Mark your calendars for the 13th annual Arlington Jazz Festival, running from April 4-7, with the SOLD OUT grand finale concert to be held at the Regent Theatre, located in the heart of Arlington Center.

This year, the festival headliner is Christian McBride, an eight-time Grammy-winning bassist, composer, and bandleader. He is the Artistic Director of the historic Newport Jazz Festival, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), the TD James Moody Jazz Festival, and the National Jazz Museum in Harlem. McBride is also a respected educator and advocate for youth, and serves as Artistic Director of Jazz House KiDS and the Jazz Aspen Snowmass Summer Sessions. In addition to artistic directing and consistent touring with his ensembles, he hosts NPR’s “Jazz Night in America” and “The Lowdown: Conversations With Christian” on SiriusXM. Whether behind the bass or away from it, Christian McBride is always part of the music. From jazz to R&B, and pop/rock and hip-hop/neo-soul to classical, he is a luminary with one hand ever reaching for new heights, and the other extended in fellowship — and perhaps the hint of a challenge — inviting us to join him.

This coming April, McBride will introduce his new, versatile, and young quintet to Europe. En route, they will be making a point to stop by Arlington (MA), to participate in this year’s Arlington Jazz Festival. McBride’s new group straddles his acoustic jazz and his singular funk-filled fusion with Ely Perlman on guitar, Mike King on keys, Savannah Harris on drums, and Nicole Glover on sax. All the festival concerts leading up to April 7th evening finale concert will champion the vibrant local jazz scene that already flourishes in this area. As the Festival’s custom, an abundance of local talent will be on full display this year, performing in several different venues around the town. Final details for the entire festival from April 4-7, presented by Arlington Jazz, are now available: https://www.arlingtonjazz.org/2024-festival-schedule.html. .