As I arrived at India Point Park on a steamy August morning, my excitement was peaking. My musical odyssey began once I boarded the Newport Ferry. I was lucky, I got the last seat on the early morning shuttle which was sold out for the rest of the weekend. Everyone on board was smiling and […]
Many things have changed during the 70 years since the Newport Jazz Festival began. The great grandfather of outdoor festivals first happened on July 17, 1954 at the Newport Tennis Hall of Fame. That night made musical history that would reverberate world wide. The musical engine that sang out to a crowd of nearly 13,000 […]
Jazz in the Ocean State has seen a myriad of tough times, including, COVID aftershocks, digital streaming, stubborn inflation, and changing demographics. But, just like the changing tides of Narragansett Bay, local jazz is here to stay. Live music venues and great jazz musicians have come and gone, but jazz lovers should not despair. While […]
Imagine on any given night during the 1950s being able to hear the swinging sounds of Count Basie, the bluesy diva Billie Holiday, or Louis Armstrong, one of the greatest trumpet players of all time? No, I am not talking about the thriving Times Squares jazz scene in the Big Apple, but the fabled Celebrity […]
The time is upon us for yet another edition of the historic Newport Jazz Festival. This year for a change of pace from past guides, I’m going to focus on artists or collaborations that may not garner the same recognition as some of the bigger names on the poster. Here are three picks for each […]
Since restarting in November 2021, The First Sunday Jazz Jam at The Parlour (Providence) has been steadily growing a dedicated following of musicians and listeners who have helped transform the monthly series into a community-focused evening of musical dialogue and celebration of jazz. I’ve had the good fortune to watch it all blossom first-hand as […]
Ice blanketed the sidewalk on a cold February night as I navigated the treacherous path to the Firehouse Theater in Newport. Water fell and dotted my glasses as I opened the door and stepped inside the classic building that in 1999 was repurposed as a blackbox-style theater and has been home to performances of comedy […]
Local jazz bass-guitarist Joe Potenza’s dad provided a cool variety of instruments for his family, while growing up in Providence. He tried them all, and got to favor the bass-guitar.Joe began gigging with several of Rhode Island’s excellent musicians, including legends, trumpeter John Allmark, pianist Mike Renzi and reed great Dino Govoni. They taught him […]
Burt Jagolinzer, who has attended the Newport Jazz concerts for 67 years writes: George was my friend and my association with him was very important to me, each year… I would always congratulate him, after each Newport performance.… George Wein discovered jazz, as one of his most important loves of his life. (The other love […]
My first few years at the Newport Jazz and Folk Festivals were spent standing behind a cart, selling ice cold drinks to festival attendees. I’d chase the shade with my umbrella, while listening to legends and newcomers play, and daydream about what it must look like from up there on the historic stage. As I’d […]