THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 - SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
So what if we were front row (and loving it) for Hilary Duff's recent show? This weekend marks the seventh annual BeanTown Jazz Festival, founded by Darryl Settles and produced by the Berklee College of Music, and we're cultured and sophisticated enough to attend that, too. The lineup features more than 30 jazz, blues, Latin, and groove acts headlining both free and ticketed events. A warm-up at the Beehive (541 Tremont Street, Boston, 617.423.0069) starts things off on September 27; the event's official kick-off is Newport Jazz Festival founder George Wein's "A Celebration of Jazz and Joyce - A Concert to Establish the Joyce Alexander Wein Scholarship Fund" on September 28, during which greats including Herbie Hancock, Branford Marsalis, and Joe Lovano will take the stage at Symphony Hall (301 Mass Ave, Boston, 617.266.1492). The September 29 day-long main event is spread over three outdoor stages on Columbus Avenue and features, among others, the Mike Stern Band, Entrain, the Greg Hopkins Jazz Orchestra, and the Berklee Rainbow Band. The BeanTown Jazz Cool Down at Scullers Jazz Club (400 Soldiers Field Road, Boston, 617.562.4111) closes the weekend with two performances by Monty Alexander's Jazz & Roots Ensemble. Need more info? Visit www.beantownjazz.org.
[Written by Heather Bouzan and Melissa Cronin.]
