WPRO News and the Associated Press
NEWPORT, R.I. (AP) – The Newport Jazz Festival has kicked off its three-day celebration of all things jazz.
The festival begins Friday with lineups at the Fort Adams State Park and the International Tennis Hall of Fame at the Newport Casino.
Trumpeter Chris Botti will headline Friday’s concert at the Newport Casino with Jon Batiste and Stay Human opening the show.
This year’s festival celebrates the 60th anniversary of jazz legend Miles Davis’ historic Newport debut.
Grammy-winning jazz historian Ashley Kahn curated panel discussions focusing on Davis for this year’s festival.
The panel will include interviews with Newport festival founder George Wein and former Davis sidemen – drummer Jack DeJohnette and guitarist Mike Stern.
Wein has asked the trumpeters on this year’s program to perform at least one Miles Davis number.
