Newport Jazz Festival Announces Second Wave of Artists

Producer/Founder George Wein and Artistic Director Christian McBride announce the second wave of artists for the 2017 Newport Jazz Festival, which takes place at Fort Adams State Park and the International Tennis Hall of Fame at the Newport Casino August 4 – 6.  Tickets are available at www.newportjazzfest.org. 

 

“We gave you a little taste in the first wave of artists who will appear at the 2017 Newport Jazz Festival: Snarky Puppy, Béla Fleck, Andra Day and some other new faces. Here is a further helping of artists who we will be privileged to present this year,” said Wein.

 

“I can’t say enough about my favorite lady, Maria Schneider, who can rightfully be acknowledged as a genius arranger of original music for her orchestra. She’s appeared at Newport three or four times and will always be welcome,” Wein said. “Another large ensemble will also be featured – that of Christian McBride – which represents our new Artist Director’s love for the traditions of big band swing.”

 

McBride added, “We are going to have a ball with the Big Band and our guests. Trust me, the guests will be extra special.”

 

Wein continued, “There are two wonderful vocalists making their Newport Jazz Festival debuts. Cyrille Aimée reflects the music of the Hot Club of France, accompanying her singing a familiar group of standards in her own unique style. Rhiannon Giddens is something else; she is on a road to the heady atmosphere of stardom. We are presenting her twice: Friday night at the International Tennis Hall of Fame on a bill with Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, and on Saturday afternoon on the Fort Stage. I am so excited about Ms. Giddens’ appearance that I will sit through both of her performances with eager anticipation.”

 

McBride chimed in about Aimée, “Cyrille is one of the most fascinating and gifted musicians that I have heard in a long time. From the first time I heard her, I became one of her biggest fans and it will be a joy to have to her in Newport.” 

 

Both Wein and McBride have a lot to say about Maceo Parker. “This veteran will bring memories of the indomitable funk of James Brown. Maceo always kicks hard and creates an exciting audience response,” said Wein.

 

“Maceo is one of my 10 biggest musical heroes ever,” said McBride. “Much of what I play and improvise, certainly the way I phrase, comes from Maceo. He is the closest person I can think of who has been able to capture the same energy, soul and spirit of James Brown – and he does all that through his horn.”

 

For traditional jazz fans, there’s Evan Christopher who, Wein says, “takes his place in the lineage of New Orleans clarinetists.”

 

The Rodriguez Brothers, Robert and Michael, have been around for quite a while and Wein says “their jazz with Latin roots is as good as it gets.”

 

Special projects and unique groupings have always been a part of Newport’s history, and Wein puts his stamp on one of this year’s finest, “We are proud to present Henry Threadgill and his unique Zooid project, which will be his Newport Jazz debut as a bandleader.” While the Festival producer could say plenty about the saxophonist/flautist, Wein gets in the spirit of social media and bids fans to “check out our Facebook page for more about our relationship with Henry.”

 

It’s no secret that George Wein loves piano music and pianists. “A musician who has become a major spokesperson for jazz, and one who has turned the history of the music into the future is the brilliant Jason Moran, whose Fats Waller Project makes you feel that the inimitable Fats’ music of the 1930s is alive and well today and tomorrow.”

 

Showcasing more than 50 individual jazz ensembles, Newport Jazz Festival will again present music on four stages, including Storyville, the intimate venue located in the former Museum of Yachting.

 

The partial Newport Jazz Festival lineup, including the first and second waves, features:

 

Béla Fleck & The Flecktones

 Maceo Parker

Cécile McLorin Salvant

Vijay Iyer & Wadada Leo Smith

One for All: Jim Rotondi, Steve Davis, Eric Alexander,

David Hazeltine, John Webber & Joe Farnsworth

Evan Christopher Clarinet Road & New Orleans Brass

Rodriguez Brothers

 

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue

Rhiannon Giddens

 

Snarky Puppy

 Rhiannon Giddens

Christian McBride Big Band with Special Guests

Henry Threadgill Zooid

Vijay Iyer Sextet

Antonio Sanchez & Migration

Dominick Farinacci

 

Andra Day

Maria Schneider Orchestra

Hudson: Jack DeJohnette, John Scofield, John Medeski & Larry Grenadier

Jason Moran Fats Waller Project

Sean Jones Quintet with Brian Hogans, Orrin Evans, Luques Curtis

& Obed Calvaire

Cyrille Aimée