SUNDAY AUGUST 03 2025 By Paul Bloomfield
The sold-out 71st Newport Jazz Festival once again brought a world-class lineup to Fort Adams State Park, with three days of nonstop performances across the Fort Stage, the smaller Quad Stage, and the Harbor Stage. My time was limited to Day 3, and while I couldn’t catch everyone—Jacob Collier, Jorja Smith, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Christian McBride Big Band, Emmet Cohen Trio, Lakecia Benjamin, Ekep Kwelle, Etienne Charles & Creole Soul, Isaiah Sharkey, and Parlor Greens among them—the performances I did see exemplified Newport’s enduring magic.
Kiefer – Quad Stage
At the Quad, California-born keyboardist and composer Kiefer delivered a heartfelt tribute to the late Roy Ayers with “Everybody Loves the Sunshine.” Slowing the tune to a languid, emotional sway, Kiefer’s playing was fluid and unhurried—each ripple on the keys catching the light. His blend of jazz-funk was steeped in warmth, layered with playful, at times quirky, sci-fi textures that tethered the groove’s roots to the present.
LA LOM – Quad Stage
Following was LA LOM (Los Angeles League of Musicians), a California-based trio blending cumbia with a surf rock edge. Guitarist Zac Sokolow and bassist Jake Faulkner moved across the stage with infectious energy, while percussionist Nicholas Baker anchored the sound with a rhythmic variety that kept hips swaying.
For a gander of photos from this date by Paul Bloomfield check out the gallery here.
Cymande – Fort Stage
Cymande’s story is one of resilience. This British-Caribbean funk band, which found success in the early 1970s before fading from the spotlight, has enjoyed a recent resurgence—helped along by a documentary Getting It Back: the Story of Cymande chronicling their triumphs in the U.S. and disappointments back in the U.K. Promoting their 2024 album Renascence, Cymande played with a deep awareness of their legacy and presence at Newport. Though they may not be a household name, their influence runs deep, sampled by The Fugees, MF Doom, Queen Latifah, and De La Soul. For those of us who’ve treasured their reissued vinyl for years, seeing them live at Newport felt like long-overdue recognition.
Setlist:
Sweeden
Getting It Back
Crawshay
Chasing an Empty Dream
For Baby Ooh
Dove
Bra
How We Roll
Brothers on the Slide
The Message
Stanley Jordan – Quad Stage
Stanley Jordan’s set was nothing short of spellbinding. Ever since I first heard his 1980s rendition of “Eleanor Rigby,” I’ve been captivated by his technical brilliance. At Newport, he delivered a solo performance that felt like a masterclass in guitar technique—alternating between moments so quiet you could hear a pin drop and bursts of texture so full you’d swear there were two or even three guitarists on stage. At one point, he played entirely with his fretting hand, using the fretboard to percuss and flow through chords. Passersby stopped in their tracks, swelling the crowd far beyond standing-room capacity.
De La Soul – Fort Stage
Perhaps Sunday’s most widely recognized act, De La Soul brought infectious joy to the Fort Stage. I last saw them at Glastonbury in 1990, fresh off their 1989 classic Three Feet High and Rising. This time, they opened with “Change in Speak”—sampling, fittingly, Cymande’s 1972 track “Bra,” performed just minutes earlier on a nearby stage. Fans surged forward as Posdnuos (Kelvin Mercer) shouted, “Put your hands up for the love of hip hop music!”—a call the crowd met with unbridled enthusiasm. DJ Maseo (Vincent Mason) held things down behind the decks, while the absence of the late David “Trugoy the Dove” Jolicoeur, who passed in 2023, was keenly felt.
Hiromi’s Sonicwonderland – Fort Stage
Hiromi, a Berklee alum and piano virtuoso, led her quartet through an electrifying set from her new album Hiromi’s Sonicwonderland. Joined by Hadrian Feraud on bass, Gene Coye on drums, and Adam O’Farrill on trumpet, the group moved seamlessly between fusion, funk, and cinematic textures. The interplay was tight, the jazz influences —Weather Report, George Duke, Miles Davis, and even video game soundtracks—all delivered with fresh, contagious energy.
Esperanza Spalding – Fort Stage
The penultimate performance for the weekend was Esperanza Spalding, ever the creative shapeshifter. Opening with her playful 2016 track “I Want It Now,” she sat at the piano, blending humor, insight, and virtuosity. With dancers on stage and her upright bass at her side, she moved between music and spoken asides, at one point urging the crowd, “It’s time to have a spine”—a pointed nod to today’s political climate.
Festival Experience
Logistics-wise, Sunday brought slower entry lines compared to earlier days, though festival staff remained patient and friendly, embodying the festival’s motto: Be Present, Be Kind, Be Open, Be Together. Once inside, blanket spots near the Fort Stage vanished by mid-afternoon, and designated seating at the Quad and Harbor stages filled quickly. Standing areas often blocked lawn chair views, forcing strategic stage-hopping to catch desired acts.
Still, these minor inconveniences were outweighed by the artistry, atmosphere, and sense of community. The Newport Jazz Festival app proved invaluable for real-time updates, the food offerings were varied and high-quality, and—most importantly—the music inspired and amazed. Day 3 was a celebration of legacy and innovation, leaving us in awe of the talent and humanity that graced the stages.
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