The Newport Jazz Festival 2022-Through The Lens

August 23, 2022 by Kyra Kverno

: McBride’s Newport Jawn

: Norah Jones / photo by Kyra Kverno

: Lady Blackbird

: The Fearless Flyers

: Ron Cartet

: Mononeon

: Angelique Kidjo’

: Trombone Shorty

: The Wein Machine

: Nubya Garcia

: Thana Alexa: Ona

: The Baylor Project

Publisher’ s Note: Brooklyn’s own Kyra Kverno is an extraordinary music photographer, who has traveled the globe to capture artists at festivals and venues. She took a journey to the 2022 Newport Jazz Festival and shares some of her images here and describes some of her observations at the Festival with Brookyln Roads , including the Wein Machine Tribute to the Newport Jazz Festival founder George Wein and the Festival’s Artistic Director, Christian McBride:

Christian Mcbride continues to knock it out of the park since taking the helm at Newport Jazz Festival as artistic director in 2017. Blending old school artists and new young up and comers breathing new life into the jazz scene. Saturday was sold out completely and Friday and Sunday came pretty close.

Highlights of the festival were McBrides Newport Jawn, the Ron Carter Quartet, Nubya Garcia,Thana Alexia’s Ona, Lady Blackbird, Trombone Shorty, Mononeon, Angelique Kidjo‘s Remain in the Light ,The Baylor Project and The Fearless Flyers, to name a few. Quite frankly every act was spectacular.

Artists on our Radar

Emery Major Brings Colorado to Brooklyn!

Step inside the world of Colorado landscapes with Emery Major, who writes and performs music based in the folk, indie and pop genres. A Colorado native, Major is a folk singer-songwriter whose music is deeply thoughtful and aware of his environment. His songs are not just a feel; they are a location, deeply influenced by his upbringing in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado as well as his urban experiences in Nashville, Tennessee and Brooklyn. Over the years, he has defined his storytelling musical persona through performances at prestigious venues and folk festivals across his various homes. Major is known for his perfect blend of the old and new. His style is reminiscent of Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, and James Taylor while also resembling the more modern singer-songwriter styles of Jason Mraz, Hunter Hayes, and Ed Sheeran. Relying heavily on the acoustic guitar to accompany his journey, the music and lyrics are tied together in a deeply impactful way, as Major’s soothing voice brings the listener through discussions of layered concepts such as existentialism, personal development, and love. The music production of each song incorporates white noise, three-part harmony, and folk acoustic guitar progressions and harmonics as he slowly engages the listener in passionate stories. In one such song, “It’s okay to be sad,” Major’s powerful dynamics in his voice builds the song to its climax, utilizing both the soothing and stronger aspects of his voice. Major knows who he is as an artist; he has even performed covers such as his latest release, Paramore’s “The Only Exception,” in which he challenges himself by putting a vulnerable, bluegrass spin on the popular record. Major’s career is just beginning, and listeners would be wise to join his promising journey.

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