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newport jazz festival

10 JAZZ AND R&B FESTIVALS AFTER COVID !

by BELINDA March 31, 2021

written by BELINDA

The Pandemic hurt the music festival industry in such a way that it could take years to recoup. Many employees had become disengaged from work during Covid. From stage crew, audio engineers, box office workers; of course musicians and singers were all affected by the virus that continues to plague the world today.

There is light at the end of the tunnel, public places, businesses, and tourist attractions are slowly opening up to “A New Normal.” The things we took for granted will now be under a new regime. There’s a price to be had and when music festivals eventually return. Social-distancing restrictions will continue to be a movement in our lives and be held for a smaller congregation of concert-goers with limited reach.

When all is said and done it may take some time to get the “new normal going” but the question is, what will be different when live concerts return? We just have to take a wait-and-see approach.

BackBeat R&B has put together a list of 10 concerts for 2021, that is gaining the momentum to reopen. Music lovers, please keep your eyes and ears open for continuous updates.

1. Santana and EWF on Tour-https://tour.santana.com/

2. Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival- https://www.rehobothjazz.com/

3. Newport Jazz Festival-https://www.newportjazz.org/

4. Exit Zero Jazz Festival- https://www.exitzerojazzfestival.com/

5. Seabreeze Jazz Festival- https://www.seabreezejazzfestival.com/

6. Jazz In Miami Garden https://www.jazzinthegardens.com/

7. Mable House Amphitheatre-https://mablehouse.org/

8. Columbia R&B Festival- https://www.coloniallifearena.com/events/detail/rb-spring-fest

9. San Diego Jazz Festival- http://www.sandiegosmoothjazzfestival.com/

10. Long Beach Jazz Festival-http://ongbeachjazzfestival.com

March 31, 2021 0 comment

FESTIVALS

65TH ANNIVERSARY HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2019 NEWPORT JAZZ FESTIVAl!

by BELINDA August 15, 2019

written by BELINDA

If you love Jazz, the Newport Jazz Festival is the music festival you want to be at every summer. This is one of the best music festivals throughout the East Coast and the weekend of August 2-4 they celebrated their 65th Anniversary. The energy level is high and the line up of artists are phenomenal. The festival held every summer at the Ft. Adams State Park features approximately 20 talented musicians daily (legendary and new )performing on four different stages (Fort Stage, Quad, Storyville and Harbor). This years festival was not only remarkable, but it was also outstanding. The weather was impeccable and beautiful.

Fort stage @ Newport Jazz Festival (Photography By L. Barnes)

The panoramic views of Newport Harbor make coming to the Jazz Festival a great vacation getaway for the weekend. There are plenty of food vendors to please that palet, crafts, two beer, and wine gardens as well as a number of exhibitions and plenty of great music. The Newport Jazz Festival is sponsored by Natixis Investment Managers and from 1984-2008 was known as the JVC Jazz Festival.

Newport Harbor (Photography by L. Barnes)

This years lineup and headliners included the legendary Herbie Hancock, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Dianne Reeves, Kamasi Washington, and a host of many other great and emerging artists like Tank and the Bangas, P.J. Morton and Cecile Mclorin Salvant.

Over the years as Jazz found it’s home in Newport, the festival was billed as the “First Annual American Jazz Festival”. The appreciation for Jazz was not as common within the well-rooted communities and it brought a much younger fan base to the Newport area which increased it’s popularity and became a complete success. As the legendary Wynton Marsalis said, “Jazz music is the power of now.”

Fort Adams State Park Festival Grounds and Harbor View ( Photography by L. Barnes)

Blending Soul & Jazz with lots of energy, veteran singer Dianne Reeves is a major regular at most Jazz Festivals. Here she is performing at the recent Jazz Festival in Newport R.I. An American Jazz singer that blends her skillful musical sound so well that many compare her to the likes of Regina Belle, Patti Austin, and Anita Baker. (Photography by L. Barnes)

“Common” doing one of the things he does best on the Ft. Stage @ the 2019 Newport Jazz Festival headlining and closing the show. He has maintained a following since the early ’90s. Launching his career to new heights, this socially and politically conscious actor, writer, rapper and philanthropist made Kanye West and Chance the Rapper possible. ( Photography by L. Barnes)

“Ghost Note” performing on the Harbor Stage @ the 2019 Newport Jazz Festival! Who doesn’t love “Ghost Note”. They are a high energy band that includes “Snarky” Puppy’s” percussion duo Robert “Sput “Searight and Nate Werth. You couldn’t miss bassist MonoNeon (The name is all over his clothes ). This right-handed bassist plays left-handed upside down on a right-handed bass guitar, which allows him to use heavy string bending on the upper strings (Now that’s talent).

Ghost-Note dominates an “Explosion” of great sound and are comprised of veteran musicians who have performed with greats like Herbie Hancock, Prince, Marcus Miller, and many other legendary artists. After seeing them perform for the first time, they will leave you with a feel-good charge of contagious energy. ( Photography by L.Barnes)

Jazz Saxophonist Kamasi Washington fuses the gap with jazz when he gained his fame with the hip-hop generation by playing his saxophone on rapper, songwriter and record producer “Kendrick Lamar’s” “To Pimp A Butterfly” back in 2015. Here he is performing at the 2019 Newport Jazz Festival. ( Photography by L. Barnes)

“Buika “captivating her audience @ the 2019 Newport Jazz Festival Fort Stage. Buika is no stranger to the Jazz scene. She has been gracing the stage since 2000 in many countries of the world. Born in Spain and currently residing in Florida, her musical style is one of many genres which includes, Jazz, Copla, Soul, and Flamenco. The road this Spanish singer is on has led her to be nominated in 2008 for a Latin Grammy award for Album of the year and in 2014 for Best Latin Jazz Album at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards. Buika is a must-see vocalist who creates an amazing musical experience for her audience. (Photography by L. Barnes) The legendary Herbie Hancock’s is no stranger to Music Festivals. His performance at the 2019 Newport Jazz festival was amazing and astonishing especially since he performed in a trio with outstanding acoustic bassist Christian McBride and drummer Vinnie Colaiuta. At 79, Hancock is still performing strong and continues passing on his musical knowledge to the next generation. ( Photography by L Barnes)

Dee Dee Bridgewater is a Jazz Artists who wears many hats. The Singer, Actress, Good-Will Ambassador, Producer, and Radio host; created a memorable moment when she took the audience back to the Civil Rights era with reference to the “Little Rock Nine” and taking the audience members back in time to the Staple Singers 1966 song “Why”( Am I Treated So Bad) Here she is performing on the Fort Stage @ the 2019 Newport Jazz Festival sponsored by Natixis Investment Managers. (Photography by L. Barnes)

Tank and the Bangas, this Hip-Hop, Rock, Soul and Spoken Word group met at a New Orleans open Mic show called Liberation. They have been gracing the stage since 2011, this group has become a phenomenon due to their ability to blend Hip-Hop, Jazz, Funk, Rock, and Soul all in one. Their performance at the 2019 Newport Jazz Festival was incredible, bringing the audience members to their feet. (Photography by L.Barnes)

PJ Morton is a versatile and highly accomplished young jazz performer. His performance in the Quad at the 2019 Newport Jazz Festival was simply astounding. He has performed with “Maroon 5 since 2012 and continues to be an emerging Artists and work with such greats as Jon Batiste. He also won Grammy Awards for his songwriting and production on India Arie’s “Interested” and won a Dove and Stellar Award in 2008. PJ Morton is on his way to bigger and better things his album “Paul ” was just released August 9, 2019, and he has a new record label. (Photography by L.Barnes)

Belinda Barnes BackBeat R&B

August 15, 2019 0 comment

Who's Touring

ANAT COHEN JAZZ TOUR DATES CHECK IT OUT!

by BELINDA July 8, 2018

written by BELINDA

When I saw this talented Artist at the Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival in Saratoga, NY Omg, was I impressed. I became an instant fan! A friend of mine had been bragging about how great she was. So, if you’ve never seen Ms. Anat Cohen perform, please check out her tour dates. I will have the pleasure of seeing her perform again in Newport R.I at the Newport Jazz Festival the weekend of August 3rd-August 5th.
ANAT COHEN TENTET PERFORMING@SARATOGA JAZZ FESTIVAL-PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL RHEUBOTTOM!

Here is a list of her Tour Dates for 2018-19 CLICK ON THE LINK!

https://www.anatcohen.com/schedule/

Photography by Michael Rheubottom!

July 8, 2018 0 comment

FESTIVALS

“NEWPORT JAZZ FESTIVAL” 63 YEARS YOUNG AND STILL CAPTIVATING JAZZ LOVERS

by BELINDA September 16, 2017

written by BELINDA

The Newport Jazz Festival 2017 in its 63rd year, packed crowds from all over the country who had come to see the best of the best in Jazz. On Saturday, August 5, founder George Wein introduced Christian Mcbride and his Big Band. When McBride’s Band finished their performance of “The Shade Of The Cedar Tree”, the Artistic Director (as of 2016) felt obliged to speak about how impartial he is to Jazz. “Sometimes we get a little too into this gluten-free lifestyle”, which meant he was talking about the Blues. He also gave a touching tribute to the late great Geri Allen. The Jazz pianist and composer passed away on June 27, 2017.

He talked about how she will always live on through her music. He continued to pay tribute to Ms. Allen with Christian Sands, Vijay Iyer, and Jason Moran. He also introduced a George Duke tune called “The Black Messiah”; that musical piece really set the tone on Saturday for the Festival’s audience.

CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE & THE BIG BAND

The Quad Stage

As I walk over to the Quad Stage, I could hear musician, composer and pianist Vijay Iyer, performing with whom I call his “trendy Jazz group”. The group consisted of Saxophonist Steve Lehman and drummer, Tyshawn Sorey. They were lighting up the Quad Stage with a little mix of Funk, Jazz and flowing with the groove chords of their instruments, this made the audience get up and start shaking their tail feathers. I’ve been attending this dynamic festival for five years and never seen anything like it. What a great festival!

As we walked around the Quad, the music of Dizzy, Mongo, and Monk caught my attention! More interestingly enough was knowing there was some history behind musician and pianist Danilo Perez who had been a member of Dizzy Gillespie’s band until 1992. He led the all-star band in a tribute to all three legendary musicians. The climax of this performance was when saxophonist Chris Potter and Danilo Perez performed a duo rendition of ” Off Minor” by Monk. It was timeless.

JAZZ VIBRAPHONIST WARREN WOLF

RHIANNON GIDDENS VIOLINIST AND BANJO

Back to the Fort Stage, where the beautiful talented Rhiannon Giddens, as the New York Times, once called her “The Concert’s Real Head Turner” was performing. Her music is mesmerizing, dynamic, spellbinding, and hypnotic. Strong words for a young woman who studied Opera at the Oberlin Conservatory. Ms. Giddens is a multi-talented musician. She plays the violin, banjo, and fiddle, but her vocals are simply amazing. It draws you like a magnet and as I heard one lady say, “I’m an instant Fan”

She rocked a rendition of Aretha Franklin’s song “Do Right Woman Do Right” to lighting up the audience with her awesome version of “WaterBoy”. Rhiannon busted out tunes such as “Sugar”, “Love” and “North Star”. ( I must mention, those three are my favorite Rhiannon Giddens songs) Once the Festival ended, I think most people would agree, her music is here to stay and she will be around for a long time entertaining her fans.

THE MANY FACES OF RHIANNON GIDDENS

RHIANNON GIDDENS & DIRK POWELL DOING WHAT THEY DO BEST!

“The Roots” gave an undeniable earth-shaking performance at the Newport Jazz Festival as presented by Natixis Global Asset Management. They closed out the Festival on Sunday, August 6th, with Herbie Hancock’s rendition of “Actual Proof” to Kool and The Gang’s “Jungle Boogie”.

Even though “The Roots” are not what most people would consider a “Jazz Band,” they certainly brought down the house on Sunday. People were singing, dancing and very energetic. The audience was so captivated by their music which consists of a small mixture of Jazz, Funk, Hip-Hop, Rap, and R&B. As an avid Jazz fan, I ‘ve never seen this type of response which brought so many good people together.

“THE ROOTS” JAMMING IT UP! “QUESTLOVE” ON DRUMS AND “BLACK THOUGHT” PERFORMING AND DOING WHAT HE DOES BEST.

THE FORT ADAMS STATE PARK IN NEWPORT RI

FT ADAMS STATE PARK, HOME OF THE NEWPORT JAZZ FESTIVAL!

A GREAT DAY TO CHILL OUT AND LISTEN TO FABULOUS MUSIC.

The line-up of outstanding performers at this year’s Jazz Festival will be totally unforgettable. Other great artist included “Snarky Puppy”, Branford Marsalis, Jason Palmer,and with first class musical entertainment on four live stages, dozens of vendors and exhibitors, it’s well worth it to make a terrific weekend out of The Newport Jazz Festival .

September 16, 2017 0 comment