The breeze is blowing on a beautiful day next to the waters of the Atlantic. The sky is clear and Newport, Rhode Island is filled with avid jazz fans ready for a day packed with a spectacular array of famous names and bands. In 1954, Elaine Lorrillard and George Wein founded the Newport Jazz Festival with the goal to bring jazz to Rhode Island. The first jazz festival in America, this event now draws 1000s from all over the world to show off the finest jazz acts of the day.

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Over the years, Newport has showcased Clifford Brown and the Max Roach Quintet, the Dave Brubeck Quartet, the Horace Silver Quartet, Cannonball Adderly, Sarah Vaughan, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Herbie Hancock, and Roy Hargrove (Rest in Peace). Some of these famed “cats” still live and play on while others remain an influence from their peaceful resting place. The festival features all kinds and cultures of jazz from across the world. From swing to bebop, Indian to Middle Eastern, big bands to trios, crooners to screamers, classics and standards to modern compositions, Newport has something for everyone. Newport truly represents every nook and cranny that jazz covers.

I was very fortunate to attend Newport in 2018 with my dad and my aunt who lives in Rhode Island. We were able to stay in my aunt’s apartment to avoid the painful prices that local hotels and resorts charge during the festival. We attended all day on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday through amazing, peacful weather and through downpours that turned the grounds into a river. Through all of the weather changes, it was worth it for the musical experience0.

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Heres a list of the groups that I watched during my time: Diva Jazz Orchestra, Rudresh Manhanthappa and Indo-Pak Coalition, Cory Henry and the Funk Apostles, BADBADNOTGOOD, Sangum, Marquis Hill Blacktet, R+R=NOW, Tony Allen, Isaiah J. Thompson Trio, Roy Hargrove (RIP), Grace Kelly, Anat Cohen and Marcello Goncalves, Jon Batiste, Herlin Riley and New York-Havana Connection, Artemis, GoGo Penguin, Nate Smith + Kinfolk, Jane Bunnett & Maqueque, Gregory Porter, Black Art Jazz Collective, James Carter Organ Trio, George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic.

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Out of this long list (it was a LONG weekend of jazz – almost too much!) my favorites were Cory Henry and the Funk Apostles, BADBADNOTGOOD, Roy Hargrove (RIP), Grace Kelly, and Jon Batiste. These are all modern artists and are all living and producing music with the exception of Roy Hargrove, who tragically passed later in 2018 at the age of 49. You can find their music on Spotify, which I have hyperlinked to their names. Cory Henry might be a recognizable name as he comes from the well-known group Snarky Puppy.