Is This Jazz?: Jazz in the Summer

The time has come once again to collect an assortment of concerts happening around the state and present them here so that those who are interested in providing a jazz soundtrack to their summer know where to go and who to listen to.

Local group Geo Trio, led by guitarist George Leonard, will be performing at Dusk in Providence on June 15 and Jimmy’s Salon in Newport on August 3.

On June 28, the Pump House in Pace Dale welcomes guitarist Dave Schneider and his quartet for some Latin jazz and more, with Gian Carlo Buscaglia opening.

I’ll be playing with a quartet performing contemporary jazz and funk on August 3 at 10pm at Pour Judgement in Newport.

Guitarist Clay Nordhill brings his trio every Monday night to the Contemporary Theater Company in Wakefield from 6 to 8pm.

Askew, a new restaurant and music venue in Providence, is having a night with local group Evening Sky on June 9. The ensemble is made up of Gino Rosati on guitar, Chris Brooks on pedal steel, Joe Potenza on bass and Eric Hastings on drums.

Every fourth Sunday from 4 to 7pm at Nick-A-Nee’s in PVD, catch drummer Max Goldman with Clay Nordhill and bassist Marty Ballou playing a wide array of jazz.

Tea in Sahara continues its Modern Sound Series on the last Sunday of each month with Bastilla. Follow “modern sounds” on Facebook for more details.

Norey’s in Newport continues to host its “World Class Thursdays,” which takes place weekly at 7:30pm with no cover at the door. The first Thursday is the Alan Bernstein Quartet, second is the John Monllos Quartet playing funky jazz, third week is the Dino Govoni Q’tet, the fourth is the Cote Jazz Combo and any fifth Thursday will be the BlueClue Quintet.

The Purple Cat Winery and Brewery in Chepachet hosts jazz duos, featuring local pianist Tom White playing with a changing cast of other talented musicians. On June 2, from 1 to 4pm, he will be with Clay Nordhill; on June 30, he’ll be with bassist Sam Kurzontkowski; and on July 8, he’ll be with Kyle Barboza.

The “Is This Jazz?” series continues its run at AS220: on August 3 will be Bostonian indie fusion band Porterfield and local group The Leland Baker Quartet.

Additionally, ITJ is working with PVDFest to put on a special showcase on Sunday, June 10. Watch some of the brightest new talent making waves around the city play from 2 – 3:30pm on the the Burnside Park Stage. Other jazz act performing on the Burnside stage include Kim Trusty, Corine Paul, Rohan Chandler “C3,” and Ryan Kowal’s Broken Shovel

Finally, this wouldn’t be an official summer guide if I didn’t mention the historical Newport Jazz Festival returning to Fort Adams in Newport from August 3 to 5, featuring the best of the best in the jazz world, such as musicians Jon Batiste, Gregory Porter, Pat Metheny, Living Colour, Charles Lloyd, Michel Camilo and George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, among many others. Head to newportjazz.org for tickets and info.

There is always a ton more jazz going on around the state that doesn’t get covered, so keep your eyes and ears open for all the great music happening, and be sure to support the world-class talent we have right here at home.

Happening Around Town:

The John Allmark Jazz Orchestra; first Monday monthly @ The Met (Pawtucket)

Is This Jazz?; first Friday bimonthly @ AS220 (Providence) isthisjazz.tumblr.com

Groove Merchants; Mondays @ Fifth Element (Newport)

Jazz Jam; Tuesdays @ Ten Rocks (Pawtucket)

Groove E Tuesday; Tuesdays @ Murphy’s Law (Pawtucket)

Jazz At The Parlour; Sundays (jam held every third Sunday) @ The Parlour (Providence)

Modern Sound Series; last Sunday monthly @ Tea In Sahara (Providence)

Leland Baker Quartet; Wednesdays @ Acacia Club (Providence)

To add your listing email isthisjazzri@gmail.com.

Ben Shaw is a local composer and performer. Find him at ahueofshaw.tumblr.com.