Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Jazz Trumpeter Wynton Marsalis Lecturing at Harvard University on Thursday, January 30

 041713_Wynton_089.jpg
 
Jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis is lecturing at Harvard University on Thursday, January 30, 2014, discussing his hometown of New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz.
 
The lecture, presented by the Office for the Arts at Harvard, takes place at Sanders Theatre on Quincy Street in Harvard Square, starting at 7:00 p.m.. The event is free to the public, and organizers recommend that you reserve a ticket online here, or grab one from the Box Office at 1350 Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridge.
 
Alternatively, you can watch the live stream at harvard.edu/livestream.

“New Orleans between 1885 and 1910 was like no other. Here, amid a diversity of people, philosophies, and possibilities, jazz was born. Conceived in a city that still has a statue of the losing Confederate general as its central landmark, jazz has proven to be the most definite artistic symbol of American democracy,” Marsalis says about his topic.

Following the lecture, Marsalis is performing a few numbers with Lucien Barbarin (trombone), Jonathan Batiste (piano), Troy Davis (drums), Vince Giordano (tuba/bass), Victor Goines (reeds), Marcus Printup (cornet), Don Vappie (6-string banjo) and Michael White (clarinet).

Currently the 52-year-old is the managing and artistic director at Lincoln Center, but the musician/composer/bandleader/educator is mostly known for his collection of nine Grammys and a Pulitzer Prize for his oratorio “Blood on the Fields.”  To find out more about Marsalis and his music, visit his page here.



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

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

New England Music Awards deadline for choosing region's best musicians is Friday, January 31

 

The deadline for voting in the region's top musicians for the 3rd annual New England Music Awards is Friday, January 31, 2014.   Here is a full list of this year's nominees from 23 different categories, including music genres, best by state, best new album and songwriter of the year.

In the genre categories are these jazz and blues nominations:

Jazz Act of the Year

Blues Act of the Year

Saturday, January 25, 2014

Luciana Souza, Brazilian Jazz Singer, Performs at Sanders Theatre in Harvard Square on Saturday, January 25

Celebrity Series of Boston is presenting Grammy Award winner Luciana Souza and her quartet in concert at Sanders Theatre in Harvard Square, Cambridge, at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 25, 2014.

Tickets are available online or at the venue. 

A graduate of Berklee College of Music and the New England Conservatory of Music, Souza has been nominated for six Grammy Awards in her career.  She comes from a family of bossa nova innovators in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Here is a calendar of upcoming concerts presented by Celebrity Series of Boston.

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

For tourist information, visit MassVacation.com.

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Jazz Legend Maceo Parker at Shalin Liu Performance Center in Rockport on Saturday, January 25



RockportMusic is presenting legendary funk and soul saxophonist Maceo Parker in concert at the Shalin LiuPerformance Center in Rockport on Saturday, January 25, 2014, starting at 7:00 p.m.
Tickets range from $50-$80 and can be purchased online, over the phone at 978 546-7391, or at the door the night of the concert.

Parker’s history with top artists such as James Brown, Ray Charles, Dave Matthews Band, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers shows off his array of sound and style of funk. And be sure to catch a glimpse of his gold plated Selmer Mark VI. Check out this
Maceo Parker video.
Here is a schedule of upcoming jazz and world music concerts coming to the Shalin Liu Performance Center this winter.

Find year round jazz in Massachusetts at MassJazz.com.
For visitor information go to MassVacation.com.


Slovenian artist Gramatik performs at Pearl Street Ballroom in Northampton on Wednesday, January 22



An up and coming name in the music scene, Gramatik is performing at the Pearl Street Ballroom in Northampton on Wednesday, January 22, 2014 at 8:30 p.m.   Admission is $15 at the door. 

Originally from Slovenea, Gramatik is rooted in jazz, blues, soul, and funk, but is known in hip-hop and electronic circles, having toured with Pretty Lights, the Glitch and others.  

Check out the video to get a better feel for Gramatik's rhythm. Tickets and more information can be found here

For year round jazz in Massachusetts visit MassJazz.com.

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


Thursday, January 9, 2014

Vocalist Janis Siegel at Scullers Jazz Club in Boston on Thursday, January 9

Grammy Award winning jazz vocalist Janis Siegel, a member of the Manhattan Transfer and solo artist, is performing at Sculler's Jazz Club in Boston on Thursday, January 9, 2014.  Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online or at the veue.  Package options are available for dinner and the show, which start at 6:00 and 8:00 p.m
Siegel has won nine Grammy awards and has been nominated seventeen times. In addition to her work with Manhattan Transfer, she has recorded nine solo albums.  Here is a video of her performing
 
Find upcoming jazz events at Scullers Jazz Club.
For year round jazz in Massachusetts visit MassJazz.com.

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

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Boston Pops Swing Orchestra and Bo Winiker Ushering in New Year on Tuesday, December 31 at Symphony Hall

Bo Winiker, photo by Theresa Johnson 

The Boston Pops Swing Orchestra, led by bandmaster Bo Winiker, are ushering in New Year's Eve in style on Tuesday, December 31, 2013 at Boston Symphony Hall.  The concert goes from 10:00 p.m. to midnight, with doors opening at 8:00 p.m.

Tickets are $50-$135 and are available online for purchase.

The songbook includes melodies from Duke Ellington, Glen Miller, ABBA and Elvis Presley. Here is a bio of Bo Winiker.

Find year round jazz in Massachusetts at MassJazz.com.

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








Friday, December 27, 2013

Live Jazz & Blues in Massachusetts on New Year's Eve

Dwight & Nicole
 

Looking for some live jazz and blues to usher in the New Year?  Check out these venues around Massachusetts on Tuesday, December 31, 2013.

Central Mass
103 Nagog Park, Acton
Rebecca Parris and  Paul Broadnax Trio (7-9 pm)
JP’s Rock & Blues Ensemble (10-midnight)

Bull Run Restaurant
215 Great Road
Shirley
James Montgomery Band, Uptown Horns and Lydia Warren

Boston/Cambridge
Boston Swing Central presents
Great Gatsby New Year’s Eve Party
Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland St, Charlestown
Baby Soda Jazz Band

Lucky’s Lounge
355 Congress St
Boston
Alex MacDougall, Live Sinatra

One Bennett Street, Harvard Square
Cambridge
Dwight & Nicole

400 Soldiers Field Road
Boston
Pieces of a Dream with Wannetta Jackson

Top of the Hub Restaurant
Prudential Tower, 52nd Floor
800 Boylston Street
Back Bay, Boston
Bob Nieske and Maggie Galloway
 
Villa Victoria Center for the Arts
85 W. Newton St.
South End, Boston
The Envy of Gatsby - A New Year's Eve Celebration


Cape Cod
Riverway Lobster House
South Yarmouth, Cape Cod
Bart Weisman Trio

South Shore
45 Hull Shore Dr.
Hull
Johnny Bluehorn & The Caretakers New Year’s Eve Bash

Western Mass
Castle Street Cafe
10 Castle Street
Great Barrington
Kelly-Putnam Quartet


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

For visitor information go to MassVacation.com.

 

 

 

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Jazz Saxophonist Donald Harrison Performs First Night Concert at Berklee College of Music on December 31

 
New Orleans jazz saxophonist, composer and king of nouvous swing Donald Harrison and his quintet perform at the Berklee Performance Center in Boston, on Tuesday, December 31, 2013, at at 8:45 p.m. Tickets are $10.
 
The show is being broadcast live on Toast of the Nation from National Public Radio (NPR), as part of First Night Boston coverage through local station WGBH 89.7. 
 
Born in New Orleans, Donald Harrison is a graduate of Berklee College of Music and an accomplished musician, composer, educator, actor and community leader.
 
Find year round information on jazz in Massachusetts by visiting MassJazz.com.
 
For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com.
 
 
 


Thursday, December 19, 2013

Aardvark Orchestra's 41st Annual Christmas Concert Presents Duke Ellington's arrangement of the Nutcracker Suite, December 21


The Aardvark Orchestra, one of New England's premier jazz ensembles, is performing the complete Duke Ellington / Billy Strayhorn arrangement of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite at its 41st annual Christmas concert this year.

The concert takes place at the glorious Emmanuel  Church on Newbury Street in Boston's Back Bay at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 21, 2013. Tickets are $20 and can only be purchased at the door. Find more information here, or by calling (617 452-3205).  Here are directions to the church.

Proceeds of the concert will benefit the Pine Street Inn, which helps over 1,600 men and women in Boston each day.

The Ellington/Stayhorn jazz arrangement of one of the world's most recognizable classical pieces was first issued in 1960, marking the unique ability of the two artists to apply jazz interpretations to classical music with humor and imagination.

So songs from the Suite like The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy is transformed into The Sugar Rum Cherry, the Russian Dance is recast as The Volga Vouty, and the Waltz of the Flowers is adapted into the Dance of the Floreadores.

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.


Saturday, December 14, 2013

Where to Hear Live Jazz in Massachusetts


Looking for live jazz in Massachusetts this month? 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.

CANCELLED DUE TO SNOWSTORM: Rockport Music Presents Swing Xing! Three Generations of Swing Guitar on Sunday, December 15


 (NOTE: TODAY'S CONCERT HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO THE SNOWSTORM) 

This Sunday afternoon, December 15, 87-year-old jazz guitar master Bucky Pizzarelli takes the stage with fellow guitarists Frank Vignola and Vinny Raniolo at the Shalin Liu Performance Center in Rockport. Tickets are $25 to $39, and can be purchased online (here), by phone ( 978.546.7391), or at the venue. The concert starts at 3:00 p.m..

Pizzarelli is a veteran performer who has worked with such music giants as Frank Sinatra, Stephane Grappelli, Tony Bennett, and Zoot Sims.  Now he is shepharding two of the world's most promising swing guitarists of the next generation into the limelight.

Vignola has performed around the world various artists, ranging from Madonna and Ringo Starr to the Boston Pops and Wynton Marsalis. The New York Times called one of the brightest "stars of the guitar."

New York City native Raniolo is one of the youngest new guitarists to make a wave in the music world, playing alongside  Pizzarelli and Vignola as well as David Grisman and Tommy Emmanuel.

Here is a schedule of upcoming concerts at the Shalin Liu Performance Center in Rockport. 

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

Find visitor information at MassVacation.com.

Berklee Performance Center Presents Magic of Christmas with Pianist Jim Brickman on Saturday, December 14


With snowfall expected in Boston on Saturday, December 14, this concert is the perfect opportunity to cast off the winter blues and embrace the holiday spirit with Jim Brickman's Magic of Christmas concert. Brickman and his band are set to perform both holiday favorites as well as some of Brickman's own hits.

Tickets are $74 (if you wish for a meet and greet prior to performance), $64, $49, and $39. The concert begins at 8:00 p.m. at the Berklee Performance Center on Massachusetts Avenue. Tickets are available online via the Berklee site, at the Box Office, and by phone (617 747-2261). 

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

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

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Jazz composer/ conductor Ken Schaphorst leads NEC Jazz Orchestra in free concert at Jordan Hall on December 12



"Schaphorst's writing and arranging, like that of Duke Ellington, is for individual musicians."
—Mark Corroto, All About Jazz


Ken Schaphorst, New England Conservatory's chair of jazz studies, leads the NEC Jazz Orchestra in a program of his original music and arrangements in a concert at Jordan Hall in Boston on Thursday, December 12, 2013 at 8:00 p.m..

The concert is free and open to the public.  Here are directions.

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

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

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

New Black Eagle Jazz Band Performs at the Sherborn Inn on Thursday, December 12th


The New Black Eagle Jazz Band is performing at the Sherborn Inn on Thursday, December 12, 2013 at 7:00 p.m.  It's an evening of fine dining and great traditiona, New Orleans-style jazz by one of the region's favorite jazz ensembles.

Formed in 1971, the New Black Eagles have over 40 recordings, and continue to perform reguarly throughout New England, including the second Thursday of every month at the Sherborn.  Here is a schedule of band's upcoming events.

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

Find visitor information at MassVacation.com.
 

Sun Broadcasting Corp Launches Sun Music Live Shows at Wally's Cafe Jazz Club this Fall

Sun Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) has begun production of Sun Music Live. The inaugural shows set at  Wally’s CafĂ©  in Boston will f...