Monday, January 16, 2017

Boston University Commemorates Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with Duke Ellington Concert


Photo of Randall Keith Horton by Conor Doherty, courtesy of BU Today

Boston composer, arranger and musician Randall Keith Horton is presenting at concert entitled "Hope, Despair and the Blues," in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Monday, January 16 at the GSU Metcalf Ballroom at Boston University.

The concert features music of the Sacred Concerts of Duke Ellington performed by BU’s Big Band and the Inner Strength Gospel Choir and conducted by Mr. Horton.  

Read a full description of the concert, and of Horton's connections to Boston and to Ellington, at BU Today

Also, read this address by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the importance of jazz, delivered at the Berlin Jazz Festival in 1964, courtesy of Jazz 91.9, Atlanta's jazz station.  

A signifiant collection of Martin Luther King's writings and materials is housed at Boston University's Martin Gotlieb Archival Research Center

For year round jazz in Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com

Friday, January 13, 2017

Blues legend Luther "Guitar Jr." Johnson Performs at Bull Run Restaurant on January14


Legendary blues artists Luther "Guitar Jr." Johnson is performing at the Bull Run Restaurant in Shirley, Massachusetts at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 14, 2017.  Tickets to the concert are available online or at the venue.

The Mississippi native moved to Chicago in the 1970s and helped showcase the city's strong blues tradition along with Otis Rush.

Here is a schedule of upcoming performances at Bull Run.

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

Find visitor information at MassVacation.com or MerrimackValley.org.


Wednesday, January 11, 2017

4th annual Narrows Blues Festival in Fall River on January 13


The 4th annual Narrows Blues Festival, featuring top blues artists, is taking place on Friday, January 13, 2017 at the Narrows Center for the Arts in Fall River.

Tickets can be purchased online for $32 in advance and $37 the day of the show.

This year's festival includes the Eric Gales Band, Davino and the Vagabonds, Nick Schnebelen and Jimmy Bez Blues Band.

Here is a full schedule of upcoming concerts at the Narrows Center for the Arts.

Find more live jazz and blues in Massachusetts in January here.

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com



Friday, January 6, 2017

MassJazz Posts Dozens of Live Jazz & Blues Performances in Massachusetts in January 2017




There are dozens of live jazz & blues performances in January taking place throughout Massachusetts, according to MassJazz.  They range from concerts featuring trumpeter Christian Scott, guitarist Pat Metheny, Italian vocalist Roberta Gambarini and guitarist John Abercrombie to night jazz sessions in local jazz clubs, restaurants and hotels.

In the greater Boston area, you can find jazz every night at the week at places like Top of the Hub, Darryl's Corner Bar + Kitchen, The Beehive, Wally's and others.  Here is a full list of jazz clubs in Massachusetts.

Find details on Massachusetts' vibrant jazz community by visiting MassJazz.com.

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com.





Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Berklee College of Music Student Pens Song about Equal Pay for Women



Mina Alali, a student at the Berklee College of Music, has written a new single, "22 Cents Less," which calls for closing the income wage gap between men and women in the United States.

The music video for the song was filmed in Boston, where Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker signed a bipartisan pay equity bill on August 1, 2016, to ensure equal pay for comparable work for all Massachusetts workers and equal opportunities to earn competitive salaries in the workplace.  The bill passed unanimously by both legislative branches,


"If young girls hear this song and are inspired to advocate for themselves someday, I will consider it a great success," states Mina. "People are used to hearing about the wage gap on the news and in political settings but we don't often hear about it on YouTube or on the radio."

Here is the video.



Saturday, October 29, 2016

39th John Coltrane Memorial Concert Takes Place at Northeastern University on Saturday, October 29


The 39th John Coltrane Memorial Concert is taking place at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 29, 2016 at the Blackman Auditorium at Northeastern University.

 Tickets are available online or at the venue.

The concert, entitled An Evening of Ballads & Blues, features music composed or made famous  by John Coltrane.   The evening is hosted by Eric Jackson, co-produced by Leonard Brown and Emmett G. Price III.

The concert is organized by the Friends of John Coltrane Memorial Concert (fJCMC) in collaboration with the Northeastern Center for the Arts and Northeastern Department of City and Community Affairs.

The JCMC ensemble includes Carl Atkins (reeds and woodwinds), Billy Buss (trumpet), Consuelo Candelaria (piano), Allan Chase (reeds and woodwinds), Jeff Galindo (trombone), Jason Palmer(trumpet), Nat Reeves (bass), Ron Savage (percussion), Rick Stepton (trombone), Stan Strickland (reeds. woodwinds and voice), Bobby Tynes (reeds and woodwinds).

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



Saturday, October 8, 2016

Honk! Fest Street Band Festival in Somerville and Cambridge on October 7-9


Dozens of bands - from Boston to Brazil - are participating in the annual HONK! Festival in Cambridge and Somerville, starting Friday, October 7 and running through Sunday, October 9, 2016.  The festival is free and open to the public.  Here is a schedule of performances

Among the bands participating this year are La Fanfare Invisible from Paris,France; Le Ponpier Pony Club from Marseille, France; the Mayday March Band from Pittsburgh,PA;  the Chaotic Insurrection Band from Montreal, QC; the Yes Ma'am Brass Band from Austin, TX; and the Rude Mechanic Orchestra from New York City, NY. 

Among the bands from the New England region are the Dirty Water Brass Band from Boston; the Brass Balagan from Burlington, VT;  the Bread & Puppet Circus Band from Glover, VT;  and the Extraordinary Rendition Band from Province, RI. 

 Here is a list of the bands, or check out Honk! Facebook

The festival culminates on Sunday, October 9, with a parade from noon to 2:00 p.m., starting in Davis Square in Somerville and ending in Harvard Square, Cambridge, where the bands will perform for the remainder of the afternoon as part of the Oktoberfest.  

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

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

5th annual Holyoke Latin Jazz Festival on Saturday, October 8 at City Hall Ballroom in Holyoke


Ray Gonzalez

The 5th annual Holyoke Latin Jazz Festival is taking place from 6:00 - 11:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 8 at the Holyoke City Hall Ballroom, located at 536 Dwight Street in Holyoke.

Admission is $5-10 and can be purchased online or at the venue.

This year's festival features both Latin jazz and traditional salsa, with performers Heshima Mojo and Ofrecimiento, trumpet player Ray Gonzalez & the Latin Jazz Quintet, and Jesus Pagan & Conjuncto Barrio.

Local food on site include Salsarengue Restaurant, serving Puerto Rican food, and Damn Yankee BBQ, and Waterfront Tavern, serving local craft brews and other drinks.

The event is supported by the Holyoke Local Cultural Council.

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

For visitor information to to MassVacation.com.



Thursday, October 6, 2016

Pittsfield CityJazz Festival, October 7-16, Features Karrin Allyson, Scott Robinson and other Jazz Greats


Jazz vocalist Karrin Allyson, saxophonist Scott Robinson and the U.S. Army Jazz Ambassadors are headlining the 12th annual Pittsfield CityJazz Festival, taking place in Pittsfield, MA from October 7-16, 2016. 

Allyson and the Jazz Ambassadors perform at 7:30 p.m. the Colonial Theatre on Saturday, October 15.  Tickets are available here

Robinson and his quartet perform at Flavours Restaurant  at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, October 14.

In addition, the festival includes an annual jazz crawl; a concert in the Jazz Prodigy series; and an exhibit of jazz photography by noted photographer Ken Franckling.  Most of the festival’s events are free.  Here is a full schedule

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

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com





Thursday, September 29, 2016

Aardvark Jazz Orchestra Opens Its 44th Season at Scullers Jazz Club on September 29



The world renowned Aardvark Jazz Orchestra is opening its 44th season at  Scullers Jazz Club at the Doubletree Guest Suites Hotel in Boston on at 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 29, 2016.

The performance includes the world premier of founder Mark Harvey's Northeast Express, and music from Duke Ellington. 

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online or at the venue, or by calling 617 562-4111.

Scullers has recently undergone a complete restoration and moved to the second floor of the hotel, according to jazz promoter Fred Taylor.  Here is a schedule of upcoming performances

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


Saturday, September 24, 2016

Singer Al Jarreau Headlines Berklee BeanTown Jazz Festival in Boston on September 24


Jazz singer Al Jarreau

Jazz fans from around New England and beyond are heading to Boston today for the annual Berklee BeanTown Jazz Festival, a dazzling display of jazz and related music from around the world.

The festival takes place from noon to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 24, 2016 in the South End neighborhood of Boston at the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and Columbus Avenue.  The festival is free to the public and everyone is welcome.

Headlining this year's festival is jazz vocalist Al Jarreau, considered one of the finest jazz singers of his generation.  He performs at 5:00 p.m. on the Capital One Stage.

Here is a full lineup of performers.

In addition, check out the food court, artisan tents, and meet local organizers of JazzBoston and WGBH radio, including radio host Eric Jackson.

Find details on jazz throughout the year by visiting MassJazz.com or reading the 2016 MassJazz Guide online.  You can also pick up a free copy of the Guide at any of these locations.or at the BeanTown Jazz Festival.

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



Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Live Jazz & Blues in Massachusetts in September

Marcus Santos's Brazilian Drum Group

Massachusetts, home to some of the best jazz artists, venues and college programs in the world, has a full line-up of live jazz and blues this September, according to MassJazz.com.

The September schedule includes headliners like Al JarreauMarcia Ball and blues legend Chris Smither to local favorites like Aardvark Jazz Orchestra and the Jay Geils New All Star Band.

You'll find nightly jazz at iconic clubs like Wallys and the Beehive in Boston's South End to the Green Street Cafe in Great Barrington.

The schedule includes Sunday jazz brunches from the Plum Island Grille in Newbury to Ryles Jazz Club in Cambridge.

And don't miss these jazz, blues & world music festivals in September:
Read about the current jazz scene in the MassJazz Guide.

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








Massachusetts has Robust Jazz Schedule in September

Marcus Santos's Brazilian Drum Group

Massachusetts, home to some of the best jazz artists, venues and college programs in the world, has a full line-up of live jazz and blues this September, according to MassJazz.com.

The September schedule includes headliners like Al JarreauMarcia Ball and blues legend Chris Smither to local favorites like Aardvark Jazz Orchestra and the Jay Geils New All Star Band.

You'll find nightly jazz at iconic clubs like Wallys and the Beehive in Boston's South End to the Green Street Cafe in Great Barrington.

The schedule includes Sunday jazz brunches from the Plum Island Grille in Newbury to Ryles Jazz Club in Cambridge.

And don't miss these jazz, blues & world music festivals in September:




Read about the current jazz scene in the MassJazz Guide.

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








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

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...