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
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Above: Regina Carter's Reverse Thread
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Above: Ambrose Akinmusire Quintet
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Above: Eddie Palmieri Latin Jazz Band
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Above: Hiromi
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Above: Wynton Marsalis
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Above: Esperanza Spalding & Friends
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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
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Above: Guitarist Al Di Meola & Pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba

Newport Jazz Festival: Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue: August 6 @ Newport Jazz Festival, Fort Adams State Park, Newport, RI

I spent a sunny Saturday by the ocean taking in the sounds of the Newport Jazz Festival on August 6. The photographer side of me was dashing between stages trying not to miss the photo restriction windows of opportunity which were a bit tight. But hey, that's half the fun. Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue were supposed to start at 2:20PM but due to some technical difficulties the previous performer playing that stage had, things were a bit behind. That being the case, I had just enough time to make a mad dash over to catch a bit of Wynton Marsalis on the Fort stage before dashing back without missing the beginning of Shorty's set on the Quad stage.

While waiting in the area carved out for photographers, I looked around and noticed that the audience was swelling and doing so with good reason. The minute Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue kicked off their set, the Newport Jazz Festival officially turned into a party. Their funk-rock horn laden brand of music may not be for everyone but those that packed the Quad Stage area danced up a sweat and they were loud in their show of love for the band. Troy (Trombone Shorty) Andrews is an entertainer with rock star flare. He's not your traditional head down, eyes closed type of performer. He works the stage while working up a sweat.

While they blew the roof off the joint, this is the kind of music I personally prefer to hear in a dark club, packed in so tight you're not sure if the sweat dripping down your back while dancing belongs to you or the person behind you. That being said, it was an ass shakin' fun set. My only regret is that I had to miss their set the following day!

More Photos HERE

Free Downloads From MyNameIsJohnMichael!

A QNYC fave, MyNameIsJohnMichael, are offering a couple of free downloads from their upcoming album. Check out the handy widget below for "Elders" and "Orphan." Grab the goodies and enjoy! Oh, and go see them if they're playing in your general vicinity. Or heck, take a road-trip, they put on a killer show.

Newport Folk Festival Concert Review: The Head and the Heart

The Head and the Heart: July 31 @ Newport Folk Festival, Fort Adams State Park, Newport, RI

The month of July ended by the ocean, in the sun, with two days of great music at the Newport Folk Festival. With thirty-six (if I counted correctly) bands playing over the course of the weekend, spread out over three stages, plus the infectious What Cheer? Brigade roaming the grounds playing impromptu sets, there was a lot to take in. Luckily, I have some connections and landed myself a guest blogger! So today, we turn things over to Addison Braver Walsh for his take on The Head and the Heart.

Oh, and Addison, if you want to do more next year, (hint, hint) you would make me one very happy camper!

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The Head and the Heart
By Addison Braver Walsh

For about five years I’ve been attending the Newport Folk Festival and seeing, and learning about, new fantastic music, from Edward Sharpe, to the Decembrists, to She and Him. However, this year there was a really special performance. About four months ago my dad shared a new album with me, by a group called The Head and the Heart. I heard their self-titled record and fell in love with it. I especially liked the catchy melodies and interesting lyrics that approached ideas so much differently than the music I usually listened to. I was thrilled to learn they would be playing at the Newport Folk Festival for their first ever performance in Rhode Island.

The Head and the Heart, hailing from Seattle, released their first album in 2010. It was an instant sensation, apparently selling close to 30,000 copies. This six-piece band is one that loves to play live; they haven’t turned down a single show all year—giving nearly 200 performances during that time. And watching them, I can see why.

They took the stage with full force, bursting right into their song, “Cats and Dogs.” The crowd jumped to its feet, dancing and singing along with every lyric. Most of the vocals were shared between Jonathan Russell, Josiah Johnson, and Charity Rose Thien—each with their own unique style. For nearly an hour, they kept the energy level turned up high, playing all my favorite songs, from “Ghosts” to “Down in the Valley, as well a couple I hadn’t heard before. Without a doubt, the Head and the Heart’s performance lived up to my expectations. I hope this is only the first of many years they will play at the Newport Folk Festival.

More photos HERE

Newport Folk Festival: Brown Bird

Brown Bird took the Harbor Stage at the Newport Folk Festival this past Sunday to a joyous crowd. They were shown a lot of love as they played their nearly hour long set. The Providence duo ended the set with a rousing version of "Jackson" much to the delight of those in attendance. I'm sure their performance made fans even more excited about their upcoming album, Salt for Salt, which is scheduled for release on October 18.

Brown Bird at the Newport Folk Festival, July 31, 2011

Newport Folk Festival: Wanda Jackson

Wanda Jackson took the stage at the Newport Folk Festival this past Sunday. She delighted the crowd with songs from her recent record along with classics and her familiar rock 'n' roll growl. Jackson, rocked, rolled, charmed and shimmied for an adoring crowd telling stories of Elvis and made me a happy camper when she launched into "Fujiyama Mama," the song that introduced me to her work many years ago when I was but a wee lass.

Wanda Jackson at the Newport Folk Festival, July 31, 2011

The above photo... Jackson telling the person tossing around the beach ball to knock it off by saying whenever there's something being tossed around in the audience, it eventually finds her face. She said she's had black eyes and lost a tooth and while a beach ball wouldn't do all of that, it's distracting and would appreciate them not playing with it during her set. It was possibly the most polite reprimand I've ever heard from a musician onstage.

While there were a lot of younger acts performing over the weekend who were great and lots of fun, it's always a pleasure to have the opportunity to see a veteran performer rocking out and having a good time. Rock on Miss Wanda!

Newport Folk Festival: Mavis Staples

Mavis Staples at the Newport Folk Festival, July 30, 2011

Legendary vocalist Mavis Staples took the Quad stage this past Saturday at this years Newport Folk Festival. Staples, who looked to be having a lot of fun onstage, had the crowd dancing and singing along. She brought The Decemberists' frontman, Colin Meloy out to join her for the second song of the set, "The Weight," before he headed over to the main stage for his own set to close the festival's first day. She and her band performed a rousing version of "I'll Take You There" that turned into a soul clap sing-a-long.

(The above was originally posted on LaNitaAdams.com)

There were a lot of great performances, but, Miss Mavis was the highlight of day 1 for me.

Marina V at Rockwood Music Hall TONIGHT 7/27

New York, songbird Marina V is going to be on the LES TONIGHT! Head on down to Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 1. She goes on at 7PM and it'll cost you nada, that's FREE folks!

Wednesday, July 27
ROCKWOOD MUSIC HALL
196 Allen St, New York 10002
(between Houston & Stanton)
7pm sharp, free, 21 & over

Video: Milagres on BreakThru Radio

Brooklyn based Milagres stopped by the BreakThru Radio studios to perform their song "Glowing Mouth," the title track of their upcoming record which is scheduled for release on September 13. If you haven't had a chance to catch these guys live, you should. And, New York, they'll be in Brooklyn at McCarren Park on August 10 and at Mercury Lounge on September 30. Check out their BreakThru Radio performance below.

"Glowing Mouth" by Milagres - BTR Live Studio [ep41] from BreakThru Radio TV on Vimeo.

Video of the Day: The Cars - "Free"

The Cars have released a video for "Free." The song is off of their latest album Move Like This that came out this past May. It's a live video that was shot this spring during the US tour. Check it out below.

Move Like This, The Cars’ first album of new music in many years, is a vibrant and ingenious collection that expertly extends their already extraordinary canon. Retooling innovative art rock, sleek New Wave, and punchy power pop in their own idiosyncratic image, The Cars’ groundbreaking sonic approach continues to influence artists and airwaves today. Singer/guitarist Ric Ocasek emerged as a master songwriter with his enigmatic integration of evocative, beat-inspired lyricism with radio-friendly hooks and harmonies, fueling a multi-platinum body of work that includes such indisputable masterpieces as 1978’s self-titled debut and 1984’s blockbuster Heartbeat City.

Move Like This reveals The Cars to be as creatively progressive and melodically poptastic as ever. Songs like “Blue Tip” and “Free” are invigorating and imaginatively wrought, with all the trademark elements in place, from Ocasek’s sardonic, man-machine vocalizing and Greg Hawkes’ swirling synths to Elliot Easton’s turbo-charged riffing and David Robinson’s pop-motorik beats. Brimming with confidence and imaginative energy, Move Like This boasts all the vitality and dynamism of a truly great rock ‘n’ roll band operating at the peak of their considerable power.