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Massachusetts - The State of Jazz

Welcome

The Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism is proud to support MassJazz. This guide provides you with endless ways to enjoy Massachusetts’ rich jazz heritage and the festivals, events, restaurants and venues – large and small – that offer opportunities to experience this great music.

Enjoy this guide, and Massachusetts jazz!

Betsy WallExecutive DirectorMassachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism10 Park Plaza, Suite 4510Boston, MA 02116617 973-8500MassVacation.com

In Massachusetts this time of year, the screens go in the kitchen and bedroom windows, the beach umbrella sees the light of day, and long hot afternoons gradually cool into extended twilight. And in our house, we perennially listen to one of our jazz favorites, A Summer Song. It was composed in 1961, half a century ago, by pianist Dave Brubeck, with lyrics by his wife Lola, for their musical production, The Real Ambassadors. They wrote it expressly to be sung by their friend Louie Armstrong. The song evokes what is special about jazz, and much music for that matter: its ability to capture a season, or a moment in time, or a wistful reflection about life itself, with utter clarity and grace. Lola’s lyrics add to the song’s sheer melodic beauty:

I hear laughter from the swimming hole Kids out fishin’ with the willow pole Boats come driftin’ round the bend Why must summer ever end? Because A Summer Song is half a century old, it’s tempting to conclude that good music will always be valued and recognized in our society, but we know that is not always the case. I was reading some old newspaper clippings and chuckled at this alarming headline in the New York Times in 1921: “Wellesley Girls (Warned): Jazz Music is to Blame for Present Social Ills” And a few months later, apparently with no comic relief intended, the Times ran another headline proclaiming:” Jazz Doomed and Dying.” Louis Armstrong was 20 years old when those headlines ran, and Dave Brubeck was a one year old baby. And yet throughout their lives they prevailed as musicians, artists and exemplary citizens. Indeed, they were

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11th Annual

BerkleeBeanTown

Jazz FestivalSeptember 24, 2011

beantownjazz.org

> Boston’s biggest block party onthe corner of Massachusetts Avenue

and Columbus Avenue

> Three stages of live music

> Great food and fun for all ages

NEA Jazz Masters Live is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest, that celebrates the living legends who have made exceptional contributions to the advancement of jazz.

tickets $19 – 77 � one day lawn pass $34���������������tanglewood.orgbetween lenox and stockbridge, ma

SEPTEMBER 2 FRI, 8PMRobin McKelle Quartet � Michael Kaeshammer Quintet

SEPTEMBER 3 SAT2pm Live taping of Judy Carmichael’s “Jazz Inspired” with special guest Blythe Danner

8pm A Latin Jazz Tribute to Cachao with Federico Britos Sextet and John Santos Sextet SEPTEMBER 4 SUN2pm Coast to Coast Septet featuring NEA Jazz Master Jimmy Cobb with Mary StallingsMingus Orchestra conducted by NEA Jazz Master Gunther Schuller8pm Sing the Truth: Celebrating the History of Women Vocalists at Tanglewood with Angelique Kidjo, Dianne Reeves, and Lizz Wright

among our best ambassadors abroad in the 20th century, explaining and representing America – and Americans - through our music. We see their influence today, when tourists from around the world come to Massachusetts to check out our jazz festivals, campus events, concerts and night clubs. And we see it in the faces of young musicians (see page 31) from countries like Canada, Norway, Uruguay and Japan contributing to our vibrant jazz scene. Our third annual issue of MassJazz Travel Guide gives you a birds-eye view of hundreds of events taking place across the Commonwealth this summer and fall along with resources for tapping into the jazz scene anytime you want.

You’ll note in this issue an abundance of anniversaries being celebrated by Harvard and University of Massachusetts in Amherst, and by jazz luminaries like pianist Al Vega, saxophonist John Payne, and jazz radio host Eric Jackson. Congratulations to them all. And more good news: the fledgling Jazz Hall of Fame, started

by the New England Jazz Alliance in 2001, now has a permanent home at the WICN studios in Worchester. All of this bespeaks an endearing continuity to our jazz tradition that moves it from year to year, one generation to the next. That is something to savor, kind of like a summer day.

- Michael P. Quinlin

Dave Brubeck and Louis Armstrong