Newport Jazz Festival first took place in 1954, and has since boasted some of the most forward-thinking artists and performances in the history of the art. In 2016, the festival is still going strong, and they have announced the lineup for their summer shindig.
The lineup is rich with today’s brightest stars, legendary musicians, and left-of-center selections. Some of the more established names that stick out have to be Chick Corea, Charles Lloyd, and Gregory Porter. Galactic, Kneebody, and Angelique Kidjo stick out as artists who don’t fit directly under the ‘jazz’ umbrella, but certainly have their similarities with the sound and certainly embody the spirit. Modern-day titans like Robert Glasper, Jose James, Jamasi Washington, The Bad Plus, John Scofield, Ben Williams, and Christian Scott will provide primetime performances that showcase jazz’s relevance in the current musical landscape. It’s worth noting that Kamasi Washington is featured on the lineup for both Friday and Sunday, which is incredible news to us.
Taking place at Fort Adams State Park, the beautiful sites will accompany the music in a way that can only happen in Rhode Island. The waterfront property has hosted many legendary musicians in the past, and luckily this year it will continue its rich tradition of playing home to the world’s greatest musical talent.
Tickets, either daily or for the full weekend, are available by heading over to http://www.newportjazzfest.org/