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8
In Pictures

Day 3 at Newport Jazz Festival: Hearing the Future and Honoring the History

Read "Day 3 at Newport Jazz Festival: Hearing the Future and Honoring the History" reviewed by Dave Kaufman


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 Sunday, the fest's final day, was glorious, with perfect weather and large, enthusiastic crowds. Friday and Saturday had killer lineups, but the festival arguably saved the best for last. There were a total of 17 acts. This included young emerging stars such as Samara Joy and Matthew Whitaker. My festival experience was bookended by two octogenarians, Charles McPherson and Herbie Hancock. Both were in peak form and among the day's ...

7
In Pictures

Renewing the Legacy: The Day 2 Musical Odyssey at the Newport Jazz Festival

Read "Renewing the Legacy: The Day 2 Musical Odyssey at the Newport Jazz Festival" reviewed by Dave Kaufman


Day 1 | Day 2 | Part 3 The first day at the Newport showcased a multitude of performers who could be described as “beyond jazz" or “jazz adjacent." Their performances were greeted enthusiastically, and they added a palpable energy and a festive vibe. In the last two days of the festival, the balance shifted somewhat to artists working within the elastic boundaries of the tradition. Kudos to artist director Christian McBride for curating an exceptional roster of ...

8
In Pictures

A Celebration of Excellence and Musical Diversity at Day one at the 2023 Newport Jazz Festival

Read "A Celebration of Excellence and Musical Diversity at Day one at the 2023 Newport Jazz Festival" reviewed by Dave Kaufman


Day 1 | Day 2 | Part 3The Newport Jazz Festival is one of the planet's most fabled and celebrated jazz festivals and it has been towards the top of my bucket list for a very long time. I have attended jazz festivals for almost 40 years since my youth and finally made it to Newport on its 68th anniversary. It was magnificent--a peak lifetime musical experience. Over the festival's three-day span, I was an ecstatic whirlwind, photographing ...

1
In Pictures

Samara Joy at the Newport Jazz Festival 2023

Read "Samara Joy at the Newport Jazz Festival 2023" reviewed by Stephanie Bernaba


Few musical artists possess the soul required to illuminate the entire history of a genre with their harmonies. Samara Joy, the 23-year-old jazz vocalist carrying nearly a century's worth of history in her voice, may be the exception. Joy exudes the presence of an old soul, coupled with a voice that draws in jazz newcomers while simultaneously stirring the souls of those who grew up on standards. Wearing a white dress and a bright smile, she appeared genuinely ...

4
Album Review

Joni Mitchell: Joni Mitchell at Newport

Read "Joni Mitchell at Newport" reviewed by Dave Linn


Just over a year ago, in July 2022, the internet was abuzz with the news that Joni Mitchell had performed at the Newport Folk Festival. After regular gatherings at Mitchell's home by various artists of a younger generation, who saw her as a major influence on their music, they decided to put their so-called “Joni Jam" live on stage. Audience videos of various quality circulated which led to the impression that the get-together, organized by singer Brandi Carlile, Marcus Mumford ...

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Album Review

Archie Shepp: Four For Trane To Live Newport 1965 Revisited

Read "Four For Trane To Live Newport 1965 Revisited" reviewed by John Eyles


Ezz-thetics have already released several '60s albums featuring Archie Shepp which were recorded before or after the music on Four For Trane to Live Newport 1965 Revisited. These have included the New York Contemporary Five's Copenhagen 1963 Revisited plus Shepp's Fire Music To Mama Too Tight Revisited, recorded in 1965 and 1966, and Blasé and Yasmina Revisited, recorded in 1969. All of which makes the current release very welcome as it includes Shepp's first studio recording as sole leader, Four ...

1
Radio & Podcasts

Festival Season: From Newport to the North Sea

Read "Festival Season: From Newport to the North Sea" reviewed by David Brown


This week, a survey of recordings from jazz festivals past and present: Newport Jazz Festival in Rhode Island, Montreux Jazz Festival & Jazz Festival Willisau in Switzerland, Montreal International Jazz Festival, Essen Jazz Festival in West Germany, Festival of Improvised Music in France, East-West Festival in Nuremberg Germany, and the North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands.Playlist Thelonious Monk “Esistrophy (Theme)" from Live at the It Club-Complete (Columbia) 00:30 Thelonious Monk, The Duke Ellington Orchestra “Monk's Dream" from ...

4
In Pictures

2019 Newport Jazz Festival

Read "2019 Newport Jazz Festival" reviewed by Richard Conde


This years 2019 Newport Jazz Festival was held at the scenic Fort Adams State Park in Newport Rhode Island. Newport Jazz Festival's artistic director Christian McBride put together an impressive line up with a wide range of talent over three days on four stages from August 2nd to the 4th. Legendary NEA Jazz Master Herbie Hancock, Dianne Reeves, Kamasi Washington, and Tank and the Bangas, is just a glimpse of the range of musical talent that graced the stages. The ...

8
Live Review

Newport Jazz Festival 2019

Read "Newport Jazz Festival 2019" reviewed by Doug Hall


Newport Jazz Festival Fort Adams State Park Newport, RI August 2-4, 2019 The 65th Anniversary Newport Jazz Festival continued an established tradition of delivering an exceptional level of high quality musicianship. Over the three fully packed days (and one special evening at the International Tennis Hall of Fame) from August 2nd to 4th, an amazing range of talent was on stage, from debut performances of up and coming artists, to the famed legendary veterans still ...

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Live Review

Newport Jazz Festival 2018: Part 2-2

Read "Newport Jazz Festival 2018: Part 2-2" reviewed by Timothy J. O'Keefe


Part 1 | Part 2 Newport Jazz Festival Fort Adams State Park Newport, RI August 5, 2018 From the first spongy thwack that bounced off the conga drum, a sticky humidity clung about Narragansett peninsula while the sounds of Herlin Riley's New York Havana Connection oozed from the stage. The set featured numerous pieces from New Directions (Mack Avenue Records, 2016), and saw varying tempo changes and multi-rhythmic cycles spark the synergy ...


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