Blog Posts

Dr. Glory's Youth Theatre and The Riverside Church Present "Shad, Mesch and Abed," FREE Family Musical on June 11, 2:00 pm

5/23/2017

To view full-size, please click HERE.

Newport Jazz Festival Celebrates Festival Artists Ranked on "Best Of" Lists

5/9/2017

Newport Jazz Festival® and Festival Artists Rank on “Best Of” Lists
on JazzTimes Critics and Readers Polls

Festival Artists Also Nominated for Awards by Jazz Journalists Association

All photos by Ayano Hisa. Left: Christian McBride; Top right: Maria Schneider; Bottom right: Cécile McLorin

NEWPORT, RI, May 9, 2017 – With a finger always on the pulse of the best in jazz, the Newport Jazz Festival® is pleased to celebrate festival artists who have won and been ranked on the JazzTimes Readers’ and Critics Polls and nominated for honors by the Jazz Journalists Association (JJA). Newport Jazz Festival was also among the favorites selected by critics and fans.

Chico Freeman Celebrates His First Anniversary Back in the U.S.

5/2/2017

Chico Freeman Celebrates His First Anniversary Back in the U.S. with Concerts in Seattle, Chicago, Baltimore, New York and Pittsburgh

Photo credit: Lois Gilbert

NEW YORK, NY, May 2, 2017 – After living in Europe for more than a dozen years, saxophonist Chico Freeman has been enjoying life at home for the past year. Touring around the country with eyes wide open looking at America with a fresh new perspective, he celebrates the anniversary of his homecoming with concerts in Seattle, Chicago, Baltimore, New York and Pittsburgh.

“The moment I returned to New York, I heard the sounds, smelled the aromas, felt the spirit of home,” said Freeman. “I immediately hit the clubs and concert halls and caught as much music as I could. My homecoming reinforced what I had learned about myself and my music while working and living among different cultures – I can draw from the past, experience the present and think about my future, but all I really have to do is play my heart out and reach for infinite possibilities.”

Chico Freeman’s upcoming dates include:

Jazz at the Center: A Celebration of Sonny Rollins, April 29, SUNY-Purchase

4/21/2017

THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, PURCHASE COLLEGE
presents

JAZZ AT THE CENTER:
A CELEBRATION OF SONNY ROLLINS
A unique one-night-only concert,
curated by PAC’s Seth Soloway and
Professor Jon Faddis

SATURDAY, APRIL 29, 2017, 8pm

with a pre-concert Artist Talk at 7pm, free to concert ticket holders

TICKETS AT WWW.ARTSCENTER.ORG

THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, PURCHASE COLLEGE (PAC) is pleased to present A CELEBRATION OF SONNY ROLLINS, the latest in their JAZZ AT THE CENTER series. Ravi Coltrane, James Carter, Jimmy Heath, James Brandon Lewis, and Joe Lovano are headlining this evening honoring one of the jazz world’s living legends.

The Jazz at The Center series of events, new this season, are co-curated by Jon Faddis, Professor and Director of Jazz Performance in the Conservatory of Music at Purchase College, SUNY, and one of the most innovative and inspiring jazz trumpeters of our time. They are one-of-a-kind happenings, festival-style programs that bring together the genre’s greats and rising stars. Previous performances in the 2016-2017 Jazz at The Center series included Piano Spectacular (which featured Bill Charlap, Gerald Clayton, Benny Green, Pete Malinverni, and Helen Sung, as well as Ted Rosenthal in a surprise appearance) and Ann Hampton Callaway: Celebrating Ella Fitzgerald! (performing with her trio and The Purchase Jazz Orchestra)

“One of my primary goals is to present adventurous jazz with some of my favorite musical heroes, many of whom are also my colleagues and friends, in ways that are approachable yet also potentially challenging to the listener,” remarks Faddis. “These musicians are people who make me think and who make me feel joy and inspire me. I hope that will prove true for audience-members as well. Sonny Rollins is extraordinary, as is Jimmy Heath, and the generations of younger saxophonists they’ve influenced are legion. It’s a privilege to be able to honor Sonny Rollins in this way, and I personally am looking forward to welcoming these musicians who look up to and love Sonny for his artistry and character.”

The culminating event for the 2016-2017 JAZZ AT THE CENTER series, A CELEBRATION OF SONNY ROLLINS will take place on Saturday, April 29, 2017 at 8pm in the PepsiCo Theatre at The PAC, 735 Anderson Hill Road, Purchase, NY 10577. Tickets are $52.50-$77.50, and are on sale at 914-251-6200 and https://tickets.artscenter.org/single/eventDetail.aspx?p=6144.

A pre-concert Artist Talk with series co-curators Jon Faddis and Seth Soloway will take place at 7pm, free to concert ticket holders.

George Wein and Christian McBride Announce Fifth Wave of Artists for Newport Jazz Festival

4/20/2017

George Wein and Christian McBride Announce
Wave 5 of the Newport Jazz Festival® Lineup
featuring High School and College Bands
plus Newport Festivals Foundation’s
Newport Jazz Assembly Band

Newport Jazz Assembly Band (Photo credit: Ayano Hisa)

NEWPORT, RI, April 20, 2017 – Continuing the tradition of celebrating music education and fulfilling a key mission of Newport Festivals Foundation, Inc. by showcasing outstanding student bands, George Wein and Christian McBride are pleased to announce the Fifth Wave of artists for the 2017 Newport Jazz Festival® presented by Natixis Global Asset Management, which is set for August 4-6 at Fort Adams State Park and the International Tennis Hall of Fame at the Newport Casino.

See the next generation of jazz unfold through the following student performances:

Friday, August 4
*Berklee Global Jazz Institute Workshop Ensemble

Saturday, August 5
*Jason Palmer’s Berklee Septe
*Herb Alpert ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composer David Leon w. Leo Genovese, Josh Allen and Francisco Mela
*RI Music Educators Association Senior All-State Jazz Ensemble

Sunday, August 6
*University of Rhode Island Big Band
*Newport Jazz Assembly Band featuring Ben Marcoux, Joshua Bruneau, Jimmy O'Connell, Tony Davis, Noah Barker, Alex Tremblay & Mike Camacho
*MA Music Educators Association All-State Jazz Band

Randy Weston Celebrates 91st Birthday at Jazz Standard April 6-9

3/24/2017

Pianist/Composer Randy Weston Celebrates 91st Birthday with His African Rhythms Quintet at the Jazz Standard April 6 - 9

Photo credit: Carol Friedman

NEW YORK, NY, MARCH 23, 2017 – Don’t miss the four-day birthday celebration for legendary pianist/composer Randy Weston April 6 – 9 when he and his African Rhythms Quintet, along with a stellar line up of special guests, take the stage at the Jazz Standard, 116 East 27th Street in Manhattan, for two sets nightly at 7:30 pm and 9:30 pm.

The celebration kicks off Thursday, April 6, on Weston’s actual birthday with TK Blue (alto saxophone/flute), Alex Blake (bass), Lewis Nash (drums) and Neil Clarke (African percussion). The party heats up with a different group of special guests each night. Candido Camero (congas), Min Xiao Feng (pipa), and Cecil Bridgewater (trumpet) lead the way on April 6 followed by Howard Johnson (tuba) and Kwaku (balafon) on Friday, April 7. Hassan Gnawa (guimbry and poetry) joins in the fun on Saturday. Saliou Souso (kora) and Ayodele Maakaru (Nubian Instruments) wrap up the celebration on Sunday, April 9. Malian vocalist Tampani will be on hand nightly.

Newport Jazz Festival Announces Fourth Wave of Artists

3/22/2017

Newport Jazz Festival® Announces Fourth Wave of Artists
Branford Marsalis Quartet; Leslie Odom, Jr; Jazz 100: The Music of Dizzy, Mongo & Monk; Amir ElSaffar’s Rivers of Sound Orchestra; DJ Logic’s Project Logic; Tim Berne’s Snakeoil; Bokanté featuring Michael League & Malika Tirolien;
Benny Golson Quartet; Theo Croker; Cyrus Chestnut Trio; Jimmy Greene Quartet; George Burton Quintet; Gilad Hekselman; JoAnne Brackeen, Marilyn Crispell; Orrin Evans;
and Peter Evans

Tickets: www.newportjazz.org

NEWPORT, RI, March 23, 2017 – Presenting a healthy dose of straight-ahead jazz, world music, turntable magic and visit from Broadway, Producer/Founder George Wein and Artistic Director Christian McBride announce the fourth wave of artists for the 2017 Newport Jazz Festival® presented by Natixis Global Asset Management, which takes place at Fort Adams State Park and the International Tennis Hall of Fame at the Newport Casino August 4 – 6. Tickets are available at www.newportjazz.org

The fourth wave of artists includes:

Friday, August 4

Leslie Odom, Jr.
Amir ElSaffar's Rivers of Sound Orchestra
Jimmy Greene Quartet w. Kevin Hays, Ben Williams & Otis Brown III
George Burton Quintet w. Tim Warfield, Jason Palmer, Pablo Menares & Wayne Smith Jr.

Saturday, August 5

Branford Marsalis Quartet
Jazz 100: The Music of Dizzy, Mongo & Monk f. Danilo Perez, Chris Potter, Avishai Cohen, Josh Roseman, Roman Diaz, Ben Street & Adam Cruz
DJ Logic's Project Logic
Benny Golson Quartet w. Mike LeDonne, Buster Williams & Carl Allen
Gilad Hekselman, solo guitar
JoAnne Brackeen, solo piano
Peter Evans, solo trumpet

Sunday, August 6

Tim Berne's Snakeoil
Bokanté f. Michael League & Malika Tirolien
Theo Croker
Cyrus Chestnut Trio
Marilyn Crispell, solo piano
Orrin Evans, solo piano

Newport Jazz Festival Announces Third Wave of Artists

3/1/2017

Newport Jazz Festival® Announces Third Wave of Artists Including
The Roots; Naturally 7; Philadelphia Experiment: Questlove, Christian McBride, Uri Caine; Geri Allen, Terri Lyne Carrington, Esperanza Spalding;
Joey DeFrancesco + The People;
Uri Caine Trio with Mark Helias &
Clarence Penn; Christian Sands Quartet with Gilad Hekselman, Yasushi Nakamura & Jerome Jennings; John Medeski; and David Torkanowsky

Tickets: www.newportjazzfest.org

Right: Joey DeFrancesco + The People Left (top to bottom): Geri Allen, Terri Lyne Carrington, Esperanza Spalding; The Roots

NEWPORT, RI, March 2, 2017 – Producer/Founder George Wein and Artistic Director Christian McBride announce the third wave of artists for the 2017 Newport Jazz Festival® presented by Natixis Global Asset Management, which takes place at Fort Adams State Park and the International Tennis Hall of Fame at the Newport Casino August 4 – 6. Tickets are available at www.newportjazzfest.org.

“As this third wave of artists for the 2017 Newport Jazz Festival sweeps the shores of the Narragansett Bay, it feels like you might be in a tsunami; but you will not be drowning, you will be swimming in a sea of the finest traditional and contemporary jazz,” said Wein. “Having already seen the first two waves, which includes Maceo Parker, Snarky Puppy and Andra Day, here is wave three.”

Randy Weston Celebrates Black History Month with African Rhythms

2/14/2017

Pianist-Composer RANDY WESTON Presents Master Class with Special Guest MONTY ALEXANDER at Medgar Evers College
February 15, 5:00-7:00 pm

Weston Also to Be Honored at Black History Month Celebration by Brooklyn Borough Hall,
February 22, 6:00-9:00 pm

NEW YORK, NY, February 13, 2017 – Every month is Black History Month for pianist-composer Randy Weston, but this February is one to celebrate. In support of his 49th album, The African Nubian Suite, which was recently released on his own African Rhythms label, Weston will be featured in a number of events over the coming months, including a master classes, concerts, CD & book signings and an award celebration.

Wednesday, February 15, 5:00 – 7:00 pm
Randy Weston: A Spiritual Awakenings, a free master class and performance with special guest pianist Monty Alexander
Founders Auditorium, Medgar Evers College
1650 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY
(718) 270-5010
This event continues Weston’s year-long Artist-in-Residence at Medgar Evers College

Newport Jazz Festival Announces Second Wave of Artists

2/9/2017

Newport Jazz Festival® Announces Second Wave of Artists Including
MACEO PARKER, RHIANNON GIDDENS,
CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE BIG BAND, MARIA SCHNEIDER ORCHESTRA,
HENRY THREADGILL, JASON MORAN, CYRILLE AIMÉE,
EVAN CHRISTOPHER and RODRIGUEZ BROTHERS

Tickets: www.newportjazzfest.org

Maceo Parker (left); Cyrille Aimée (top right); Henry Threadgill (bottom right)

NEWPORT, RI, February 9, 2017 – Producer/Founder George Wein and Artistic Director Christian McBride announce the second wave of artists for the 2017 Newport Jazz Festival® presented by Natixis Global Asset Management, which takes place at Fort Adams State Park and the International Tennis Hall of Fame at the Newport Casino August 4 – 6. Tickets are available at www.newportjazzfest.org.

“We gave you a little taste in the first wave of artists who will appear at the 2017 Newport Jazz Festival: Snarky Puppy, Béla Fleck, Andra Day and some other new faces. Here is a further helping of artists who we will be privileged to present this year,” said Wein.

Friday, August 4
Maceo Parker
Evan Christopher Clarinet Road & New Orleans Brass
Rodriguez Brothers

Saturday, August 5
Rhiannon Giddens
Christian McBride Big Band with Special Guests
Henry Threadgill Zooid

Sunday, August 6
Maria Schneider Orchestra
Jason Moran: Fats Waller Dance Party
Cyrille Aimée

<<Previous

Forward>>

Dr. Glory's Youth Theatre and The Riverside Church Present "Shad, Mesch and Abed," FREE Family Musical on June 11, 2:00 pm

Newport Jazz Festival Celebrates Festival Artists Ranked on "Best Of" Lists

Newport Jazz Festival® and Festival Artists Rank on “Best Of” Lists
on JazzTimes Critics and Readers Polls

Festival Artists Also Nominated for Awards by Jazz Journalists Association

Chico Freeman Celebrates His First Anniversary Back in the U.S.

Chico Freeman Celebrates His First Anniversary Back in the U.S. with Concerts in Seattle, Chicago, Baltimore, New York and Pittsburgh

Jazz at the Center: A Celebration of Sonny Rollins, April 29, SUNY-Purchase

George Wein and Christian McBride Announce Fifth Wave of Artists for Newport Jazz Festival

George Wein and Christian McBride Announce
Wave 5 of the Newport Jazz Festival® Lineup
featuring High School and College Bands
plus Newport Festivals Foundation’s
Newport Jazz Assembly Band

Randy Weston Celebrates 91st Birthday at Jazz Standard April 6-9

Pianist/Composer Randy Weston Celebrates 91st Birthday with His African Rhythms Quintet at the Jazz Standard April 6 - 9

Newport Jazz Festival Announces Fourth Wave of Artists

Newport Jazz Festival Announces Third Wave of Artists

Randy Weston Celebrates Black History Month with African Rhythms

Pianist-Composer RANDY WESTON Presents Master Class with Special Guest MONTY ALEXANDER at Medgar Evers College
February 15, 5:00-7:00 pm

Weston Also to Be Honored at Black History Month Celebration by Brooklyn Borough Hall,
February 22, 6:00-9:00 pm

Newport Jazz Festival Announces Second Wave of Artists

Newport Jazz Festival® Announces Second Wave of Artists Including
MACEO PARKER, RHIANNON GIDDENS,
CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE BIG BAND, MARIA SCHNEIDER ORCHESTRA,
HENRY THREADGILL, JASON MORAN, CYRILLE AIMÉE,
EVAN CHRISTOPHER and RODRIGUEZ BROTHERS

Tickets: www.newportjazzfest.org

Archives

Categories

Newport Jazz Festival® and Festival Artists Rank on “Best Of” Listson JazzTimes Critics and Readers Polls Festival Artists Also Nominated for Awards by Jazz Journalists Association

Chico Freeman Celebrates His First Anniversary Back in the U.S. with Concerts in Seattle, Chicago, Baltimore, New York and Pittsburgh

George Wein and Christian McBride Announce Wave 5 of the Newport Jazz Festival® Lineup featuring High School and College Bands plus Newport Festivals Foundation’s​Newport Jazz Assembly Band

Pianist/Composer Randy Weston Celebrates 91st Birthday with His African Rhythms Quintet at the Jazz Standard April 6 - 9

Pianist-Composer RANDY WESTON Presents Master Class with Special Guest MONTY ALEXANDER at Medgar Evers College February 15, 5:00-7:00 pm Weston Also to Be Honored at Black History Month Celebration by Brooklyn Borough Hall,​February 22, 6:00-9:00 pm​

Newport Jazz Festival® Announces Second Wave of Artists Including MACEO PARKER, RHIANNON GIDDENS, CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE BIG BAND, MARIA SCHNEIDER ORCHESTRA,HENRY THREADGILL, JASON MORAN, CYRILLE AIMÉE,EVAN CHRISTOPHER and RODRIGUEZ BROTHERS Tickets: www.newportjazzfest.org

Archives

Categories

Newport Jazz Festival® and Festival Artists Rank on “Best Of” Lists
on JazzTimes Critics and Readers Polls

Festival Artists Also Nominated for Awards by Jazz Journalists Association

George Wein and Christian McBride Announce
Wave 5 of the Newport Jazz Festival® Lineup
featuring High School and College Bands
plus Newport Festivals Foundation’s
Newport Jazz Assembly Band

Pianist-Composer RANDY WESTON Presents Master Class with Special Guest MONTY ALEXANDER at Medgar Evers College
February 15, 5:00-7:00 pm

Weston Also to Be Honored at Black History Month Celebration by Brooklyn Borough Hall,
February 22, 6:00-9:00 pm

Newport Jazz Festival® Announces Second Wave of Artists Including
MACEO PARKER, RHIANNON GIDDENS,
CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE BIG BAND, MARIA SCHNEIDER ORCHESTRA,
HENRY THREADGILL, JASON MORAN, CYRILLE AIMÉE,
EVAN CHRISTOPHER and RODRIGUEZ BROTHERS

Tickets: www.newportjazzfest.org