Monthly Archives: August 2016

Posted in News • North Shore Jazz Project ALl Stars • Press

North Shore Jazz Project All Stars Alumni Nominated for Best New Artist!

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Makutu with Bassist Ryder Hambley

A former member of the North Shore Jazz Project All Stars is in the running to win an award as one of New England’s Emerging Artists along with his band mates in Makutu.

August 28, 2016 – Salem, MA – Bassist Ryder Hambley of Rowley, 22, a member of the NSJP All Stars while a student at Ipswich High School, recently graduated from Berklee College of Music. His band, Makutu, is up for the award from “The Deli,” an online magazine focusing on the music scene in major cities known for music.

The contest is open until Aug. 31 and votes can be cast at http://newengland.thedelimagazine.com/snacks. Makutu bills itself as a band that plays “Ambient Gloom/Spooky Indie Rock.” Its Band Camp page is https://makutuband.bandcamp.com/releases.

Hambley, a 2012 graduate of Ipswich High, was also a member of the North Shore Youth Symphony Orchestra. He won the Ryder on Bass NSJP All StarsLouis Armstrong award while in high school and was named Most Valuable Player at the Northeast District Festival for the Massachusetts Association for Jazz Education.

Additionally, he has shared the stage with Danilo Perez at the Shalin Liu Performance Center in Rockport, with the All Stars, and has played the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival multiple times under the tutelage of NSJP All Stars director Mike Tucker.

His parents employed the state’s School Choice Program to get him into Ipswich High so he could study under the direction of Gerald Dolan, now the director of fine arts for Ipswich Public Schools.

The Salem Jazz and Soul Festival is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that produces free concerts for the public and raises money to support music education programs. Learn more at SalemJazzSoul.org

Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers
Posted in Shows

THANK YOU!

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Many, many thanks to everyone who made our 10th festival a memorable one! We had beautiful weather and hot music that kept everyone dancing and smiling. Watch this space for photos, videos, stories and more!

RickyExpress SJSF/Berklee Summer Series 8/13/16
Posted in Berklee • News • Press

RickExpress closes SJSF/Berklee Summer Series before Salem Jazz and Soul Festival

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RickExpress a Berklee College of Music student, will play the last SJSF/Berklee Summer Series concert of 2016 with his band in Derby Square, Salem, on Saturday, Aug. 13.

The free show will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. and will feature an educational interview about music and the Berklee experience. Rain location is Koto Japanese Grill. 90 Washington St., Salem.

In a Pig’s Eye restaurant will sponsor the performance, which marks the festival’s last show before the main festival, Aug. 20-21.

RickExpress (Ricky McKinney) is a singer, songwriter/composer and pianist. The youngest of his siblings and the only boy, RickExpress’ talent was discovered at an early age and harnessed thereafter. He began singing gospel music at church when he was just 2 and by 6, he had written his first song. With his unique style and eccentric flavor, he has gained the likes of music lovers across the board, ranging from his peers to older generations. They find his music soothing, healing and timeless. While he lends himself to the Neo-Soul genre, he describes his sound as “soulful, moving and ahead of the times”.  He incudes inspirations from funk and rhythm and blues. Ricky has stated that many of the messages in his songs come from his time in Sanford, a small town in North Carolina and also deal with modern themes such as social action.

RickExpress has worked with many artist including Valerie Simpson, Sam Smith, Ledisi, Talib Kweli, Sinbad, Sheila E., Lady Gaga, Robert Glasper, Snarky Puppy and more.  Ricky continues to study music and perfect his genius as a newly minted graduate from the Berklee College of Music.

The 10th-annual Salem Jazz and Soul Festival will follow during the weekend of Aug. 20-21, featuring 10 bands, a MusicKidz tent, music-education tent, artisan fair and 21-plus beer pavilion. The two-day concert is free.

The festival is a nonprofit, volunteer-run organization that produces free concerts and raises money for music education causes on the North Shore. Check salemjazzsoul.org for more information. Photos provided upon request.

Watch RickExpress perform his original “Ex Man” live at the Berklee Performance Center.

Published on Jul 13, 2016 | Source: Berklee College of Music

 

Posted in News • Shows

10th annual Salem Jazz and Soul Festival takes place at Salem Willows, Aug. 20-21

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Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco HellraisersThe nonprofit Salem Jazz and Soul Festival will cap its 10th season with a two-day music festival at the Salem Willows, Aug. 20-21.

August 2, 2016 – Salem, MA – The free festival will feature 10 bands, a MusicKidz tent, Salem Five Community Foundation Music-Education Tent, artisan fair and 21-plus Notch Brewing beer pavilion.

“We’re extremely excited to have made it this far as a volunteer-run nonprofit,” said Larry Claflin Jr., the festival’s co-founder and executive director. “Without the city’s help and that of our generous sponsors and growing number of patrons, this would not have been possible. This is truly a community effort.”
The festival will offer all styles of music over two days: Big band jazz, Latin, funk, soul, blues, zydeco and more. Bands hail from the North Shore, Boston, New York and Louisiana.

Organizers rarely repeat groups but made two exceptions this year: Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers, who were such a hit at the 2015 festival; and Jen Kearney, who performed at the first Salem Jazz and Soul Festival, in 2007.

Saturday’s line-up consists of Salem High School Jazz Band; What Time is it, Mr. Fox; Austin Torpedoes; Brian Thomas / Alex Lee Clark Big Band; and The Nth Power, a powerful soul band from New York, led by drummer Nikki Glaspie, who has toured with Maceo Parker and Beyoncé.

Sunday will feature the North Shore Jazz Project All Stars; Edmar Colón; Jen Kearney; Tim Gearan and Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers.
Parking is limited at the Salem Willows and attendance is expected to be at an all-time high this year, so festival organizers and the city ask that attendees walk or bike to the festival, or park free at Shetland Park and take an inexpensive trolley to the festival.

The festival is a nonprofit, volunteer-run organization that produces free concerts and raises money for music education causes on the North Shore. Check salemjazzsoul.org for more information. Photos provided upon request.

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