Five Genre-Defying Selections from the Newport Jazz Festival’s 2021 Lineup

After a year canceled by the COVID-19 pandemic, the historic Newport Jazz Festival has announced it will be presenting the 2021 Festival at its home for the past four decades, Fort Adams State Park. To ensure safety, however, it will be scaled back from its usual scope. Four stages will be reduced to two, and the maximum audience capacity halved. But the scaling back logistically does not equate to diminished artistic quality. The organizers have invited all of the artists originally announced for 2020 to return this summer. As such, 60% of our 2020 list could be replicated and listed below. Makaya McCraven is still coming off of his fascinating Gil Scott-Heron project merging jazz, blues, hip hop, and soul, among others. Khruangbin continues to present music that is impossible to predict or describe. And Robert Glasper will serve as Artist in Residence. Across three sets – Dinner Party with Terrace Martin, his acoustic trio augmented with DJ Jahi Sundance, and a secretive Black Radio production with special unannounced guests – will explore a space between jazz, hip hop, R&B, and more. Here we will present five more for consideration, some from last year’s announcements as well as new ones. 

The Bogie Band featuring Joe Russo

To date, the Bogie Band has released only one single. Given the firepower on this year’s Newport lineup and his group’s shortened output, it may be easy to overlook tenor saxophonist Stuart Bogie. But it is a mistake to do so. Although not as widely known as others, his background is diverse and impressive. In addition to performing with Afrobeat powerhouse Antibalas for almost a decade, he was previously part of the quartet Transmission with Colin Stetson. Bogie has also recorded with everyone from Run the Jewels to Angelique Kidjo to David Byrne. While it is difficult to predict what the leader will share with his Band’s set, one thing is clear: it will be unique.

Terri Lyne Carrington and Social Science

Drummer Terri Lyne Carrington founded Berklee College of Music’s Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice in 2018. Given this background, it should come as no surprise that much of her music is politically pointed. The two-disc debut of her Social Science group, Waiting Game (Mack Avenue, 2019) is no different as it tackles issues from police violence to LGBT rights. Sonically, it is an incredible album, ending up on many year-end lists and nominated for a Grammy Award. Carrington’s ensemble is superpowered, featuring pianist Aaron Parks, guitarist Matthew Stevens, woodwindist Morgan Guerin, vocalist Debo Ray, and MC/DJ Kassa Overall. Each brings a different perspective to the band This leads their collective music down unpredictable and exciting avenues as they borrow ideas from the traditions of jazz, indie rock, free improvisation, contemporary classical, R&B hip hop, and others. For instance, on “Pray the Gay Away,” jazz, string quartet, opera, rap, funk, and Latin, Middle Eastern, and African rhythms all seamlessly come into one cohesive whole. 

Chris Potter Circuits Trio

Displaying versatility in everything from his many sidemen gigs to his role as one-third of the globe-trotting Crosscurrents trio with Dave Holland and Zakir Hussain, Chris Potter long ago established himself as among his generation’s finest saxophonists. But his most recent trio is arguably his most fascinating outing. While no stranger to incorporating electric sounds into his music – his Underground group from the mid-00s stands out in particular- Circuits takes the approach to a new level. Catchy horn melodies and improvised solos become enveloped with Eric Harland’s tight drum beats and James Francies’ atmospheric yet grounded keyboards. The group is malleable and, though oriented in jazz, readily rockets off into rock, electronic music, and beyond. 

A Christian McBride Situation

The Situation was born of necessity. Shortly before a scheduled performance at the 2005 Monterey Jazz Festival, two members of Christian McBride’s usual band abruptly canceled. To compensate for their absence, the bassist gathered a collaborative team of other artists at the event including turntablist DJ Logic, saxophonist Ron Blake, and keyboardist Patrice Rushen. The interplay between each of the performers proved enthralling and the ensemble reconvened in subsequent years albeit with changes. At various times DJ Jahi Sundance and Walter Smith III have both contributed their talents. And, yet others put the legendary Bernard “Pretty” Purdie on drums and Rachel Z on keyboards, and Adam Rodgers on guitar. Given the band’s somewhat ad hoc nature, it is a little difficult to predict who precisely will be in this group. But one can anticipate upbeat and soulful music fusing jazz with R&B and funk. 

The Jam Jawn

Speaking of McBride, since becoming the Newport Jazz Festival’s  Artistic Director in 2016, a highlight of each year’s event has been his special performances. In 2017 this took the shape of him revisiting his Philadelphia Experiment with Questlove and Uri Caine, supported by DJ Logic. In 2018 it was Laurie Anderson with McBride and Rubin Kodheli. And, in 2019, Herbie Hancock, McBride, and Vinnie Colaiuta. This summer’s Jam Jawn promises to be another fascinating memory. Joined by acclaimed guitarist John Scofield and the long-standing duo of keyboardist Marco Benevento and drummer Joe Russo, the bassist will stretch out to examine the intersection of jazz and the groove-heavy extended improvisations of jam music.

 This year’s Newport Jazz Festival (https://www.newportjazz.org) takes place July 30 to August 1, 2021, in Newport, Rhode Island. PostGenre will provide live reporting from the event.