by the Friends of Wellesley Free Library.

The Hungarian-born Gardony has made nine recordings and is regarded as "one of contemporary music's truly original voices" by Jazz Times. 

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

For tourism information visit MassVacation.com.

Mr. Ho’s, Orchestrotica performs at Lily Pad in Cambridge on January 28

Mr. Ho’s Orchestrotica - the world's only ensemble dedicated to performing the space-age pop music of Juan Garcia Esquivel - is performing at the Lily Pad in Inman Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts on Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 8:00 p.m.  The cover charge is $10.

The quartet includes  multi-percussionist, vibraphonist and composer Brian O’Neill, bass flute/woodwinds player Geni Skendo, percussionist Noriko Terada and acoustic bassist Jason Davis. 

For a schedule of upcoming performances at Lily Pad, click here.

For year round details on jazz clubs, concerts, campus events, radio stations, festivals and jazz activities in Massachusetts visit MassJazz.com.

For tourist information go to MassVacation.com or BostonUSA.com.

Greg Abate Jazz Quartet Performs at Amazing Things Arts Center in Framingham on January 27

Jazz saxophonist Greg Abate and his quartet perform at the Amazing Things Arts Center in Framingham on Friday, January 27, 2012 at 8:00 p.m.

Tickets range from $9-$18 and can be purchased online or at the door. 

Abate is a veteran of the Artie Shaw Orchestra and Ray Charles Band, and an exponent of hard-driving be-bop jazz.

Here is a full schedule of music at Amazing Things Arts Center, located at 160 Hollis Street in Framingham.

For details on jazz clubs, concerts, campus events, radio stations, and jazz activities in Massachusetts throughout the year, visit MassJazz.com.

For tourist information visit MassVacation.com.

Carol Abbe Smith Trio Performs at The Blue Rock in Shelburne Falls on January 27

The Blue Rock Restaurant & Bar in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts has live jazz every Friday night from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

On Friday, January 27, 2012, the Carol Abbe Smith Trio performs.

For year round jazz in Massachusetts visit MassJazz.com.

For tourist information visit MassVacation.com or Mohawk Trail.

Bart Weisman Jazz Band Performing at Grand Cru in Hyannis on January 27

The Bart Weisman Jazz Group is performing at the Grand Cru Restaurant at the Cape Codder Resort in Hyannis, Cape Cod, on Friday, January 27, 2012 at 8:00 p.m.

Vocalist Carol Wyeth is a guest performer.

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

For tourism information visit MassVacation.com.

Jerry Bergonzi Quartet Performing at Acton Jazz Club on January 25

Jazz saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi and his Quartet, featuring bassist Bruce Gertz, trumpeter Phil Grenadier and drummer Austin McMahon, is performing at the Acton Jazz Cafe in Acton, Massachusetts on Wednesday, January 25, 2012 from 9:30 to 11:30 p.m.  Tickets are $10 and available at the door.

For a schedule of upcoming jazz events at Acton Jazz Cafe, click here.

For details on jazz clubs, concerts, campus events, radio stations, and jazz activities in Massachusetts throughout the year, visit MassJazz.com.

For tourist information visit MassVacation.com.