A gala musical fundraiser for Boston's Dimock Center hospital and urban health services program will bring together six established and rising female R&B and jazz performers Saturday, November 8 at te Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel. Presented in the format of a historic jazz-age nightclub program, the charity event highlights the range of styles embraced by younger Afro-American female musicians making their marks in the music industry today.

The six artists are soul singer Lalah Hathaway, carrying on the tradiiton of her late father Donny Hathaway; R&B pop vocalist Amel Larrieux; Broadway performer Julia Nixon, best known for her part in Dreamgirls; jazz drummer Terri Lyne Carrington; breakthrough jazz bassist and singer Esperanza Spalding; and local Aretha Franklin tribute artist Wannetta Jackson.  Read more »

The forecast for Newport on Sunday, August 10, was not altogether promising: scattered thunderstorms, starting in mid-afternoon and continuing into the evening. But the forecast was wrong. The weather was beautiful all day, sunny but not too hot, and not a drop of rain fell until late at night.

It would be foolish to look for any deeper meaning here. But if you want to believe that God is a jazz fan, and that He wanted to make sure this year’s Newport Jazz Festival finished on a positive note, be my guest.

The beauty of the day was not lost on the festival’s headliner, Sonny Rollins, making his first Newport appearance in nobody could remember exactly how many years. Looking out from the Fort Adams State Park stage at the bright sunshine, the puffy clouds, the boats in the harbor and the ecstatic crowd, Sonny announced at one point: “It’s so beautiful out here, ladies and gentlemen, that I don’t know what to do with myself.”

I knew just how he felt.  Read more »