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 […]
When a new jazz venue pops up in the area, it’s important to shine a light on them so they can flourish. So when Scott Abrahamson reached out to me to discuss the new live music offerings at Toti’s in Seekonk, I wanted to find out more. Our interview is lightly edited. Ben Shaw: Tell me […]
Saxophonist Leland Baker has been making a name for himself around New England over the past several years and has become quite a fixture in the Providence jazz scene. On Wednesday nights he and his quartet of local musicians have been delighting the patrons of the Acacia Club in downtown Providence and have been generating […]
On Thursday, February 22, the Veterans Memorial Auditorium was host to a rousing performance by The Gershwin Big Band, an ensemble dedicated entirely to the music of the late, great American composer George Gershwin. This well-attended event was presented as part of FirstWorks’ Artistic Icons Series and gave a captivated audience a glimpse at some […]
Many jazz standards have faded from popular memory and been usurped by newer charts, but a select few continue to be played throughout the years, never losing their luster and sounding as current as the day they were composed. In the spirit of the upcoming romantically themed holiday I’ll explore one such standard: My […]
A couple of weeks ago I spoke with guitarist Lionel Loueke prior to his performance with the Chick Corea and Steve Gadd Band at The VETs in October. The conversation we had reveals a lot about the group and his individual process, which makes it invaluable reading for jazz and guitar fans alike. Below is the […]
The brilliance of Esperanza Spalding has been on display for well over a decade. While keeping a firm footing in the jazz world, she stretches her arms out into a multitude of sonic landscapes, simultaneously pulling ideas from soul, funk, pop, avant-garde and classical music, then weaving them back into her previous sensibilities to […]
The fall season is a perfect time to go see jazz around Rhode Island. As the weather begins to cool and people start piling up the layers of outer wear, musicians ditch the outdoor stages for the clubs and local hangs. Here’s a snippet of the excellent shows coming to the state this season. […]
The jazz world descended upon Newport to see some of the music’s legends as well as many of its rising stars. As is always the case with such events, the hardest part of the weekend was catching a significant portion of each great set before running full speed to another stage to try […]
On Friday, August 5, the world’s best jazz artists will once again make their yearly pilgrimage to Fort Adams for another exciting Newport Jazz Festival. Over the past few years, the festival has been stepping up the line-ups and has done an amazing job of balancing the old guard with the young lions, simultaneously […]