Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Boston Jazz Fest Taks Place in Seaport District on Saturday, August 27

Jazz vocalist Pat Braxton

The annual Boston Jazz Fest is taking place from noon to 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 27, 2016 at Boston Maritime Park in the city's Seaport District. The event is free and open to the public.

Among the performers are jazz vocalist Pat Braxton, Japanese saxophonist Erena Terakubo, jazz vocalist Emy Tseng and more. See the full schedule here.

Here is a map of Boston Maritime Park.

To learn more about live jazz in Massachusetts, read the MassJazz Guide or visit MassJazz.com.

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com.


Thursday, August 18, 2016

Salem Jazz and Soul Festival Celebrates Ten Years on August 20-21

(Photo courtesy of Salem Creative) 

Where to begin when describing Salem –a city rich in history, infamous for its 17th century witch trials and regaled for its 19th century maritime history. A city of charming beauty, with an historic waterfront and world-renowned museums and cultural institutions.

Today, as the annual Salem Jazz and Soul Festival celebrates its 10th anniversary as one of the region’s most popular outdoor jazz festivals, we can confidently add jazz as another reason to visit Salem.  Here is the full performance schedule

Co-founders Larry Claflin, Jr. and Henley Douglas, Jr. launched the festival in 2006 after the idea had been kicking around town for several years. They created a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization with a straightforward mission: to produce free concerts while supporting music education on the North Shore.

A decade later, the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival is thriving, and so are ancillary programs that grew out of the festival, including a series of jazz concerts at Derby Square on the second Saturday of each month, in partnership with the Berklee College of Music.

Thaddeus Hogarth, Associate Professor of Guitar at Berklee, enlists the musicians who perform. The two-hour concerts include on-stage interviews with the musicians, who talk freely about their experience at Berklee and their love of music. Many of them are international students.

The festival is run by a dedicated, volunteer-based Board of Directors, and one of the projects they are particularly proud of is the SJSF music education programs that benefit the North Shore area.

“We support school music programs, group homes and after-school music programs,” Claflin says. “We also cover tuition for some teens to attend a local jazz and recording camp. And we run a monthly workshop called MusicKidz at 135 Lafayette Street Apartments.”

SJSF also works in conjunction with Northeast Arc, which provides lifelong support for people with disabilities.

“Through a grant, we work with Northeast Arc to produce a workshop for kids on the autism spectrum. Music therapists are hired to teach the children about music and help them each to produce and record a song.”

This year’s Salem Jazz and Soul Festival takes place on August 20- 21 along the sandy shores of the Salem Willows, a park where jazz giants like Duke Ellington and other big bands performed in the 1920s.

“Since our concerts are free it’s difficult to track audiences, but we know — anecdotally — that people travel from around New England to attend our festival, some coming from as far as New
York and Pennsylvania.”

With a decade of hard work, great music and community service, what is next for the festival organizers?

“We want to perfect what we have done so far,” Claflin says, “to add more educational components, and raise more money to further music education on the North Shore.”

To find about more about live jazz in Massachusetts, read the MassJazz Guide or visit MassJazz.com

For more information about visiting Salem, go to Salem.org.

To find out more about Massachusetts, visit MassVacation.com

Tuesday, August 9, 2016

12th annual Provincetown Jazz Festival Taking Place on Cape Cod, August 11 & 15

Nicki Parrott

The 12th annual Provincetown Jazz Festival is taking place on Thursday, August 11 and Monday, August 15, 2016 on Cape Cod.

Here is the full schedule of events.

The August 11 concert features jazz vocalist Billy Stritch, singing from the Mel Torme songbook, and jazz saxophonist Scott Avidon, who performs with Fabiano de Castro, Ron Ormbsy and Bart Weisman.  The concert takes place at the Crown & Anchor in Provincetown.

The August 15 concert features jazz vocalist and double bassist Nicki Parrott, who played with legendary guitarist Les Paul.  Also on the bill is jazz clarinetist Evan Christopher, who will perform with Nicki Parrott, Fred Boyle and Bart Weisman. The concert takes place at the Cotuit Center for the Arts.

Find out about ticket information here.

Check out more jazz on Cape Cod.

For more about live jazz and blues in Massachusetts, read the 2016 MassJazz Guide.

To visit Massachusetts, check out MassVacation.com

Monday, August 8, 2016

Rockport Jazz Festival, August 11-14, Features Top Jazz Artists

Terence Blanchard

Rockport Music presents the 5th annual Rockport Jazz Festival taking place on August 11-14, 2016 at the Shalin Liu Performance Center in Rockport.

This year's festival includes top jazz performers such as Terence Blanchard featuring the E-Collective, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Harold Lopez-Nussa, Thinkin' Big Jazz Rising Stars and Ravi Coltrane.

Here is a schedule of other Rockport Music performances through the fall.

For more details on live jazz and blues in Massachusetts, check out the MassJazz Guide.

To make plans for visiting Massachusetts, go to MassVacation.com.

Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Jazz & Blues Festivals in Massachusetts, August 2016


Ravi Coltrane at Rockport Jazz Festival 

There are some amazing jazz and blues festivals coming up in Massachusetts in August, according to MassJazz.com.

You can find more details by visiting the respective festival links or by reading the digital version of the 2016 MassJazz Guide, a free, 40 page magazine with details on the state's vibrant jazz scene.

August 6
Springfield Jazz & Roots Festival 
Court Square 
Springfield
springfieldjazzfest.com

August 6
24th annual Onset Blues Festival
Onset Beach

August 11-14
5th Annual Rockport Jazz Festival
Shalin Liu Performance Center 
Rockport
rockportmusic.org

August 11 & 15
12th Annual Provincetown Jazz Festival
Provincetown& Cotuit 
provincetownjazzfestival.org

August 14
9th annual Jazz on the Vineyard
Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard
jazzonthevineyard.org

August 20-21
Salem Jazz and Soul Festival
Salem Willows
Salem
salemjazzsoul.org

August 21
Green Harbor Roots Festival
Marshfield Fair 
Marshfield
marshfieldfair.org

August 26-27
Springfield Indie Soul Festival
Springfield
springfieldindysoul.com

August 27-28
North River Blues Festival
Marshfield Fair 
Marshfield 
marshfieldfair.org


For information about visiting Massachusetts, go to MassVacation.com



Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Jazz Singer Lizz Wright Performs at Shalin Liu Center in Rockport on July 29


Celebrated vocalist Lizz Wright is in concert at the Shalin Liu Performance Center in Rockport at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, July 29, 2016.  Tickets to the concert  range from $45 - $59 and can purchased online or at the venue. 

Presented by Rockport Music, Ms. Wright is a vocalist of uncommon talent and spirit who slides effortlessly between jazz, R&B, gospel, blues and folk, Lizz Wright has built a career centered on her smoky, supple voice and an earthy/ethereal style. 

Here is a schedule of other concerts taking place this season.

Find year round jazz in Massachusetts by visiting MassJazz.com

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

7th annual Hyde Park Jazz Festival takes place on Saturday, July 23 at DCR Martini Shell in Boston


The 7th annual Hyde Park Jazz Festival takes place on Saturday, July 23, 2016 from 3:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the DCR Martini Shell along Truman Parkway in Hyde Park, a neighborhood of Boston.

Among the performers at the festival are the Jason Palmer Quintet, MIXCLA+1 featuring Zahili Gonzalez Zamora, Alonso Blanco/ Daniel Ian Smith Group and Ron Reid's Precious Metals Project. Here is information on the musicians.

Admission is free.

The Hyde Park Jazz Festival is sponsored by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation (MDCR), Hyde Park Main Streets, Tutto Italiano and Northwinds Jazz Productions.

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

For visitor information go to 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...