Colbert’s New Bandleader
Stephen Colbert named multi-instrumentalist jazz artist Jon Batiste as the bandleader for the Late Show. »
The JAM Scene
The KUSP crew arrived at the Monterey Conference Center for Saturday’s Next Generation Jazz Festival »
James Francies: the KUSP interview
Pianist James Francies spoke briefly with KUSP about where he’s been since we first encountered »
Matt Wilson: Be An Allower
Super drummer Matt Wilson gave a clinic Saturday afternoon at the Next Gen Jazz Festival. »
Reconnecting with Pianist James Francies
Pianist James Francies is at Next Gen this year to man the booth of the »
Recent Posts »
Colbert’s New Bandleader
Stephen Colbert named multi-instrumentalist jazz artist Jon Batiste as the bandleader for the Late Show. “People keep asking me who my new bandleader is going to be.” Colbert says in a YouTube video announcing
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The JAM Scene
The KUSP crew arrived at the Monterey Conference Center for Saturday’s Next Generation Jazz Festival to be greeted by the sound of loud, brassy funk. I mean, LOUD. It wasn’t emanating from any of
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James Francies: the KUSP interview
Pianist James Francies spoke briefly with KUSP about where he’s been since we first encountered him at the 2013 MJF: he’s been subbing with the Roots, playing with drummers Chris Dave, Jeff Tain Watts;
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Matt Wilson: Be An Allower
Super drummer Matt Wilson gave a clinic Saturday afternoon at the Next Gen Jazz Festival. He played with three very young musicians who are all his students: vibes, alto sax and piano. He emphasized
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Reconnecting with Pianist James Francies
Pianist James Francies is at Next Gen this year to man the booth of the New School jazz program; he also accompanied drummer Matt Wilson‘s clinic on Saturday afternoon. Francies displayed an astonishing level
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Matt Wilson Talks to KUSP
After his student clinic, drummer Matt Wilson talked with KUSP’s Jeff Dayton-Johnson about the creative process, about the dizzying array of bands and projects he’s working on, and about how jazz education works. Listen
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Next Generation Jazz Festival
Two Live Webstreams
The webstreams have concluded. 2015 Next Generation Jazz Festival: Complete Schedule of Events
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Scenes of the Next Generation
(Originally posted 3/29/14) By Jeff Dayton-Johnson | KUSP – The Next Generation Jazz Festival – happening now at the Monterey Conference Center through Sunday night – is the twin to the Monterey Jazz Festival
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Jazz Education
See: 2015 Next Generation Jazz Festival Schedule of Events The Festival is free! Jazz education can lead to wonderful places… And each year, young musicians are selected to play in the ‘Next Generation Jazz Orchestra’. 2014
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Next Generation Highlights Youth
See: 2015 Next Generation Jazz Festival Schedule of Events The Festival is free! From March 27-29, you’ll find over 3,000 jazz students from across the country coming to Monterey to play, learn and share
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Best of the Festival
MJF 57 has come and gone. It’s a fitting time to assess what we’ve seen. To take stock of what we’ve learned. To meditate on the music experienced. To make a list. What were
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Charles Lloyd: Forest Flower Blossoms Anew (Interview)
Charles Lloyd, MJF Showcase Artist, played Sunday night on the Main Stage in one of the most-anticipated shows of this year’s festival. Lloyd’s association with Monterey is legendary: his signature sixties album, Forest Flower,
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Jon Batiste brings the NOLA (Interview)
There’s something about those New Orleans musicians, they know how to wow MJF audiences. Jon Batiste, whose youthful demeanor belies his already-considerable résumé (including appearances on the HBO series Treme), brought his ragtag Stay
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Booker T., Completely Well (Interview)
Booker T. Jones spoke with KUSP. The interview above, begins with band member Ted Jones. Listen to the interview at the link above. The venerable Booker T. Jones, he of the legendary M.G.s, appeared
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Davina on the Big Stage (Interview)
Saturday’s main stage proceedings were kicked off by Davina & the Vagabonds, purveyors of Midwestern retro R&B. Davina’s Garden Stage set at MJF 2013 was a highlight for many a Festival-goer, and Tim Jackson
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From Voyager to the Next Generation (Interview)
Artist-in-Residence Eric Harland, fresh from last night’s gig with his Voyager band, joined the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra to open the Sunday show on the Main Stage. (Insert clever Star Trek joke here; extra
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In Which Don Was Reveals… (Interview)
Listen to interview above Don Was’ last stop before coming to MJF was on the stage of the Americana Music Awards, playing base alongside Ry Cooder and others. Part of the show included backing
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Sunday afternoon @ MJF
As is the custom, Sunday afternoon kicks off with the crème de la high-school-and-college-band crème. MJF Jazz Education guru (and saxophonist) Paul Contos leads the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra and Artist-in-Residence Eric Harland on
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The Philadelphia Experiment: Back Together At Least One More Time
Bassist Christian McBride, most known for his straightahead acoustic jazz, and Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, drummer for The Roots, attended the same Philadelphia performing arts high school. (Organist Joey DeFrancesco and guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel were
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The Roots @ MJF
The Roots – the greatest hip hop band in the world – closed out the Saturday night line-up on the Jimmy Lyons Arena Stage. Prior to Saturday night, the MJF audience might have experienced
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