The 10th Annual Berklee BeanTown Jazz Fest | Sept. 15th-25th, 2010

September 15-25: 10th Annual Berklee BeanTown Jazz Fest Celebrates
New Orleans

The first college of jazz celebrates the
birthplace of jazz as the 10th annual Berklee BeanTown Jazz Festival
pays tribute to music and culture of New Orleans five years after
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. From September 15-25, world-renowned
superstars and popular local acts perform free and ticketed concerts
throughout the city. The 10-day event culminates on Saturday, September
25, in a free outdoor festival on three stages over six blocks in the
South End that brings together people of all ages from every Boston
neighborhood, throughout New England, and beyond. Last year’s event drew
over 80, 000, a new festival record.

The festival’s largest
roster yet includes performances by 30 acts at the Berklee Performance
Center (BPC), Scullers Jazz Club, Regattabar, Wally’s Cafe, Berklee’s
Cafe 939 and David Friend Recital Hall, and outdoor stages along
Columbus Avenue. The Berklee BeanTown Jazz Festival is co-presented by
Target and sponsored by Dunkin’ Donuts, Blue Cross Blue Shield, WCVB-TV
5, and others. JazzBoston is a festival partner. BeanTown is receiving
support from the National Endowment for the Arts. For more information,
call 617-747-2261 or visit beantownjazz.org.

“Jazz is one of
America?s greatest contributions to world culture. Without the music of
New Orleans, there is no Berklee, ” says festival artistic director
Terri Lyne Carrington. “So we’re celebrating our 10th anniversary by
giving Beantown a taste of the Big Easy, with New Orleans music on each
stage of the outdoor festival, a traditional jazz band marching up and
down Columbus Avenue, delicious Southern cuisine, and activities for the
whole family.”

Carrington has assembled a diverse and exciting
lineup in her second year as artistic director. Among the highlights are
Kurt Rosenwinkel and Orchestra de Jazz de Matosinhos (9/15, BPC); The
Bad Plus (9/17, BPC); the John Coltrane Memorial Concert (9/18,
Northeastern University); Robert Glasper (9/23, Regattabar); Danilo
Perez (9/23-24, Scullers), Paula Cole (9/24, BPC); and Terence Blanchard
(9/25, Scullers).

The crown jewel is the free outdoor festival
on Saturday, September 25, from noon to 6:00 p.m. on three stages over
six blocks on Columbus Avenue, starting at Massachusetts Avenue. Top
acts include Al Kooper and the Funky Faculty, Jonathan Batiste Trio,
Greg Osby and Mark Turner, The Wild Magnolias, Nona Hendryx, Julian Lage
Trio, The Boogaloo Swamis, Rhiannon featuring Abraham Laboriel and Alex
AcuЯa, Grace Kelly, Victor Mendoza, and others.

The Target
Family Park returns to transform Carter Playground on Columbus Ave. into
a hub of activity for kids of all ages, with inflatables, rides, face
painting, balloons, and an instrument petting zoo staffed with Berklee
professionals. More than 80 vendor booths will offer arts, crafts,
accessories, and great food representing a variety of countries.