Highlights
A rare appearance by former U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky in duet with internationally renowned percussionist Rakalam Bob Moses, a conversation about jazz, hip hop and beyond, a tribute to Max Roach featuring drummer Terri Lyne Carrington, and performances in every style at more that 50 venues are part of this year’s Jazz Week, a citywide celebration of the music once again being coordinated and promoted by JazzBoston.
JazzBoston's second annual Jazz Week benefit concert, "A Kaleidoscopic View of Jazz in Boston," will be held at Berklee Performance Center on Saturday, May 3. Former U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky will read from his work accompanied by legendary drummer Rakalam Bob Moses. Pinsky, a Boston University faculty member, will be making only his second jazz appearance ever, following his debut earlier this year in New York with drummer Andrew Cyrille. Moses has worked with jazz giants including Herbie Hancock, Charles Mingus, John Medeski, and Larry Coryell.
Artists from Berklee College of Music, New England Conservatory, and the John Coltrane Memorial Concert (JCMC) Ensemble will also perform at the benefit, proceeds of which will go to three outstanding jazz outreach programs in the Boston Public Schools — the JCMC Educational Outreach Program, based at Northeastern University, the New England Conservatory Community Performances and Partnerships Program, and the Berklee College of Music City Music Program. Young talent from the Berklee program will be front and center when the Berklee City Music All-Stars Quintet takes the stage. Special guests including George Garzone and Friends, the Coltrane EOP Quartet, and the Marianne Solivan Quartet will also be part of the bill. Additional special guests are still to be announced. MC for the festivities will be Eric Jackson, host of "Jazz with Eric in the Evening," weeknights on WGBH 89.7.
JazzBoston will once again present "Jazz Week at the Boston Public Library," a series of free weekday and evening seminars covering a range of topics for audiences of all ages and backgrounds at the Main Library in Copley Square. This year's topics include:
- "From Savoy to Storyville: Boston in the 40s and 50s" with Dick Vacca
- "The Worlds of Duke Ellington," held on Ellington's birthday, with Mark Harvey
- "From Jazz to Hip-Hop and Beyond: Why Jazz Matters in the 21st Century" with Emmett G. Price III
- "Boston Jazz Voices of Experience" with Eric Jackson, Mae Arnett, Hy Lockhart, and Al Vega
- "The Future of Recording for Jazz and Improvised Music" with Andrew Schrock (all-digital rerelease label of "Mass Jazz Underground" artists from the 1970s), Eric Hofbauer (Creative Nation label), and Russ Gershon (Accurate Records).
"How Jazz Happens," a special interactive family event featuring pianist Pierre Hurrel, with a short film about Bill Evans, is scheduled for the Regattabar at 6 PM, April 28.
Other events set so far include:
- Jason Palmer Collective, April 26 and May 2, at Wally's
- Sheryl Bailey, April 29, and Eguie Castrillo & Orchestra, May 2, at Regattabar
- Miguel Zenon, May 1, at the Center for Latino Arts
- Rachel Price, May 1, and Najee, May 2 – 3, at Scullers
- Grace Kelly Quarter, May 2, at Jazz in the Square in Roslindale.
"Jazz Week at Borders" will be back this year with a series of free after-work jazz concerts at the bookstore's Back Bay location from April 28 to May 2. On Saturday, May 3, Boston-based music journalist and author Bob Blumenthal will mark the release of his new book, "Jazz: An Introduction to the History and Legends Behind America's Music," with a special book-signing event at the Boylston Street store.
Jazz Week events will take place at a variety of other venues, including the Real Deal Jazz Club and Café, Ryles, the Lily Pad, the Colonial Inn, Wally's the Regattabar, Matt Murphy’s Pub, Scullers, Wellesley College, Boston University, Boston College, and the Lizard Lounge.
Click here for the complete schedule of Jazz Weeks events.
