Sights & Sounds Of Newport Jazz Festival 2023: A Weekend Filled With Musical Brilliance

This past weekend the Newport Jazz Festival returned to Fort Adams State Park for three-days of musical brilliance, showcasing some of the most exceptional talent in the jazz and fusion music scenes. The festival’s 69th year stood up to its storied history with artistic director Christian McBride curating a diverse lineup of artists who brought their unique flavors to the three stages.

Day One highlights included an outstanding performance by Soulive on the main Fort stage. After a run of shows in June at New York City’s Blue Note, the elusive trio brought their talents and magic for a fantastic festival set. A sit-in by Branford Marsalis, who was a last minute addition to the Friday lineup replacing Kamasi Washington who dropped off for personal reasons, was a perfect addition to the trio’s sound.

Guitarist Eric Krasno displayed his versatility, channeling the spirit of Hendrix during the set while maintaining his bluesy essence that captivated the crowd from start to finish.

Over on the Harbor stage Durand Jones‘ funky Friday afternoon set had the whole tent dancing. Jones’ infectious energy drew in passers by as the area swelled with fans old and new. When he returns, he’s sure to be at a bigger stage.

On the Quad stage, DOMi and JD Beck returned to the festival for the first time since 2019 after a year of success with Grammy nominations for best new artist and best contemporary instrumental album for their debut Not Tight, which was celebrating one year since its release.

The young duo captivated a massive crowd with their virtuosic playing and endearing banter. Domi’s talent on the keys is notable as she effortlessly plays both melodies and bass lines. Their single “Smile” was a stand out track as well as their cover of Jaco Pastorius’ “Havona” a staple of their sets over the past year.

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The day ended with a set by Branford Marsalis joined by Joey Calderazzo, William Ledbetter and Justin Faulkner, who dug deep into the repertoire to pay homage to jazz greats like Keith Jarrett and Sammy Fain. Branford also replaced Kamasi as a special guest for the entire JRAD set to end the first night of the festival.

We can always appreciate the incorporation of any brass instruments into classic Grateful Dead songs, like “Let it Grow” and a beautiful rendition of “Brokedown Palace” (For more coverage of the set see: Watch Branford Marsalis’ Magnificent Collaboration With Joe Russo’s Almost Dead At Newport Jazz.

Day Two featured Christian McBride leading an unforgettable Jam Jawn with Eric Krasno, Nate Smith (Drummer), Ravi Coltrane, Nêgah Santos, Celisse and legendary keyboard player Bob James setting the stage for a day filled with incredible performances by extraordinary musicians.

Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer, and Shahzad Ismaily delivered a mesmerizing performance, showcasing the music from their acclaimed album Love In Exile, released earlier in the year. Thundercat brought his eccentric charm to the stage, serenading the audience with songs dedicated to his cats.

Traditionally known for playing electronic music ornamented by live saxophone and drums, Big Gigantic turned the tables in Newport by reimagining their songs in a “Big Gigantic does Jazz” set. The duo left the computers at home and leaned into their instruments with the help of an ensemble of horn players, including Jennifer Hartswick, Eric ‘Benny’ Bloom of Lettuce, Clayton DeWalt, keyboards by Yuki Hirano, guitar by Randy Runyon, bass by Nate Edgar, and an additional drum set manned by Rudy Royston. The many players brought a full sound and melodic takes on the duo’s most successful electronic compositions.

Saturday closed out with Jon Batiste, leading a big band with 11 brass players who each took their turn flexing solos at the front of the stage. Debuting two new songs “Drink Water” and “Worship” from an upcoming album that Batiste mentioned will be released later this month. His breakout hit “Freedom” had the crowd jumping and dancing.

Batiste also brought fellow Colbert show band members Louis Cato and Jon Lampley to the stage, taking the energy level even higher. The set ended as Batiste led a second line of the 17 players through the crowd around the main stage.

The final day on Fort Adams peninsula was highlighted by particularly beautiful weather and even greater musical talent. Master of the bass Marcus Miller’s incredible playing was adorned by the exceptional talents of his band members Russell Gunn on trumpet, Donald Hayes on saxophone, Anwar Marshall on drums, and Xavier Gordon on keys. The set proved to be a major highlight with standing ovations after many songs from the seated section in the Quad tent.

After Miller’s set, the Quad stage hosted best new artist Grammy award winner, 23-year-old Samara Joy and a massive crowd. The young singer showcased her astounding talent and vocal tone with many originals as well as a rendition of the standard “Stardust” and a cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Lately.” Her reimagined version of a Charles Mingus song, featuring her own poignant lyrics, was a testament to her creativity and artistry.

The last day was capped by the legendary Herbie Hancock who at 83 brought a vibrancy and lightness of a player half his age. Cracking jokes between songs, “singing” to the crowd through a vocoder, and busting out the keytar the festival’s alum of many years made it clear he was having a great time.

After posting on Instagram a clip of himself covering the Wayne Shorter classic “Footprints” from Newport Jazz Fest ‘88 on Friday, Hancock brought back the cover for a 2023 version that had the crowd enthralled. Playing a combination of his biggest hits and pieces of free form where his players took center stage to explore the space, Herbie’s set was the perfect end to a perfect weekend.

Overall, the 2023 Newport Jazz Festival was a resounding success, bringing together a diverse array of jazz and fusion artists who delivered outstanding performances. From soulful melodies to energetic funk, virtuosic solos to reimagined classics, the festival had it all. It was an unforgettable experience for jazz enthusiasts and music lovers alike, leaving us all eagerly anticipating next year’s 70th edition.