2012 MassJazz Travel Guide Available for Free at Visitor Centers in Massachusetts

A free copy of the 4th annual MassJazz Travel Guide is now available at visitor centers, concert venues, jazz clubs, and college campuses throughout the state. See distribution locations.

The 40 page Guide is a handy compendium of hundreds of jazz festivals, indoor and outdoor concerts, jazz summer courses and other jazz-related activities taking place in Massachusetts between July and November. 

This year's cover features Cuban trumpeter Arturo Sandoval, who is giving a concert at the Shalin Liu Performance Center in Rockport on Friday, July 20, then again at Scullers Jazz Club in Boston in November.

Among the highlights this year are new jazz festivals taking place around the Commonwealth: the Rockport Jazz Festival (August15-19); the Berkshire Getaway Jazz Weekend (September 14-16) in Lee, and the Holyoke Latin Jazz Festival (October 13).  And this year’s Berklee BeanTown Jazz Festival (September 29) is celebrating women in jazz with a line-up of great female performers.

Here is a full list of jazz  festivals in Massachusetts this summer and fall.

MassJazz was launched in 2009 by the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism to promote the state’s jazz scene year round to the travel industry.

  

Other supporters of MassJazz include Berklee College of Music, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau, WGBH 89.7 FM, Cirque du Soleil, Rockport Music,  Downtown Boston BID, the Top of the Hub Restaurant, Scullers Jazz Club, Regattabar Jazz Club, Wilbur Theatre, Cape Cod Melody Tent, South Shore Music Circus, Palace Theatre, Northeastern University,  JazzBoston,  and other jazz groups across the state.

To find out more about live jazz in Massachusetts year round, visit MassJazz.com and Massjazz.blogspot.com.  You can also follow MassJazz on twitter. 

For information about visiting Massachusetts any time of the year, go to MassVacation.com.

 

# # #

Free Boomtown Festival Taking Place in East Cambridge on July 16-19

The Boomtown Festival! 2012 is taking place at the Multicultural Arts Center of Cambridge on July 16-19, 2012 in the outdoor Cantanni Courtyard next to the Center.

The event is free and open to the public and features four days of art, live music and cultural activities.

Among the jazz bands performing are Fernando Brandão, the New World Jazz Composers Octet, Rhythmic Explorations and The Second Line Social Aid & Pleasure Society Brass Band.

To see a full schedule, click here.

You can find year round details on jazz, blues and world music by visiting MassJazz.com.

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

Free Outdoor Summer Jazz Concerts in Boston and Across Massachusetts This Summer

MassJazz has compiled a list of dozens of free outdoor music concert series taking place across Massachusetts from now through Labor Day.

See the 2012 Summer Concert Series listings here.

The schedule includes annual concert series taking place in greater Boston and from Cape Cod to the North Shore.  Berklee College of Music has over a dozen series in various parks, plazas, shopping areas and even on Boston Harbor Island.

You can also find a schedule of outdoor jazz festivals taking place in the Bay State this summer and fall.

For year round details on jazz concerts, festivals, campus events, jazz organizations, radio programs and educational opportunities, visit MassJazz.com.

To find visitor information, go to Massvacation.com and BostonUSA.com.

Win Free Tix to Chris Botti Concert at South Shore Music Circus on August 2

MassJazz is giving away a free pair of tickets to hear jazz trumpeter Chris Botti in concert at the South Shore Music Circus on Thursday, August 2, 2012 at 8:00 p.m.

The lucky winner also gets a $100 gift certificate to dine at acclaimed Bia Bistro in Cohasset the night of the concert.

Click here to enter the contest and submit the form.  You can also reserve tickets to the concert directly through Ticketmaster.

Botti's 2004 album, When I Fall in Love, has made him world's most popular jazz artists. His newest album, released in 2012, is Impressions. He has won numerous Grammy Awards and other awards for his albums and concert performances.  In 2008 Botti recorded a live album at Boston Symphony Hall that became a best-selling CD and DVD. 

On Friday, August 10, Botti is performing at the Cape Cod Melody Tent in Hyannis.  To order tickets to that show, click here.

Find a full schedule South Shore Music Circus concerts this summer, and a full schedule at the Cape Cod Melody Tent. 

You can find year round jazz in Massachusetts by visiting MassJazz.com.

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

Goupo Fantasma and Debo Band Playing at Brighton Music Hall on Wednesday, July 11

Grammy Award winning Latin band Grupo Fantasma is performing live at the Brighton Music Hall in Boston on Wednesday, July 11, 2012.  They're joined by the Debo Band, an Ethopian pop band.

General admission is $15.00 and can be purchased online, or $18 the day of the show.

See a schedule of upcoming events at Brighton Hall.

For details on jazz festivals, concerts, campus events and other music activities in Massachusetts year round, visit MassJazz.com.

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

Jazz Guitarist John Pizzarelli Performs at Rockport Music Series on Sunday, July 8

Rockport Music is presenting world-renowned jazz guitarist, singer, composer and bandleader John Pizzarelli in concert at the Shalin Liu Performance Center in Rockport on Sunday, July 8, 2012 at 5:00 p.m.

Tickets are $41, $51 and $61 and can be purchased online or at the Center on concert day.

The son of another legendary guitarist, Bucky Pizzarelli, John was hailed by The Boston Globe for "reinvigorating the Great American Songbook and re-popularizing jazz.”

Since 1981, Rockport Music has been committed to one enduring purpose: enriching lives through great music. To see a full schedule of concerts presented by Rockport Music this summer, click here.

For details on round jazz activities in Massachusetts by visiting MassJazz.com.

For visitor information go to MassVacation.com and NorthofBoston.org.

Jeremy Pelt Quintet Featured at Marblehead Summer Jazz Series on Saturday, July 7

Jazz trumpeter Jeremy Pelt and his quintet perform at the 28th annual Marblehead Summer Jazz season on Saturday, July 7, 2012 at 8:00 p.m.

Tickets are $26 to $35 and can be purchased online or at the door.

The concert takes place in the Unitarian-Universalist Church on 28 Mugford Street in Marblehead. Directions here.

You can find year round jazz activities in Massachusetts by visiting MassJazz.com.

For visitor information go to MassVacation.com and NorthofBoston.org.

Yoko Miwa Performing at Post Office Square Concert Series in Boston on Monday, July 2

Jazz pianist Yoko Miwa performing at Post Office Square Park in Downtown Boston at noon on Monday, July 2, 2012.

The free, outdoor concert is part of the Live Concert Series hosted by the Downtown Boston Business Improvement District.  To see a full schedule of events click here.

For a full schedule of jazz concerts, jazz clubs, campus events and jazz brunches, visit MassJazz.com.

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

Fred Boyle Trio at Harvard Gallery Wine Bar on Cape Cod, Monday, July 2

The Fred Boyle Trio is performing at the Harvard Gallery Wine Bar in Dennis, Cape Cod, on Monday, August 22, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. There is no cover charge.

The trio includes Boyle on piano, Bart Weisman on drums and Rich Hill on bass.

For a full schedule of entertainment at Harvard Gallery Wine Bar through July, click here.

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

For tourist information visit MassVacation.com or CapeCodChamber.org.

Nora Jones Performs at Bank of America Pavilion in Boston on Sunday, July 1

Grammy Award winner Norah Jones is performing at the Bank of America Pavilion in Boston's Seaport District on Sunday, July 1, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.  Tickets are $57 - $79 and can be ordered online.

For a full schedule of concerts at Bank of America Pavilion this summer click here.

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

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

Diana Krall Performing at South Shore Melody Tent

Grammy Award-winning jazz pianist and singer Diana Krall is performing in concert at the South Shore Music Circus in Cohasset on Saturday, June 30, 2012.  For ticket information click here.

Denzal Sinclaire, one of Canada's most popular jazz vocalists and pianists, is opening the show.

To get a full schedule of events at the South Shore Music Circus this summer, click here.

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

For visitor information go to MassVacation.com

Live Jazz Tonight Overlooking Boston at the Top of the Hub Restaurant & Lounge

Want to catch some great live jazz while enjoying an amazing, panoramic view of Boston at night on Saturday, June 30, 2012?

Check out the Marty Ballou Trio performing at the Top of the Hub Restaurant & Lounge, on the 52nd floor of the Prudential Tower, 800 Boylston Street,  in Boston's Back Bay.  The trio performs live from 9:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.

Ballou is a seasoned bassist and sought-after studio musician who has performed with Jay McShann, Jimmy Witherspoon, Herb Ellis and others.  He is a regular performer at Top of the Hub.

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

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

Jazz Singer Diana Krall Performs at Cape Cod Melody Tent on Friday, June 29

Grammy Award-winning jazz pianist and singer Diana Krall is performing in concert at the Cape Cod Melody Tent in Hyannis on Friday, June 29, 2012 at 8:00 p.m.

Tickets are $68.25 to $87.25 and can be purchased online or at the gate.

Opening the show for Ms. Krall is jazz performer Denzal Sinclaire, one of Canada's most popular jazz vocalists and pianists.

Krall and Sinclaire perform in the area on Saturday, June 30, 2012 at the South Shore Music Circus in Cohasset.  For ticket information click here. 

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

For visitor information go to MassVacation.com and CapeCodChamber.org.

Lance Houston Quartet at Hyatt Regency Hotel in Boston on June 28

The Lance Houston Jazz Quartet is performing on Thursday, June 28, 2012 from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. at the Avenue One Lounge at Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Boston.

The lounge, located at One Avenue de Layfayette off of Washington Street, has live jazz every Thursday and Friday nights this summer.  For directions click here.

This summer you can find indoor and outdoor concerts in the Downtown Boston district.  For details visit Bostonbid.org

Find year round live jazz in Massachusetts, including festivals, campus events, night clubs, hotels and restaurants by visiting MassJazz.com.

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

Berklee at the Regattabar Summer Courtyard Series Kicks off on Monday, July 9

The annual Berklee Courtyard Series at the Regattabar, featuring Berklee musicians performing Monday nights from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. this summer, is kicking off on Monday, July 9 with Ariadna Rivas, a gifted pianist and composer from Spain.

The free concert series, which runs through August 27, 2012,  takes place in the upper courtyard of the Charles Hotel in Harvard Square, where is the home of the famous Regattabar Jazz Club.  It is free and open to the public.

View details on Berklee's Summer in the City concerts.

See schedule of upcoming jazz performances at the Regattabar this summer.

To find year round details on jazz and live performances in Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com.

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