GREGORY PORTER and CHICK COREA TRILOGY
to Perform at Newport Jazz Festival® Opening Night Concert Friday, July 29,
at the International Tennis Hall of Fame at Newport Casino
Tickets for Concert and Pre-Concert Cocktail Party
Go On Sale Thursday, January 14, 10:00 am
George Wein, Festival producer and chairman of the Newport Festivals Foundation, said, "Our history of Friday night concerts at the International Tennis Hall of Fame has been extraordinarily successful, both in the quality of performance and the continuing growth of our audience. This year's concert will be no exception. Chick Corea, who will be celebrating his 75th birthday with us that evening, is an old friend and indelible contributor to jazz piano lore. With him will be bassist Christian McBride and every musician's favorite, Brian Blade, on drums, both of whom were named #1 on their instruments in the JazzTimes Reader's Poll.
To round out the program, we will welcome Gregory Porter, whom we also congratulate on his JazzTimes Reader's Poll acknowledgement as Artist of the Year. Gregory has appeared at Newport two times, but this is the first time that our Friday night regulars will have the opportunity to hear him at the International Tennis Hall of Fame. He is the best at what he does. Any of you who remember Joe Williams will recognize the immense talent that Gregory Porter fosters and you will understand why he will be one of the all-time greats."
The Newport Jazz Festival Opening Night Cocktail Party on the Horseshoe Piazza welcomes a limited number of attendees for pre-concert socializing with music, food and beverages. Tickets include open bar and hors d’oeuvres. Party attendees must have a separate ticket to the Festival concert.
The 2016 line-up for the Newport Jazz Festival presented by Natixis Global Asset Management also features concerts at Fort Adams State Park on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, including Kamasi Washington, Angélique Kidjo, Kneebody, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Tierney Sutton, Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society, The Westerlies and many more. Flex tickets for these concerts are still available for a limited time; fans can purchase their tickets now at a discount and decide which day they want to attend at a later date.
Additional Fort artists will be announced January 21. Stay tuned to social media for more announcements on an on-going basis.
For general information, craft vendor details or to leave a message for festival staff, call the festival hotline at (401) 848-5055 or log on to www.newportjazzfest.org or www.newportfestivalsfoundation.org.