Freddie Hendrix News

Cinque is a five movement suite inspired by the story of Joseph Cinque, who in 1839 led a successful revolt aboard the slave ship La Amistad, days after being sold and transported to a sugar plantation in Cuba. Elio Villafranca's most ambitious project today, showcases the cultural diversity of the five Caribbean islands of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Haiti, The Dominican Republic, and Jamaica; while simultaneously highlighting the Congolese musical heritage woven into the fabric of each of these diverse nations, and yet unified via the forced migration of Africans to the Americas.

The Jazz Epistles were South Africa's first black jazz band, pioneering a new musical form influenced by bebop and traditional South African music. Inspired by Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, The Jazz Epistles formed when the Dollar Brand Trio from Capetown-which included pianist Abdullah Ibrahim, bassist Johnny Gertze, and drummer Makaya Ntshoko-combined talents with alto saxophonist Kippie Moeketsi, the late great trumpeter Hugh Masekela, and trombonist Jonas Gwangwa. Their first and only album, Jazz Epistle, Verse 1, released in 1959, brought them international acclaim. Following the 1960 Sharpeville Massacre and the increasing oppression of the apartheid government-including the prohibition of jazz music-band members emigrated to Europe and North America. Two of them, Ibrahim and Masekela, would go on to become jazz stars in their own right. 

Two Toronto multi-cultural music groups share a very special evening on April 7. The Royal Conservatory's KUNE - Canada's Global Orchestra features top notch musicians from all over the world who now live in Canada.

The Royal Conservatory of Music regrets to announce that, unfortunately, Hugh Masekela will be unable to join Abdullah Ibrahim & Ekaya for the Jazz Epistles concert at Koerner Hall on Saturday, April 21, 2018 due to complications from prostate cancer. The Conservatory sends Hugh Masekela best wishes and hopes he is able to rehabilitate from this condition. Freddie Hendrix will be assuming the trumpet chair in place of Mr. Masekela for this concert.

Berkshire Theatre Group welcomes Pittsfield CityJazz Festival, featuring The Dizzy Gillespie Afro-Cuban Experience, to The Colonial Theatre today, October 14 at 7:30pm.

Berkshire Theatre Group welcomes Pittsfield CityJazz Festival, featuring The Dizzy Gillespie Afro-Cuban Experience, to The Colonial Theatre on Saturday, October 14 at 7:30pm.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its schedule for October 2-October 8, featuring Ron Carter's Great Big Band, Scott Alan, Renee Manning and Earl McIntyre, and more. Scroll down for details!

The George Gee Swing Orchestra opens the new expanded jazz showcase season at the Bickford Theatre in Morristown on Thursday, September 28. One of the most popular big bands in the world, the George Gee Swing Orchestra will appear for the first time at the intimate theatre. The concert begins at 7:30. The food truck picnic, which was extremely popular for Summer Jazzfest, will begin at 5:00 for those who want to enjoy some early fall tailgating. All seats for the concert are reserved and available online at www.morrismuseum.org or by phone at 973-971-3706.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its October 2017 lineup, featuring Ron Carter's Great Big Band, Quartet and Golden Striker Trio, Lea DeLaria with Special Guests, Miss Coco Peru, Frank Perowsky Jazz Orchestra, Santino Fontana, Kurt Elling, Rolando Morales-Matos, Veronica Swift, Jim Caruso's Cast Party, and more. Scroll down for details!

The NJCU Alumni Jazz Big Band will perform a 100th Birthday Salute to Four Jazz Icons, featuring the music of Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Buddy Rich, and Thelonious Monk on the J. Owen Grundy Pier, Exchange Place, in Jersey City today, September 15 at 6:00 p.m.

The Bickford Theatre has announced their 2017-18 season which includes a blend of jazz, bluegrass, classical, pop and a trio of live theater offerings. Subscription packages for the Main Stage productions are available and seats for most of this season's shows are reserved. Tickets are available online at www.morrismuseum.org or by phone at 973-971-3706. Food trucks which proved extremely popular over the summer will be offered for the concerts in September and October so make plans to tailgate while the weather is still nice.

The NJCU Alumni Jazz Big Band will perform a 100th Birthday Salute to Four Jazz Icons, featuring the music of Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Buddy Rich, and Thelonious Monk on the J. Owen Grundy Pier, Exchange Place, in Jersey City on Friday, September 15 at 6:00 p.m.

Berkshire Theatre Group and Artistic Director/CEO Kate Maguire are excited to announce additions to the fall and winter seasons, as well as casting for the Fall production of David Auburn's Lost Lake at The Unicorn Theatre.

A winning powerful tribute to James Brown from those who sang and played with him.

Nicole Henry returned to Feinstein's/54 Below last night after her sold-out engagement this past Spring and Broadwayworld was there.

The Kennedy Center announced today the roster of artists who will be participating in Jimmy Heath at 90, a concert honoring the 90th birthday of the legendary saxophonist, composer, educator, and bandleader. The celebration will take place on Sunday, October 30, 2016 at 8:00 p.m. in the Concert Hall.

Vocalist Susie Meissner returns to Chris' Jazz Cafe on Today, August 25th (sets @8pm -10pm).

Vocalist Susie Meissner returns to Chris' Jazz Cafe on Thursday, August 25th (sets @8pm -10pm).

Jazz at Lincoln Center's 2016 Popular Song series at the Appel Room ended this year's agenda on June 8 with host Michael Feinstein's appreciation of the interconnection between swing and popular song, a subject about which he's clearly enthusiastic. Each musical era, he suggests, is previewed by a song marking change: “Alexander's Ragtime Band” ushered in ragtime, “Sing, Sing Sing,” prefaced swing, “Rock Around the Clock” heralded rock n' roll. With the able assistance of Musical Director Tedd Firth (also on piano), Firth's Big Band, and special guest vocalists Allyson Briggs, Jeremy Jordan, and Catherine Ross, Feinstein and Co. delivered a lively evening of familiar and eclectic material.

Cinqué - Suite of the Caribbean debuted in The Appel Room in 2015 and was one of the top concerts of the 2014-15 season. Cuban pianist and composer Elio Villafranca now brings this incredible project to Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola on April 16 and 17, 2016.