Newport Jazz Festival History

A History of the Newport Jazz Festival – Chapter VII: Memory of a Giant, 1970-1971

In some ways, the near riotous circumstances at Festival Field in July of 1969 was a precursor of an event…

4 years ago

A History of the Newport Jazz Festival – Chapter VI: Electric Aquidneck Experiment, 1969

At the time of the first Newport Jazz Festival in 1954, there were two primary ways to enter the city…

4 years ago

A History of the Newport Jazz Festival – Chapter V: The New Thing, 1965-1968

Despite its rough shape, the new site was at a fantastic location. Near the JT Connell Highway, it had sufficient…

4 years ago

A History of the Newport Jazz Festival – Chapter IV: Revival, 1961-1964

Following the riots of the prior summer, there was no Newport Jazz Festival in 1961. However, the city had not…

4 years ago

A History of the Newport Jazz Festival – Chapter III: Goodbye Newport Blues, 1957-1960

The 1957 Festival extended to four days - Thursday, July 4 to Sunday, July 7- with every minute captured by…

4 years ago

A History of the Newport Jazz Festival – Chapter II: Diminuendo and Crescendo, 1956

The 1956 Newport Jazz Festival’s schedule was adjusted slightly compared to the prior two outings. While still a three-day event…

4 years ago

A History of the Newport Jazz Festival – Chapter I: A New Tradition, 1954-1955

By 9:18 PM on the evening of July 17, 1954, Eddie Condon’s tribute to Dixieland finally began its delayed performance.…

4 years ago

A History of the Newport Jazz Festival – Prologue: Born in Storyville, 1950-1954

In September of 1950, twenty-four-year-old George Wein used his college savings to open a nightclub, Storyville, at Boston’s Copley Square…

4 years ago