Sixty-five years since the festival’s inception, Wein still stands prominently at Newport’s helm - though he’s aided in his duties by modern bass phenom Christian McBride. In the years since, the festival has played home to some of the most iconic live performances in jazz. The first edition, organized by jazz impresario George Wein, featured performances by the likes of Billie Holiday and Stan Kenton. The granddaddy of American jazz festivals, the Newport Jazz Festival was founded in 1954. Next Edition: August 2-4, 2019 A view of the crowd at the Newport Jazz Festival in 2016. This is one festival you absolutely can’t miss.įort Adams State Park, Newport, Rhode Island, United States Concerts take place on free outdoor stages in Montreal’s beautiful downtown business corridor, as well as in intimate clubs, swanky jazz venues and historic concert halls across the city. Every year for 10 days, the French-speaking metropolis of North America becomes a living, breathing jazz venue, where fans of all types rub shoulders with aficionados of jazz in its purest form. Ranked as the world’s largest jazz festival in the Guinness Book of World Records, the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal is among the very best celebrations of jazz anywhere on the planet. Next Edition: June 27 – J©Festival International de Jazz de Montréal (Photo: Jean-François Leblanc) Their start dates range throughout the year, so no matter when or where you’re planning your trip, you’ll be sure to find some jazz nearby. Of the 20 festivals listed, 10 are in the United States and Canada and 10 are international. These are the festivals that, for reasons musical and historical, have made an impression on the jazz world that endures to this day. So, in the spirit of making the jazz world seem a little smaller, we’ve compiled a list of festivals that should be on any jazz fan’s bucket list. Jazz festivals afford attendees the opportunity to hear familiar sounds in a far-off setting, but they also encourage festivalgoers to taste new foods, see new sights and meet new people. Occasionally, we even get to congregate in person, and jazz festivals, like the ones we list in this guide, allow us to connect to the music - and each other - on a deeper level.Īttending a festival is certainly one of the most exciting ways to experience jazz, but it’s also a way to interact with a new place and culture. Dispersed as we are, we’re also more connected than ever, convening on sites like to discuss, celebrate and occasionally argue over the music that binds us. There’s no denying that jazz is a global phenomenon, with a network of artist and fans that extends to every corner of the world. The Saint Lucia Jazz Festival (pictured) is among the many fests that should be on any serious jazz traveler’s bucket list.
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