Note: In 2015, Lifestyle Editor Ken Abrams prepared this piece for the Newport Jazz Festival blog. We’re re-posting an edited version today in honor of the late George Wein. Daily headlines remind us that the nation is still struggling with its legacy of slavery, prejudice, and discrimination. The Newport Jazz Festival (along with its sister […]
Newport Jazz Festival
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Newport Folk and Jazz Festivals announce 2022 dates
Time to plan ahead. Newport Folk and Jazz Festival organizers today announced the dates for the 2022 events. The Folk Festival will be held at Fort Adams State Park July 22-24, 2022, and the Jazz Festival is scheduled for July 29-31, 2022. With the expectation of full capacity events next summer, it’s notable the Folk […]
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Newport Jazz 2021 – Day 3 Recap and Photos (August 1)
Newport Jazz wrapped up a sold-out weekend on Sunday. The day included performances from Brandee Younger, Charles Lloyd, Robert Glasper, Kenny Barron, Andra Day, and several groups. Before introducing Brandee Younger and her beautiful gold harp to kick things off on the Lawn Stage, Artistic Director Christian McBride said, “The beautiful thing about this festival […]
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Newport Jazz 2021 – Day 2 Recap and Photos (July 31)
Day 2 of the 2021 Newport Jazz Festival was as close to perfect as live music can be. A Covid-required half-capacity gathering saw one of the better days the Festival has produced in several years – the weather was exceptional and good vibes were everywhere. Musical highlights included opener Danielle Ponder who shared a strong […]
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What’sUpNewp Interview: Christian McBride, Artistic Director of Newport Jazz
Newport Jazz 2021 has certainly been a major success. With leading artists like Andra Day, Trombone Shorty, and Mavis Staples, sold-out shows, and perfect weather, 2021 will be a Festival to remember. Still, the jazz genre often struggles commercially as a popular art form. So what’s the best way to strengthen jazz music and build […]
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Newport Jazz 2021 – Day 1 Recap and Photos (July 30)
It was a picture-perfect summer day Friday at Fort Adams State Park, where “Newport Jazz Presents,” the 2021 version of the Newport Jazz Festival, kicked off in style. The Festival was downsized this year due to the pandemic – approximately half the usual number of tickets were sold and music was heard on only two […]
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“Six Picks” Music – 2021 Newport Jazz Edition
Due to the pandemic, this year’s model of the Newport Jazz Festival will be a bit smaller than usual. The iconic Festival will feature two main stages and a reduced capacity crowd of around 5000. Still, organizers have managed to pull together a stellar lineup of well know favorites and emerging artists. Meanwhile, we’ve got […]
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Newport Festivals: Bike Newport ready to assist riders at Fort Adams beginning Friday, July 23
WhatsUpNewp’s Folk and Jazz Festival coverage is brought to you by the Midtown Oyster Bar. If you’ve ever tried to exit the Newport Folk or Jazz Festival by car at the end of a day of music, you know patience is a virtue, and cyclists come first. Although it’s not quite the Tour de France peloton, […]
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Newport Folk tickets will go on sale on May 18; events will be capped at 50% capacity
Newport Festivals Foundation, the 501(c)(3) profit organization that produces the Newport Folk Festival and Newport Jazz Festival, today announced plans for Newport Folk Presents Folk On 2021. Scheduled as two 3-day events to take place July 23 – 25 and July 26- 28, Newport Folk may not look the same, but it will feel the […]
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2021 dates, details announced for Newport Folk and Newport Jazz
It’s getting even more official. This summer, Newport Folk and Newport Jazz will return to Fort Adams State Park. Newport Festivals Foundation, producers of the the Newport Folk Festival and Newport Jazz Festival announced some dates and details on Thursday. “Though Newport Folk and Newport Jazz won’t look exactly the same, we are thrilled to […]
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Newport Folk Festival, Newport Jazz Festival planning to return this summer
Attention Newport Folk Festival and Newport Jazz Festival fans, there’s hope, positive news, and/or reasons to be excited. Governor Dan McKee today announced during his weekly COVID-19 press briefing that he is working closely with organizers of the Newport Folk Festival and Newport Jazz Festival on a plan that allows them to host safe events […]
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Newport Jazz Festival to Present Highsnobiety Jazz TV Oct. 26-28
Highsnobiety and Newport Jazz Festival are pleased to announce Highsnobiety Jazz TV – a three-day content experience that will turn Highsnobiety’s digital platform into a public access television station dedicated to the art form of Jazz. Launching TODAY, October 26, and running through October 28, the program will feature a line-up of performances, DJ sets, […]
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What’s Up Interview: Catching up with Newport Jazz Festival Fave Grace Kelly
No doubt, it’s been a rough summer for music fans around Newport. Among other things, we’ve missed out on the artistry and excitement of the many festivals that take place on the island each year. No one has missed it more, however; than the artists who play the Festivals. Grace Kelly, a fan favorite at […]
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Watch “Jazz on a Summer’s Day” to Benefit the Newport Festivals Foundation
Filmed at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival and directed by world-renowned photographer Bert Stern, Jazz on a Summer’s Day features intimate performances by an all-star line-up of musical legends including Louis Armstrong, Thelonious Monk, Gerry Mulligan, Anita O’Day, Chuck Berry, Dinah Washington, and closes with a beautiful rendition of “The Lord’s Prayer” by Mahalia Jackson […]
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Newport Jazz Festival Announces Newport Jazz Revival 2020
George Wein, the 94 year old creator and founder of Newport Jazz Festival – one of the oldest and longest running music festivals in the world has announced a full slate of programming for what would have been 2020’s Newport Jazz Festival weekend. “I’d hoped to meet my many friends and fans at the Fort […]
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2020 Newport Folk Festival, Newport Jazz Festival cancelled amid COVID-19 concerns
Two more events have fallen victim to COVID-19 – the 2020 Newport Folk Festival and 2020 Newport Jazz Festival. Governor Raimondo made the news official during her daily press briefing this afternoon when she announced that she doesn’t see it possible in any way to hold large events this summer. The Governor said in her […]
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Ten “Don’t Miss” Acts at the Newport Jazz Festival
The historic Newport Jazz Festival starts tomorrow and runs through the weekend of August 2-4. Over 60 acts ranging from fusion to hip-hop will be performing. We’ve made some picks of those artists you won’t want to miss. Of course, there’s so much good music at the Festival, you can’t go wrong on any stage. […]
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Young Bands Make the Scene at Newport Jazz Festival
“Wow… Spectacular… As good as any band at the Festival.” Those were just some of the comments overheard at the Newport Jazz Festival all weekend following sets by high school and college students from across New England and around the world. In addition to the URI Jazz Band led by Joe Parillo, two other acts, […]
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PHOTOS: Sunday at the 2018 Newport Jazz Festival
(Pictured: Jazzmeia Horn, Photo: Ken Abrams) With Saturday’s rain seeming like an ancient memory (except for the occasional mud patch), Newport Jazz 2018 concluded on an upbeat note. The performances ranged from traditional jazz to modern funk, with pretty much everything in between. Day 3 highlights included a beautiful set from singer Jazzmeia Horn, the […]
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Photos: Saturday at the 2018 Newport Jazz Festival
(Pictured: Grace Kelly, Photo: Ken Abrams) A near-biblical deluge didn’t dampen the spirits of those in attendance at the Newport Jazz Festival on Saturday. From headliners Jose James, Andra Day and Grace Kelly to newcomers like the URI Jazz Orchestra, good vibes rules the day. Check out a few or our favorite pictures below.
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Photos: Friday at the Newport Jazz Festival
The vibes were smooth as the Newport Jazz Festival kicked off another year Friday at Fort Adams. The youth movement in Jazz continued to dominate with stellar performances from artists including Sonnymoom, BADBADNOTGOOD and Cory Henry and the Funk Apostles. Veteran artists showed off their chops as well, with great sets from the Charles Lloyd […]
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Newport Folk and Jazz Festivals support local music programs
The Newport Festivals Foundation continues to expand its educational mission in Rhode Island and neighboring states. The Foundation, established in 2011, oversees charitable programs for the Folk and Jazz Festivals. We spoke with Deborah Ross, Educational Director for the Foundation, who oversees the educational programming. “I found out at the Folk Festival that a lot […]
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Six Picks: 2018 Newport Jazz Festival Edition
(Above: Andra Day) The fabled Newport Jazz Festival returns this weekend. The original outdoor popular music festival has a spectacular line up as always. Old labels do not apply – like the Folk Festival, there is an incredible variety of music. Here are six favorites to start you off… Charles Lloyd All Weekend The heralded […]
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WhatsUp Interview: Jose James Brings the Music of Bill Withers to Newport Jazz
Bill Withers is hot. Everybody seems to be piling well-deserved praise onto the 80-year-old man and his music. A year after the Newport Folk Festival presented a special set dedicated to the legend who wrote “Ain’t No Sunshine,” the Jazz Festival is presenting a set entitled “Lean On Me: José James Celebrates Bill Withers.” It’s […]
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Newport Jazz Festival Announces 2018 Artist-in-Residence Charles Lloyd
WIth the first wave of artist announcements expected next week, an e-mail earlier today from Newport Jazz Festival Producer George Wein introduced this year’s Artist-in-Residence, Charles Lloyd. The saxophonist will appear all three days at the festival, with a different act each day. Read Wein’s e-mail below for further details. “It was late one summer […]