Dianne Reeves © Andrea Canter

Music begins at noon in the Randolph Café with a salute to one of jazz’ originators, Bix Beiderbecke performed by the Chris Madsen’s Bix Quartet.  At 1:30 p.m. The Hyde Park Jazz Society pays tribute to pianist Jodie Christian, one of Chicago’s most versatile and creative pianists who passed away earlier this year.  The quartet features pianist Ken Chaney.

Matt Herskowitz

The Festival International de Jazz de Montréal turns a whole section of the city into a music village for two weeks every June, and the Festival has also inspired a lot of other jazz-related activities in the city. One of those events is Jamming at St. James – A Jazz Liturgy, a special church service that took place on Canada Day, July 1, at historic St. James United Church, at 463 St. Catherine Street West. After running around from show to show during the busy Montreal Jazz Festival, attending Jamming at St. James offered us a perfect opportunity to slow down for some relaxation and reflection. 

This event is the brainchild of Professor Norman Cornett, a dapper and meticulous religion lecturer and jazz historian. The service featured outstanding Canadian musicians Charles Ellison, Matt Herskowitz, and Jean-Pierre Zanella. The focus of the service was the connection between spirituality and jazz, and it was an illuminating and inspiring occasion.

Gary Smulyan©Andrea Canter

Connecticut’s Litchfield Jazz Festival was launched in 1996, under the auspices of Litchfield Performing Arts, Inc., and since has become one of the most well-established festivals in the United States. This year’s festival will take place August 10-12. Vita West Muir, Artistic/Executive Director of Litchfield Performing Arts, announced that in its 17th year, the festival is returning to the great outdoors, the Goshen Fairgrounds.

Friday, August 10

Festivities begin with the “Friends of the Festival” Opening Night Gala at the all-new Sunset Lounge.  The gala will feature actor-singer-guitarist Dominic Chianese (Uncle Junior from HBO’s The Sopranos), The Four Freshmen, Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks, and Artist-in-Residence Gary Smulyan, baritone saxophonist extraordinaire. The fundraising gala will also include a swing jazz party and a live auction. On both Friday, August 10 and Saturday August 11, there will be an After Party and Open Jam at the West Street Grill in Litchfield, immediately following the last performance. Anyone with an instrument is welcome to sit in with the Nick Roseboro Trio.

CAtherine Russell©Andrea Canter

The 2012 Newport Jazz Festival will take place on August 3, 4, and 5 in Newport Rhode Island. On Friday, August 3, the festival will get off to a rousing start at the International Tennis Hall of Fame at the Newport Casino with Dr. John & The Lower 911, featuring Jon Cleary; the Preservation Hall Jazz Band; and special guests Catherine Russell and Jonathan Batiste.

Greg Abate Quartet at Les vendredis Jazz

Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, one of the biggest and most prestigious jazz festivals in the world, takes place at the end of every June for 10–12 days. However, the music doesn’t end there. The vibrant Montreal jazz scene goes well beyond the official summer Festival. Long-term renovation has finally been completed on the Festival’s Quartier des Spectacles, Place des Arts, and Rue Sainte-Catherine. For the first time since 2007, all the construction is gone, allowing people to travel freely to the different venues on a new pedestrian walkway, and to enjoy the outdoor shows without obstruction.

Ron Carter (Miles Davis Award)

The 33rd edition of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal took place June 28 - July 7, 2012 (with a couple of pre-Festival concerts on June 27, and a special Battle of the Bands on July 8).  It was festive in every sense of the word. With a profusion of offerings from over 3,000 musicians from 30 countries, special art exhibitions, and street performers, this Festival appealed to the ears, eyes, and heart. Even Mother Nature blessed the Festival, as beautiful weather prevailed for the majority of the events.

Just some of the noteworthy artists at the Festival included The Wayne Shorter Quartet, The Pat Martino Trio, Al Stewart, Seal, Norah Jones, Janelle Monáe, The Eliane Elias Brasileira Quartet, Oxford University Jazz Orchestra, Dorothée Berryman, Patrick Watson, Sidi Touré, Sophie Milman, Vic Vogel, Dawn Tyler Watson and Paul Deslauriers, Rufus Wainwright, Jr., Nina Attal, The Bill Charlap and Renee Rosnes Piano Duo, Chromeo, Ziggy Marley, Carmen Lundy, Gregory Porter, Adrian Vedady, Marc Copland, Richard Galliano, Chris Botti, Escort, Patricia Barber and Kenny Werner, Adam Cohen, Bill Frisell, David Sánchez, Nicholas Payton, Stefon Harris, and Melody Gardot. Selected highlights: