Newport Jazz Festival: Day 2

Saturday, August 1, 2015 -- Newport, RI

Day two of the Newport Jazz Festival kicked off with a performance by the Navy Band Northeast playing some tunes for the crowd at the gates as they awaited entry.  Those Navy fellas were some funky dudes! I was expecting some jazz or something. Nope, they got their groove on. Go Navy!

My first stop of the day was at the Quad Stage where I caught a little bit of Conrad Herwig's Latin Side of Horace Silver. I than headed to the Fort Stage to take in a bit of Jack DeJohnette's Made in Chicago.

I took my first break of the day and then headed back to the Quad to see Cecile McLorin Salvant with the Aaron Diehl Trio.  I than popped over to the Fort Stage for a bit of the Maria Schneider Orchestra.

Up next was a trip to the Harbor Stage to take in a bit of Wycliffe Gordon & Friends before heading over to hear a bit of Jose James.  

Wow, that's a lot of music and the day wasn't over. I made it around to catch Jon Batiste and Stay Human. Having seen them the previous week at folk fest, I was happy to see they changed things up a bit having some different folks on stage. With the exception of Batiste, drummer Joe Saylor and saxophonist Eddie Barbash everyone else appeared to be different from the previous week.

My next stop was over to the Quad to catch some of Hiromi: The Trio Project before heading to the main stage to Cassandra Wilson who was celebrating Billie Holiday. After that, I took a bit of a break and than headed to the Quad. Joey Alexander who had performed earlier on the Storyville Stage in the museum (yeah, I didn't make it to any of those sets, at all, the entire weekend) and was playing a short encore set.

I ended my day at the Quad Stage where Lisa Fischer and Grand Baton killed it. I sadly missed her version of "Wild Horses" as I had to leave a bit early but everyone raved about it!

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

Newport Folk Festival 2015: Day 3

Sunday, July 26, 2015 -- Newport, RI

The weekend went by fast and I found myself at Fort Adams State Park for the final day of the Newport Folk Festival. I had been shooting with a bum wrist all weekend and was really starting to feel it but the show must go on! From the beginning of the morning, everyones mind was on who would perform during the '65 Revisited set. There were some wild speculations (Dylan himself, Clapton) and jokes (Kanye West) about who it would be. But there was a lot of music to see and hear before we would find out.

I started my day at the Harbor Stage to catch some of Christopher Paul Stelling whom someone on Instagram said I should make a point of seeing. Good recommendation. I didn't stay for his whole set as I wanted to get in as much music as I could. He apparently got engaged during his set which I missed but, congratulations!

I then dashed off to catch some of Ballroom Thieves on the Quad before heading over to the Fort Stage for a bit of the Berklee Gospel Choir. I somehow  neglected to make it over to the Harbor Stage to catch the Jones Family Singers who I wanted to check out. I'm not sure what I was doing but I must have been wondering around with my head in the clouds because there's a big gap of unaccounted for time where I apparently didn't see anything!

Next, I ended up at the Quad Stage where I caught some of Brian Fallon's set. Catherine Popper joined him; I dig her work. I enjoyed what I was able to catch of his set. His mood was infectious…he seemed genuinely happy to be there and that mood carried over to those of us watching him.

My next stop was at the Fort Stage to catch Jon Batiste & Stay Human. I normally see them at Folk's older sister the Newport Jazz Festival, where they would be playing a week later. The folk festival crowd enjoyed the energetic band as much as their jazz counterparts. 

I then headed over to the Quad to catch Nathaniel Rateliff & The Nightsweats. Talk about some high energy grooving! They were a lot of fun and I stuck around for a bit watching them before heading back to the Fort Stage to catch a bit of Lord Huron before taking a break.

After my break, I went over to the Fort Stage to catch First Aid Kit. Johanna had lost her voice but sister Klara held it down well for the both of them. I watched them for a bit before heading over to the Quad to catch Laura Marling.

I made my way to the Fort Stage to catch a set I was looking forward to all weekend, Hozier. I'm pretty sure I sang along more than I took photos during "Angel of Small Death and the Codeine Scene". The crowd was enthusiastic and I think it was the most singing along during a set that I heard from the audience other than the '65 Revisited set that would take place later on that the same stage.  A friend sent me a message, 'get a photo of J Mascis' … um, Hozier is on stage! But, I ran over to Timbuktu, I mean the Harbor Stage, where J Mascis was and ran back to Hozier.

All good things must come to an end. Closing out the Newport Folk Festival for the year, '65 Revisited. In case you didn't know, '65 was being revisited because it was the 50th anniversary of one of music's most iconic moments, Dylan going electric at Newport Folk. No, Dylan didn't show up which my ears probably appreciated, nor did Clapton or the joked about Kanye.  Who did show up? A string of musicians led by David Rawlings and Gillian Welch. There was Willie Watson, Dawes, Al Kooper, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Deer Tick, Blake Mills, Hozier, First Aid Kit, Robyn Hitchcock, even the guitar Dylan played 50 years ago was there for the party. The set ended with a rousing sing-a-long of "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35" with everybody. 

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

Flashback: Newport Jazz Festival 2014

Winter has been taking a leisurely stroll here on the East Coast.  Folks have been counting down to the days until Spring shows up.  To give us some warm thoughts, we're going to flashback to last summer when we spent time roaming around the Newport Jazz Festival.  The reminiscing has gotten us excited for the 2015 Newport Jazz Festival presented by Natixis Global Asset Management; tickets are on-sale now.  **And, by the way, $55 flex tickets are still available until March 1…can't beat that price! You should hurry though. After March 1st, they will be the regular price of $74.  But, while we wait for all of the great music that will take place July 31 - August 2, this is what last year looked like.

Friday, August 1

Fort Adams State Park

Fort Stage

Jon Batiste & Stay Human (more photos HERE)

Miguel Zenon & The "Identities" Big Band (more photos HERE)

Cecile McLorin Salvant (more photos HERE)

Darcy James Argue's Secret Society (more photos HERE)

Newport Jazz Festival Announces Lineup For 2015

Cassandra Wilson

Producer George Wein announced the line up for the 2015 Newport Jazz Festival presented by Natixis Global Asset Management today.  The festival will take place July 31 - August 2 with three full days of music at Fort Adams State Park, an evening show at the International Tennis hall of Fame at the Newport Casino plus a Gala at The Breakers.

The 2015 edition of America’s first annual jazz festival will feature Chris Botti, Cassandra Wilson, Dr. John, Jamie Cullum, Snarky Puppy, Kenny Garrett, Maria Schneider, Arturo Sandoval, Billy Childs, Arturo O’Farrill, Fred Hersch, Cecile McLorin Salvant, Jon Batiste, Kneebody, Hiromi, Michel Camilo, Jon Faddis, James Carter, Christian McBride, Bill Frisell, Mike Stern/Bill Evans Band, Ambrose Akinmusire, Tom Harrell, Pat Martino, Matana Roberts, John Hollenbeck and others. Please visit www.newportjazzfest.org for the complete line-up. 

Tickets go on sale Thursday, January 15, at 10:00 am at www.newportjazzfest.org. 

See you there?

Newport Jazz Festival: Day 3 Through My Lens

Newport Jazz Festival - August 4, 2013 @ Fort Adams State Park, Newport, RI

It was three days of great music in a great location.  As the weekend came to an end, we had to bid adieu to the Newport Jazz Festival presented by Natixis Global Asset Management ... well, at least until next year when the iconic festival will be celebrating 60 years since it's birth!  See you all there?!

Harbor Stage

Jon Batiste & Stay Human

Listen HERE

More photos HERE

Dirty Dozen Brass Band

Listen HERE

More photos HERE

Quad Stage

Donny McCaslin Group

Listen HERE

More photos HERE

Jim Hall with Special Guest Julian Lage

Listen HERE

More photos HERE

Dee Alexander

More photos HERE

Hiromi: The Trio Project

More photos HERE

Fort Stage

University of Rhode Island Jazz Festival Big Band

More photos HERE

Joshua Redman Quartet

Listen HERE

More photos HERE

Chick Corea & The Vigil

More photos HERE

Jon Batiste and Stay Human To Play The Bowery Ballroom on 6/25

  Jon Batiste and Stay Human
Tuesday, June 25
The Bowery Ballroom
6 Delancey St
New York, NY
Doors: 8PM / Show: 9PM
Tickets: $25 advance / $28 dos
18+

Jon Batiste and Stay Human are scheduled to release their debut album in June.  If you're attending the legendary Newport Jazz Festival this year, you'll be able to catch them there as well on Sunday, August 4.  If you haven't got tickets, grab some now.