The first Newport Jazz Festival was held in 1954. It was conceived and financed by socialite Elaine Lorillard and organized by jazz impresario George Wein. The festival featured live musical performances and academic panel discussions. The panels took place at the Newport Casino and the performances were set on a lawn in front of the casino. The line-up of the first festival included notable jazz musicians such as Billy Holiday. The event was emceed by jazz pianist, composer and arranger Stan Kenton.
The inaugural Newport Jazz Festival attracted around 13,000 attendees over two days and was deemed a major success. The organizers decided to hold it annually but faced some problems. The Newport Casino could not host the festival anymore because it wasn’t suited for such a large event, so a new venue had to be found. Besides, some Newport residents were opposed to the festival. Nonetheless, the Newport Jazz Festival continued annually and grew in popularity.
In 1972, George Wein relocated the event to New York City and expanded its format. The festival stayed in New York for several years and was brought back to Newport in 1981. Since then, it has been held at Fort Adams State Park located at the mouth of Newport Harbor. The traditional opening concert takes place at the International Tennis Hall of Fame at the Newport Casino.
Over the years, the Newport Jazz Festival has featured a plethora of world-class jazz performers and bands. Past performers at the festival include Muddy Waters, Charles Mingus, Max Roach, Miles Davis, Frank Sinatra, Dave Brubeck, Herbie Hancock, James Brown, B. B. King, Duke Ellington, Ray Charles, Dizzy Gillespie, Roberta Flack, Tony Bennett, Etta James, Mos Def, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Judy Garland, and many others.
Originally, the Newport Jazz Festival focused exclusively on jazz. Over the years, it has expanded to encompass other music genres and styles, either related to jazz or influenced by it.
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