Brian Bromberg

Photo Credit: No photo credit available

Brian Bromberg

Bromberg started a full-time career as a session musician immediately upon dropping out of high school. Since then, he's performed with a who's-who of jazz (Bill Evans, Lee Ritenour, Dizzy Gillespie, ad infinitum) and then some (Josh Groban, Lalo Schiffren, Robben Ford). So he must have the chops. But even on his own recordings, he hasn't flaunted them to the point of exhaustian like other session guys who finally lead the band. Instead he's opted for pushing the foundational boundaries of fusion. From funk to rock, he puts down the type of grooves that both rocket scientists and the rest of humanity can enjoy.

Personnel: Brian Bromberg (bass, programming)

Upcoming: Berks Jazz Festival March 28-April 6

Bromberg Performing Some Nice Lead Lines on "Bassface"



Video by Brian Bromberg.

Berks Jazz Festival

Photo Credit: Berks Arts Council

Berks Jazz Festival

While Berks's lineup doesn't quite match up with those of the last two featureds-- SFJAZZ and Mellon Jazz in Philly's spring seasons, respectively-- it only has 10 days to show its stuff. Within this span of time however, the festival manages to do pretty well for itself. There's enough variety (funk, blues and hip-hop) to keep casual fans entertained, as well as the right new-and-old mix (Regina Carter and Pat Martino, for example) when it comes to the event's advertised genre. Prices for the festival's various shows range from $0 to $49, depending on performance and seating location.

Headliners: Nancy Wilson, Buddy Guy, Chris Botti, Regina Carter, Rick Braun and Richard Elliot, Pat Martino, Jason Miles and DJ Logic, Euge Grooe and Alex Bugnon

Pat Martino Performing at Berks 2007



Video by DWillygtr.

Los Angeles Latin Jazz Festival 2008 Announced

                                  Photo Credit: Arts Link (Word Press)
This year's Los Angeles Latin Jazz Festival, located at the L.A. Greek Theater, goes down on Saturday May 10th and features Eddie Palmieri plus the Latin Giants of Jazz, which is just a tad confusing-- isn't Eddie Palmieri a "Latin Giant of Jazz"? Anyway, that name, in short, refers to legendary former members of the Tito Puente Orchestra, as elaborated directly below: 

The Los Angeles Latin Jazz Festival will play the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles for an incredible night of music on Saturday, May 10th.

The date has been set and all the artists have been booked for the “Salsa meets Jazz” night, which will open the world famous Greek Theater’s season on May 10, featuring the Los Angeles Latin Jazz Festival 2008. The headliner for this year’s event is Pianist, Composer, arranger, nine (9) time Grammy Winner Eddie Palmieri. Mr. Palmieri will be performing his big band arrangements of his famous original compositions that have made him one of the most beloved Latin Jazz and Classic Salsa artists throughout the world for over fifty (50) years. Palmieri will perform his classic West Coast favorites (for listening and dancing) compositions like Vamonos pal Monte, Azucar pa Ti, Puerto Rico and Pa la Ocha Tambor among others.

The reunion of former members of the Tito Puente Orchestra “The Latin Giants of Jazz” for the first time in Los Angeles since the untimely passing of ‘El Rey” eight years ago is another highlight of this year’s show. Under the leadership of percussionist Johnny ‘Dandy” Rodriguez and musical direction of arranger, percussionist Jose Madera the other 15 plus year veterans of the Tito Puente Orchestra ( Mitch Froman, Lewis Kahn, Reynaldo Jorge, Pete Miranda and John Walsh among others) will perform music of ‘The King”. During the set The Latin Giants of Jazz will be joined by flautist Dave Valentin, timbale player Oreste Vilato and violinist Alfredo De La Fe who will appear as special invited guests.

Los Angeles local favorites The Jazz on the Latin Side All-Stars (who are keeping our big band Latin Music tradition alive) will perform the music that has made them a contender in global Jazz and Latin scene. Jose Rizo’s concept of uniting the best musicians in town to perform “Nuestra Musica” has turned out to be a hit in cities outside of Los Angeles. TJL All-Stars will pay a special salute to Master Congero Francisco Aguabella. Other artists will be confirmed for this special salute to el maestro.

The night will end with a jam session of all mother jam sessions.

Monterey Jazz artist in residence to open season April 3 at Next Generation Festival

The Monterey Jazz Festival's 51st year gets underway next month with a special concert by the festival's 2008 artist in residence as part of its fourth Next Generation Festival featuring top youth jazz bands from around the world. Renowned bassist and composer Christian McBride will give his first performance as part of his official role with the festival, performing with the Christian McBride Situation, a combo with keyboard, saxophone, bass and DJ.

The concert takes place April 3 at the historic Golden State Theater in downtown Monterey CA. Details and ticket information is available at the MJF website. The Next Generation Festival runs April 3-6 at the Monterey Conference Center. The festival includes the annual National High School Jazz Competition, which was described by one-time winner Joshua Redmond as "the Super Bowl of California high school jazz competitions."

5th Annual Portland Jazz Festival Lineup

                                             Photo Credit: Portland Jazz Festival
                                 
This is an excerpt from the press release introducing the program for the Portland (OR) Jazz Festival, running from Feb. 15-24:

A great deal of contemporary mainstream jazz, generally speaking, is risk free. Most jazz festivals in America play it safe, sticking with a successful and predictable stable of artists who rarely take the music beyond its resting place in history.

The fifth annual Portland Jazz Festival, presented by Qwest & The Oregonian A&E, set for February 15-24, dares to go where few jazz festivals in North America have ever been -- moving ever forward. Indeed, any jazz event which opens with free jazz innovator Ornette Coleman and later closes with avant-garde pianist Cecil Taylor, is admittedly ‘out there.' But, along with the likes of Parker, Coltrane, Rollins, Monk, Mingus and Miles, these were the players who kept pushing jazz foward; more afraid of standing still perhaps than spinning off the road out of control.

Yet even with the emphasis on the cutting edge art, the 2008 Portland Jazz Festival remains an diverse experience -- a kaleidoscope of sounds and colors going every which way.

When one adds during this 10-day event the names of Joshua Redman, Bela Fleck & The Flecktones, Kenny Barron, Ron Carter, Maceo Parker, Tord Gustavsen, Nik Bartsch’s Ronin, Jillian Lebeck, Avishai Cohen, Rob Scheps, Glen Moore, Myra Melford, Tim Berne, Joe Lovano, Dave Douglas, Stefon Harris, the Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Bill Charlap, Nancy King, Fred Hersch, The Bad Plus, Portland Jazz Orchestra, Miguel Zenon, Renee Rosnes, Eric Harland, and the Oregon Symphony,
you’ve got the ingredients for a spicy, yet delicious jazz stew that should please the tastes of just about everybody who claims to be a jazz aficianado.

The rest of the release, which elaborates on the festival's lineup as well as jazz education and outreach programs, can be found here.

Tune Up for New Orleans Jazz Fest

Tune up for the festival with our playlist of two songs likely to be played by each major artist at the upcoming New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, which takes place April 21-May 4 at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans. The playlist is organizaed by festival day and covers headline artists playing the first weekend of the festival. Another playlist covering the second weekend will be posted soon.

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Jazz Fest lineup covers every genre

New Orleans Jazz Fest rolled out its massive seven-day lineup, covering every major popular music genre with marquee names, standout first timers and long-time festival favorites.

The festival claims it's "deepest overall mix of rhythm & blues, rock, jazz, country, blues, gospel, world beat, and more in the 39-year history of the event." Looking over the names it is hard to argue.

First time performers include Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel, Tim McGraw, Sheryl Crow, and Keyshia Cole.

Among returning festival favorites, look for The Neville Brothers, Jimmy Buffett, Santana, Widespread Panic, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, and Diana Krall.

Notable collaborations include Robert Plant and Alison Krauss; Elvis Costello and Alain Toussaint; Bobby McFerrin and Chick Corea.

Besides the Nevilles, who are returning to the festival for the first time since Katrina, other New Orleans acts include Dr. John, The Radiators, Beausoleil, Preservation Hall Jazz Band and many more.

Despite the festival's name, it has always been strongest in the R&B category. In addition to names already mentioned, R&B performers include Al Green, Keb' Mo', Dianne Reeves. Delbert McClinton, James Cotton, Henry Butler, Irma Thomas and many more.

More names in rock include The Raconteurs, Cupid, Richard Thompson, Derek Trucks and Michael Franti; in roots, John Prine, Del McCoury, The Sparrow Quartet and Carolina Chocolate Drops; and in jazz, Cassandra Wilson, Terence Blanchard, the Count Basie Orchestra featuring Patti Austin, and Randy Newman (since I don't know where else to include him).

The festival runs seven days, April 25-27 and May 1-4, at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans. Performances take place on 11 stages running from 11 am to 7 pm each day.

A full list of performers by festival day is here at the festival web site. The precise stage schedule will be released later.

San Diego Thanksgiving Dixieland Jazz Festival

This annual Thanksgiving festival has served as the flagship event for the America's Finest Dixieland Jazz Society since 1980, giving birth to monthly concerts, workshops, and an adult jazz camp, among other programs. This year, there are over 30 bands, which won't just be playing traditional jazz, but rockabilly and blues, among other styles. Tickets for this collection of nationwide talent range from $75 for a three-day badge to $85 for a five-day badge.

Headliners: Climax Jazz Band, Grand Dominion Jazz Band, Night Blooming Jazzmen, Lowdown Jazz Band, Buck Creek Jazz Band

The Titanic Jazz Band Performing At Last Year's Festival

Video by tdub1941

Nevilles returning to Jazz Fest

The Neville Brothers will return for their traditional festival closing role at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival for the first time since Hurricane Katrina. The festival will also return to its prior format of presenting seven days of music over two long weekends, April 25-27 and May 1-4, 2008. The two post-Katrina festivals had been cut back to six days.

In an announcement of the 2008 festival highlights, producer Quint Davis said, "The return of Aaron, Art, Charles and Cyril Neville to New Orleans and to Jazz Fest is as powerful a statement as possible about the return of our culture to the city. They're back, which means we're back."

The full artist lineup will be announced in January. Today the festival announced only a few names. In addition to the Neville Brothers, country music star and Louisiana native Tim McGraw and New Orleans soul group Maze featuring Frankie Beverly were named as 2008 performers.

The festival also announced its ticket pricing, including introducing a new category of VIP ticket called a Grand Marshall VIP Pass. Individual day passes are $35 per day if purchased before January 23, $40 after that, and with the gate price to be announced. Admission for the added seventh day of the event, Thursday, May 1, is less—$25 early bird and $30 thereafter.

The festival has been offering a special Big Chief VIP package in recent years. It includes access to raised and covered private viewing areas at the two main stages, semiprivate viewing areas at three other stages and a VIP hospitality lounge with beverage service. This year, Big Chief passes are priced at $750 for the first weekend and $800 for the second weekend, or $50 per day more for each with daily reserved parking.

For VIPs who want to get as close to the stagefront as possible, a new ticket option this year is the Grand Marshall VIP Pass, which allows exclusive access to standing room only areas directly in front of the three main stages. Grand Marshall pricing is $450 for the first weekend and $500 for the second weekend, or $50 per day more with reserved parking.

All tickets went on sale today and can be purchased online at www.nojazzfest.com and Ticketmaster, or at the Jazz Fest ticket office at the Louisiana Superdome.

Video: FP reports from Monterey Jazz

Festival Preview's Dan Ruby reports from the grounds of the Monterey Jazz Festival. After the rain let up Saturday morning, MJF musicians and attendees had clear skies for the rest of the 50th anniversary weekend. Among those featured: Sonny Rollins, Dave Brubeck, Terence Blanchard, Nnenna Freelon and more.