A tip of the hat richly deserved

Eric Jackson

WGBH-FM may not fully appreciate the impact that longtime jazz broadcaster Eric Jackson* has on his listeners - and the Boston community in general - but the jazz community at large does.

This week, Jazz Week has awarded Eric its annual Duke DuBois Humanitarian Award. The award is given to recognize an individual's long-standing commitment to jazz, jazz radio, jazz education and generous service to the jazz community. Jackson certainly is qualified, given his three decades of playing jazz, interviewing countless musicians, hosting live performances and informing his listeners of what’s going on throughout the southern New England jazz scene.

CDs of Note - Short Takes

Taking a closer look at new CDs from Michael Occhipinti, Pat Metheny and Gene Ess...

A thing of beauty, and then some...

The South County Jazz Club's weekly jam sessions each Tuesday evening at Valenti's Allegro Bistro, in Venice FL, continue to pack in the crowds. Tonight's musical treat came deep into the third set. Bassist Dominic Mancini held the spotlight, even silencing most of the distant-table yackers, with his gorgeous intro and solo work on the 1930s jazz standard "Beautiful Love." His extended intro set up rhythm section mates Tommy Goodman on piano and Dane Hassan on drums for subtle, tasty and sparing fills behind him. The bass work - a blend of wood and honey, rich and supple, solid on the beat and inventive with Mancini's touch and vocal-like bass sound - made it resonate with emotion filling the room.

You don't always get what you expect

Danny Sinoff quartet

Tonight's jazz outing in Port Charlotte FL was a fine reminder that the finest moments in jazz often involve something unexpected.
It was jazz trio time, with pianist-singer Danny Sinoff in his weekly Friday night gig at JD's Bistro & Grille. But the trio format only lasted through the first set, as Miami-based percussionist Carlos Salazar then joined the band. Sherrell McCants was on upright bass and Rich Iannuzzi was at the drums.

New Orleans to Newport

Offbeat magazine, which covers Louisiana music and culture, has just published several more of my Newport Jazz Festival images. The focus was on the opening night angle, as the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Dr. John's Lower 911 Band and special guests performed, bringing music from the birthplace of jazz to the birthplace of the jazz festival.

Bovi’s Allmark-Maslov double play

Eugene Maslov

Big band jazz has been the Monday night staple been at Bovi’s Tavern for 43 years – and it is still going strong,  Some locals  jazz cognoscenti consider it the musical highlight of their week. The John Allmark Jazz Orchestra has been at Bovi’s in East Providence RI for the past 13 years. The band took the Monday night reins at Bovi’s from the Duke Belaire Orchestra, which had been there for three decades
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Needless to say, a Bovi’s stop was mandatory on my trip north for last weekend’s Newport Jazz Festival. And one of the treats was hearing pianist Eugene Maslov, a Russian émigré who has been with the band for four years.

More depth on Newport

 Jazz Times has just posted Bill Beuttler's extensive review of last weekend's Newport Jazz Festival, along with 10 of my images. With more than 30 acts performing on four different stages Friday-Sunday, there was a lot more to hear and see. Here for your viewing pleasure are 12 more of my images.

Singer Kurt Elling

Jenny Scheinman and Bill Frisell

Steamy days and music at Newport

More in the coming days on the 2012 edition of the Newport Jazz Festival, which took place over the weekend. As usual, the three overlapping stages provide an opportunity to park yourself for a full set by a favorite or intriguing band or to nibble at the music tapas-style by wandering from stage to stage. The daytime crowds were a bit light but the weather was New Orleans-like with oppressive sun and high humidity.

Keeping the candle burning

Given finite resources and wavering community support, it can be challenging to keep the jazz candle burning in many areas. The ebb and flow can vary from gig to gig, month to month, season to season.

The latest example is on Florida’s east coast, where the Jazz Arts Music Society of Palm Beach has announced that it is suspending its annual concert series for the upcoming 2012-13 season. That after 13 years of presenting more than 250 concerts featuring an array of international, national, regional and local mainstream jazz musicians.