Soul of the city; Salem festival jazzes up summer with weekend of free concerts Salem festival jazzes up summer with weekend of free concerts
Whether it’s the percussive Boston Typewriter Orchestra or the colorfully costumed Revolutionary Snake Ensemble playing improvisational brass band music, the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival promises entertainment for all.
The third annual Salem Jazz and Soul Festival kicks off Saturday morning at the Salem Willows and runs through Sunday evening, providing two days of live jazz, funk and soul by the water — all for free.
“The bands are all terrific, each with a special bent to it,” said Holly Harris Feman, a blues radio DJ who has emceed the festival from the start. “It’s going to be a great one.”
The weekend festival lineup includes the Gregorio Uribe Big Band, Jordan Valentine and the Sunday Saints and the Boston Horns Big Band. And organizers say a few surprise twists will keep the audience entertained.
“It’s been growing each year,” said Salem resident Jen Reardon, one of the founders. “It’s just a real good eclectic mix of music, and it’s a wonderful opportunity to provide free access to live music to everybody, whether you’re 2 or 82.”
The nonprofit festival is organized by a group of local music aficionados who work throughout the year to organize the event. It relies on a “huge volunteer base” to pull it off, Reardon said.
Organizers pored over dozens of demo tapes to narrow down this weekend’s lineup of performers, like the Boston Typewriter Orchestra, a group of five men who make music by tapping away on typewriters.
“We’re just keeping it light and fun,” Reardon said.
The Salem High School Jazz Ensemble will kick off the festival Saturday morning, and other performances that day include the Brotherhood of Groove, which is coming up from New Orleans, Feman said.
“It’s just a great community spirit thing,” Feman said, “and to bring music back to the Willows, with all its history of the famous big bands and Duke Ellington, and to have it be free. … It’s a very joyous community event.”
The Salem Jazz and Soul Festival also runs the Berklee Summer Series, free summer concerts in Derby Square that wrapped up this past weekend.
“We want Salem to utilize its great parks and open spaces for live music,” Reardon said, “and we just want to help Salem become more vibrant in the arts. And I really think that’s been happening.”
Proceeds from the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival support music education in the schools and cover the expenses for putting on the festival.
“We want to bring awareness of all the cuts to music programs in the schools,” Reardon said, “and how important music education is for youngsters.”
Local saxophonist Henley Douglas Jr., who plays with the Boston Horns, will emcee on Sunday.
This year’s festival will feature more than double the number of vendors than previous years, including artists who will sell their wares.
“It’s more than just, ‘Come and sit on the lawn and listen to music,’” Reardon said. “There’s a lot going on.”
Festival lineup
Saturday, 10:45 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Salem High School Jazz Ensemble
Manami Morita and Randy Runyon Quintet
Gregorio Uribe Big Band
Brotherhood of Groove
Sea Monsters
Revolutionary Snake Ensemble
Boston Typewriter Orchestra
Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Qwill and the Further from Zen Orchestra
Soul Force V
Jordan Valentine and the Sunday Saints
The Boston Horns Big Band
IF YOU Go
What: The Salem Jazz and Soul Festival
When: Saturday 10:45 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: Salem Willows, 167 Fort Ave., Salem
Cost: Free
Information: Visit www.salemjazzsoul.org
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