Newport Jazz Festival Hear sets from Wayne Shorter featuring Herbie Hancock, Gregory Porter, Mary Halvorson and many more.
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Newport Jazz Festival

Hear sets from the "grandfather of jazz festivals" on the coast of Rhode Island

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The sunshine of guitarist Cory Wong

Jazz at Lincoln Center

Hear a funky set from guitarist Cory Wong and the Wongnotes from the main stage of the Newport Jazz Festival, plus stories from Cory about his past, process and the evolution of the Minneapolis Sound.

The sunshine of guitarist Cory Wong

A pioneer of the modern music festival, George Wein co-founded the Newport Jazz and Newport Folk festivals and helped launch the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. He died Sept. 13 at 95. Jonathan Chimene/WBGO hide caption

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George Wein Never Stopped Listening

Nate Chinen remembers Newport Jazz impresario George Wein, who helped create the modern music festival but never lost his appetite for listening in small rooms and connecting at a human scale.

Top (L to R): Antonio Hart, Carl Allen, Christian McBride, Roy Hargrove, Benny Green. Bottom (L to R): Marlon Jordan, Tim Warfield, Mark Whitfield Ken Franckling/Jazz Times hide caption

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The Modern All-Stars: A Newport Jazz Festival Special

Jazz at Lincoln Center

Hear a power hour of all-stars with some of the best sets to come out of the modern era of the Newport Jazz Festival, featuring Herbie Hancock, Roy Hargrove, Cécile McLorin Salvant and more.

The Modern All-Stars: A Newport Jazz Festival Special

Ray Charles performs at The Newport Jazz Festival in 1968. Newport Festivals Foundation hide caption

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The Stars Shine: A Newport Jazz Festival Special

Jazz at Lincoln Center

Hear historic music from the Newport Jazz Festival, hand-picked by Christian McBride. Tune in to rare sets from Ray Charles, Cannonball Adderley, Sarah Vaughan, Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong.

The Stars Shine: A Newport Jazz Festival Special

Fans sit under an umbrella as shade from the hot sun during the Newport Jazz Festival in Newport, R.I., on July 8, 1962. Boston Globe/Getty Images hide caption

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The Golden Age: A Newport Jazz Festival Special

Jazz at Lincoln Center

Hear an unforgettable lineup of music from the Newport Jazz Festival, hand-picked by Christian McBride. Check out rare sets from the Clifford Brown/Max Roach Quintet, Dave Brubeck and Horace Silver.

The Golden Age: A Newport Jazz Festival Special

The band Snarky Puppy playing at the Newport Jazz Festival in 2015. Eva Hambach/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Newport Folk And Jazz Festivals Canceled Due To Coronavirus

Two of the U.S.' most influential and storied summer music festivals have been canceled for 2020, due to coronavirus concerns. The sibling events were scheduled to take place in July and August.

Jon Batiste embraces the crowd at the 2014 Newport Jazz Festival. Adam Kissick for NPR hide caption

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Jon Batiste And Stay Human, Live In Concert

Following a high-energy main stage set — filled with turbocharged versions of standards, rags and his own party anthems — the young pianist and singer brought his band out into the audience.

Jon Batiste And Stay Human In Concert

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The Fastest Fingers At The Festival, For Django Reinhardt

A group of European gypsy jazz masters closed out the Newport Jazz Festival with a dazzling set full of flying fingers. After everyone left, we asked the players to perform one more just for us.

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Miguel Zenón's 'Identities Are Changeable'

Jazz at Lincoln Center

The Puerto Rican alto saxophonist and composer's new album explores national identity through spoken word and music. He brings that music to life at the Newport Jazz Festival, joined by his big band.

Miguel Zenón's 'Identities Are Changeable' In Concert

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Brian Blade and the Fellowship Band. L-R: Blade, Myron Walden, Melvin Butler, Chris Thomas, Jon Cowherd. NPR Music hide caption

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Chorale For Horns And iPad App, In The Pouring Rain

WBGO

We had hoped that the great drummer Brian Blade would give us a little backstage percussion exhibition. But rain scuttled those plans. Instead, he and his band worked out a different kind of beauty.

David Sanchez and the Berklee Global Jazz Ambassadors perform at the 2014 Newport Jazz Festival. Adam Kissick for NPR hide caption

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David Sanchez With The Berklee Global Jazz Ambassadors, Live In Concert

The Puerto Rican tenor saxophonist joins a select international ensemble from one of jazz's top conservatories in a festival-opening performance of his own compositions.

Berklee Global Jazz Ambassadors With David Sanchez In Concert

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Gregory Porter, Live In Concert

The commanding singer named two of his three albums Water and Liquid Spirit. Appropriately, in his triumphant return to Newport, Porter projected his booming voice through day-long rain showers.

Gregory Porter In Concert

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Darcy James Argue conducts the Secret Society in a new big-band piece at the 2014 Newport Jazz Festival. Adam Kissick for NPR hide caption

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Darcy James Argue's Secret Society, Live In Concert

With a sly salute to fellow composer and big-band leader Duke Ellington, Argue presents the U.S. premiere of a new 35-minute work. It joins other unrecorded tunes during Secret Society's Newport set.

Darcy James Argue's Secret Society In Concert

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Cécile McLorin Salvant performed two sets at Newport, including one for a main-stage crowd on the festival's sunny opening day. Adam Kissick for NPR hide caption

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Newport Jazz 2014 In Photos

The 60th anniversary of the festival saw more than 45 bands perform overlooking the water in New England. Our photographer captured nearly every 2014 act, through abundant sunshine and driving rain.

Velma Middleton is accompanied by Louis Armstrong at the 1955 Newport Jazz Festival. Paul S;ade/Getty hide caption

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'As Long As They Want To Play': Newport Jazz At 60

Since its inception in 1954, the event has survived rainstorms, genre wars and a few near-riots. Producer George Wein says it survives for the same reason jazz does — the musicians love to perform.

'As Long As They Want To Play': Newport Jazz At 60

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The audience at the main stage of the Newport Jazz Festival. Adam Kissick for NPR hide caption

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5 Acts Not To Miss At Newport Jazz 2014

The Newport Jazz Festival turns 60 this year, and NPR Music will be there for the anniversary. When we're not recording, we'll be checking out bands led by Vijay Iyer, John Zorn, Ron Carter and more.

The Joshua Redman Quartet performs at the 2013 Newport Jazz Festival. Adam Kissick for NPR hide caption

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Joshua Redman Quartet, Live In Concert

The sight of the saxophonist raising his foot during a gritty solo has become common to Newport Jazz crowds. His latest record is a collection of ballads, but this program isn't quite so calm.

Joshua Redman Quartet, Live In Concert

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Marcus Miller performs at the 2013 Newport Jazz Festival Adam Kissick for NPR hide caption

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Marcus Miller, Live In Concert: Newport Jazz 2013

Few musicians today are as versatile as the bassist, keyboardist, bass clarinetist, film composer, producer ... you get the picture. Miller was also veteran of Miles Davis' last band.

Marcus Miller, Live In Concert: Newport Jazz 2013

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The Donny McCaslin Group performs at the 2013 Newport Jazz Festival. Adam Kissick/NPR hide caption

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Donny McCaslin Group, Live In Concert: Newport Jazz 2013

WBGO

Donny McCaslin is an imposingly tall fellow and one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet — and who wields a sax like few others. The audience didn't know what hit 'em in this live morning performance.

Donny McCaslin Group, Live In Concert: Newport Jazz 2013

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Jon Batiste And Stay Human, Live In Concert

GBH News

A 20-something singing pianist of the New Orleans tradition, Batiste has an entertainer's charisma and chops to match. He met his band at Juilliard — and does "modern jazz" with a metropolitan flair.

Jon Batiste And Stay Human, Live In Concert

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Adam Kissick for NPR

Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Live In Concert

GBH News

2013 marked three dozen years since the first incarnation of the group coalesced to resurrect a then-disappearing tradition — and infuse it both bebop and funk. Hear their danceable Newport set.

Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Live In Concert

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The Jim Hall Trio with Julian Lage performs at the 2013 Newport Jazz Festival. Adam Kissick/NPR hide caption

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Jim Hall Trio With Julian Lage, Live In Concert

WBGO

One of the finest guitarists in jazz history — who made classic records with Sonny Rollins, Bill Evans, Ron Carter and so on — is still at it at age 82. Hear him perform with a younger guitar phenom.

Jim Hall Trio With Julian Lage, Live In Concert

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Eddie Palmieri Salsa Orchestra, Live In Concert

The fiery pianist has earned the right to be confident: He's been leading Latin jazz bands for over 50 years. "I don't guess I'm going to excite you with my band," he's been known to say. "I know it."

Eddie Palmieri Salsa Orchestra, Live In Concert

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