Upcoming: Newport Jazz Festival 2019

Herlin Riley performing at the 2018 Newport Jazz Festival

It's that time of year again! Taking place this weekend August 2 - 4, the Newport Jazz Festival is the place to be. Lots of music and lots of music lovers. Click HERE for more information. See you at the Fort in scenic Newport, RI!

Check out some photos from last year!

Through My Lens: 2018 Newport Jazz Festival - Day 3

George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic 

 Ambrose Akinmusire

Nate Smith

Jane Bunnett & Maqueque 

Jazzmeia Horn

Nicole Mitchell's Dusty Wings

 

 

Newport Jazz Festival: Day 1

Friday, July 31, 2015 -- Newport, RI

Summer's here and that means music...outdoors. My camera and I headed out for another weekend at the scenic Fort Adams State Park.  This time it was to take in the 2015 Newport Jazz Festival presented by Natixis Global Asset Management.  It was a bit humid out, it rained the night before so it wasn't as dusty as the previous week was where I came home coated in a layer of dust. My only hope for the weekend was that I could manage a few decent photos with my bum wrist while enjoying a weekend full of great music.  This is what it looked like.

I started my day at the Quad Stage to catch the Ambrose Akinmusire Quartet. Anyone who knows me, knows I'm not a trumpet fan but, I dig some of his stuff so I hung out there for a bit. 

My next stop was at the Harbor Stage to see what Matana Roberts' Coin Coin was all about. Um, well, while the rest of the audience was into it, I however couldn't get into it at all. Seriously, that was some weird ass shh…stuff and upon deciding I probably needed substances to "get it", I made my exit.

I walked around a bit and then made my way to the Fort Stage to catch some of the Johnathan Blake Quartet before taking a break.

I went back over to the Harbor Stage and caught a bit of Bria Skonberg & The Jazz Compatriots before heading back to the Fort Stage to catch the Gerald Clayton Quintet and then headed towards the food.

Food in hand, I realize I've not been paying attention to the time and heard Lucky Peterson starting up. Oh crap! So, I stashed my food in a safe location, grabbed my camera and ran over to the Quad Stage to grab a few photos. Making my way back to my food, I sat near the Quad and listened to the rest of Lucky's killer set. 

Next up at the Quad was Kneebody followed by the Christian McBride Trio.

The day closed out with Snarky Puppy on the Fort Stage who had the crowd on their feet.  And, it was nice to see some kids right up front enjoying the set like they were at a rock concert, props to them. I know I certainly wouldn't have been hanging front row at a jazz festival at that age.

Check out more photos in the slideshow below or see the photo album HERE.

Newport Jazz Festival: A Recap In Pictures

Newport Jazz Festival: August 6 @ Fort Adams State Park, Newport, RI

This past Saturday, I spent the day at Fort Adams State Park taking in the Newport Jazz Festival. I missed Sunday, I was sick and it was raining. That's some sort of cosmic double negative, right? So, I was a bit disappointed that I didn't get to check out Angelique Kidjo, catch Trombrone Shorty again and based on the recommendation of friends, the sets of Avishai Cohen and Rudresh Mahanthappa & Bunky Green. But, Saturday provided plenty.

There was, I think, something for everyone be it a more traditional jazz fan or a more adventurous sort. I watched as people flocked to sets by Hiromi who played solo, Esperanza Spalding and Trombone Shorty. All three performed the next day as well. Though I missed his set, I heard more than one person rave about Joey DeFrancesco's performance.

Above: New Black Eagle Jazz Band

The New Eagle Jazz Band kicked off the festival with their traditional New Orleans sound.

Above: Mostly Other People Do The Killing
More Photos HERE

Above: Regina Carter's Reverse Thread
More Photos HERE

Above: Ambrose Akinmusire Quintet
More Photos HERE

Above: Eddie Palmieri Latin Jazz Band
More Photos HERE

Above: Hiromi
More Photos HERE

Above: Wynton Marsalis
More Photos HERE

Above: Esperanza Spalding & Friends
More Photos HERE

The was a huge crowd surrounding the Quad Stage when Grammy winning bassist Esperanza Spalding took the stage. I was actually temporarily pinned to my spot in the photo pit when it seemed like every photographer covering the festival magically appeared. I momentarily wondered if there were any people watching the artists performing on the other two stages. She and her band of friends charmed an adoring crowd.

Above: Grace Kelly

Above: Randy Weston's African Rhythms Trio
More Photos HERE

Above: Guitarist Al Di Meola & Pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba