Author / Educator Mike Ladd and Berklee Students Discuss Cutting Edge Music at the National Center of Afro-American Artists on November 14

The Berklee Interdisciplinary Arts Institute (BIAI) is presenting educator and poet Mike Ladd to perform an original work created during Ladd's week long residency at the Berklee College of Music.

The event is taking place at the National Center of Afro-American Artists (NCAA) in Roxbury on Wednesday, November 14, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Berklee students and Ladd will have a discussion on using music or sound design to create a new cutting-edge work based on his latest project, Satchmokovich, a forthcoming graphic novel.

BIAI provides innovative learning experiences for students seeking to move beyond the conventions of traditional musical practice.  

Here are directions to NCAA, located at 300 Walnut Street in Boston's Roxbury neighborhood.

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

Find visitor information at BostonUSA.com and MassVacation.com. 

New England Conservatory Presents Free Jazz Vocal Ensembles on November 14

The New England Conservatory presents three jazz vocal ensembles coached by jazz vocalist Dominque Eade on Wednesday, November 14, 2012 at Pierce Hall at 214 St. Botolph Street.  The ensembles start at 7:00, 8:00 and 9:00 p.m.  The concerts are free and open to the public.

It's part of  NEC's exciting new series, In the Mix, which presents a variety of student ensembles exploring jazz and improvisation, and led by distinguished NEC faculty members.

You can follow New England Conservatory on Facebook and Twitter. 

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

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

Dave Douglas Quintet with Aoife O'Donovan Perform at Regattabar Jazz Club on November 15

Two-time Grammy nominated jazz trumpeter Dave Douglas and his quintet, along with folk vocalist Aoife O'Donovan, perform two shows at the Regattabar Jazz Club in Harvard Square on Thursday, November 15, 2012 at 7:30 p.m and 10:00 p.m.

Tickets to the show is $ and can be ordered online or at the door.

Douglas is performing songs from his new album Be Still, which features folk singer and songwriter O'Donovan.

Here is a schedule of upcoming concerts at Regattabar.

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

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

Yoko Miwa Trio Performs at Scullers Jazz Club in Boston on November 14

Jazz pianist Yoko Miwa is performing with her trio at Scullers Jazz Club at the Doubletree Suites Boston on Wednesday, November 14, 2012 at 8:00 p.m.  Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online or at the door.

Born in Kobe, Japan, Yoko studied classical and jazz piano, then won a scholarship to Berklee College of Music.  She has toured with numerous performers like Kevin Mahogany and played with Arturo Sandoval, Jon Faddis and many others. 

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

For tourist information, visit MassVacation and BostonUSA.com.

Sugar Ray and the Bluetones Perform at Blackstone River Theatre on November 3

Sugar Ray and the Bluetones are performing at the Blackstone River Theatre on Saturday, November 3, 2012 at 8:00 p.m.   Tickets to the show are $20, and can be purchased by calling 401 725-9272 or by paying at the door.

Find a full schedule of upcoming concerts at Blackstone River Theatre, located in Cumberland, Rhode Island.

Find a complete list of year round jazz in Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com.

For visitor information go to MassVacation.com

Guitar Masters Juanito Pascual and the Julian Lage Perform at Somerville Theatre on Saturday, November 3

Juanito Pascual New Flamenco Trio and the Julian Lage Group perform at the Somerville Theatre in Davis Square, Somerville on Saturday, November 3, 2012 at 8:00 p.m.

Tickets are $18-$38 and can be purchased online or at the box office the night of the performance. 

Both Pascual and Lage are considered to be among the world's premier guitar players, and bring a dazzling display of artistry and virtuosity to their performances.

Find a complete list of year round jazz in Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com.

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

Ameranouche Plays Gypsy Jazz at Bull Run Restaurant on November 3

Ameranouche, the premier gypsy jazz band in the United States, is performing at Bull Run Restaurant in Shirley on Saturday, November 3, 2012 at 8:00 p.m.  Tickets to the show are $12 and can be purchased online or at the door.

Inspired by the great French jazz guitarist Django Rienhardt, Ameranouche plays a driving swing jazz that evokes a unique brand of acoustic music.

Here's a schedule of upcoming performances at the Bull Run Restaurant. 

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

Berkshire Symphony Orchestra Premiers "Every Day Blues" Jazz Suite at Williams College on November 2

The Berkshire Symphony Orchestra is performing the world premier of Every Day Blues, an original jazz suite composed by Andy Jaffe, at Williams College in Williamstown on Friday, November 2, 2012 at 8:00 p.m.  The concert, directed by Ronald Feldman, is free and open to the public.

Jaffe, who is director of the jazz program at Williams College, wrote the suite for the late Professor Ernest Brown, who pioneered the inclusion of African and African American musical studies in the music department at Williams.

Find more details on jazz across Massachusetts by visiting MassJazz.com.

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com.

Live Jazz at the Lily Pad in Cambridge, Halloween Night

There's plenty of great music at the Lily Pad in Cambridge on Wednesday, October 31, 2012, including the Gil Aharon Trio starting at 10:00 p.m.  It's located at 1353 Cambridge Street in Inman Square.

Find a complete list of jazz clubs in Massachusetts. 

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

Jazz Drummer Terri Lyne Carrington Headlines 35th John Coltrane Memorial Concert at Northeastern University in Boston on November 3

The 35th annual John Coltrane Memorial Concert is taking place at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 3, 2012 at Blackman Theatre at Northeastern University in Boston.  

The concert, hosted by jazz radio personality Eric Jackson, features Grammy Award winning jazz drummer Terri Lyne Carrington. 

Tickets are $35 general admission, and $30 for students, faculty members and seniors, and can be ordered online or  by calling 617 373-4700.

The event also honors Steve Schwartz, highly acclaimed jazz producer and radio personality, and Andy McGhee, master saxophonist and educator, recognized as Boston's  ‘golden man of jazz.’

Carrington is joined by the John Coltrane Memorial Concert Ensemble, which includes Tim Ingles (electric bass); John Lockwood (acoustic bass); Consuelo Candelaria-Barry and Emmett G. Price III (piano/keyboards); Ricardo Monzon (percussion); Bill Banfield (guitar); and Bill Pierce, Stan Strickland, Carl Atkins, and Leonard Brown (reeds and woodwinds).

Here is a history of the John Coltrane Memorial Concert.  

Find year round jazz in Massachusetts - including concerts, campus events, weekend brunches, festivals, night clubs, hotel lounges, radio programs  and more- by visiting MassJazz.com.

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

Cirque du Soleil Opens at Boston's Agganis Arena on Halloween, October 31

Cirque du Soleil's Saltimbanco, an acrobatic celebration of urban life, is coming to the Agganis Arena at Boston University for eight shows from Wednesday, October 31 through Sunday, November 4, 2012.

After touring the world for two decades, the show is winding down and Boston is one of its final stops before it returns to Montreal in December to disband.  It's a great chance to see this extravaganza of acrobatic feats enhanced by a polyrhythmic live band of world class musicians.

Purchase tickets online to any of the eight shows.

Find out about live jazz in Massachusetts any time of the year by visiting MassJazz.com.

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

Jazz Saxophonist Daniel Bennett Performing at Liberty Hotel in Boston on October 31

Noted jazz saxophonist Daniel Bennett and his band are performing at the Liberty Bar in Boston's Liberty Hotel on Wednesday, October 31, 2012, and every Wednesday night through the fall, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.  Admission is free.

A graduate of Boston's New England Conservatory,  Daniel Bennett is an accomplished jazz performer who pioneered a new brand of experimental folk jazz.

Located at 215 Charles Street in Boston's Beacon Hill neighborhood, Liberty Hotel is described one of the city's most spectacular hotels and architectural gems. 

Here's a list of other Massachusetts hotels that offer jazz regularly.

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

Find visitor information by going to MassVacation.com and BostonUSA.com.

Harvard Hosts Boston Jazz Forum with Fred Taylor, Eric Jackson and Steve Schwartz on November 1st

The Office of the Arts at Harvard University is presenting a forum, "The Hub of Swing: A Look at Boston's Jazz Scene," at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 1, 2012 at the Baker Center for the Humanities in Harvard Square, Cambridge.   The event is free and open to the public.

Jazz impresario Fred Taylor, along with radio hosts Eric Jackson and Steve Schwartz, will discuss their illustrious careers and talk about the state of jazz in Boston.   The event is part of the Learning from Performers Series, which establishes a direct connection between students and gifted artists.

Then on Friday, November 2, Harvard is honoring Taylor, Jackson and Schwartz for their lifelong contributions to jazz.  That event takes place at 8:00 p.m. at Lowell Lecture Hall on Kirkland Street in Harvard Square.  Tickets are $10 general admission and $5 for students and seniors. 

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

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

Brazilian Samba Jazz Band Mozik and Rebecca Parris Perform the Music of Jobim at Scullers Jazz Club on Tuesday, October 30

Mozik, a 'vivacious and exciting' samba jazz band, is performing the music of Antonio Carols Jobim, the legendary Brazilian musician and composer, at Scullers Jazz Club in Boston on Tuesday, October 30, 2012 at 8:00 p.m.  Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online or at the door.

Jazz vocalist Rebecca Parris is performing alongside the band, which includes  Brazilian pianist Gilson Schachnik, drummer Mauricio Zottarelli, Brazilian guitarist Gustavo Assis-Brasil, Russian flutist Yulia Musayelyan and Argentine bassist Fernando Huergo. 

Here is a schedule of upcoming performances at Scullers Jazz Club. 

Find year round live jazz and blues in Massachusetts by visiting MassJazz.com.

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

Dick Campo Big Band Performs at Mechanics Hall in Worcester on Sunday, October 28

The Dick Campo Big Band is performing a special Steppin' Out concert at Mechanics Hall in Worcester on Sunday, October 28, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased at the venue.

Proceeds from the concert to benefit the Shrewsbury Fragrant Garden, a sensory garden for the blind and visually impaired.

Here are directions to Mechanics Hall.  For a calendar of upcoming events at Mechanics Hall, click here.  

Find year round jazz in Massachusetts - including concerts, night clubs, weekend brunches, festivals and campus events - by visiting MassJazz.com.

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