Jazz festival in NU's backyard

As autumn approaches, some Northeastern students' noses and palates have started to become accustomed to the smell of crisp dry air and the taste of pumpkin pie. Soon students' ears will have a chance to indulge the rest of their senses, as the eighth annual Berklee Beantown Jazz Festival begins this weekend.

The festival, which begins with ticketed events tonight and tomorrow evening and transitions into free public shows throughout the day Saturday, has become one of Boston's largest and most popular outdoor festivals, with an attendance of about 70,000 last year, said Berklee publicist Nick Balkin.

"We're hoping to match or even surpass those numbers this year," Balkin said.

Darcel Wilson, a Berklee professor who will be performing as a solo vocalist and pianist Saturday, said he thinks the festival is popular because jazz music has the power to bring people together.

"When you tell people that there's going to be a big party with good music and food, they'll come from all around to be a part of it," Wilson said. "After all, jazz is such a diverse genre. It has something to offer for every age group."

Balkin said experiencing live jazz is something he thinks everyone can enjoy, for students who may have become accustomed to turning on their iPods to listen to music.

"CD sales have gone into a niche market, but live music, especially jazz, remains a valuable experience," he said.

Freshman Frank Liuzzi, who is dual majoring in computer science and music technology, said although he doesn't listen to much jazz, he thinks it is important because he believes modern western music is rooted in jazz.

"But I heard that the festival is a pretty big deal," Liuzzi said. "There's a chance I might go this year."

Senior photography major Annie Morrow said she's gone to the festival twice, and that the festival can be fun for people who aren't too familiar with jazz.

"I started going as a photographer for the yearbook staff, and I plan to take some pictures this year," Morrow said. "I don't usually listen to jazz, but the festival is a lot of fun and the music is great."

Balkin said he thinks the central location of the festival is a key factor in bringing the Boston community together, as well as attracting Northeastern students who live near Columbus Avenue.

"It's not just a venue for the big jazz lovers of the area; it's a great family event, too," he said. "This year we have what is called the Target Family Park, which features interactive events such as the Instrument Petting Zoo, where kids and even adults can go around to different instruments, try them out, and see what sparks their interest."

Emmett Price, associate professor of music and African American studies who is also co-producing the upcoming annual John Coltrane memorial concert "Tribute to 'Trane," said he thinks the Beantown Festival is an important part of the Boston community.

"I encourage my students to attend the festival and I offer an incentive on the next quiz in my jazz class for attending the Coltrane Memorial concert," Price said.

The festival starts tonight at 8 p.m. There's a special warm-up concert at Café 939, a Berklee College of Music venue and coffee house, featuring performing artists from Berklee's student-run Jazz Revelation Records. Food and CDs are free. Tickets are $10 at the door, according to the Jazz Festival's website.

Festivities continue Friday evening at 8:15 p.m, with a showcase on drummers at the Berklee Performance Center on Massachusetts Avenue, according to the website. Performers include Berklee alumna Cindy Blackman, who has played with artists like Lenny Kravitz and Pharoah Sanders; as well as Terri Lyne Carrington, who has played with jazz musicians like Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock. Tickets for Friday's show are $30 and $40, and are available at ticketmaster.com.

Saturday afternoon is the real kickoff to the festival, when jazz fans of Boston and the New England area can come to open-to-the-public free performances, according to the website. These performances will take place simultaneously from noon until 6 p.m. on three separate stages, as well as on six blocks of Columbus Avenue.

For more information about the festival, students can visit www.beantownjazz.org.