Django in June taking place in Northampton on June 17-22, featuring the music of Django Reinhardt

The annual Django in June celebration of the music of gypsy jazz artist Django Reinhardt is taking place in Northampton from June 17-22, 2014.

The celebration kicks off on June 17 with the Django camp, which gives musicians the opportunity to immerse themselves in the repertoire of the great Belguin musician.  Some of the world's best Django musicians are on hand to teach the unique guitar style that made Reinhardt a legendary artist.

There are also two great concerts are taking place at the Academy of Music in downtown Northampton: on June 20, featuring premier gypsy jazz band Latcho Drom, and Samson Schmitt; on June 21, Les Doigts De L'Homme.

For a full schedule of jazz festivals and concerts taking place in Massachusetts this summer, visit MassJazz.com.

For visitor information go to MassVacation.com.

 

3rd annual New Bedford JazzFest Taking Place on Saturday, June 14

The third annual New Bedford JazzFest is taking place from 2:00 - 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 14, 2014 on Pier 3 along the city's waterfront.  

The event features great local and regional jazz performers and showcases local artists and food.  Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 the day of the festival, and can be purchased online or at the venue.

This year's line-up includes Ethmology, Southcoast Jazz Orchestra, jazz singer Shawnn Monterio and the John Harrison Trio, and the MonterioBots, led by Marcus Monterio.

An historic port city rich in heritage and culture, New Bedford was the world's most famous whaling port in the 19th century, captured by the literature by Herman Melville and others.  Today, New Bedford is the nation's number one commercial fishing port.

New Bedford is also rich in cultural attractions, including music and ethnic festivals, culinary events, literary activities and historical tourism.  And nearby UMass/Darmouth has an excellent music department, specializing in jazz, world music, classical and gospel.

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

For visitor information go to New Bedford Department of Tourism or MassVacation.com.

Berkshires Gateway Jazz Weekend Taking Place June 5-8 in Lee

 

New Black Eagle Jazz Band

The annual Berkshires Gateway Jazz Weekend is taking place in Lee, Massachusetts from June 5 through June 8, 2014.  Tickets are available online.

 

Among the headliners this year: Sonny & Perley, the Sounds of Shearing and the New Black Eagle Jazz Band. 

 

These events, plus other events, take place at venues in and around Lee, including the Spectrum Theater and First Congregational Church.  Here is a schedule of events.

 

Massachusetts has numerous jazz festivals taking place throughout the Commonwealth through October.  Here is a schedule of 2014 jazz festivals in Massachusetts.

 

For year round information on live jazz, college courses, jazz clubs, radio programs and more, visit MassJazz.com.

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com.

 

 

 

Boston Pops Presents Gatsby Night at Symphony Hall, May 28-30

The Boston Pops, led by maestro Keith Lockhart, is presenting a jazz-filled Gatsby Night at Boston Symphony Hall from May 28-30, 2014. 

The show features the Hot Sardines from New York City, making its Boston Pops debut.  Tickets to the show are $24-94 and can be purchased online or by calling888 266-1200.

Here is the remaining schedule of Boston Pops concerts this season through June 14, 2014.
 
Find year round details on cultural activities in Massachusetts by visiting massjazz.com.

For visitor information go to massvacation.com.

MassJazz Issues 2014 Schedule of Jazz Festivals in Massachusetts

Elle Varner Performs at Onset Beach Jazz Festival

 



MassJazz has issued its 2014 schedule of jazz festivals taking place across Massachusetts this spring, summer and fall.

The season kicks off on Memorial Day weekend with the Plymouth Rock Assurance Jazz Festival and ends with the Holyoke Latin Jazz Festival in October.  

Find more details on each festival at MassJazz.com/festivals.  The schedule also includes selections of blues and world-music festivals too.


May 24-26/ Plymouth Rock Assurance Jazz Festival

June 5-8/ Berkshire Gateway Jazz Weekend

June 14/ New Bedford Jazz Fest

June 20-22/ Paulie’s NOLA Jazz &amp Blues Festival

July 12-13/ Green River Festival

July 19-21/ Festival Betances 2014

July 19/ Onset Beach Jazz Festival

July 25-27/ Boston Globe / WGBH Summer Arts Weekend

August 1-3/ Newport Jazz Festival

August 13-17/ 3rd Annual Rockport Jazz Festival

August 16-17/ Salem Jazz and Soul Festival

August 16 & 18/ 10th Annual Provincetown Jazz Festival

August 17, 24-25/ North River Blues Festival

September 6/ Northampton Jazz Festival

September 27/ Berklee BeanTown Jazz Festival

September 26 - October 5/ JazzFest Falmouth ‘14

October 12/ Holyoke Latin Jazz Festival

MassJazz was created in 2009 to celebrate the vibrant, year round jazz scene across the Commonwealth. 

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

Christian McBride Trio Performs at Scullers Jazz Club in Boston on Friday, May 16

Christian McBride Trio(Chi Modu)

 

The Christian McBride Trio is performing two shows at Scullers on Friday, May 16, 2014, at 8:00 and 10:00 p.m. The 8:00 p.m. show is sold out, but tickets to the 10:00 show are $35-$75 and can be purchased online or at the venue.

The group, which includes McBride on bass, Christian Sands on piano and Ulysses Owens, Jr. on drums, has just released a new CD, Out Here.

Here is a schedule of upcoming jazz concerts at Scullers, located at the Doubtree Suites by Hilton Boston-Cambridge Hotel, located at 400 Soldiers Field Road.

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

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com.

 

Governor Patrick Proclaims Jazz Month in Massachusetts

Governor Deval Patrick declared April 2014 as Jazz Month in Massachusetts.

Celebrate Jazz Week April 25th - May 4th, sponsored by Jazz Boston.

For year round jazz in Massachusetts visit MassJazz.com.

For tourist information visit massvacation.com.

Congratulations to jazz impresario Fred Taylor!

Fred Taylor, who has been working in the Boston jazz scene for over 50 years, is receiving JazzBoston's Roy Haynes Award on Sunday, May 4, as Jon Garelick writes in his Boston Globe article.

Taylor ran legendary music clubs Paul's Mall and the Boston Jazz Workshop for 15 years, and is currently the Entertainment Director for Scullers Jazz Club, at the Double Tree hotel in Allston.

As a part of Jazz Week '14, Scullers will have a tribute show at 8:00 p.m., May 4. (Click here for tickets)

For other events at Scullers Jazz Club, go to www.scullersjazz.com.

For more Jazz events in Boston and in Massachusetts, visit www.massjazz.com. 

For tourist information, visit www.massvacation.com.

 

Easter Jazz Brunch at Darryl's Corner Bar & Kitchen in Boston's South End, April 20

Darryl's Corner Bar & Kitchen is hosting a jazz brunch on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2014, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 

Reservations are recommended: please call 617 536-1100.  Find directions.

You can read a profile of Darryl Settles, owner of the venue.

Here is a list of other jazz brunches throughout Massachusetts.

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

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com.




 

Berklee Students Write a Boston Marathon Tribute, "I Don't Have a Song for That"

 

 

"I Don't Have a Song for That"

Berklee College of Music students Ben Johnston and  Jordan Lucero took one of their compositions in a Song Writing class and turned it into a tribute to the Boston Marathon bombing victims, heroes and survivors.  Read the story of how the song came about.

The song was arranged by Berklee alumnus Evan Chapman and accompanied by a choral group of 28 singers, a string quartet, and a rhytham section of guitar, bass and drum.  Mark Joseph is the lead singer on the tribute.



 

Jaki Byard Symposium & Concert Taking Place at WPI in Worcester on April 13

A day-long event focusing on the life and music of jazz pianist Jaki Byard is taking place at Worcester Polytechnic Institute on Sunday, April 13, 2014. 

The event takes place at Alden Memorial Hall on WPI campus, and is free and open to the public.  The sympoisum starts at 3:00 p.m., followed by the concert at 8:00 p.m.

Born in Worcester in 1922, John Arthur "Jaki" Byard came from a musical family, and was playing professionally at age 16.  He became an influential pianist and composer during his career, performing with Duke Ellington, Charlie Mingus and other important bandleaders.

For more details about the symposium and concert, please contact Professor Richard Falco at rfalco@wpi.edu.

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

For visitor informaiton go to MassVacation.com.


 

Jazz Appreciation Day in Salem Features North Shore Jazz Project in Concert on April 5

The City of Salem is hosting its 5th annual Jazz Appreciation Day on Saturday, April 5, 2014 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Salem Five Community Room, located at 210 Essex Street, on the city's walking mall. The event is free and open to the public.

The North Shore Jazz Project is the featured performer.  Here is a video of the band's performance at the Salem Jazz & Soul Festival.

 

This year's Salem Jazz & Soul Festival takes place on August 16-17, 2014.

Find more about year-round jazz in Massachusetts by visiting MassJazz.com.

For visitor information, check out MassVacation.com, NorthofBoston.org or Salem.org.

Violin Master Marissa Licata Performs at Scullers Jazz Club on April 2

Marissa Licata, a master violistist, is performing at Scullers Jazz Club in Boston on Wednesday, April 2, 2014 at 8:00 p.m.  Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online. 

Drawing on music from Eastern Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East, Marissa’s unique Gypsy fusion highlights universally familiar melodies that span world music.  Classically trained, with degrees from the New England Conservatory of Music, Marissa has toured the world with Jethro Tull, Alicia Keys and other performers; in 2014 she embarks on a U.S. National tour with Greek crossover tenor Mario Frangoulis. 

Here is a schedule of upcoming concerts at Scullers this month.

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

For visitor information go to MassVacation.com.

Jazz Guitarist Matthew Stevens is Performing Live at Berklee on April 2

Matthew Stevens, one of the jazz world's promising new guitarists, is performing with his group in a live video webcast and radio broadcast on Wednesday, April 2 at 8 p.m. on WBGO 88.3 and National Public Radio.

The band is performing at Cafe 939 on Boylston Street in Boston's Back Bay.

The performance is part of The Checkout: Live at Berklee, which brings critically acclaimed, New York-based Berklee alumni back to their alma mater for concerts in the intimate venue. The show can be viewed live in high def video at NPRmusic.org and will be archived for on-demand listening at Checkoutjazz.org.

A native of Toronto, Stevens is an alumni of Berklee College of Music and is currently an adjunct faculty member at the New School in New York City.  Find more details here.

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

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

Milton Academy Celebrates 40th Anniversary of Jazz Program with Concert on April 4

Milton Academy, which has one of the nation's best high school jazz programs in the country, is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a special concert on Friday, April 4, 2014, from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m.

The concert features performances by Horace Alexander Young, leading a group of alumni and students in a set of South African music.  Milton Academy has a long-standing exchange program with schools in South Africa.

The concert is free and open to the public.  You can also see the concert streamed live by visiting www.milton.edu/webcast/jazz.cfm

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

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com.