BRIC JazzFest 2018

2018 BRIC JazzFest: lineup, schedule, tickets

The fourth-annual BRIC JazzFest takes place at Brooklyn’s BRIC House from October 13-20, and features live music, film screenings, talks, dance, and more. The music portion of the festival, the BRIC JazzFest Marathon, runs from October 18-20, and entails concerts taking place at multiple spaces within the BRIC House.

The entire festival kicks off with a free performance by Antibalas at The Plaza at 300 Ashland on October 13. This year’s JazzFest Marathon features performances from Meshell Ndegeocello (who is featured on Marc Ribot’s new anti-Trump album), Xenia Rubinos, Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, Stefon Harris & Blackout, Cyrus Chestnut Trio, Terence Blanchard ft. The E-Collective, and much more.

The festival will also include two film screenings on October 14; first up is a screening of the Chet Baker documentary Let’s Get Lost by filmmaker and jazz critic Bruce Weber, which will be followed by a screening of the Philip Cox-directed They Say I’m Different, which deconstructs funk musician Betty Davis‘ influence on women in music.

Single-day and three-day passes for the JazzFest Marathon are on sale now, but many of the festival’s non-Marathon events are free. Head over to the BRIC JazzFest website for more information. You can find the full schedule of events below.

BRIC JAZZFEST – 2018 SCHEDULE

OUTDOOR KICKOFF CONCERT: ANTIBALAS
October 13 at 3pm
FREE
The Plaza at 300 Ashland

BRIC JazzFest kicks off with a free outdoor concert at the Downtown Brooklyn Cultural District’s fabulous new outdoor public space, The Plaza at 300 Ashland, featuring the afrobeat sounds of Brooklyn’s own Antibalas.

Where the Gods Are in Peace, released by Antibalaslast year on the storied Bushwick label Daptone Records, was praised by Rhythm Passport for “giv[ing] you energy from deep within – energy to stand up, speak up, rebel and shake up the system, all while dancing to their irresistible and cheerful grooves.” The album marked the latest development for a band celebrating their 20th year of bringing the world a thunderous concoction of afrobeat, Latin dance rhythms, and good old American funk.

FILM
BRIC JazzFest features one-of-a-kind documentaries that highlight legends in the jazz world.

Let’s Get Lost (1988)
Directed by Bruce Weber | 2hrs
Sun, Oct 14 | 4pm
FREE w/ RSVP

“Everyone has a story about Chet.” Thus opens director and longtime jazz critic Bruce Weber’s documentary feature about the legendary trumpeter and vocalist Chet Baker.

Betty Davis: They Say I’m Different (2017)
Directed by Phillip Cox | 1h 32min
Sun, Oct 14 | 6:30pm
FREE w/ RSVP

Original Funk Queen Betty Davis took on 1970s establishment America and changed the course of women in music forever. Then she vanished. Forty years later, Betty, in a creative and constructed narrative, finally shares her extraordinary story.

POETRY
Brooklyn Poetry Slam
Mon, Oct 15 | 7:00PM
FREE w/ RSVP

The Brooklyn Poetry Slam will expand BRIC JazzFest into another dimension, with Brooklyn’s best slam poets convening for a gathering of words, wisdom and music to highlight the crisscrossing influences and beats of jazz, poetry and hip-hop. This event, hosted by poet, activist, and educator Mahogany L. Browne and with music by DJ Jive Poetic, will feature a special, to-be-announced poet.

DANCE
Talk ‘Trane
Tues, Oct 16 | 6:30PM – 8PM
FREE w/ RSVP

Talk ‘Trane is an interactive movement experience that takes participants behind the creative process of the making of Urban Bush Women’s evening-length piece, Walking with ‘Trane (2015). Walking with ‘Trane was inspired by the musical life and spiritual journey of John Coltrane, a composer at the forefront of jazz innovation in a racially-charged America of the ‘50s and ‘60s. In this workshop, pianist George Caldwell shares excerpts of his original score and talks about his inspiration for the work, and how he interpreted the music of John Coltrane in his own voice. Urban Bush Women’s dancers will informally show excerpts of process and respond to the music Caldwell plays in the moment, demonstrating the collaborative and responsive approach taken in making the piece. Participants are guided through explorations used in the choreographic process and encouraged to respond to the music with their own movement. Talk ‘Trane is open to everyone, no dance experience necessary.

DISCUSSION
In Conversation with Nate Chinen
Wed, Oct 17 | 7PM
FREE w/ RSVP

In a conversation about his new book, Playing Changes: Jazz for the New Century, one of jazz’s leading critics Nate Chinen will discuss the evolution of jazz, and how it exists in contemporary times in both the United States and abroad, along with fellow panelists Terence Blanchard and Camila Meza. Signing will follow, with copies of the book available for sale via Greenlight Bookstore.

MUSIC MARATHON
OCT 18-20 | 7:30PM
$30 Adv / $35 Day-of-show (Per Day)
Limited-quantity 3-day passes $75 Adv
General Admission: STANDING (Limited Seating is First Come, First Served)

BRIC JazzFest culminates in a three-night marathon with ensembles performing staggered sets in multiple spaces throughout BRIC House. You can move freely among performances and catch as many artists as you like each night—all happening in the state-of-the-art Ballroom, the relaxed Stoop overlooking the Mary Mattingly: What Happens After exhibition in the Gallery at BRIC House, and our intimate jazz club in the BRIC Artist Studio.

MARATHON NIGHT 1
Thursday, October 18 at 7:30pm

Featuring Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, Stefon Harris & Blackout, Mark de Clive-Lowe, Lakecia Benjamin & SoulSquad, Madison McFerrin, JD Allen, Melanie Charles & Make Jazz Trill Again, and the Yotam Ben-Or Quartet.

MARATHON NIGHT 2
Friday, October 19 at 7:30pm

Featuring Meshell Ndegeocello, Cyrus Chestnut Trio, Keyon Harrold, The Jazz Passengers, Xenia Rubinos, Camila Meza, Michael Sarian & The Chabones, and Yasser Tejeda & Palotré.

MARATHON NIGHT 3
Saturday, October 20 at 7:30pm

Featuring Terence Blanchard and The E-Collective, Brownout Presents: Fear of a Brown Planet ft. Third Root, Deva Mahal, Kat Edmonson, Arnetta Johnson & SUNNY, Resident Alien ft. Ali Sethi & Sunny Jain, Noa Fort, and Freelance.