WBGO Blog

  • Newport Four: Steve Coleman Solo

    August 7, 2011. Posted by Tim Wilkins.

    Add new comment | Filed under: newport

    Another highlight from our "flash jam" deep inside Fort Adams at the 2011 Newport Jazz festival - this time, alto saxophonist Steve Coleman solo. Check out our excerpt of Coleman with two more of his "Five Elements" - vocalist Jen Shyu and trumpeter Jonathan Finlayson - by clicking here, and check back to our Newport blog for more updates throughout the day!

    © 2011 WBGO

  • Newport Three: A Tiny Fort "Flash Jam" with Steve Coleman

    August 7, 2011. Posted by Alex Rodriguez.

    Add new comment | Filed under: newport

    Day One at Newport held many surprises -- one was an impromptu "flash jam" with alto saxophonist Steve Coleman along with vocalist Jen Shyu and trumpeter Jonathan Finlayson, two members of his band Five Elements. Cameras in hand, we followed Coleman as the intrepid trio set out to sonically explore the stone carcass of the abandoned fort at Fort Adams State Park in Newport, where the jazz festival is held every year.

    Coleman, Finlayson and Shyu found a particularly resonant spot and got to work, weaving a haunting counterpoint with Shyu's wordless vocals:

    We're happy to share this brief excerpt of this performance with you now, with more to come later. Enjoy!

    © 2011 WBGO

  • Newport Two: First Day Highlights

    August 6, 2011. Posted by Alex Rodriguez.

    Add new comment | Filed under: newport

    We had a great time hanging out at Newport today, putting together our live broadcast of some of the festival's most talented up-and-comers, and a few established stars, too.

    Trombone Shorty, photo by Jared Herwick of WGBH
    Trombone Shorty, photo by Jared Herwick of WGBH

    Some of the sets, such as Ambrose Akinmusire, Joey DeFranceso and Regina Carter, we played on our stream today, thanks to the tireless efforts of our crack audio team: Josh Jackson, David Tallacksen and Michael Downes. Over at NPR Music, you can listen to those sets and more in their extensive archive.

    Click here for more photos and links to Saturday's great broadcast: Read more

    © 2011 WBGO