We think it a healthy sign for both events that this weekend's Berkshire
Mountain Music Festival and JVC Jazz Festival-Newport, both running
this Friday through Sunday, share a number of the same groups. Berkfest
(866-BMM-FEST), at Butternut Basin Ski Area in Great Barrington, explores how
the cooler elements of the jam-band scene have grown and mutated, absorbing
elements of electronica, hip-hop, serious jazz, world music, gospel, and the
avant-garde. The headliners on Friday include the Motet, Antibalas
Afrobeat Orchestra, Topaz, the Slip, Sound Tribe Sector
9, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, and Kid Koala's Bullfrog.
(Many of Berkfest's acts will play multiple sets throughout the weekend.)
Saturday's headliners include the Abyssinians, Robert Randolph and
the Family Band, Spearhead, the New Deal, Mister
Rourke, and Soulive. And on Sunday, look for Angélique
Kidjo, Ozomatli, the Addison Groove Project, Project
Logic, John Scofield, Medeski Martin and Wood, Lake
Trout, Lettuce, and Particle.
Many of the Berkfest groups are playing spinoff gigs in the area. Old-school
reggae greats the Abyssinians celebrate the 40th anniversary of Jamaican
independence on Friday at the House of Blues (617-491-BLUE) in Cambridge.
Ozomatli stake out Higher Ground (802-654-8888) in Vermont on Monday. The Motet
headline the Met Café (401-861-2142) in Providence on Wednesday. And
Particle warm up with a gig tonight (Thursday, August 8) at the Paradise
(617-423-NEXT) in Boston.
But the biggest spinoff of all turns out to be the JVC Newport jazz fest
(401-847-3700) in Rhode Island, which balances out the starpower of a couple of
old favorites with a closing night that includes a mini-Berkfest of sorts with
Karl Denson, Bullfrog, and Antibalas. Newport kicks off Friday night with
Tony Bennett at the Newport Casino; Tony then moves over with the rest
of the festival to Fort Adams State Park, where he headlines a Saturday bill
including Bill Cosby's all-star Cos of Good Music ensemble, the Dave
Holland Quintet, Oleta Adams, the Preservation Hall Jazz
Band, Sex Mob, and the Greg Osby Quartet featuring Jason
Moran. Sunday brings soul icon Isaac Hayes; Arturo Sandoval;
"Directions in Music," in which the music of Miles Davis and John Coltrane is
performed by Herbie Hancock, Michael Brecker, and Roy
Hargrove; the Nicholas Payton Quintet with James Carter; Lea
Delaria; David S. Ware; the Holmes Brothers; and the
aforementioned Berkfesters.
A couple of more traditional jam-bandits are in the area this week. The
Allman Brothers and Galactic tackle Meadowbrook Farm
(603-293-4700) in Gilford, New Hampshire, on Friday; the Tweeter Center
(617-931-2000) in Mansfield on Saturday; and Meadows Music (203-265-1501) in
Hartford on Sunday. And Béla Fleck and the Flecktones are at
FleetBoston Pavilion (617-931-2000) on Friday, the Cape Cod Melody Tent
(508-775-9100) in Hyannis on Sunday, the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
(603-929-4100) in New Hampshire on Tuesday, and the State Theater
(207-780-8265) in Portland on Wednesday.
Issue Date: August 9 - 15, 2002
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