We believe that music, and jazz in particular, can build bridges, mend fences, encourage creativity, and strengthen our society and our democracy by bringing communities together, and we promise to continue to work to that end in service to Boston area jazz musicians, audiences, venues, and media.
The Boston area jazz scene is growing, and we are grateful to all the members of our community for working together to continue to celebrate this important music! In particular, we are pleased that JazzBoston, the Cambridge Jazz Foundation, and the Boston Jazz Foundation have agreed to collaborate on a number of projects. Please note that these three non-profit organizations are independent, with differing areas of focus, but all are working towards the mutual goal of support & advocacy of improvisational jazz, a music that originated in the African American community. You can help by donating to them individually at their respective websites. Thank you!
JazzBoston is excited to introduce our new “Spotlight: Community Reviews” section on our website, for your reviews of live jazz performances in the Boston area, and we invite you to share your voice! Navigate to the “Programs” pull-down menu.
This new space is dedicated to reflections and reviews from YOU, our JazzBoston community. Whether you just caught an intimate club set or a larger-scale performance, we invite you to tell us what moved you.
To get started, send an email to reviews@jazzboston.org, and someone will respond with guidelines and instructions for submitting your review of a Boston-area jazz performance. (Note: this is for reviews by objective listeners & fans who are otherwise unaffiliated with the performer.)
Alex Lemski (1943-2025)
JazzBoston joins the Boston jazz community in mourning the passing of Alex Lemski, the founder of the Creative Music Series, who died in December. A non-musician, Alex was single-mindedly dedicated to presenting challenging & adventurous, mostly improvisational music that lacked adequate performance opportunities. In 1987, prior to his 11-year focus on the Creative Music Series in Boston, he founded and then led Creative Music Works in Denver. There will be a concert celebrating his life and work on March 7th at the Lilypad in Cambridge. https://www.creativemusicseries.com
Jazz Jams continuing First & Third Fridays from 5-7 pm at Phoenix Landing!
JazzBoston’s free jazz jams are continuing at The Phoenix Landing, 512 Mass Ave, Central Square, Cambridge! Thanks to Kevin from Phoenix Landing for making this happen!! Jams are all-ages, free, and open to the public on the 1st & 3rd Fridays from 5-7 pm. Stop by to play or to hang out and listen to the music!
On Friday January 6th, the jam will be led by internationally touring composer, saxophonist, and JazzBoston Board member Noah Preminger. Award-winning Cuban flutist Anabel Gil Diaz Will lead on Friday February 20th,
Join us and thank The Phoenix Landing for hosting us by purchasing food and/or drink!
The jams have provided a much-needed opportunity for intermediate & advanced musicians to collaborate directly with a house band of noted area professionals and educators. This series is partially grant-funded, but it needs additional support. You can make a difference by donating to JazzBoston today – this funding will support stipends for the house band musicians. Donate small or large amounts at https://jazzboston.org/get-involved/donate. Thank you for your free membership, and don’t forget to tell your jazz-loving friends they can join at https://jazzboston.org!
This program is supported in part by grants from the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency, and Cambridge Arts, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
JazzBoston Hot Club Listening Sessions free & online!
Join Bill Goldberg and his special guests for free online jazz listening sessions mostly (but not always) on first & third Wednesdays of the month at 7pm at the Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86215122439?pwd=ZHA5bnpWVFNFVXkxRE01K1I1aWhvZz09 Previous listening sessions can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/@jazzboston.
Coming up:
February 4th, Jazz from South Africa with Jason Weiss (https://www.itinerariesofahummingbird.com/about.html)
February 18th, Saxophonist Eddie Bayard
March 4th, local journalist Carmen Fields, author of Going Back to T-Town, a biography of her father Ernie Fields
March 18th, David W Johnson author of The Life and Music of Booker “Bukka” White
GBH Music Jazz Nights at the Boston Public Library
GBH Jazz Nights at the Boston Public Library, in collaboration with JazzBoston, are continuing. Monthly free concerts return this month with an exceptional performance on Thursday, February 12th, from 5:30-6:30pm featuring Tree Greetings, the acoustic duo of acclaimed bassist & vocalist Devon Gates with guitarist Ria Modak.. Tickets are free, but registration is encouraged. Information at https://www.wgbh.org/events/gbh-jazz-night-with-devon-gates-boston-public-library.
The next concert will feature the cello/mandolin duo of Catherine Bent & Ian Coury on March 12th.
We are grateful to the Goldstein Famly Fund for generous support of this series.
JazzNOW concert on February 4th with saxophonist Godwin Louis
This season’s first JazzNOW concert, presented by GBH Music in collaboration with JazzBoston on February 4th, will feature a group led by the amazing Haitian-born saxophonist Godwin Louis. This concert will be in-person only. Tickets are available at https://www.wgbh.org/events/jazznow-with-godwin-louis!
Special thanks to the Goldstein Family Fund for support of this series!
View previous JazzNOW concerts online at https://www.wgbh.org/music/jazz.
JazzBoston Newsletter Now Accepting Paid Advertising!
JazzBoston has received several inquiries regarding paid advertising in our newsletter, which is sent monthly by email to over 4600 JazzBoston members. We have decided to move forward with paid advertising. Email inquiries to newsletter@jazzboston.org. The guidelines are as follows:
Content: Promotion of any single Boston-area live jazz performance. Determination of acceptable content is solely at the discretion of JazzBoston. (Note that certain jazz events presented by JazzBoston and its partners, as well as Boston-area jazz festivals and other events of general interest are included in the Newsletter without charge at the discretion of JazzBoston.)
Cost: $1/word, with a minimum of $75, and a maximum of 200 words ($200).
Payment: Via check to JazzBoston, c/o Douglas Martin, Esq, 1208 VFW Pkwy #103, Boston, MA 02132, or via Venmo (@JazzBostonInc) or PayPal (treasurer@jazzboston.org)
Deadline: Receipt of materials and payment by 20th of the month preceding the desired placement
Placement: Ads will be placed at the bottom of the JazzBoston Newsletter
Limitations: A maximum of 5 ads will run in each Newsletter. The first 5 ad requests received by the deadline will run each month.
Formatting: Ads will run using the same font and font size as other items in the Newsletter. The JazzBoston Newsletter Editor will format submitted text as needed.
Images: A single optional submitted image can be included with the ad, with sizing and placement to be determined by the JazzBoston Newsletter Editor.
Shop JazzBoston Merch!!
There is now a quick and easy way to buy official JazzBoston hats & t-shirts, and to support JazzBoston at the same time!! Thanks to volunteers Nate Aronow and Cj Kelley, we now have an official online store hosted by the fine folks at Bonfire. Browse and shop at
https://www.bonfire.com/store/shop-jazz-boston!
JazzBoston membership is free, and open to all members of the Boston-area jazz community, including musicians, audiences, venues/presenters, and jazz media!
In an effort to encourage everyone to participate and eliminate any financial barriers, there is no charge to become a JazzBoston member. Whether you are already a subscriber or were a past member, if you’d like to continue your support of, and advocacy for, the Boston area jazz community, we strongly encourage you to sign up again for free JazzBoston membership.
https://mailchi.mp/jazzboston.org/membership-sign-up-form
Donations are still accepted in order to assist with ongoing JazzBoston expenses. You can donate at:
https://jazzboston.org/get-involved/donate/
JazzBoston Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization. Donations to JazzBoston Inc. are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law.
Boston Jazz History Blog:
A short History of the 1369 Jazz Club
Boston jazz historian Richard Vacca’s Boston Jazz Chronicles is an amazing and valuable resource. We encourage jazz musicians and fans to check it out.
Vacca’s beautifully maintained and researched blog includes regular features about noted people & places that helped shape the Boston-area jazz scene. The current entry is about the the much beloved and much missed 1369 Jazz Club, which closed in 1988. You can read about it here!
Music Museum of New England Jazz Features!
The Music Museum of New England has posted several interesting articles about important people and places from the Boston area jazz scene. Take a look at their pieces about Eric Jackson, Serge Chaloff, Herb Pomeroy, Lloyd Trotman, Wally’s Cafe Jazz Club, and the latest entry about The Hi-Hat Club!
Our programs have been funded in part by generous grants from:
