Ten Things I Loved at Newport Jazz

Another memorable Newport Jazz Festival is in the books! Across three sold-out days at Fort Adams State Park, thousands enjoyed the annual festival, a destination for jazz enthusiasts, and jazz-adjacent fans and musicians. With too many highlights to mention, here are a few moments that stood out. (All photos: Ken Abrams)

1. Local Heros. RI-based talent was on display all weekend long with a local jam on the Fort Stage each morning, along with sets from the URI Jazz Collective and the Rhode Island Music Education Association Jazz All-Stars. The thrill of a lifetime for many performers and their families!

2. Centennial Salute to Miles, Trane and Sonny. Kamasi Washington, Chief Adjuah and friends closed Saturday with imaginative combinations of “Milestones,” “All Blues,” “Impressions,” and “A Love Supreme.” The performance also honored the recently deceased Sonny Rollins. It was a special performance that met the moment.

3. Jon Batiste Meets Chili Peppers. Batiste began his Jonathan Batiste Trios set with two percussionists before unveiling a second trio featuring Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea and drummer Chad Smith. It was a pretty epic moment unlikely to ever be repeated. Also epic, Flea’s set the next day with his Honora band.

4. Angine de Poitrine’s American debut. The wildly inventive Canadian duo made its first U.S. appearance, combining math rock, progressive music, surf guitar, and jazz-like improvisation. With a mix of effects, weird comedy, screaming guitar riffs and harmonic drumming, the band was grooving on all cylinders. 

5. Vulfpeck Brings the Groove -- and Bernard Purdie. After playing Newport Folk the previous weekend, Vulfpeck completed an uncommon festival double with a tightly executed, crowd-pleasing funk-based set, with legendary drummer Bernard Purdie joining the in.

6. A British Invasion. A large contingent of UK-based artists brought a unique twist this year with fine sets from singers Arlo Parks, Celeste, Maya Delilah, Olive Jones and Little Simz, cinematic-soul from Gotts Street Park, and a little magic from London-born Anoushka Shankar.

7. Artistic Director Nate Smith. New Artistic Director Nate Smith was there for fans and performers throughout the weekend, even pulling together a replacement set, titled Off the Cuff, when Sienna Spiro canceled because of a throat infection. No doubt, NJF is in good hands!

8. The Adaptive Music Collaborative Second Line. A special moment on Sunday occurred away from the main stages, when young musicians of varying abilities, their friends and families, paraded through the Fort Adams Quad. It was a heartwarming moment, reinforcing the festival’s educational mission.

9. The Kids are Alright. The youth movement in jazz continues with tremendously talented young players taking the stage all weekend long. This festival struggled to fill seats a decade ago, but has come back strong in recent years, thanks in part to hip, talented players and their fans.

10. A Sell Out. Within days of going on sale in April, all tickets to the festival were spoken for. The festival’s ongoing legacy, diverse line-up, and distinct aesthetic are part of the reason for its success. Jazz is cool again, thanks to a new generation of players and enthusiasts!