By Amanda McGregor
SALEM — The trees are budding, flowers are shooting up from the ground, and the sound of jazz will soon be floating through the air — all signs of summer in Salem.
The Salem Jazz and Soul Festival annual Berklee Summer Series will hit its first note Saturday evening at 5 in Derby Square, in front of Old Town Hall.
The free concert series, set for four Saturdays from May to August, features a variety of jazz musicians who are either students or graduates of the renowned Berklee College of Music in Boston.
"I'm excited because each band brings a different style to the table," said Laura Gallant, education coordinator and band liaison for the festival, "from Latin jazz to funk and classic jazz style."
One band will perform at each Summer Series concert, and during the set break, the musicians will conduct a brief music-education workshop and field questions from the audience.
"The band demonstrates specific styles and techniques they use," Gallant said. "They talk about why music is important to them, so it's an overall education workshop for beginner and (experienced) musicians."
"It's really a great way of keeping people engaged," added Matt Caruso, director of community relations for the festival. "It makes it more dynamic."
The Salem Jazz and Soul Festival was founded three years ago. The Summer Series is followed by the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival at Salem Willows, to be held the weekend of Aug. 15 and 16, featuring over a dozen performers, which is also free to the public.
When the Summer Series was first launched, the concerts were held earlier in the day. Now, the Saturday concerts will run from 5 to 7 p.m.
"We want more Salem people to come," Caruso said, "In the day you do yard work and errands, and then people can come to the concerts in the afternoon and go out to dinner after."
The Jazz and Soul Festival is a licensed nonprofit organization run by an 11-member board, including Caruso and Gallant. Caruso described the group as "volunteers with a passion for music and culture on the North Shore."
"Our main mission is to put on free performances for the community," Gallant said, "and to raise money for music education."
Since its inception, the Festival has donated its proceeds to the Salem Public Schools music program, as well as to the Plummer Home for Boys in Salem to help launch a music therapy program.
"We're hoping to expand our donations, not only to Salem," Gallant said, "but more of the North Shore."
The Salem schools have used the donations for, among other things, a special conductor-in-residence to work with students.
"We really want the money to be used for things the schools aren't able to provide," Caruso said, "so this lets them do a little bit more."
Caruso said approximately 60 percent of the sponsorship and donations garnered by the festival pay for the musicians who perform at festival events; 20 percent is given to local music education programs; and the remaining 20 percent covers operating expenses.
"If it wasn't for the community and business support," Gallant said, "we wouldn't be able to do it."
The Summer Series kicks off on Saturday with a performance by Cole DeGenova and the Peoples Republic playing soul and funk music.
"Having Berklee musicians brings upcoming bands and really talented musicians to Salem," Gallant said.
"I'm really excited for people to come out and enjoy some great music this year," Caruso said.
Schedule:
Cole DeGenova and the Peoples Republic
Style: soul/funk
When: Saturday, 5 to 7 p.m.
Carlos Averhoff, Jr.
Style: Latin jazz
When: Saturday, June 13, 5 to 7 p.m.
Roy Guzman
Style: Modern jazz
When: Saturday, July 11, 5 to 7 p.m.
Dopapod
Style: Funk/R&B organ trio
When: Saturday, Aug 8, 5 to 7 p.m.
Salem Jazz and Soul Festival Berklee Summer Series
What: Free summer concert series performed by students and graduates of Berklee College of Music in Boston
Where: Derby Square, Salem (outside Old Town Hall)
Cost: Free
Rain location: Inside Museum Place Mall on Essex Street
Information: Visit the Festival's Web site, www.salemjazzsoul.com
