You can now only reach this site by www.donricklin.com/worcjazz.
Note: ~dricklin is now longer at Speakeasy.org!

SaysJazz Enthusiasts have visted since March 1999!

Lou Terricciano, Blind Piano Player passed away November 14, 2005!

Chet Williamson's Tribute to Lou.

Emil Haddad Died Monday August 9, 2004 at the age of 82. The "Hugman" will be sorely missed for his Humanity and his Music! Chet Williamson on Emil

Former WICN Jazz Host Carl Cooper Died Wednesday, January 16th, 2002 Exactly 6 months from is birthday 16 July (1928) WoMag Article , Curtasy of Chet Williamson Carl will be missed by many, many friends. His was a truly Great Soul!

This page is updated regularly to reflect current JAZZ events!

J.J.’s House of Blues, 395 Grafton St., Worcester. (508)459-7879.
Opia 1541, 1541 Main Street on the Worcester/ Leicester line,(508)795-7955.
Zipango's Sushi Bar at 270 Shrewsbury Steet, Worcester, MA, (508)754-8047
Wonder Bar Restaurant, 121 Shrewsbury Street, Worcester, MA (508)752-9909
Union Blues, Union Station, 2 Washington Square, Worcester, MA (508)767-2587
Cosmopolitan Grille, 1138 Worcester Rd East, Framingham, MA (508)370-4555
Peppercorns, 455 Park Avenue, Worcester,MA 01609, (508)752-7711
Bailey's Pub, Regeny Suites Hotel, 70 Southbridge Street, Worcester,MA 01608, (508)753-3512
Word of Mouth BBQ 12 Hampshire Street, Methuen, MA 02844, (978)682-1859
fax:(978) 689-1859 New Music Venue Listing
Blue Plate Lounge, 661 Main Street, Holden, MA (508)792-2105 BigJim
Chloé, 23 Main St. (at the rotary), Hudson, MA (978)568-1500
Café Amore, 92 Shrewsbury Street, Worcester, MA (508)757-3104
Bob the Chef's Restaurant & Jazz Café, NOW Bob's Southern Bistro 604 Columbus Ave, Boston MA, (617)536-6204
Bullfinch's Live Jazz Brunch, 730 Boston Post Road (Route 20) Sudbury MA 01776, (978)443-4094 - PRichar730@aol.com
Sherborn Inn, Junction of Rtes. 16 & 27, 35 No. Main St., Sherborn, MA, (508)655-9521
The Colonial Inn, 48 Monument Square, Concord, MA, (978)369-9200 Casual dining. No cover.
Grafton Crossing, 135 Westboro Road, Grafton, MA, (508)839-211 Jazz Sundays 2-5.
J.P. O'Hanlon's Pub, 9 Main St, Ayer MA (North on Rte 111 from Rte 2; or West from Rte 495 on Rte 2A/110)
The Acton Jazz Cafe, 452 Great Rd, Route 2A, Acton, MA 01720 (978)263-6161.
The Cactus Grille, 167 W. Main St. Hopkinton, MA, 01748, (508)497-5020
Goldens Seafood & Steakhouse, 271 Grafton St., Shrewsbury, MA 01545, 6:30-10pm on Wednesdays. (508)842-4321
Plantation Club, 151 Plantation St., Worcester. Swing dance lessons, 6-7pm and dancing 7-10pm on Sunday. (508)752-4666
Sahara Cafe and Restaurant, 143 Highland Street, Worcester, MA, (508)798-2181
Bean Counter, 113 Highland Street, Worcester, MA, (508)754-3125
Java Hut Coffee House, 1073A Main treet, Worcester, MA. Jazz Jam Session Hosted by Jay Tyer every Saturday from Noon t o 3pm. (508)752-1678
Crescent City Steakhouse, 278 Shrewsbury St, Worcester, MA, (508)757-1450, featuring the Rich Falco TrioFriday and Saturday Nights, 10:30pm
Green Rooster Coffee House, United Congregational Church, 6 Institute Road, Worcester, Ma, (508)798-3010
Chan's Fine Oriental Dining, 267 Main Street, Woonsocket, RI, (401)765-1900
Gilrein's, 802 Main Street, Worcester, MA, though known for the Blues also has Jazz Jam with Main South every Sunday 4pm to 8pm, call (508)791-BLUE
Bailey's Pub @ The Regency Suites Hotel, 70 Southbridge Street, Worcester, MA, (508)791-1400.
Kettles , 274 Shrewsbury Street, Worcester, MA, (508)753-8711
O'Flaherty's Piano Pub, NOW CLOSED, 1541 Main Street, Route 9, Worcester, MA,

* For more info on some of the above venues check out WICN's Club Calender.

Aside from some Jazz classes and bands in Public Schools, Worcester is blessed with four Schools with Jazz Studies Programs. Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Clark University, both programs under Richard Falco (rfalco@wpi.edu), (508)831-579. The Joy Of Music Program (JOMP), Wendy Ardizone, Director, (508)856-9541 at 1 Gorham Street, Worcester, MA and a brand new one at the Performing Arts School of Worcester. This is completely aside from what is happening in the Public Schools and Prep Schools under the leadership of the likes of Kalin Johnson and Denis Wren!!
We even have our own home grown label: Brownstone Recordings , brought to you by the Brownstone Group and Jack Wertheimer. Brownstone Recordings, PO Box 163 , Greendale Station,Worcester, MA 01606.
There is also the IAJE - Massachusetts Unit of the International Association of Jazz Educators maintained by Denis Wrenn.
I went surfing through NetScape Search and found two Radio Station Homepage Lists with Brownstone recording Artists listed on their Airplay lists:

Ohio University Public Radio's Weekly Jazz Playlisthas two listed. #6. Jack Pezanelli/Pleasured Hands/(Brownstone) and #4. Matt Gordy/Almost Spring/(Brownstone) both under Light Jazz.
WEMU JAZZ REPORT 270 has Cecilia Smith...CSQ, Volume 2...Brownstone, listed under LIGHT AIRPLAY.

Local Artists and Groups: Include Lydia Fortune, Emil Haddad & Dick Odgren, Jim Porcella, Jim Hefernan, Bunny Price, Toni Ballard, Rich Falco, Bob Simonelli, Eric Nebbia, Jerry Sabatini, Chet Williamson, Scott Friends and many, many others.

Worcester is lucky to have its own locally produced Jazz Cable TV show, also! Studio 3 on Greater Media Cable, WGMC, Cable 3. Toni Ballard hosts this show, aired three times weekly, featuring New England area artists, for the most part. It is taped before a live audience on a weekday evening and aired as follows:

Monday at 8:30pm
Wednesday at 10:30pm
Thursday at 7:00pm

Becker College presents Blue Monday which is a monthly live Jazz jam on the internet with both an audio only portion; followed by a TV webcast. Both segments are produced in the BAD Cafe on the campus of Becker College in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Both Internet WebCasts can be accessed through Real streaming media clients; however broadband capability such as DSL, Cable Modem, or T1/T3 service is recommended.
The programming starts at 7 PM E.S.T. with a student produced radio "pre-show" featuring pre-recorded music; and live jazz performances by music students from David Prouty High School. The WebCasting then switches at 8 PM E.S.T. to TV coverage in the BAD Cafe of a Jazz Jam by Worcester's Jay Tyer Group.
In addition to the live music Webcasting, there is also an interactive capability for the Internet audience to communicate with the performers in the cafe; and separate WebCams that allow behind the scenes glimpses of the production crew while the programs are in progress. For more info contact: Professor Art Krauss

Famous Jazz Personalities who hail from Worcester :Don Asher, Jaki Byard, Steve Davis, Barney Price, Howard Jefferson, Boots Ward, Frankie Capp, Barbara Carroll, Tony Zano, Reggie Walley and Lou Terricciano.

For more info see the newly published The Jazz Worcester Real Book by Chet Williamson, with Dick Odgren. The volume features biographies, profiles, vintage photographs and original musical compositions by 100 artists. More info here.

 

For even more of the History of Jazz in Worcester, Mass checkout:



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FREE Worcester County Jazz Scene, Entertainment Music, Radio & Television Listings. Submit to Don Ricklin

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Standard Disclaimer: This document in no way represents any of the other organizations listed. All opinions and errors, especially as to listings, unless otherwise indicated, are mine alone. This page maintained as a project of WebWright Don Ricklin: email. If you have anything about Jazz on the local/regional scene you want to list, drop me a note by Email.