We think it a healthy sign for both events that this weekend’s Berkshire Mountain Music Festival and JVC Jazz Festival–Newport, both running this Friday through Sunday, share a number of the same groups. Berkfest (866-BMM-FEST), at Butternut Basin Ski Area in Great Barrington, explores how the cooler elements of the jam-band scene have grown and mutated, absorbing elements of electronica, hip-hop, serious jazz, world music, gospel, and the avant-garde. The headliners on Friday include the Motet, Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra, Topaz, the Slip, Sound Tribe Sector 9, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, and Kid Koala’s Bullfrog. (Many of Berkfest’s acts will play multiple sets throughout the weekend.) Saturday’s headliners include the Abyssinians, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Spearhead, the New Deal, Mister Rourke, and Soulive. And on Sunday, look for Angélique Kidjo, Ozomatli, the Addison Groove Project, Project Logic, John Scofield, Medeski Martin and Wood, Lake Trout, Lettuce, and Particle.

Many of the Berkfest groups are playing spinoff gigs in the area. Old-school reggae greats the Abyssinians celebrate the 40th anniversary of Jamaican independence on Friday at the House of Blues (617-491-BLUE) in Cambridge. Ozomatli stake out Higher Ground (802-654-8888) in Vermont on Monday. The Motet headline the Met Café (401-861-2142) in Providence on Wednesday. And Particle warm up with a gig tonight (Thursday, August 8) at the Paradise (617-423-NEXT) in Boston.

But the biggest spinoff of all turns out to be the JVC Newport jazz fest (401-847-3700) in Rhode Island, which balances out the starpower of a couple of old favorites with a closing night that includes a mini-Berkfest of sorts with Karl Denson, Bullfrog, and Antibalas. Newport kicks off Friday night with Tony Bennett at the Newport Casino; Tony then moves over with the rest of the festival to Fort Adams State Park, where he headlines a Saturday bill including Bill Cosby’s all-star Cos of Good Music ensemble, the Dave Holland Quintet, Oleta Adams, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Sex Mob, and the Greg Osby Quartet featuring Jason Moran. Sunday brings soul icon Isaac Hayes; Arturo Sandoval; " Directions in Music, " in which the music of Miles Davis and John Coltrane is performed by Herbie Hancock, Michael Brecker, and Roy Hargrove; the Nicholas Payton Quintet with James Carter; Lea Delaria; David S. Ware; the Holmes Brothers; and the aforementioned Berkfesters.

A couple of more traditional jam-bandits are in the area this week. The Allman Brothers and Galactic tackle Meadowbrook Farm (603-293-4700) in Gilford, New Hampshire, on Friday; the Tweeter Center (617-931-2000) in Mansfield on Saturday; and Meadows Music (203-265-1501) in Hartford on Sunday. And Béla Fleck and the Flecktones are at FleetBoston Pavilion (617-931-2000) on Friday, the Cape Cod Melody Tent (508-775-9100) in Hyannis on Sunday, the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom (603-929-4100) in New Hampshire on Tuesday, and the State Theater (207-780-8265) in Portland on Wednesday.

Issue Date: August 8 - 15, 2002
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