2nd annual Northampton Jazz Festival Takes Place on Saturday, September 15

The 2nd annual Northampton Jazz Festival is taking place in downtown Northampton, Massachusetts on Saturday, September 15, 2012 from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public. Here are directions to Hampton Street in Northampton.

Among the performers are jazz drummer and Grammy nominee Matt Wilson, baritone saxophone star Gary Smulyan and his Quartet, and jazz guitarist Sheryl Bailey. 

Also, this year's festival pays tribute to the late Marion Brown, an influential jazz saxophonist who lived in Northampton for a few decades.  Read this great article by Tom Reney about Marion Brown.

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has officially proclaimed September 15 as Marion Brown Day in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Mr. Brown played in the Sun Ra Arkestra with Governor Patrick's father, baritone saxophonist Pat Patrick.

Here is a complete schedule of the Northampton Jazz Festival.

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

For tourist information, go to MassVacation.com and Pioneer Valley.

1st annual Berkshires Gateway Jazz Weekend Taking Place in Lee on September 14-16

Jazz Vocalist and Pianist Karrin Allyson 

The first annual Berkshires Gateway Jazz Weekend is taking place from Friday, September 14 through Sunday, September 16, 2012 in Lee, Massachusetts.  Organized by the Lee Chamber of Commerce, the  jazz weekend is evokes the long history of great jazz taking place in the Berkshires.

Some of the featured performers include:

Sonny & Perley Quartet at the Spectrum Playhouse at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, September 14;

Charles Neville at the Lee Meeting House/ First Congregational Church, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 15;

Karrin Allyson with the Amherst Jazz Orchestra at Lee Meeting House/ First Congregational Church, from 8:00 to 11:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 15;

Other activities include jazz exhibits at local art galleries and a jazz brunch on Sunday.  Here is a complete schedule of jazz events around Lee over the weekend.  

Find a place to stay in the Berkshires here.

For year round details on jazz in Pittsfield and the Berkshires in western Massachusetts, visit Berkshiresjazz.org, and for jazz throughout Massachusetts, go to MassJazz.com.

For visitor information, go to Berkshires Visitor Bureau or MassVacation.com.

Jazz Singer John Minnock at Encore Lounge in Boston on September 9

Jazz and blues singer John Minnock appears tonight, September 9, and every Sunday night at the Encore Lounge in the Courtyard Marriott Hotel in Boston's theatre district, from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m.

The Encore has live music most nights of the week. 

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

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

John Kordalewski Trio Performs at Red House in Harvard Square on September 7

The John Kordalewski Trio, featuring vocalist Diane Richardson, bassist Dave Clark and pianist John Kordalewski, is performing at Red House Restaurant on Winthrop Street in Harvard Square, Cambridge, on Friday, September 7, 2012 from 10:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.

Here is a schedule of live music at Red House Restaurant. 

Find year round details on live jazz in Massachusetts at MassJazz.com

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

Highland Jazz Presents Phil Grenadier Quintet on September 8

Highland Jazz, now in its 30th year, is presenting the Phil Grenadier Quintet in concert on Saturday, September 8, 2012 at 8:00 p.m. at Newton South High School.

Tickets are $18 in advance and can be purchased online,  with discounts for seniors and students, or by calling781 232-1917.

For a full schedule of concerts in this year's Highland Jazz series, click here.

For year round details on jazz concerts, night clubs, campus events, radio stations, jazz organizations, festivals and other news, visit MassJazz.com.

You can also follow MassJazz on Facebook, Blog and Twitter.

For information on visiting Massachusetts anytime of year, go to MassVacation.com.

Top Jazz Brunches in Massachusetts

Michael Borgida Quartet at Luna Cafe in Cambridge

Looking for a great place to enjoy a jazz brunch in greater Boston and throughout Massachusetts this weekend?

MassJazz has pulled together a list Jazz Brunches in hotels, restaurants, cafes and clubs where you enjoy great local jazz and great food!

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

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com. 

Scullers Jazz Club is Boston's Top Jazz Venue, says Phoenix Newspaper

Congratulations to Scullers Jazz Club on being named the Best Jazz Venue in Boston for 2012.

Here is the Phoenix review, and a schedule of upcoming performances at Scullers.

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

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

The State of Jazz: Massachusetts Has Four Jazz Festivals in September

 Lalah Hathaway at BeanTown Fest

After a lively summer of outdoor jazz and blues festivals taking place all across Massachusetts, the "State of Jazz" is not finished, with four more jazz festivals slated to take place September in Boston, Cape Cod and Western Mass, according to MassJazz.com, which promotes the state's jazz scene throughout the year.

September 14-16

Berkshire Gateway Jazz Weekend

Spectrum Playhouse and First Congregational Church

Lee

Sonny and Perley and Quartet, Charles Neville, Karrin Allyson, and Amherst Jazz Orchestra, Dave Sporney, Musical Director.

gatewayjazzweekend.ticketleap.com

September 15

Northampton Jazz Festival

Thornes Marketplace

Main Street

Northampton

Matt Wilson's Arts & Crafts Band, Gary Smulyan Quartet and Sheryl Bailey.

northamptonjazzfestival.org

September 25-30

JazzFest Falmouth ‘12

Grace Kelly Quintet, Howard Alden, Dan Barrett, Harry Allen, Frank Tate, Toni Lynne Washington, Stage Door Canteen big band, Free Friday night "Jazz Stroll Down Main Street" with performers in 12 venues.

jazzfestfalmouth.org

September 29

Berklee BeanTown Jazz Festival

Massachusetts and Columbus Avenue

South End, Boston

This year’s theme is ‘Celebrate Women in Jazz.’

Performers include Terri Lyne Carrington and the Mosaic Project, Lalah Hathaway, Rebecca Cline, Hey Rim Jeon, Hailey Niswanger, New World Composers Octet and more.

beantownjazz.org

You can follow updates from MassJazz.com on Blog, Facebook and Twitter.

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

Jazz Duo Brotzmann and Adasiewicz Perform at UMASS Amherst on September 6

Peter Brotzmann and Jason Adaiewicz are performing in concert at Bezanson Recital Hall at the Fine Arts Center at University of Massachusetts at Amherst on Thursday, September 6, 2012 at 8:00 p.m.

General admission is $10, and $5 for students.

The concert is part of the Magic Triangle/ Solos and Duos presented by UMass/Amherst to promote Black music in an academic setting.

Find out more about jazz and African-American Music Studies at UMASS/Amherst.

For a calendar of upcoming events at the Fine Arts Center, click here. 

You can get year round information on jazz in Massachusetts at MassJazz.com.

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com

Peter Smith Jazz Trio Performing at Boston's Fairmont Battery Wharf Hotel on September 1

Jazz vocalist Peter Smith and his Trio perform at the Fairmont Hotel at Battery Wharf's jazz bar  in downtown Boston on Saturday, September 1, 2012, from 9:00 p.m. to midnight.

Smith, a popular exponent of the American Song Book and the music of Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Nat King Cole and Michael Buble, is joined by Yas Ishibashi on piano and Ralph Pepe on acoustic bass.

Find year round information on jazz in Massachusetts at MassJazz.com.

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

Boston Radio Host Eric Jackson Wins National Award for Jazz Expertise

Congratulations to jazz radio host Eric Jackson, winner of the 2012 Duke Dubois Humanitarian Award, who was honored for his longstanding commitment to jazz, jazz radio, jazz education and generous service to the jazz community.

Eric has received numerous awards for his work as one of the nation's leading curators and exponents of jazz.  In 2011 Eric was honored by JazzBoston for his outstanding work on WGBH 89.7 FM.

Find year round information on jazz in Massachusetts at MassJazz.com.

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

Top of Hub Restaurant in Boston has Live Jazz Seven Days a Week

Read about the grand tradition of live jazz seven days a week at the Top of the Hub Restaurant, published in the current issue of MassJazz Travel Guide, available for free at locations around Massachusetts.

Located on the 52nd floor of the Prudential Tower in Boston's Back Bay, Top of the Hub also boasts an amazing view of greater Boston with its Skywalk Observatory and terrific menus prepared by one of Boston's best culinary teams.

For more information on live jazz in Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com.

To visit Massachusetts, check out MassVacation.com and BostonUSA.com.

Where to Hear Live Jazz in Massachusetts

Looking for live jazz in Massachusetts this weekend?  Here's a list of Massachusetts jazz clubs compiled by MassJazz, which promotes the state's jazz scene year round.

You can also find details on jazz brunches taking place at hotels, restaurants and cafes on weekends.

For visitors seeking tourism and travel information, go to MassVacation.com.

For up to date information on jazz any time of year, follow MassJazz on Twitter and Blog.

Jazz Guitar Ace John Pizzarelli Performs at Bull Run Restaurant on September 7

World-famous jazz guitarist John Pizzarelli and his quartet perform in concert at the Bull Run Restaurant in Shirley on Friday, September 7, 2012 at 8:00 p.m.  Tickets to the show are $45 and be be purchased online.

Pizzarelli has been hailed for "reinvigorating the American Songbook and re-popularizing jazz," wrote The Boston Globe.

Here is a schedule of upcoming concerts at Bull Run this fall.

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 and MerrimackValley.org

New England Conservatory Presents Contemporary Improvisation Concert on Tuesday, September 4

Dominique Eade

The Contemporary Improvisation Department at the New England Conservatory is celebrating its 40th year with a faculty all-star concert at 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 4, 2012 at Brown Hall.  The concert is free and open to the public.

Among the performers: Ran Blake, Aaron Hartley, Anthony Coleman and Dominique Eade.

Here is a  full schedule of concerts at NEC this fall.

You can get year round details on live jazz in Massachusetts at MassJazz.com.

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