Jazz Festivals in 2024

Posted in EventsTagged Concert, Event, Festival, Festivals

Jazz Festivals in 2024

Here are some Jazz Festivals in 2024 that you might find interesting:

1. 1. Seabreeze Jazz Festival 2024
    - Location: Panama City Beach, FL
    - Dates: April 24-28, 2024
      JazzIZ Magazine has recognized the Seabreeze Jazz Festival in Panama City Beach as one of the “Top 10 Jazz Festivals in the USA”, and it was recently in the running for the “Best Jazz Festival” at the Oasis Smooth Jazz Awards. This event brings together prominent national smooth jazz artists and offers an enjoyable weekend full of sunshine, excellent beaches, and memorable moments on the western side of Panama City Beach. Currently, the festival draws an audience of over 20,000 jazz enthusiasts from the USA, Canada, and Europe who come to experience an unparalleled weekend filled with jazz performances.
      → www.seabreezejazzfestival.com
  2. New Orleans Jazz Festival 2024
    - Location: New Orleans, LA
    - Dates: April 26 – May 5, 2024
      Known as Jazz Fest, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is a cultural extravaganza lasting 10 days. It draws in 400,000 visitors annually, greeted by an array of musicians, culinary artists, and craft makers. The Louisiana Heritage Fair, a significant part of the festival, is renowned for its memorable music played on various stages, authentic Louisiana food served in two extensive areas, and regional as well as global craftspeople exhibiting and selling their creations. The fair takes place at the Fair Grounds Race Course, spread over two weekends. The festival glorifies the native music and culture of Louisiana and New Orleans, presenting a diverse range of musical genres associated with the city and state. These include blues, R&B, gospel, Cajun, zydeco, Afro-Caribbean, folk, Latin, rock, rap, country, bluegrass and more. And naturally, there’s a bounty of both contemporary and traditional jazz to enjoy.
      → www.nojazzfest.com
  3. Brick Lane Jazz Festival 2024
    - Location: London, UK
    - Dates: April 26-28, 2024
      This festival celebrates the diverse and nonconforming array of talent within London’s Jazz Scene, providing an annual chance for festival-goers to plunge into the freshest and most culturally diverse sounds emanating from the city. All festival locations are conveniently situated within a minute’s walk from each other, inviting you to explore new music genres, engage with a varied community, and absorb the history embedded in Brick Lane’s Truman Brewery.
      → www.bricklanejazzfestival.com
  4. JazzFestBrno
  5. - Location: Brno, Czech Republic
    - May 14, this festival spans three months and features artists like Lakecia Benjamin, Gretchen Parlato, Snarky Puppy, and more
      JazzFestBrno, a renowned international jazz festival, was founded in 2002. Over the years, it has evolved into the Czech Republic’s premier jazz event, drawing in more than 10,000 attendees each year. The festival serves as a gauge for the jazz genre’s present condition, highlighting not just the mainstream but also the latest trends. Besides its focus on jazz, its meticulously selected program extends into other genres, providing a plethora of styles ranging from avant-garde to alt-pop.
      → www.jazzfestbrno.cz
  6. Red Bluff Music Festival 2024
    - Location: Montgomery, AL
    - Dates: May 17-19, 2024
      Make sure not to skip this memorable occasion! The esteemed Vintage Hospitality Group is excited to host the second yearly Red Bluff Music, Arts & Food Festival. This much-anticipated event is scheduled for May 18, 2024, at the renowned Montgomery’s Riverwalk Amphitheater.
      → www.redbluffmgm.com
  7. Jacksonville Jazz Festival 2024
    - Location: Jacksonville, Florida
    - Dates: May 23-26, 2024
      The Jacksonville Jazz Festival is making a comeback on Memorial Day Weekend in downtown Jacksonville, Florida from May 23 to 26, 2024! Revisiting its original venue, Metropolitan Park, and introducing a new ambiance at the Daily’s Place Amphitheater, the streets of Jacksonville will resonate with the delightful melodies of esteemed artists during the festival.
      → jacksonvillejazzfest.com
  8. Newport Beach Jazz Festival 2024
    - Location: Newport Beach, CA
    - Dates: May 31 – June 2, 2024
      The Jazz Festival in Newport Beach holds the record for being among the most enduring festivals in Orange County. Our dedication to showcasing celebrated jazz artists, composers, and up-and-coming talents has been unwavering since our inception in 1996. Babyface * Brian Culbertson * Average White Band * A Funk Finale ? Farewell Tour * Norman Brown * Damien Escobar * Avery*Sunshine Jazz Funk Soul * Lindsey Webster * Marion Meadows & Althea Rene * Jarrod Lawson * Erin Stevenson * Lin Rountree * Tom Braxton
      → festivals.hyattconcerts.com
  9. Capital Jazz Festival 2024
    - Location: Columbia, MD
    - Dates: June 7-9, 2024
      Since 1993, the Capital Jazz Fest has been an annual tradition during Black Music Month. It holds the reputation as one of the longest-standing festivals in the DMV area, and a significant event for black music nationwide, boasting over 30 performances across a three-day span. Festival-goers can also enjoy handpicked craft sellers in the Festival Marketplace, indulge in various food options, and participate in engaging discussions with the musicians during breaks.
      → www.capitaljazz.com
  10. Twin Cities Jazz Festival 2024
    - Location: Saint Paul, MN
    - Dates: June 21-22, 2024
      The Twin Cities Jazz Fest is a charitable entity focused on unifying communities through the appreciation of jazz, while also instilling inspiration in the younger generations. Initially a modest one-day affair in downtown Minneapolis 26 years ago, it has since blossomed into one of the largest free public jazz festivals in upper Midwest. The location of this festival spans Mears Park and its surrounding areas in the Lowertown district of downtown Saint Paul. The park hosts two outdoor stages, with another 18 venues across Saint Paul showcasing jazz throughout the weekend. The Jazz Fest is designed to be explored on foot, with most stages and venues easily reachable by walking.
      → www.twincitiesjazzfestival.com
  11. Rochester Jazz Festival 2024
    - Location: Rochester, NY
    - Dates: June 23 – July 1, 2024
      The Rochester International Jazz Festival 2024 is a musical event taking place in Rochester, New York. It features over 1750 artists from 16 nations, delivering a total of 326 concerts. The festival’s Club Pass Series includes 216 performances across 12 diverse venues, showcasing some of the world’s top jazz musicians. Access is granted either through a 3 or 9-day Club Pass or with cash at the door. On the City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage, presented by the Community Foundation, a total of 51 shows will be held. The Wegmans Pavilion on East and Chestnut will host 16 complimentary concerts. The “Jazz Starts at the Library” series offers five free lunchtime concerts at the Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County. Additionally, five free jazz workshops, sponsored by Wegmans, will be conducted by guest artists for music students of all ages. Every evening concludes with jam sessions at the Hyatt Regency Rochester, Astor on Main.
      → www.rochesterjazz.com
  12. Different Sounds Festival 2024
    - Location: Lublin, Poland
    - Dates: June 27-30, 2024
      The Different Sounds Festival 2024, taking place in Lublin, Poland, is a musical event showcasing a diverse range of genres and an eclectic mix of artists. The festival features an array of music styles including world music, rock, jazz, reggae, electronic and even classical music. Two-thirds of the more than 350 concerts are open for free access. Among the performers are Alex Henry Foster, Halina Rice, Sonido Gallo Negro, Yonatan Gat, African Head Charge, Adrian Sherwood, RuinsZu and Lubomyr Melnyk.
      → lublininfo.com/en/events/different-sounds-festival/
  13. Montreal Jazz Festival 2024
    - Location: Montreal, QB
    - Dates: June 27 – July 6, 2024
      The Festival International de Jazz de Montréal is a music lover’s delight, especially for those with a taste for jazz. This festival, taking place at various venues across Montreal, Quebec’s Quartier des Spectacles, stands as a major attraction for all ages. With over 350 concerts scheduled throughout the festival, the majority, almost two-thirds, are free of cost. Many of these concerts are held outdoors, close to the Place des Arts. The festival offers a wide spectrum of jazz music- from traditional and fusion jazz to contemporary interpretations. It serves as a platform for acclaimed artists and up-and-coming talents from the jazz world to showcase their craft.
      → montrealjazzfest.com
  14. Quebec City Summer Festival 2024
    - Location: Quebec City, QC
    - Dates: July 4-14, 2024
      Québec City’s Festival d’été de Québec stands as the premier open-air music festival in Canada. In 2024, it will showcase a star-studded lineup featuring Nickelback, 50 Cent, Jonas Brothers, Post Malone, Zac Brown Band, The Offspring, Mötley Crüe and many others!
      → www.feq.ca
  15. JAZZ Masterclasses & Workshops, July 2024
    Gypsy Jazz Gitarre * Jazz Klavier * Jazz Schlagzeug & Jazz Ensemble * Jazz Gesang * Jazz Improvisation
    Klagenfurt-Viktring, Carinthia, AUSTRIA
    → www.musikforum.at
  16. Love Supreme Festival 2024
    - Location: Lewes, UK
    - Dates: July 5-7, 2024
      Love Supreme, the UK’s lone jazz festival with a camping option, marries a traditional jazz lineup with the energy of the UK’s festival culture. Every year, it features renowned performers and innovative artists expanding jazz’s frontiers, complemented by talents from blues, funk, fusion, and soul genres.
      → lovesupremefestival.com/
  17. Montreux Jazz Festival 2024
    - Location: Montreux, Switzerland
    - Dates: July 5-20, 2024
      he 58th Montreux Jazz Festival is poised to make history, with a stunning lakeside stage and a comeback to the iconic Casino. Today, we reveal the lineup of performers set to etch this edition into memory. Scheduled from July 5th to July 20th, 2024, the program will feature legendary bands, impressive first appearances, anticipated returns, and potential future stars from a wide array of music genres.
      → www.montreuxjazzfestival.com
  18. JAZZOPEN (Germany)
    - Date: July 18-29, 2024
    - Location: Stuttgart, Baden-Wuerttemberg
      The jazzopen Stuttgart 2024 is scheduled for July 18 to July 29, 2024. This translates into eleven days of exhilarating concerts on multiple stages across Stuttgart. Experience profound and delicate Jazz alongside magnificent Pop, Rock, Soul, and Blues. The roster of artists set to perform at the jazzopen 2024 is long and impressive.
      → www.jazzopen.com
  19. 44th Jazzfestival Saalfelden (Austria)
    - Date: August 22-25, 2024
    - Description: The Saalfelden Jazz Festival has been a meeting place for the international jazz scene for over 40 years. It combines breathtaking landscapes with experimental sounds, attracting fans from around the world. During these four days, international artists perform on new and established stages in and around Saalfelden. The festival celebrates openness, freedom, and musical experimentation
  20. Amsterdam Smooth Jazz Festival 2025 (River Cruise Edition)
    - Details: You can find all festival information on their website: Amsterdam Smooth Jazz Festival.
  21. Münster Jazz Festival
    - Location: Münster, Germany
    - Dates: January 3-5, 2025
    - Description: A weekend festival based at the Münster Theatre with two stages.
      → jazzfestival.multimediadesign.net/

These festivals promise an exhilarating journey through the vibrant world of jazz, with events blooming across the globe!
For more details, you can explore the Music Festival Wizard’s Jazz Music Festivals 2024 guide or check out the International Jazz Festivals Organization website.

Enjoy the music!

Jazz – a documentary by Ken Burns

Posted in Jazz HistoryTagged Jazz documentary

Jazz – a documentary by Ken Burns

“Jazz,” a television documentary series from 2001, was helmed by Ken Burns. This Emmy-nominated series, aired on PBS, provided an in-depth chronicle of jazz’s history, focusing on groundbreaking composers, musicians, and its intertwined connection with American history.

Central roles were played by swing virtuosos Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington. The series also shed light on the significant contributions made by Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie to bebop, as well as the impact of Miles Davis, Ornette Coleman, and John Coltrane on free and cool jazz. Spanning from 1917 to 2001, this 10-episode series predominantly focused on music created prior to 1961. Florentine Films produced the series in collaboration with the BBC and WETA-TV, Washington.

To provide an overview, this documentary explored the evolution of jazz music in America, starting from its inception in the early 20th century up till the contemporary era. Keith David lent his voice for narration while also featuring interviews with modern musicians and critics. Trumpeter Wynton Marsalis (who also served as the artistic director and co-producer of “Jazz”) and critics like Gary Giddins shared their insights and perspectives.

Jazz - A Film by Ken Burns — Set of 10 DVDs sold @ Amazon.com (https://amzn.to/4aL4jHQ)

The Jazz DVDs provides a unique feature known as “music information”. This mode displays the name of the track when it plays during the movie. By pressing the Title button, viewers are directed to a separate screen that details the composer of the song, the musicians involved (including all band members, not just the main artist), the year it was recorded, and album and recording company details where relevant (and no, not all credits point to series’ own CDs). Another press of the Title button returns you back to the film. If you choose to turn off the music information mode, the song titles won’t show up, but you can still access song credits using the Title button. Despite each DVD’s scene-selection menu only listing 10 subchapters, every song is individually tracked (50 to 80 tracks per DVD).

The DVD set also comes with bonus material featuring three performances that were not part of the film: a 1933 performance of Louis Armstrong’s “I Cover the Waterfront”, Duke Ellington’s 1942 rendition of “C Jam Blues”, and Miles Davis’s 1959 delivery of “New Rhumba”. Additionally, a 16-minute documentary titled “Making of Jazz” is included that delves into how the film was produced. Ken Burns and producer Lynn Novick (both confessing their lack of musical training) discuss their method of research.

If you buy this DVD-Set @ Amazon clicking on this link: “Jazz – A Film by Ken Burns“, we will get a commission – Thank you, for supporting us!

Jazz Colleges and Degrees

Posted in Jazz EducationTagged Jazz College, Jazz Colleges, Jazz Degrees, School of Music, United States, USA

Jazz Colleges and Degrees in the United States

Berklee College of Music

Master of Music in Global Jazz

The global jazz program, Master of Music, caters to proficient instrumentalists and vocalists who aspire to enhance their performance career. The program offers advanced studies and a variety of performance projects for musicians to develop their artistry. In this one-year, full-time program, students will have the chance to be mentored and trained by some of the leading jazz musicians of today.

Requirements

Individuals applying for the Master of Music program in global jazz at Berklee must have a Bachelor’s degree in Music or a Bachelor’s degree in Arts with a major in Music. A strong academic background and exceptional musical abilities are required. Exceptional musicians with a Bachelor’s degree in other fields may also be considered. Applicants should have a comprehensive understanding of jazz repertoire, have extensive experience playing in ensembles, and possess motivation, creativity, and potential for success in their chosen area of study. The program is looking for exceptional musicians who want to use their talents to make a positive impact in the world. The ideal candidates will have advanced instrumental or vocal skills, a desire to enhance their creativity and artistry by collaborating with top jazz artists, and a strong drive to utilize music as a means for societal improvement.

More Info at: https://college.berklee.edu/graduate/global-jazz

Manhattan School of Music

Jazz Arts

Degrees Offered: Bachelor of Music (BM) – Master of Music (MM) – Jazz Arts Advancement Program (DMA)

The Manhattan School of Music, being among the earliest conservatories in the United States to recognize the significant value of jazz as an artistic expression, has created specialized programs for jazz majors that aim to cultivate highly proficient performers, composers, arrangers, and educators in the field of jazz music. With a focus on structured and intensive conservatory training, as well as access to a wide range of performance and networking prospects in New York City, this program stands out as one of the most comprehensive and valuable opportunities for aspiring jazz musicians.

More Info at: https://www.msmnyc.edu/programs/jazz-arts/

University of North Texas

In 1947, the University of North Texas (UNT) was the pioneer in offering a jazz degree program, making it the first of its kind in the country. The jazz program, which is part of the biggest music school in the nation, continues to be a frontrunner in jazz education, gaining worldwide recognition for its outstanding contributions to both the field of music education and the professional jazz industry.

Jazz Studies Degree, Bachelor of Music (B.M.) – Jazz Studies Master’s, Master of Music (M.M.) – Jazz Performance Doctoral Degree, Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.)
The Jazz Studies program at UNT is highly respected and was the first of its kind in the country. There are numerous opportunities for students to showcase their talent through performances with both on- and off-campus ensembles. This includes the renowned One O’Clock Lab Band, which has received six Grammy Award nominations and has toured various countries such as Europe, Japan, Thailand, and Australia. Additionally, the program sponsors the acclaimed Jazz Singers and offers other jazz ensembles such as eight jazz lab bands, four Jazz Singers groups, the L-5 and Super 400 electric guitar ensembles, the Zebras contemporary music ensemble, the Jazz Repertory Ensemble, the Latin Jazz Ensemble, and the U-Tubes jazz trombone ensemble.

More Info at: https://www.unt.edu

University of Southern California

Egallo25, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Alfred Newman Recital Hall at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music. Credit: USC Thornton School of Music.

Jazz Studies (MM) – Master’s Degree | USC Thornton School of Music
The MM in Jazz Studies is a 30-unit program that spans over two years and emphasizes individualized jazz instruction, composition, improvisation, and ensemble work. Along with traditional music history, students are expected to complete two graduate recitals and a comprehensive review. Admission to Thornton programs is obtained through the USC admission process. Eligible applicants are evaluated by faculty selection committees. The specific admission criteria are regularly updated and can be found on music.usc.edu.

Jazz Studies (DMA) – Doctoral Degree | USC Thornton School of Music
The DMA in Jazz Studies program includes the following components: the core DMA curriculum, coursework in the chosen major, an academic field, and two elective fields. To be eligible for the DMA program, applicants must have completed a master of music degree or a comparable program. Admission to Thornton programs is determined by the USC admission process and applicants are evaluated by faculty selection committees. Detailed requirements for admission are updated yearly and can be found on the USC Thornton School of Music website.

Composition (DMA) – Doctoral Degree | USC Thornton School of Music
The DMA program in Composition has several areas of focus: the core DMA curriculum, specialized coursework in the chosen major, an academic field, and two elective fields. In order to be eligible for the DMA program, applicants must have completed a master’s degree in music or its equivalent. Admission to Thornton programs is granted through the USC admission process, where applicants are evaluated by faculty selection committees. The specific requirements for admission are regularly reviewed and can be found on the USC music website. To successfully complete the program, students must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (equivalent to an A grade) in all graduate music courses. A minimum grade of B is required for courses in the major field, while a grade of C or higher is considered a passing grade for courses in the academic and elective fields.

Jazz Studies Faculty: music.usc.edu/faculty/jazz-studies-faculty

To be continued…

Hello Jazz World!

Posted in Uncategorized

Welcome to Jazz College.

John @ Jazz.College