Stanley Swann Trio Performs at 50 Warren Street Restaurant in Lowell on May 25

Jazz drummer Stanley Swann and his trio perform at 50 Warren Street Restaurant & Lounge at the UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center on Friday, May 25, 2012, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.   The event is free and open to the public.

A popular drummer throughout New England, Swann is creator of the Lowell Jazz Day Camp at The Space in Lowell, and he is co-producer of the Merrimack Valley Jazz Festival taking place in Lowell this August.

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

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com and MerrimackValley.org

Jazz Worship at the Old South Church in Boston on Thursday, May 24

The historic Old South Church in Boston's Back Bay is holding a jazz worship service on Thursday, May 24, 2012 at 6:00 p.m.

The service takes place every Thursday evening and is free and open to the public.  The weekly service features the Willie Sordillo Trio, featuring Sodrillo on alto saxophone, Linda Brown-San Martin on piano and voice; and Doug Rich on bass.

The music is a combination of jazzed-up church music and straight jazz reinterpreted to fit the context of the church service.

The Old South Church, created in 1669, is one of the nation's most oldest congregations.  The current church, built in 1875, is a National Historic Landmark building.

Find year round jazz details about Massachusetts by visiting MassJazz.com.

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

Shepley Metcalf Sings Tribute to Laura Nyro at Scullers Jazz Club on May 22

Boston jazz singer Shepley Metcalf is performing the songs of Laura Nyro at Scullers Jazz Club in Boston on Tuesday, May 22, 2012 at 8:00 p.m.  Tickets to the show are $20 and can be purchased online or at the door.

Metcalf is joined by music director Tom LaMark on piano, Chris Rathbun on bass, and Yoron Israel on drums, with special guests Maury Martin on clarinet and sax, and Elaine DeLorenzo and Liz Costa on vocals.

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

Find year round jazz in Massachusetts by visiting MassJazz.com.

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

Maggie Scott and Be-Bop Guitars Perform at Arsenal Center for the Arts on May 21

Jazz vocalist Maggie Scott is performing with five be-bop guitar players from the Berklee College of Music in a concert at the Arsenal Center for the Arts in Watertown on Monday, May 21, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.  Tickets are $18 general admission and can be purchased online or by calling 617 923-8487.

Scott is considered a trailblazer for female musicians, being one of the first women instructors at Berklee, and the first woman named president of the Boston Musicians Association, Local 9-535.

The guitar ensemble is led by John Boboian, professor of guitar at Berklee College of Music. Other instruments in the band include vibes, bass, trumpet and drums.

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

Find year round details on jazz concerts, festivals, night clubs, campus events, radio programs and more by visiting MassJazz.com.

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

Live Jazz Session at Chianti Jazz Lounge in Beverly on Sunday, May 20

A live jazz session with Barbara Alex is taking place at Chianti Jazz Lounge in Beverly on Sunday, May 20, 2012, from6:30 to 9:30 p.m.  Cover charge is $5 for listeners and performers are admitted for free.

Chianti Tuscon Restaurant and Jazz Lounge is located at 285 Cabot Street, and is one of the premier jazz venues north of Boston.

Find out more about live jazz in Massachusetts throughout the year, including concerts, night clubs, campus events, and outdoor festivals, by visiting MassJazz.com.

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com.

Ladies Sing the Blues at Bull Run Restaurant in Shirley on Saturday, May 19

Lydia Warren

 

The Boston Blues Society is presenting Ladies of the Blues, a traveling show of great female blues performers, at the Bull Run Restaurant in Shirley on Saturday, May 19, 2012 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online or at the door.

The show features some of the best blues performers on the touring circuit, including Diane Blue, Gracie Curran, Cindy Daley, Kit Holiday, Shirley Lewis, Lisa Marie, Carolyn Waters and Lydia Warren.

For a schedule of upcoming events at Bull Run Restaurant, click here.

You can find year round details on live jazz and blues in Massachusetts, including festivals, concerts, night clubs, radio programs and campus events, by visiting MassJazz.com.

Find visitor information at MassVacation.com.

1st annual New Bedford JazzFest Taking Place in Historic District on Friday, May 18

The first annual New Bedford JazzFest is taking place on Friday, May 18, 2012 from 5:00 to 11:00 p.m. at Customs House Square in New Bedford's historic district. Tickets range from $20-$30 and can be ordered online or by calling 508 993-0772. 

Among the headliners are Gerry Gibbs and the Electric Thrasher Orchestra, playing the music of Miles Davis.   The group features Grammy Award winning trumpet player  Nicholas Payton and saxophonist Dave Liebman, winner of the prestigious 2011 Jazz Masters Award from the NEA.  

Other top performers include the popular SouthCoast Jazz Orchestra, a 17 piece big band orchestra specializing in 1930s music, and the Jim Robitaille Trio, led by jazz guitarist and composer Robitaille.  A number of local venues also have jazz bands booked so the music will continue well into the evening.

The festival is being produced by Your Theatre, Inc, a non-profit community theater group formed in 1946.  Also at the Festival are food and beverage vendors, and exhibits of local artists from Southeastern Massachusetts.

You can find a schedule of jazz festivals taking place in Massachusetts in 2012 by visiting MassJazz.

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com or Southeastern Massachusetts.

Robert Rivera Trio Performing at BOND Lounge, Langham Hotel in Boston on Wednesday, May 16

The Robert Rivera Trio is performing at BOND Lounge at Boston's Langham Hotel on Wednesday, May 16, 2012 from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m.

Rivera, a cellist, is joined by pianist Lee Adler and drummer Nadjim Kebir. 

The show is part of the BOND Jazz Experiment, which runs from  each Wednesday evening and highlights emerging artists and accomplished performers covering the jazz spectrum, including classic jazz from the American Songbook, rhythm and blues and funk.  For reservations call 617 956-8765.

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

NEC Youth Jazz Orchestra + Schaphorst Perform Free Concert at Boston's Jordan Hall on Wednesday, May 16

The highly acclaimed NEC Youth Orchestra of the New England Conservatory is giving a final spring concert at NEC's Jordan Hall in Boston on Wednesday, May 16, 2012 at 8:00 p.m.  The concert is free and open to the public.

The NEC Youth Orchestra is led by Ken Schaphorst, chair of the Jazz Studies Department at NEC and founding member of the Boston Jazz Composers Alliance.

Schaphorst created the Orchestra in 2008 as a way to instruct talented high school musicians on the art of jazz.  It is open to pre-college-age trumpet, trombone, saxophone, piano, guitar, bass, and percussion players.

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 and BostonUSA.com.

Lydia Pense and Cold Blood Perform a Tribute to Etta James at Scullers Jazz Club on May 15

Blues diva Lydia Pense and Cold Blood are doing a tribute to Etta James at Scullers Jazz Club in Boston on Tuesday, May 15, 2012 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at the door.

The group premiered in 1969 at the Filmore West in San Francisco and created a distinct soul/funk R&B sound that flourishes today.  

For a full schedule of upcoming performances at Scullers, click here.

You can find year round details on jazz throughout Massachusetts by visiting MassJazz.com.

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

Blue Horizon Jazz Band Performs at Sherborn Inn on May 15

The Blue Horizon Jazz Band, led by soprano sax master Stan McDonald, is performing  at the Sherborn Inn in Sherborn, Mass on Tuesday, May 15, 2012 from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m. Admission is $10 and can be paid at the door.

Playing in the spirit of the pioneer jazzmen of New Orleans, the Blue Horizon Jazz Band has a repertoire of over 400 tunes, from Scott Joplin's ragtime to the sophisticated sounds of Duke Ellington.  For a discography of the band, click here.

Find year round details on jazz concerts, night clubs, campus events, festivals, radio stations and other music activities in Massachusetts by visiting MassJazz.com.

Visitors can find information at MassVacation.com.

Marty Ballou Trio Performs at Top of the Hub in Boston on Monday, May 14

Jazz bassist Marty Ballou and his Trio perform at the Top of the Hub Restaurant & Lounge at the Prudential Tower in Boston's Back Bay on Monday, May 14, 2012, from 8:00 to Midnight.

Located on the 52nd floor of the Prudential Tower, the award-winning Top of the Hub has the best views in the city, great cuisine, and consistently top-level jazz throughout the year.

For a schedule of upcoming jazz performers, click here.

You can find jazz any day or night of the year in Massachusetts by visiting MassJazz.com.

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

Roxbury Public Library Branch Hosts Tribute to Jazz Singer Abbey Lincoln on May 12

The friends of the Dudley Branch of the Boston Public Library in Roxbury is holding a musical tribute to the late singer, composer and actress Abbey Lincoln at Auditorium of the BPL Dudley Library on Saturday, May 12, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.

Admission is $20 and tickets can be purchased at the door or by calling 617 997-9784.  Funds support the programming activities at the library.

Performers include jazz vocalist Diane Richardson; drummer Yoran Israel; pianist John Kordalewski; bassist Dave Clark and trombonist Bill Lowe.  And expect a guest appearance by Gregory Groover Jr and the Young Jazz Performers/ Berklee City Music Alumni Quartet.

The BPL Dudley Street branch is located at 65 Warren Street in Boston's Roxbury neighborhood.

For year round details on jazz activities taking place across Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com.

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

Kafana and Jeni Jol Perform at The Lily Pad in Cambridge on May 11

Kafana and Jeni Jol, two bands influenced by Balkan and Turkish music, are performing at The Lily Pad Club in Inman Square, Cambridge on Friday, May 11, 2011 at 9:00 p.m.  Admission is $10 at the door.

Find a full schedule of upcoming music at The Lily Pad, located at 1353 Cambridge Street,  by clicking here.

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

For visit information go to MassVacation.com and BostonUSA.com.

Rick Tutunjian Trio Performs at Blue Rock in Shelburne Falls on Friday, May 11

The Rick Tutunjian Trio is performing at the Blue Rock Restaurant in Shelburne Falls on Friday, May 11, 2011 at 6:30 p.m.  For info or reservations call 413 625-8133.

A veteran tenor saxophonist performs with numerous bands in western Massachusetts, and is versatile in jazz, blues and rock.

Located at 10 Bridge Street in Shelburne Falls, the Blue Rock has an award-winning menu, featuring New America Cuisine, and hosts jazz every Friday evening.

Find year round details on jazz throughout Massachusetts by visiting MassJazz.com.

For tourist information visit MassVacation.com or Mohawk Trail.