Category: Jazz

It has been a long time for jazz fans to wait, but we are finally nearing the date when the historic Newport Jazz Festival will make its triumphant return to Fort Adams on July 30. For those who haven’t purchased your tickets yet there is still time but as we get closer and this incredible lineup looms on the horizon, I’d expect those available spots to tighten up, especially considering the reduced capacity for health and safety protocols. I’m excited for a smaller festival that will hark back to the early years of the festival and should make for some intimate performances. Though it may look and feel different from previous years, I’m thrilled to see what the Festival has in store for us all, so I wanted to highlight a few sets that I’m looking forward to experiencing. 

There are a few obvious sets and musicians that you’re going to want to check out like Kamasi Washington, Robert Glasper and Christian McBride. Anything that any of those three are a part of will be jammed with festival goers and for good reason. The sets of Yola and Mavis Staples — who are both crossing over with the Folk Fest — are not to be missed, as well as Andra Day’s closing set on Sunday. For the rest of your day, try to explore some of the musicians you may not be as familiar with, and since there are only two stages this year, catching larger portions of their performances should be more manageable. 

Friday is going to be a day of heavy grooves including a set by guitarist Cory Wong, perhaps best known for his involvement with the sensational band Vulfpeck, but who has developed a widely praised solo career as of late. Chicago-based drummer Makaya McCraven will be leading his own ensemble through a set of interwoven grooves and beats inspired by hip-hop and spiritual jazz. And make sure you check out The Arturo O’Farrill Quintet, lead by pianist O’Farrill, who will bring Cuban and Latin rhythms to round out the day’s feast of grooves.

So far Saturday is the only sold-out day, but considering the stacked line-up, it’s easy to see why. Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue will bring the fun, vitality and history of NOLA to close out the day at the Fort, but before that, be sure to check out whatever project trumpeter Christian Scott Atunde Adjuah will be bringing as it will absolutely be the talk of the festival. If you need a primer for his music, check out the album Axiom, which was recorded live before the pandemic shutdown and released in 2020. After watching the Terri Lyne Carrington + Social Science Tiny Desk concert that NPR released in early March last year, I am bubbling with anticipation to see what kind of artistry this group has in store. 

As with all good things, there must eventually be an end, and this year’s Sunday line-up is one for the ages. First of all, who needs any other reason to go than the presence of the legendary saxophonist Charles Lloyd? But if you’re looking for more, do yourself a favor and lookup the line-up for the The Jazz Gallery All-Stars set, which will feature a roster of contemporary jazz All Stars. I’m intrigued to check out David Oswald’s Louis Armstrong Eternity Band, who I’m sure will be bringing the love and appreciation of not only Satchmo’s legacy, but a nice taste of the history of this musical form to their set.

Bring lots of sunscreen, a water bottle and good walking shoes so you can fully enjoy what this year has to offer. Hope to see you all at the Fort!

Newport Jazz Festival takes place at July 30 – Aug 1 at Fort Adams in Newport. For information regarding health & safety protocols and requirements, please visit newportjazz.org, where you will also find links to tickets, schedules, vendor lists and more.

There hasn’t been a whole lot to report on over the past few months in regards to the Rhode Island jazz scene, but all that is changing. Here is a quick list of few confirmed dates of gigs happening around town.

The fantastic local singer Tish Adams has a couple concerts lined up — with more dates to be announced soon –for her “Tish Adams Presents…” series. On Sunday, June 13, Shawnn Monteiro will be with Mike Renzi, Paul Del Nero and Steve Langone at the Music Mansion in Providence.

On Sunday, June 20, the Tom White Trio will be playing at Pump House in South Kingstown. Steve Smith and the Nakeds is back at it as gigs start to fill in, and this year they will be celebrating 48 years! Find all their dates at thenakeds.com. The Kickin Brass Band also has a few coming up, including some 4th of July parades. Find more information and dates at facebook.com/kickinbrassband.

For those who haven’t been obsessively checking in every day to see whether the Newport Jazz Fest is coming back this year, you’ll be delighted to know that it will be taking place July 30 – August 1! However, the festivities are going to look a bit different this year. Per Newport Jazz’s website, “Newport Jazz will be focusing on creating three intimate days of amazing jazz performances and surprise collaborations at Fort Adams.” They’ll release access to the events in phases, so head to newportjazz.org for more information and tickets when they become available.

There are also a few weekly gigs that are making their way back around town. Saxophonist Leland Baker is bringing jazz back to the Eddy (PVD) on Wednesdays and Courtland Club (PVD) on Sundays. Also, catch vocalist and pianist Alexus Lee at CAV (PVD) every Wednesday 6:30-8:30pm, L’Artisan Cafe & Bakery every Friday 6-8pm, and rotating between Gulfstream Bar and Grille and Blue Anchor Grill in Portsmouth most Saturdays and Sundays. 

Lastly, Copperfield’s in Johnston is offering two great weekly jams. Drummer Ben Ricci runs the Sunday Blues Jam from 5-8pm every Sunday, while on Mondays from 7-11pm you can sit in on The Ju$t Or@nge Jam featuring Jake Heady, Michael Christman, Zachary Rochester and Devon Austrie.

Make sure to follow the musicians listed here wherever you find them online, and keep checking Motif’s listings for all the best shows coming up.

Noted reedman Dan Moretti, one of the nation’s top tenor saxophone artists, lives in Narragansett. Dan has been composing, recording, leading, teaching and performing jazz and some R&B around the world for more than 30 years. He has played with many of the great names in jazz during his veteran years, and Dan represents quality sound in the art-form.                 

Local musicians choose Dan to supplement and solo during their performances. His stints have included work in Europe, Asia, Africa and Greenland, and Dan’s recordings are well-known.

He and his groups continue to appear locally, at Chan’s (Woonsocket) and several other establishments. Years ago, he was inducted into Rhode Island’s Music Hall of Fame.

The Downbeats were a group of young high school musicians that formed a quartet that was to play local school dances, featuring upbeat music of the times. These young performers were in the graduating Class of 1957 at Pawtucket West High School, where they excelled in the school band and orchestra.

They chose jazz standards and dance favorites of that era in their performances. As a group they began playing parties, private events and a variety of local competitions.

Featured was Fred Dupuis, a gifted pianist, who after graduating Brown University, went on to play local clubs and lounges. His skills remain even today. The reed section was handled by Sumner Fishbein, who later became a Doctor of Optometry in Augusta, Georgia. He continued with his skills in the Augusta Symphony Orchestra. Jerry Schwartz was the long-time drummer, who later went on to New York. The horn section featured John Gaskill and Burt Jagolinzer. Collectively, they performed several years around the state, offering excellent music for dancing and socializing.
John Gaskill became a gifted and sought-after trumpet soloist, and a successful local business man. Burt Jagolinzer became a lead trumpet in the U.S. Army band at Fort Dix in New Jersey.  Later, he received a Doctorate in Jazzology, and is today a jazz critic, author and columnist behind Jazz Insights.

During 1932, the gifted international musician Frank D’Rone was born.
He grew up in Providence, where at five years old he began singing and learning to play guitar. By age eleven he had his own radio show.

While playing regularly in Rhode Island at all kinds of professional venues, he decided to try his luck in New York City. He was offered some gigs in Chicago, where he met singer and pianist, Nat “King” Cole who helped him record at Mercury Records.

Soon, he began preforming with the likes of spectacular pianists Oscar Peterson and Stan Kenton. He recorded with many of these greats, and others, on records and CDs. Frank became internationally known, by this time.

During the ’60s and ’70s, he performed regularly on “The Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson. Later, he worked with the renowned composer and performer, Bill May. Frank leaves as a legacy, his appearance and performance at The Chicago Jazz Festivals. He passed away in October of 2013.

There are few keyboard players and pianists in Rhode Island who have the stylistic breadth and musical depth of local musician Jhony Keys. He’s played in a wide range of ensembles from reggae and funk bands to jazz trios and leading gospel choirs, and Jhony approaches every gig with a steadfast dedication to the music that has made him a go-to player throughout New England. Not only is he an excellent performer, but Jhony organizes and runs the Tuesday jazz jam at 10 Rocks in Pawtucket, which has consistently been one of the best jams the state has ever seen.

A little while ago, in the beginning weeks of the pandemic, I had the chance to ask Jhony a few questions, and get a taste of what makes him the great musician he is.

Ben Shaw (Motif): When did you start playing?

Jhony Keys: I started playing keyboards/piano at 9, then bass at around 15.

 BS: How did you first get into jazz?

JK: As a kid, I remember hearing Ray Charles on the radio and I knew I wanted to capture that sound, and then later I delved into all the other giants.

BS: When did you decide to pursue music as a career and how did you start?

JK: I’ve always played with churches and different groups, but I really started to take music seriously as a career around 2008, I think.

BS: How has a career in music lived up to your expectations? 

JK: It’s really tough. You have to wear a lot of hats. But for me, it’s definitely all worth it.

BS: How has it differed? Where do you usually play around town?

JK: One day I’m playing funk, the other I’m playing jazz and then reggae and of course gospel. When I’m not traveling or playing a private event, you can catch me at a local spot like Ten Rocks restaurant on Tuesday’s.

BS: Is there one thing you think aspiring musicians should think about or do when they consider a career in music?

JK: There’s a lot to consider, such as: Do I really wanna do this? Because you have to sacrifice a lot of personal time and resources to make it a career.

BS: What concepts (melodic, harmonic, etc) are you currently working on? 

JK: Lately I’ve been working on learning Indian melodies, it’s so beautiful! I’m a big fan of different cultures.

BS: Beyond music, what other activities do you enjoy?

JK: I love music, but I also enjoy skydiving, basketball, billiards, soccer and working out. Lately though, I’ve been really acquainted with sleep.

Keep up to date with Jhony Keys by finding him on Facebook and Instagram. If you want to hear a longer, more in-depth conversation with Jhony, check out his episode of the podcast “Where The Living Room Used To Be,” hosted by James Toomey, available on Apple Podcasts or at livingroomutb.com. 

Providence’s Billy Lipson, born in 1911, was blessed with a terrific jazz singing voice. Billy sang with several large orchestras in greater Providence.
His renditions often sounded like Frank Sinatra or Bing Crosby. Billy had a loyal group of followers who regularly cheered him on, and many a local woman swooned over his romantic deliveries. His torch songs were a special happening for the whole family, and his wife and two sons were among his loyal fan base. Billy’s day job found him working on electricity for the New Haven Railroad.

After World War II, America’s popular music, including jazz, became an important element in the post-war happiness that surfaced here, in Rhode Island, and other parts of our country. Individuals like Billy Lipson performed to happy celebrations that were featured during those wonderful times.

Billy passed away in 1983, but many of his followers still remember him, and his special voice.

If you hear guitar at a jazz gig around Providence, there is a good chance it’s coming from the amp of local musician Gino Rosati. Rosati has a voice that fits a variety of styles, and he’s highly sought after by ensembles all over the state. One ensemble that he helped found and is a major creative voice of is Evening Sky, a Providence-based quartet with unique instrumentation and a roots-infused jazz sound, whose approach and sonic landscape is bolstered by Rosati’s stellar guitar playing.

On September 12, Evening Sky will be playing at The Pump House in Wakefield for a special outdoor show — masks and social distancing are required — complete with a food truck and outdoor bar. They open the night at 6:30pm and will be followed by the Bobby Keyes Trio.

I recently emailed Rosati to ask him a few questions about his musical journey and to gain a little insight into what makes him such a versatile musician.

Ben Shaw (Motif): What drew you to music? 

Gino Rosati: I started listening to music at an early age. The radio was always on or we would listen to records. We listened to all styles, from classical to jazz and rock.

BS: When did you start playing? 

GR: I actually started to play guitar by accident. My brother got a bass for Christmas and my mother nagged me into taking guitar lessons. I was around 14 years old at this time.

BS: How did you first get into jazz? 

GR: I started listening to jazz before rock. Kai Winding, Louie Bellson, Dave Brubeck, and Joe Pass were the first records, and then I started searching for other musicians.

BS: When did you decide to pursue music as a career, and how did you start? 

GR: As soon as I started playing guitar, I was hooked and never thought of anything else to do. I started getting into local bands and learning tunes.

BS: Has a career in music lived up to your expectations? 

GR: In some ways yes and in some ways no. I traveled a lot, which was always fun, but music is not the most secure profession.

BS: Where do you usually play around town? 

GR: I play with several groups around RI. I usually play at the Dorrance with Katie and the Italians (Katie Kleyla). I also play with a group called Evening Sky; we play at the Parlor usually. I also play with MSDQ in Newport. I also play with Tish Adams in various locations.

BS: Is there one thing you think aspiring musicians should think about or do when they consider a career in music? 

GR: Be well-rounded and be able to read and write charts and play multiple styles of music. That skill alone has saved me a thousand times.

BS: What concepts (melodic, harmonic, etc) are you currently working on? 

GR: I am always practicing and writing music. I am working on wider intervals, which can be difficult on the guitar. I also work on new chord voicings and comping. I practice with a metronome all the time.

BS: Beyond music, what other activities do you enjoy?

GR: Besides the guitar, I also like to play the guitar, then maybe to relax I will pick up a guitar.

Head to eveningskyband.com for more information on the band, and be sure to go see them at The Pump House on September 12. Stay safe, stay healthy, and keep supporting local jazz!

Ben Shaw is a local composer, performer, and writer. Find him at benjaminshawmusic.com.

Motif’s jazz writer, Ben Shaw — interviewer of musicians, reviewer of albums and guy in the know — also is a jazz performer, and he dropped an album of his own last month that definitely deserves a listen.

The 5-track album was entirely written by Shaw and was influenced a range of jazz styles, from traditional to contemporary. When we asked Shaw about the album and its development, he had this to say:

“I feel constantly compelled to do all of these different types of music — classical, singer/songwriter, hip-hop — and the most difficult time I have with that is trying to find my voice within those styles. In jazz, I’ve always had a voice in my head along with an approach I’ve been going for and I really wanted to put out something that captured the sound I wanted; I want it all to come under a unified voice. I’ve always lacked confidence in my abilities as a jazz musician and for a long time felt that I was hopelessly inadequate as both a player and composer so anything I was doing wasn’t worthy of putting down on record. But as I was turning 30, I started slowly unburdening myself of some of that self-doubt and began to focus more on the joy of the craft and the making of music, rather than the assumptions I had put up as roadblocks. So I hope when people listen to the album that they’ll understand that though I’m still searching and trying to find things, in this moment in time, what you hear is the best representation of what I’m trying to do.”

The self-titled album features local musicians Nick Sanfilippo (piano), Tom Casale (bass), and Max Goldman (drums). It was recorded at Big Nice Studio in Lincoln and engineered by Bradford Krieger. Ben Shaw is available on all digital platforms.