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SJSF News
RickyExpress SJSF/Berklee Summer Series 8/13/16
Posted in Berklee • News • Press

RickExpress closes SJSF/Berklee Summer Series before Salem Jazz and Soul Festival

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RickExpress a Berklee College of Music student, will play the last SJSF/Berklee Summer Series concert of 2016 with his band in Derby Square, Salem, on Saturday, Aug. 13.

The free show will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. and will feature an educational interview about music and the Berklee experience. Rain location is Koto Japanese Grill. 90 Washington St., Salem.

In a Pig’s Eye restaurant will sponsor the performance, which marks the festival’s last show before the main festival, Aug. 20-21.

RickExpress (Ricky McKinney) is a singer, songwriter/composer and pianist. The youngest of his siblings and the only boy, RickExpress’ talent was discovered at an early age and harnessed thereafter. He began singing gospel music at church when he was just 2 and by 6, he had written his first song. With his unique style and eccentric flavor, he has gained the likes of music lovers across the board, ranging from his peers to older generations. They find his music soothing, healing and timeless. While he lends himself to the Neo-Soul genre, he describes his sound as “soulful, moving and ahead of the times”.  He incudes inspirations from funk and rhythm and blues. Ricky has stated that many of the messages in his songs come from his time in Sanford, a small town in North Carolina and also deal with modern themes such as social action.

RickExpress has worked with many artist including Valerie Simpson, Sam Smith, Ledisi, Talib Kweli, Sinbad, Sheila E., Lady Gaga, Robert Glasper, Snarky Puppy and more.  Ricky continues to study music and perfect his genius as a newly minted graduate from the Berklee College of Music.

The 10th-annual Salem Jazz and Soul Festival will follow during the weekend of Aug. 20-21, featuring 10 bands, a MusicKidz tent, music-education tent, artisan fair and 21-plus beer pavilion. The two-day concert is free.

The festival is a nonprofit, volunteer-run organization that produces free concerts and raises money for music education causes on the North Shore. Check salemjazzsoul.org for more information. Photos provided upon request.

Watch RickExpress perform his original “Ex Man” live at the Berklee Performance Center.

Published on Jul 13, 2016 | Source: Berklee College of Music

 

Posted in News • Shows

10th annual Salem Jazz and Soul Festival takes place at Salem Willows, Aug. 20-21

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Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco HellraisersThe nonprofit Salem Jazz and Soul Festival will cap its 10th season with a two-day music festival at the Salem Willows, Aug. 20-21.

August 2, 2016 – Salem, MA – The free festival will feature 10 bands, a MusicKidz tent, Salem Five Community Foundation Music-Education Tent, artisan fair and 21-plus Notch Brewing beer pavilion.

“We’re extremely excited to have made it this far as a volunteer-run nonprofit,” said Larry Claflin Jr., the festival’s co-founder and executive director. “Without the city’s help and that of our generous sponsors and growing number of patrons, this would not have been possible. This is truly a community effort.”
The festival will offer all styles of music over two days: Big band jazz, Latin, funk, soul, blues, zydeco and more. Bands hail from the North Shore, Boston, New York and Louisiana.

Organizers rarely repeat groups but made two exceptions this year: Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers, who were such a hit at the 2015 festival; and Jen Kearney, who performed at the first Salem Jazz and Soul Festival, in 2007.

Saturday’s line-up consists of Salem High School Jazz Band; What Time is it, Mr. Fox; Austin Torpedoes; Brian Thomas / Alex Lee Clark Big Band; and The Nth Power, a powerful soul band from New York, led by drummer Nikki Glaspie, who has toured with Maceo Parker and Beyoncé.

Sunday will feature the North Shore Jazz Project All Stars; Edmar Colón; Jen Kearney; Tim Gearan and Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers.
Parking is limited at the Salem Willows and attendance is expected to be at an all-time high this year, so festival organizers and the city ask that attendees walk or bike to the festival, or park free at Shetland Park and take an inexpensive trolley to the festival.

The festival is a nonprofit, volunteer-run organization that produces free concerts and raises money for music education causes on the North Shore. Check salemjazzsoul.org for more information. Photos provided upon request.

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Posted in News • Press

The 94th Annual ‘Celebrate Salem Awards’

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Salem Chamber of Commerce logo
SJSF has been nominated for the 94th Annual ‘Celebrate Salem Awards’
The Salem Jazz and Soul Festival, now in its 10th Season is honored to be one of only 36 in total nominated, and one of 6 in The Community Service Award.  This recognition is awarded to a member or organization who has an outstanding record of community service and volunteer participation.
PLEASE consider voting for us for this prestigious honor.
The deadline to vote is April 12th!
Posted in News • Press

Salem Jazz and Soul Festival Spring Gala Fundraiser at Beverly’s Larcom Theatre

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Salem Jazz and Soull Festival Spring Gala Fundraiser

Swing, rock, and groove with the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival

At the annual Spring Fundraiser at Beverly’s Larcom Theatre.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 9, 2015 – The Salem Jazz and Soul Festival is throwing a benefit concert April 26 featuring the Cape Ann Big Band, a 17-piece swing band out of Gloucester and the North Shore Jazz Project All Stars, an elite youth jazz ensemble, comprised of local high school students. All proceeds will benefit the festival, a volunteer-run nonprofit celebrating its ninth season.

The fundraiser will take place at the historic Larcom Theatre in downtown Beverly on Sunday, April 26 from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. (doors open at 6:30). The theater is located at 13 Wallis St.

The benefit is sponsored by Wylie Inn and Conference Center, Marblehead Bank, Salem Cycle, North Shore 104.9 and Chianti Tuscan Restaurant and Jazz Lounge. The night will feature a silent auction of items donated by generous North Shore businesses and artists; raffles and a cash bar.

Tickets (available at www.gimmelive.tv) are $19/$29/$39 and proceeds will fund the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival’s non-profit mission of producing free concerts and supporting music education causes on the North Shore. This is the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival’s only ticketed show of the year.

About the Cape Ann Big Band: Formed in 2010, the 17-piece Cape Ann Big Band is driven by the talents of Cape Ann musicians who pride themselves in performing to entertain and connect with the local community. Bandleader Carlos Menezes Jr. directs the group in jazz, swing, New Orleans street band music, soul, and rock ‘n’ roll — standards from the “Golden era” of swing, pop tunes, and a number of show-tunes derived from popular films. “Moondance”, “Wonderwall”, Van Halen’s “Jump”, “Take the A Train”, Glenn Miller’s “In the Mood”, and a tribute to Frank Sinatra and Basie are just a few of the charts in this season’s repertoire.

About the North Shore Jazz Project All Stars: The NSJP All Stars is a world-class youth jazz band featuring the best high-school aged musical talent on Boston’s North Shore. The group is led by local tenor saxophonist, Mike Tucker, a Berklee College of Music graduate and professor.
In the coming months, the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival will host the following free shows:
• The SJSF/Berklee Summer Series at Derby Square, Salem, with Berklee College of Music student-led bands, on May 9 June 13, July 11 and Aug. 8
• The Salem Jazz and Soul Festival, a two-day concert at the Salem Willows, with 10 bands, a music education tent, kids tent, 21+ beer garden, and artisans selling hand-made goods, Aug. 15-16

Please go to salemjazzsoul.org for more information. Photos available upon request.

Posted in News • Press

Salem Jazz and Soul Festival, city, to host 6th annual Jazz Appreciation Day concert

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City of Salem Jazz Appreciation Day 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Salem Jazz and Soul Festival will produce its 6th-annual City of Salem Jazz Appreciation Day concert in early April in downtown Salem.

March 15, 2014 – Salem, MA – The event kicks off Jazz Appreciation month, April, and is put on in partnership with the City of Salem. Salem Five, a major festival sponsor, has donated the room and the concert is free to the public.

The free show will take place in the Salem Five Community Room at 210 Essex Street on the Walking Mall, Saturday, April 4, from 2 to 4 p.m.

Performing this year will be the North Shore Jazz Project All Stars, a big band made up of the North Shore’s premier high school-aged jazz musicians, directed by professional saxophonist Mike Tucker.

The North Shore Jazz Project All Stars
The North Shore Jazz Project All Stars
“The NSJP All Stars played our main festival last year, and the crowd was blown away by their talent, so we thought we’d invite them back to be featured at Jazz Appreciation Day,” said Larry Claflin Jr., the festival’s executive director. “Having these young musicians on stage is at the core of what the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival is about – providing students with an opportunity to perform at no cost to the public.”

This show will open the festival’s ninth season of producing free concerts and supporting music-education causes on the North Shore.

In the coming months, the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival, a volunteer-run nonprofit, will put on:

  • A fundraiser gala at the historic Larcom Theater in downtown Beverly, MA, featuring the ever-popular Cape Ann Big Band, and the NSJP All-Stars opening, on April 26.
  • The SJSF/Berklee Summer Series at Derby Square, Salem, with Berklee College of Music student bands, on May 9, June 13, July 11, and Aug. 8.
  • The Salem Jazz and Soul Festival, a two-day concert at the Salem Willows, with 10 bands, a music-education tent, kids tent, 21-plus beer garden and artisans selling hand-made goods, Aug. 15-16.

Please go to salemjazzsoul.org for more information.

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Contact: Judy Parisella
Phone: 978-491-7444
Email: jparisella@salemjazzsoul.org.