The Arlington Jazz Festival, now in its 12th year, has scheduled a wide variety of musical events, presented over a 4-day stretch in several venues around the town, beginning March 30, 2023!
This year’s headliner concert, held at the Regent Theatre on the final day of the Festival, showcases the John Patitucci Trio with multi-Grammy award-winning first-call bassist John Patitucci joined by saxophonist Chris Potter and drummer Obed Calvaire.
It is not an exaggeration when claiming that bassist John Patitucci has performed and recorded with almost every jazz artist who has or had been active on the jazz scene starting from the early 1980’s up until now. Over the course of his extensive musical career as a performer and educator, Patitucci has collaborated with so many performers that the entire list is way too lengthy to mention here. A “partial list” can be found at johnpatitucci.com/artists.html. Let’s just say that by the mid 1980’s Patitucci had hit his stride as the go-to bass player on the scene, starting with becoming a regular member of three of Chick Corea’s groups: the Elektric Band, the Akoustic Band, and Corea’s quartet. Since that time, there has been no turning back for John Patitucci, performing in a myriad of formats, as evidenced by his current trio project, which is to be showcased at this year’s Arlington Jazz Festival.
Joining Patitucci in this trio setting is Chris Potter on sax, a world-class soloist and composer, who while attending the New School and Manhattan School of Music as a teenager in the late 1980’s, thoroughly immersed himself in New York City’s jazz scene and began his lifelong path as a professional musician, performing and recording with Herbie Hancock, Dave Holland, Paul Motian, Dave Douglas, to name just a few of the many. chrispottermusic.com
A multi-degree graduate of the Manhattan School of Music, drummer Obed Calvaire has been active on the jazz scene since the early 2000’s, having performed and recorded with artists such as Wynton Marsalis, Seal, Dave Holland, Mary J. Blige, Yellow Jackets, Joshua Redman, and many more, as well as performing in larger ensembles such as the Village Vanguard Orchestra, the Mingus Big Band, and the Roy Hargrove Big Band. obedcalvaire.com
Leading up to Arlington Jazz Festival’s headliner John Patitucci Trio concert on the fourth and last day of the Festival, are three days full of jazz performances that champion the vibrant local jazz scene that flourishes in this area. As the Festival’s custom, an abundance of local talent will be on full display at this year’s Festival, performing in several different venues around the town. Those performances include: Jesse Williams Group, Estefanía Núñez Villamandos Group, The Francisco Mela Trio w/George Garzone, Los Zorros, The Plamen Karadonev/Elena Koleva Group, String Theory, the Jon Wheatley/Sheryl Bailey Duo, the Tiger Wizard Band, and more.
Arlington Jazz Festival basic listing info:
Arlington Jazz Festival. 12th Annual featuring headliner the John Patitucci Trio with Chris Potter and Obed Calvaire. All jazz festival concerts run from Thurs.-Sun., March 30-April 2, in various venues around the town of Arlington. Admission prices vary depending on event. For further details: arlingtonjazz.org, arlingtonjazzfestival@gmail.com, 617-909-7776.
Arlington Jazz Festival schedule in detail below:
Please refer to arlingtonjazz.org/2023-festival-schedule.html for the up-to-date list of all the artists involved this year:
Festival headliner concert:
Sunday, April 2, 7:00-9:30 pm
John Patitucci Trio with Chris Potter and Obed Calvaire
Regent Theatre, 7 Medford St, Arlington, MA 02474
Tickets: $35-$75.
Details at arlingtonjazz.org/john-patitucci-trio.html.
Tickets available at the door. For advance concert tickets:
regenttheatre.com, box.office@regenttheatre.com, (781) 646-4849.
Other Festival events, listed chronologically:
Thursday, March 30, 7:30 pm–9:30 pm:
Jazz Vocal Showcase: featuring vocalist Debby Larkin, plus a short set from vocalist Debbie Lane.
Arlington Center for the Arts (acarts.org), 20 Academy St., Arlington 02474
Cover: $7-$15.
Tickets available at the door. For advance tickets and further details:
arlingtonjazz.org/jazz-vocal-showcase.html.
Friday, March 31, 7:30 pm-9:30 pm:
Los Zorros and The Plamen Karadonev/Elena Koleva Group
Arlington Community Center, 20 Academy St., Arlington 02476
Cover: $10-$20.
Tickets available at the door. For advance tickets and further details:
arlingtonjazz.org/los-zorros-and-the-plamen-karadonevelena-koleva-group.html
Friday, March 31, 9:30 pm-11:30 pm:
Jesse Williams Group
Menotomy Grill & Tavern (menotomygrill.com), 25 Mass. Ave, Arlington 02474
No cover.
Further details at: arlingtonjazz.org/jesse-williams-group.html
Saturday, April 1, 1:00 pm-3:00 pm:
Guitar Showcase: featuring String Theory and the Jon Wheatley/Sheryl Bailey Duo
Old Schwamb Mill, 17 Mill Ln., Arlington 02476
Cover: $10.
Tickets available at the door. For advance tickets and further details:
arlingtonjazz.org/guitar-showcase.html
Saturday, April 1, 3:00 pm-5:00 pm:
The Tiger Wizard Band, directed by Julian Carpenter
Arlington Community Center, 20 Academy St., Arlington 02476
Cover: $10.
Tickets available at the door. For advance tickets and further details:
arlingtonjazz.org/the-tiger-wizard-band.html
Saturday, April 1, 7:30 pm-9:30 pm:
Estefanía Núñez Villamandos Group and the Francisco Mela Trio w/George Garzone
Arlington Community Center, 20 Academy St., Arlington 02476
Cover: $20.
Tickets available at the door. For advance tickets and further details:
arlingtonjazz.org/estefaniacutea-nuacutentildeez-villamandos-group-and-the-francisco-mela-trio-8203w-george-garzone.html
Sunday, April 2, 11:30 am-1:00 pm:
Brazilian Styles in Jazz Drumming, workshop with Rafael Barata.
Workshop location is right in Arlington Center, Arlington 02474
Cover (limited capacity, advance registration recommended): $10.
For advance registration and further details:
arlingtonjazz.org/8203brazilian-styles-in-8203jazz-drumming.html
Further information pertaining to the Festival and its presenter Arlington Jazz (arlingtonjazz.org):
The Festival, which receives organizing and production assistance from Arlington-based Morningside Music Studio (morningsidemusicstudio.com), under the direction of Dan Fox (danfox.com), has this solid mission: to raise awareness and appreciation of jazz through the confluence of top performers, local rising ensembles, and student groups, while also fostering a sense of community and an appreciation that Arlington and surrounding towns outside of Boston are cultural destinations. Morningside’s motto: “keep the groove in your life.”
The nonprofit Arlington Jazz Festival, held annually within the March-April timeframe, to coincide with April being recognized as National Jazz Appreciation Month, is supported in part by a grant from the Arlington Cultural Council, a local agency supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
