Cape Conservatory Jazz Student Ensemble Performs at Inauguration of Governor Charlie Baker on Thursday, January 8

Congratulations to the CJazz student jazz ensemble from the Cape Conservatory of Cape Cod.  The group is performing tonight at the inauguration celebration of Governor Charlie Baker, who begins his tenure today as the Governor of Massachusetts.

The event takes place at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center in the Boston Seaport District.

The ensemble is directed by Bart Weisman, well-known jazz drummer on Cape Cod and founder of the popular Provincetown Jazz Festival that takes place each August on Cape Cod.

The band includes Alex Lanoue on drums from Falmouth High School; Kenny Linnell on bass from Dennis-Yarmouth High School;  Maurice Soque on sax from Falmouth High School; Bryden Williams on sax from Dennis-Yarmouth High School; and 12 year old Keb Hutchings-McMahon on guitar from the Cape Cod Lighthouse Charter School.

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

To visit Massachusetts, go to MassVacation.com. 

Berklee President Roger H. Brown Among Local Advocates for the Olympics 2024 Bid

Roger H. Brown, president of the Berklee College of Music, is one of the city's leaders supporting Boston 2024 Olympic bid.

A new video released this week includes Brown, along with leaders from Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Brigham and Women's Hospital taking about all that greater Boston has to offer the Olympic community.

Here is the video:



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

Matisse, Jazz and an Evening of Culinary Improvisation at Menton Restaurant in Boston

A New Year's Eve celebration, inspired by the art and color of French painter Henry Matisse, with music from Brazilian guitarist Doug Siqueira and his jazz trio is being offered at Menton in Boston on Wednesday, December 31, 2014, with two seatings from 5-7:00 p.m. and from 8:00 - 9:45 p.m.

Across Chef Scott Jones’ tasting menu, guests will indulge in a colorful sequence of flavors that pay tribute to classic New Year’s Eve traditions, such as champagne, lobster and foie gras; each course masterfully paired by James Beard Award-Winning Wine Director, Cat Silirie. 

Opened in 2010 by Chef Barbara Lynch, Menton has gained praise as one of the top 100 restaurants America, and is Boston's only Relais & Chateaux, AAA Five-Diamond, and Forbest Travel Guide Five-Star property.  It is located at 354 Congress Street in Boston.  

Find live jazz year round in Massachusetts at MassJazz.com.

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com. 

Berklee Concert Jazz Orchestra Fall Concert is Monday, December 15

The Berklee Concert Jazz Orchestra is presenting its annual concert at 8:15 p.m. on Monday, December 15, 2014 at the Berklee Performance Center in Boston's Back Bay.  Tickets are $12 and can be purchased online or at the venue.

The orchestra is directed by trumpeter/composer Greg Hopkins.  Here is a video of the orchestra.

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

French Jazz Singer Annie Royer Performs at Scullers Jazz Club in Boston on December 10

French cabaret singer Annie Royer is singing at Scullers Jazz Club in Boston on Wednesday, December 10, 2014 at 8:00 p.m.  Tickets are $27 and can be reserved online, or $67 for dinner and show.

A native of Paris, Royer is an expert on the music of French singer Edith Piaff and the French jazz song book.  She has performed at Scullers before to critical acclaim.

Find more jazz events  coming to Scullers in December.

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

Chicago Underground Duo Performs at UMass in Amherst on Thursday, December 4

Chicago Underground Duo

The Fine Arts Center at UMass/Amherst presents the ChicagoUnderground Duo on Thursday, December 4, 2014 at 8:00 p.m., performing at the Bezanson Recital Hall. General admission to the show is $10, and $5 for students.

Now in its 17^th year, the Chicago Underground Duo, explores a unique brand of jazz and contemporary music that has won praise around the world.  Cornetist Rob Mazurek is an electro-acoustic composer who has written nearly 200 compositions.  He has held multi-media residences at leading museums and galleries, and won numerous grants and commissions for his work.  The Wire has praised  percussionist Chad Taylor, stating his “deftness, imagination and formidable technical skill always make his playing a joy to listen to... from the densest meshes to the sparsest near silent passage, each sonic cypher, beat and note seem to be leading somewhere, to have been made with a purpose.”  

Here is a schedule of upcoming jazz eventsat UMass/Amherst.

For year round jazz in Massachusetts, go to MassJazz.com. 

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com. 

Aardvark Jazz Orchestra Performs Free "Election-Year" Concert at MIT on November 1

The Aardvark Jazz Orchestra is performing a free, election-year concert Killian Hall at MIT on Saturday, November 1, 2014 starting at 8:00 p.m.

The pulse of politics and culture is the theme of the music, with selections like DeEvolution Blues, Through the Looking Glass Blues, and Keepin' On, from the band's latest CD Impressions (Leo Records).  Social consciousness runs through the jazz tradition, from Duke Ellington and Charlie Mingus to Charlie Haden and Archie Shepp.

Founded in 1973, Aardvark is one of the longest-running jazz ensembles in the world.  The band has premiered more than 150 works for jazz orchestra, performs widely, and appears on 12 CDs, including the latest disc, Impressions (Leo Records). 

The orchestra was founded by Dr. Mark Harvey, who teaches jazz studies and composition at MIT.  Harvey is also the band’s music direction and principal composer & arranger.

Aardvark is: Arni Cheatham, Phil Scarff, Chris Rakowski, Michael Heller, Dan Zupan/saxes and woodwinds; K.C. Dunbar, Jeanne Snodgrass/trumpets; Bob Pilkington, Jay Keyser, Anita-Ann Jerosch /trombones; Bill Lowe/bass trombones, tuba; Richard Nelson/guitar; John Funkhouser/string bass; Harry Wellott/drums; Mark Harvey/trumpet, music director. 

MIT celebrated fifty years of jazz in 2013. 

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

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com.