The historic Newport Jazz Festival returned to Fort Adams State Park in Rhode Island from July 31 to Aug. 2. Jazz legends, emerging voices, and community members gathered next to the yachts under the beating sun to celebrate culture with one of the most diverse lineups in the festival’s history.
“There really is such a breadth of music here, sort of coming out of this improvisatory spirit,” said drummer Nate Smith, who is serving in his first year as artistic director of Newport Jazz, in an onsite interview with the AmNews. “I think it speaks to this idea that music is universal and it’s bigger than any one musician.”
Smith is no stranger to Newport, having first performed alongside legendary bassist Dave Holland in 2004. Smith called upon Holland to return to this year’s edition of the fest and Holland performed a special duo set alongside fellow Miles Davis band alum John Scofield. The bassist then discussed his work with the bandleader on the foundation stage on Saturday.
“Really the biggest privilege of the job is I get to reach out to people I know — and people who I don’t know but would like to know and say, ‘come share your music at this legendary place,’” said Smith. “Newport is a family. People come here and they make connections that last their entire careers.”
Weekend highlights included performances by Herbie Hancock, Charles Lloyd, and Bernard Purdie; contemporary voices including Jon Batiste and Robert Glasper; South African pianist Nduduzo Makhathini; and the U.S. debut of Angine de Poitrine, who performed on the same stage as bassists Flea and Thundercat.
Groups played throughout the weekend across three stages within the scenic seaside fort. While the festival sells out annually, the vibe is easygoing and relaxed — courteous, even. Lines are pretty mellow and finding good spots to see and hear music is relatively easy. Many attendees and artists alike would agree that the festival is a unique entity. “Before you even get here, the enormity of Newport precedes you. You think about the history, you think about your heroes who have been on this stage, everyone from Louis Armstrong to Duke Ellington to Ella Fitzgerald, all these amazing artists. Newport has always been about presenting the past, present and future of jazz,” Smith said.
The Newport Festivals Foundation, the nonprofit behind the festival, supports the next generation by providing access to artistic resources and offering lessons and performance opportunities to children in the community.
“I think one of the greatest things about this organization is that they are investing in the future of the music by teaching. That’s so important,” said Smith. “I did an hour-long masterclass with the Jazz Camp yesterday and we had a great time. We talked about everything from Art Blakey to J Dilla and they asked great questions. I left feeling really energized.”
For Smith, part of the festival’s beauty and appeal lies in the potential for discovery.
“My goal is that somebody comes to Newport, hears an artist they never heard before, then they go home and buy all their records, all their merch, tickets to their next show — that’s the kind of connection that sustains the music, when people really connect with an artist directly,” said Smith. “The environment here is so familial, it can create that kind of connection. That’s my hope … That to me is what makes this exciting, that you can foster these connections for the rest of an artist’s career.”
Stay up to date with the festival, and get info about next year at newportjazz.org.
