Young Artists Trailblaze a New(port) Sound at 2024 Jazz Festival

Noname. Photography by Adam Kissick.

What made this year stand apart from the rest? Young musicians stole the spotlight (or the sunshine, in this case), marking a turning point in jazz music and performance.

Those who frequent Newport Jazz Festival usually gear up for two of the most daunting outdoor event variables: transportation and weather. Being situated towards the westernmost point of Aquidneck Island, fans will drive, sail, bike and cruise to assure their spot for the most anticipated artists on the lineup. Of course, those of “legendary” status draw huge crowds each year: legends like Elvis Costello will never go out of style.

My ears were caught particularly by some of Jazz Festival’s young names, each of whom have the power to influence and revitalize a genre often referred to as “dying.” These are some of the names making Brubeck and Coltrane proud, proving that jazz will outlive us all.

aja monet

An already accomplished poet, aja monet released her debut album “when the poems do what they do” in 2023. Her appearance on the Harbor Stage made history, being the first poet to ever perform at Newport Jazz Festival. The inherent musicality of monet’s rhymes and confidence in her articulation gave her a profound stage presence. Her performance of “Castaway” kept the audience eager for more. “We marvel and move eternal unfawned and unlost/ Hips hollering, elbows flapping like fanning flames.” Such powerful words were heightened by monet’s attention to detail. Her live sets tell a story and will leave you feeling enlightened on all fronts.

Samara Joy. Photograph by Adam Kissick.

Samara Joy

At 24 years old, three-time Grammy Award-winner Samara Joy was a highly anticipated performer at this year’s festival, and she made her presence felt during an exciting Billie Holiday-esque set. Her intonation and gentle mixed voice created a warm sound bath completely overtaking the New England air. Joy proved that jazz has no age — while considered “new” to the genre, listeners could have pinned her tender voice as a veteran performance. Her most recent single “Why I’m Here” is featured in the new Netflix film Shirly, marking yet another milestone in her young career.

Theo Croker

Newport first timer and trumpeter Theo Croker grabbed the crowd’s attention with his natural good vibes, decorated in a satin zebra outfit for his Quad Stage debut. By mixing sophisticated jazz techniques with innovative rhythms (shoutout drummer Miguel Marcel Russell) and sound design, Croker’s set had its own distinct groove. His improvisations truly stole the show. Jazz heads and casual enjoyers alike could feel Croker’s next level musicianship and creativity.

Laufey. Photograph by Steve Benoit.

Laufey

Every twenty-something year old with a passion for music has heard Laufey’s big hits. The Icelandic-Chinese artist is pioneering a movement to revitalize jazz and integrate its components into a more modern sound. With over thirteen million monthly listeners and sold-out tours across the globe, Laufey’s crowd swarmed to hear her awaited performance. While already a star-studded celebrity, Laufey still makes each word intimate in her delivery, and added a sentimental touch by inviting her twin sister Junia on stage to accompany her. Her adorable theatrics with fans shows that Laufey is a class act behind the mic and in real life. She has become not just my favorite artist from the Jazz Festival, but one of my favorite artists in a long time. I’ll take this time to shamelessly promote my favorite song of hers, “California and Me,” which features the Philharmonia Orchestra.

Noname

I was fourteen when I first listened to Noname and immediately fell in love with her ability to advocate through art, especially in her song “Reality Check.” After a five-year musical hiatus, her new album “Sundial” flexes some matter-of-fact bars that stunned the Newport crowd. Noname’s gutsy marriage of jazz, rap, R&B and soul accentuate her poetic lyrics and make her one of the most innovative artists of this age. She graced us with a beautiful performance of “Yesterday,” one of her older tunes: “Basket case, silhouette, cigarette, internet/ Check my Twitter page for something Holier than black death.”

There are countless lessons to take away from each of the seventy historical Newport Jazz Festival weekends. This year will be marked as one of the most pivotal years for young artists trailblazing the evolution and continuation of the genre.