George Wein and Christian
McBride today announced the First Wave of artists for the 2018 Newport Jazz
Festival® presented by Natixis Investment Managers, which takes place at Fort
Adams State Park and the International Tennis Hall of Fame at the Newport
Casino August 3 - 5.
The partial lineup features some of the best in traditional
and modern jazz, including Charles Lloyd's 80th Birthday Celebration featuring
three different groups; Andra Day; Living Colour; Artemis featuring Cécile
McLorin Salvant, Renee Rosnes, Anat Cohen, Melissa Aldana, Ingrid Jensen,
Noriko Ueda and Allison Miller; Rudresh Mahanthappa Indo-Pak Coalition; Mary
Halvorson's Code Girl; Michel Camilo; James Carter Organ Trio; Jazzmeia Horn;
and Matthew Shipp Trio.
"Last week we dished up the first taste of artists
playing the 2018 Newport Jazz Festival when we announced Charles Lloyd's 80th
Birthday Celebration through The Wein Machine and social media," said
George Wein, Chairman of Newport Festivals Foundation and Festival creator.
"It's a pleasure to work with Christian McBride in his second year as the
Festival's Artistic Director and with Executive Producer Jay Sweet to continue
the legacy of Newport Jazz. Over the coming weeks, we will introduce concerts
by a diverse group of new faces along with some familiar faces, which will give
music fans a general idea of the direction Jazz is going.
"We're excited to present Charles as our
artist-in-residence, our first in many years. He will perform each day with a
different band - Sangam, his New Quartet and a group of friends, including the
singer Lucinda Williams. I'm looking forward to celebrating with my old friend
and hearing what he will bring to the party."
Christian McBride, also a world-renowned bassist and
bandleader, added, "Charles Lloyd is one of the towering legends of Jazz.
I think long-time Jazz fans will be thrilled and some of the new folk will
become instant fans and wonder what took them so long to get on the Charles
Lloyd train."
Wein and McBride are also eager to hear the singer Andra
Day, who had to cancel her Newport debut last year due to illness. "My
buddy, Andra, is one of my favorite people in the world," said McBride.
I'm glad she made a full recovery and I'm looking forward to her wowing the
audience in August."
Wein added, "We are fortunate to have Andra this year;
she has grown in stature and popularity in the industry and we expect a
wonderful concert."
Last year, legendary guitarist Vernon Reid performed solo on
the Storyville stage and as a guest with DJ Logic. This summer, he returns with
his band Living Colour, "one of the most dominant and major voices of an
era," said McBride. "I am so thrilled they are back together and
bringing their music to the Newport Jazz Festival."
"One of the hits of the Festival," says Wein, will
be the all female group Artemis.
"I first heard Artemis performing in Europe last
year," said Christian. "I immediately got on the phone with George
and said we've got to have them in Newport. They have fire power, sensitivity,
musicality and charm, all of which will light up the festival stage."
Rudresh Mahanthappa returns to Newport with his group
Indo-Pak Coalition. "He is one of the musicians whom we have had the
opportunity to build and watch grow, and he is now one of the major figures in
jazz," said Wein.
McBride and Mahanthappa live down the street from each
other, but the Festival Artistic Director was already a fan long before that.
"Rudresh's 'Bird Calls' is one of my favorite recordings. We played
together for the first time two years ago, and he always brings something special
to the table. It's a no-brainer to have him back at Newport to continue his
exciting history with the Festival."
Mary Halvorson returns to Newport, this year with her group
Code Girl. "She has "always been the avant-garde of new and creative
ideas," said Wein, and McBride, who has not yet seen her in a live
performance, is looking forward to "hearing in person the wonderful waves
she has been making in the Jazz world over the years."
A Newport staple, Michel Camilo, "always brings so much
happiness to everyone who hears him," says McBride. It's no surprise that
the piano player in George Wein is looking forward to hearing music from
Camilo's recent solo album, which was recorded in London.
"There is no artist more exciting than James Carter
when he takes over the stage," declares George. Christian agrees and adds,
"James is a singular talent and not many saxophonists on the planet can do
what he does. He's a freak of nature."
Wein says there is "a wealth of new young Jazz
vocalists" on the scene today and Jazzmeia Horn is one of them. "I
was introduced to her at a private listening party that her manager hosted on
the Upper Westside in New York City and began thinking about her for a spot on
the Festival."
"McBride adds, "This young lady has been tearing
it up for the past couple of years. The first time I heard her, she knocked me
out. She has so much creative energy and so much creative spirit. I'm excited
to see where she's going, because she has all of the tools to carve a place for
herself in the history of this music."
While Mary Halvorson is a member of the new avant-garde,
Matthew Shipp represents the "old avant-garde," said Wein, and
McBride calls Shipp "an interesting thinker" whose music "always
moves" him.
Showcasing more than 50 individual Jazz ensembles, the
Newport Jazz Festival presented by Natixis Investment Managers will offer music
on four stages, including the Fort, Quad and Harbor stages and Storyville, the
intimate venue located in the former Museum of Yachting, now Newport Festivals
Museum.
The First Wave of artists for the 2018 Newport Jazz Festival
Presented by Natixis Investment Managers are:
Friday, August 3, 2018 - Fort Adams State Park
Living Colour
Sangam with Zakir Hussain and Eric Harland
Rudresh Mahanthappa Indo-Pak Coalition
Michel Camilo
Matthew Shipp Trio
Saturday, August 4, 2018 - Fort Adams State Park
Andra Day
Charles Lloyd New Quartet with Jason Moran, Reuben Rogers
and Eric Harland
Sunday, August 5, 2018 - Fort Adams State Park
Artemis featuring Cécile McLorin Salvant, Renee Rosnes, Anat
Cohen, Melissa Aldana, Ingrid Jensen, Noriko Ueda & Allison Miller
Charles Lloyd & Friends featuring Lucinda Williams with
Jason Moran, Marvin Sewell, Stuart Mathis, Reuben Rogers and Eric Harland
Mary Halvorson's Code Girl
Jazzmeia Horn
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