June/July 2008

Jazz Is Everywhere in Boston This Summer, and Lots of It's Free...

...In the Parks
...On the Harbor
...Under the Roof
...And more Outdoors
Members Connection
Write Us, Join Us, Please Pass This On...

Jazz Is Everywhere in Boston This Summer, and Lots of It's Free...

Boston is one great city to be in this summer if you love jazz, with more free events happening over the next few months than many cities offer in a year. These freebies, many of them outdoors, are in addition to the steady beat of the music that can be heard in dozens of clubs and other venues around town throughout the summer.

A number of special series supported by the Downtown Crossing Partnership, Berklee College of Music, the City of Boston, and others beef up an already busy slate of regular jazz performances with no cover charges in spots that include Wally's Jazz Cafe, the Top of the Hub Restaurant, Lucky's Lounge, Remington's, and the Colonial Inn in Concord. Thursday night jazz jam sessions are a staple at Matt Murphy's Pub in Brookline, as are Monday jams at Sally O'Brien's in Somerville and Les Zygomates in Boston. Pianist Rusty Scott (photo left, above) leads the session at Les Zyg. Check the events calendar on the JazzBoston website for details.

...In the Parks

A sampler of outdoor shows in Boston parks includes the Revolutionary Snake Ensemble and ExtraTerrestrial Circus Experiment, July 2 at 6:30 p.m. at Titus Sparrow Park, hosted by the Friends of Titus Sparrow Park; Carolyn Wilkins (photo left), July 9, and the Yuki Ito Quartet, July 16, both at Mothers Rest in the Back Bay Fens at 6:30 p.m. as part of Berklee's "Swingin' in Mothers Rest" series; Valerie Stephens, July 10 at 7 p.m. at Eliot Norton Park; Gregorio Uribe y su Orquesta, July 10 at 7 p.m. at O'Day Park as part of the Tito Puente Latin Music Series presented by the Center for Latino Arts, the City of Boston, and Berklee; and Frank Wilkins, July 31, 7 p.m., at Ramsey Park.

...On the Harbor

The Institute of Contemporary Art's Putnam Investments Plaza is the scene of Berklee's "Harborwalk Sounds" series that takes place every Thursday from 6 to 8:30 p.m. through Sept. 11, and features the Berklee Latin Jazz All-Stars (photo left) on July 10. The Boston Harbor Hotel's "Summer Swing" series from 6 to 10 p.m. on Wednesday nights through Aug. 27 showcases the White Heat Orchestra with special guests. Eula Lawrence appears July 2, John Stevens July 9, and Jody Ebling July 16 in a tribute to Peggy Lee. David Ehle performs Dixieland swing every Sunday through Sept. 21 from noon to 3 p.m. on Spectacle Island in the Boston Harbor Islands. The park ferry from Long Wharf gets you there.

...Under the Roof

Trombonist John Licata offers a free two-day workshop, "Improv and Standard Jazz Arrangement," at the West End Museum in the West End Community Center in Boston July 2 and 9. The "Jazz in July" concert series features 29 free shows in both the afternoon and evening at eight venues, including South Station, Downtown Crossing at Macy's, Borders, Kennedy's Midtown, and Mantra. Among the artists: Marianne Solivan (July 21) and Eric Hofbauer (July 28) at South Station; John Kordalewski, July 16, Downtown Crossing at Macy's; Lance Martin, July 25, Borders; Elan Trotman (photo left), July 10, 17, 24, 31, Ivy; and Matthew Dorko, July 12, 19, 26, Kingston Station. Performing at the Rose Art Museum at Brandeis University, Waltham, on July 13 at 2 p.m. is the Charlie Kohlhase Trio.


...And more Outdoors

Jelena Bracika (photo left) (July 3) and Tantanakuy (July 24) are among the artists featured at Berklee's Kendall Square concert series in Cambridge every Thursday at noon through Oct. 2. On July 30 at 7 p.m., City Hall Plaza will play host to the Harry James Orchestra for a night of big band jazz. Go to the City of Boston's calendar for a full listing of summer events.

Members Connection

Looking for an air-conditioned evening out, or jazz with dinner? JazzBoston members receive discounts at the Regattabar, Scullers, the Real Deal Jazz Club and Cafe, The Beehive, Ryles, The Redline Restaurant, the Vernissage Restaurant's "Jazz Thursdays at Vernissage," and the Isabella Stewart Garner Museum's Thursday evening jazz series, "Jazz at the Gardner." For discounts at all these venues, just show your JazzBoston card at the door, or when calling for reservations, give your name and member number.

Current JazzBoston members please note: check the expiration date on your membership cards and sign up to renew. Click here to renew now.

Write Us, Join Us, Please Pass This On...

Please tell us what you think of this e-newsletter and what kinds of information you'd like to see included in future issues. Email us at newsletter@jazzboston.org. If you'd like to know more about JazzBoston and consider becoming a member, go to www.jazzboston.org. And pass this e-newsletter along to all the jazz fans and music lovers you know!

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