The artist lineup for the 50th Newport Jazz Festival gives us lots of reasons to head to Rhode Island this August. The festival, which runs August 11-15, boasts a that most jazz fest producers would kill for, one that includes living legends like Dave Brubeck (pictured), Ron Carter, Roy Haynes and Ornette Coleman, as well as younger, noteworthy talents like Mulgrew Miller, Dave Douglas and Brian Blade. Also, Bill Cosby.
This year’s Newport fest will open August 11 at Rogers High School in Newport, R.I., where pianist Brubeck will play a concert celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Civil Rights Bill. The next night is the night of the fancypants gala we reported on in January that will benefit the non-profit Preservation Society of Newport County. Singer-pianist Harry Connick, Jr. will put on a big-band show on August 13 at the Newport Casino at the International Tennis Hall of Fame. On Saturday, August 14, the show really gets going.
Newport’s weekend shows at Fort Adams State Park are the main events, all-day concerts that start at 11:30 a.m. and end at 7:30 p.m. We shouldn’t have to do anything to convince that this is the place to be that weekend except show you the lineup. So, here it is:
Saturday August 14:
Dave Brubeck
Harry Connick Jr. Quartet Branford Marsalis Dianne Reeves McCoy Tyner Michael
Brecker Phil Woods Ron Carter Roy Haynes Jon Faddis Jazz Orchestra (The
Carnegie Hall Jazz Band Reunion) George Shearing Christian McBride Clark
Terry Cedar Walton James Moody Marian McPartland Toshiko Akiyoshi Lew
Tabackin Russell Malone Howard Alden Lewis Nash Mulgrew Miller Peter
Washington Randy Sandke Frank Wess Ravi Coltrane Ken Peplowski Renee
Rosnes Terell Stafford
Sunday August 15:
Herbie Hancock Ornette Coleman Wayne Shorter
Wynton Marsalis with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra Dave Holland Clark
Terry Dave Douglas Bill Cosby Mingus Big Band Peter Cincotti Nicholas
Payton Regina Carter Roswell Rudd Roy Hargrove Jimmy Heath James
Carter Lee Konitz Gary Burton Geri Allen Chico Hamilton Albert “Tootie”
Heath Wallace Roney Percy Heath Bobby Watson Peter Washington Cedar
Walton Donald Harrison Brian Blade Doug Wamble Lewis Nash Steve Turre
Barry Altschul
Ticket info for all shows is listed below. Tickets can be purchased at ticketweb.com, by phone at (866)-468-7619, or by mail. To order by mail send check or money order for the ticket cost plus a $4.00 handling charge per order to: Festival Productions, P.O. Box 605, Newport, RI 02840. Order forms are available on the festival web site: www.NewportJazz50th.com.
Ticket info:
Wednesday, August 11, 7:30 pm Dave Brubeck Sacred Music Concert at Rogers High School, 15 Wickham Road, Newport: $35.00
Thursday, August 12, 8pm, 50th Anniversary Celebration at the Breakers, 44 Ochre Point Avenue, for information, call: 401-847-1000.
Friday, August 13, 8 pm Harry Connick, Jr. and His Orchestra at the Newport Casino, International Tennis Hall of Fame, 194 Bellevue Avenue: All Seats Reserved $75.00, $60.00 and $30.00.
Saturday August 14 and Sunday, August 15 at Fort Adams State Park (11:30 am – 7:30 pm): General admission: $65.00 in advance, $70.00 on festival weekend, if available. Children under 12, $5.00 at all times; under 2, free. On site festival parking, $6.00 per vehicle. Reserved seating, JVC Jazz Stage: $75.00.
