“The first college of jazz celebrates the birthplace of jazz!” crows Berklee College of Music announcing the start this week of the 10th annual Berklee BeanTown Jazz Festival paying tribute to the music and culture of New Orleans five years after hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Berklee, the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world, specializes in jazz of all types, so who better to select performers for this extravaganza? From September 15 to 25, world-renowned superstars and popular local acts will perform free and ticketed concerts throughout the city.
The 10-day event culminates on Saturday, September 25, in a free outdoor festival on three stages in that stretches over six blocks of Columbus Avenue in the South End. Last year’s event drew over 80,000, a new festival record.
“Jazz is one of America’s greatest contributions to world culture. Without the music of New Orleans, there is no Berklee,” declares festival artistic director Terri Lyne Carrington. “So we’re celebrating our 10th anniversary by giving Beantown a taste of the Big Easy, with New Orleans music on each stage of the outdoor festival, a traditional jazz band marching up and down Columbus Avenue, delicious Southern cuisine, and activities for the whole family.”
Carrington has assembled a diverse and exciting lineup in her second year as artistic director. Among the highlights of ticketed events are the John Coltrane Memorial Concert (9/18, Northeastern University); Robert Glasper (9/23, Regattabar); Danilo Perez (9/23–9/24, Scullers); Paula Cole (9/24, Berklee Performance Center); and Terence Blanchard (9/25, Scullers).
Among the free events is Celebrate Roxbury Day (Saturday, 9/18) with outdoor and indoor activities on the grounds of the Dillaway Thomas House of the Roxbury Heritage State Park. The afternoon features jazz groups the Makanda Jazz Project, Gilbert White, and Jazz 208, as well as other local talent.
The grand finale is the free outdoor festival on Saturday, September 25, from noon to 6:00 p.m. on three stages on Columbus Avenue, starting at Massachusetts Avenue. Top acts include Al Kooper and the Funky Faculty, the Jonathan Batiste Trio, Greg Osby and Mark Turner, the Wild Magnolias, Nona Hendryx, the Julian Lage Trio, the Boogaloo Swamis, Rhiannon featuring Abraham Laboriel and Alex Acuña, Grace Kelly, Victor Mendoza, and others.
What’s more, The Target Family Park returns to transform the Carter Playground on Columbus Avenue into a hub of activity for kids of all ages, with inflatables, rides, face painting, balloons, and an instrument petting zoo staffed with Berklee professionals. More than 80 vendor booths will offer arts, crafts, accessories, and great food representing a variety of countries.
For more information, call 617 747-2261 or visit beantownjazz.org, which has clips of some performers.
