Seattle Times: Tom Varner brings jazz French horn to a sacred space

From The Seattle Times:

At its best, jazz is hand-tailored music that can be shaped to fit just about any setting. For French-horn master Tom Varner, a concert in the intimate, resonant Chapel Performance Space at the Good Shepherd Center offers an opportunity to design a program calibrated for a sacred space.

Saturday’s performance, part of the Wayward Music Series, features Varner in a variety of contexts, from solo to quintet, exploring a cross section of music he’s written since relocating from New York City to Seattle in 2006. He’s reorchestrated two movements from his “Heaven and Hell” suite, distilling them from 10 to five pieces. And he’s composed some new tunes dedicated to the ingenious soprano saxophonist Steve Lacy, who brought Varner out to Seattle in 1993 for, appropriately enough, his “Vespers” project.

Continue reading at The Seattle Times.

Friday Jazz

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Hal Galper Trio featuring Jeff Johnson and John Bishop

JAZZ ALLEY: An Evening with Branford Marsalis

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Andrew Oliver Kora Band, with Kane Mathis (kora/guitar), Andrew Oliver (piano/keyboard), Chad McCullough (trumpet), Eric Gruber (bass), Mark DiFlorio (drums) [Website] ($7 cover)
9pm – Crown Hill Invention, with Tom Watson (acoustic guitar/vocals), Mike Sievers (piano/keyboard/acoustic guitar/vocals) and John Isenhart (acoustic fretless bass) ($5 cover)
11pm – Chemical Clock, UW jazz combo, with Cameron Sharif (keyboard/piano), Ray Larsen (trumpet), Mark Hunter (bass) and Evan Woodle (percussion/drums)

TRIPLE DOOR MUSICQUARIUM:
5:30pm: Jason Parker / Josh Rawlings Duo
9:00pm: Reptet

BAKE’S PLACE: Gail Pettis Trio

LOCAL COLOR: JoAnne Klein

LATONA PUB: Phil Sparks Trio

SERAFINA: Kiko de Freitas

BELLEVUE WESTIN: Geoffrey Castle

HIROSHI’S JAZZ AND SUSHI: Jay Thomas w/ Monkstone Theocracy

CAFE HARLEQUIN: Finn Hill Jazz Quartet w/ Kay Bailey

EL GAUCHO BELLEVUE: Trish Hatley Trio

Friday is a big night for music

Plan your Friday night … lots of great music.



TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Hal Galper Trio featuring Jeff Johnson and John Bishop
(8:00pm, http://tulas.com)
With over 82 recordings to his credit, 20 as a leader in his own right, pianist, composer, publisher, educator, author and touring artist, Hal Galper is best known for his work with Chet Baker, Connonball Adderley, John Scofield and the Phil Woods Quintet. His recordings as a leader with Mike and Randy Brecker are considered among the best.

EGAN’S: Andrew Oliver Kora Band (7:00pm, http://www.ballardjamhouse.com/)
Andrew Oliver is a pianist and composer from Portland, Oregon. He grew up playing classical music but switched to jazz at the beginning of high school, when he began taking lessons from Randy Porter. He lived in New Orleans from 2002 until 2005, where he studied jazz at Loyola University and performed as both a bandleader and sideman. After evacuating from Hurricane Katrina in the summer of 2005, he returned to Portland and finished his studies in music and French at Portland State University. He has studied with Matt Lemmler, Michael Pellera, and Darrell Grant, and performed with many musicians in New Orleans and Portland including Devin Phillips, Irvin Mayfield, and Glen Moore. He is currently active in many groups including his own sextet, the Portland Jazz Composers’ Ensemble, which he recently co-founded, and Devin Phillips’ group New Orleans Straight Ahead.

JAZZ ALLEY: Branford Marsalis Quartet (7:30 & 9:30pm, http://www.jazzalley.com
Branford performing at a club … enough said.

HIROSHI’S JAZZ AND SUSHI: Jay Thomas w/ Monkstone Theocracy (7:30 – 10:00pm)
Trumpeter and saxophonist Jay Thomas performs with an all-star Seattle rhythm section featuring Bill Anschell (piano), Chris Symer (bass) and Greg Williamson (drums).

Branford clip from Before The Music Dies

This morning I sat down at the computer and saw a movie on Hulu.com entitled Before the Music Dies. A few minutes into the movie a clip featuring Branford Marsalis caught my attention … and since he is starting his weekend run at Jazz Alley tonight I thought I’d share it with all of you. – Matt Jorgensen

Watch the complete film for free at Hulu.com

Branford Marsalis at Jazz Alley starting tonight

click the play button to jump forward to the Branford clip

Thursday Jazz

JAZZ ALLEY: An Evening with Branford Marsalis

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Sonando

NEW ORLEANS: The Ham Carson Quintet

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Lionel Kramer & Friends, with Bud Schultz (piano/vibes/melodica), Bob Antolin (saxes/guitar), Makini (vocals), Cheetah (congas), Mark Bullis (bass) and Lionel Kramer (drums)
9pm – FLEX 4, with Dan Blunck (woodwinds/etc), David Haney (piano), Dan O’Brien (bass) and Ken Paine (drums)

LUCID: Shiri Zorn

SORRENTO HOTEL: Katy Bourne & Randy Halberstadt

THAIKU: Jon Alberts, Jeff Johnson & Tad Britton

MOXIE: Dennis Moss

Paul Kikuchi solo at Gallery 1412

FRIDAY, MARCH 20 – GALLERY 1412
1412 18th Ave, Seattle
http://gallery1412.org/

Percussionist Paul Kikuchi will perform solo compositions and improvisations centered around the drum set, and his new series of original instruments entitled topographs, this Friday at Gallery 1412 in Seattle.

Paul Kikuchi is a percussionist, composer, and instrument maker from Indianola, WA. He is a member of the acclaimed Empty Cage Quartet, Balkan-influenced Orkestar Zirkonium, and the rock band Battery D. He has performed and recorded with musicians such as Daniel Carter, Marilyn Crispell, Wayne Horvitz, and the NOW Orchestra.

Paul’s playing can be heard on a number of different record labels including Clean Feed, Nine Winds, PfMentum, and Tomlab. Paul holds degrees in music from Bennington College and California Institute of the Arts, where he studied closely with Milford Graves and Wadada Leo Smith.

Seattle Times: For Branford Marsalis, it’s all about the group

from The Seattle Times:

Branford Marsalis is one of the biggest names in jazz, a midcareer master who’s maintained an enviable level of visibility for nearly three decades.

But the sardonic tenor and soprano saxophonist isn’t much impressed by personal accolades. As a musician, he’s devoted to a group concept that puts a premium on free-flowing interaction, a powerfully kinetic sound marked by breakneck tempo shifts and odd meters. It’s the kind of approach that can only be developed through long hours on the bandstand — and his band has clearly put in the time.

Marsalis’ quartet opens a four-night run at Jazz Alley on Thursday.

“The American ethos praises the individual,” says Marsalis, 47, from his home in Durham, N.C. “In music it translates into an obsession with being a genius, inventing a style, all those things. I’ve always been blessed with the marvelous gift of not being too ambitious. The hard part is to get everyone to embrace the idea that the music’s not about them. We’re just a bunch of conduits.”

Continue reading at The Seattle Times.

Wednesday Jazz

JAZZ ALLEY: Kenny Rankin

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Katie King Vocal Showcase

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Jeni Wren (vocals), with Gregg Belisle (guitar), Mark Bullis (bass) and Lionel Kramer (drums)
9pm – Vocal Jam hosted by Katy Bourne, with Randy Halberstadt (piano)

THAIKU: Ron Weinstein Trio

WHISKEY BAR: Ronnie Pierce

Gene Stout: It has been a long and winding — and totally wonderful — road

from the final article by Gene Stout, Seattle PI Music Critic:

My time on the music beat — from 1983 to the present — has been a wild ride, with hundreds of interviews with some pretty famous people and hundreds of concert reviews.

It has been an honor to write about music in a city that has helped launch the careers of Quincy Jones, Ray Charles, Jimi Hendrix, The Sonics, Ventures, Wailers, Heart, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Death Cab for Cutie, among many others.

People often ask me to name a favorite concert, but there have been so many, from big arena shows to little piano-bar performances. I couldn’t pick just one.

Among my most recent favorites was a Patsy Cline tribute concert March 5 at the Columbia City Theater featuring local singers Rachael Flotard, Kim Virant, Star Anna, Kristen Ward and Victoria Wimer Contreras. Collectively, they captured the spirit of Cline and her music in a stirring, heartfelt concert.

My first concert review for the P-I actually came in October 1979, when I saw Lenny and Squiggy of “Happy Days” at a Burien nightclub. It was a silly show, but readers enjoyed my goofy little review, which led to a series of assignments before I was officially hired as a reporter and critic in 1983.

It marked a real commitment by the P-I to popular music coverage, which had been a part-time beat for many years in the very capable hands of my predecessor, the late George Arthur.

Continue reading at the Seattle PI.

Tuesday Jazz

JAZZ ALLEY: Kenny Rankin

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Roadside Attraction

NEW ORLEANS: Holotradband

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE: PK & What Army?, with Paul Kemmish (bass), Brian Kent (sax), and Olli Klomp(drums), joined by guests Jim Knodle (trumpet) and Amy Denio (clarinet)

TRIPLE DOOR: Tribute to Little Blue and the Bluenotes

MARTIN’S ON MADISON: Karin Kajita

MIX: Don Mock

Branford Marsalis at Jazz Alley: March 19-22

March 19-22: An Evening with Branford Marsalis

ROOM IN ALL SHOWS!

Listen to KPLU 88.5 FM Thursday, March 19th at noon, for a live duet performance and interview!

The Pacific Jazz Institute at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley presents three-time Grammy winning saxophonist Branford Marsalis for four nights touring in support of his new release Metamorphosen. Band members joining Mr. Marsalis are Joey Calderazzo (piano), Justin Faulkner (drums), Eric Revis (bass). Set times Thursday through Sunday are at 7:30pm and 9:30pm. Doors open at 6pm on Thursday and 5:30pm Friday through Sunday. Friday and Saturday shows are pre-sale, which means payment is required at the time reservations are made and all purchases are non-refundable and non-exchangeable. *Sideman subject to change w/o notice.

Time flies when you are making great music, as Branford Marsalis will be the first to attest. “I had no idea that two years had passed since we made our last album,” says the celebrated saxophonist, composer, producer and leader of the Brandford Marsalis Quartet. The realization prompted a trip to the studio and the result of a visit to Durham, North Carolina’s Hayti Heritage Center, Metamorphosen. Their latest release and another milestone from an ensemble that continues to set the pace regarding jazz creativity. Marsalis Music will release the latest statement by its founder in March 2009.

1000 posts

Over the weekend we hit the 1000 mark at Seattle Jazz Scene.

Thank you to all of our readers who check out the site daily!

Monday Jazz

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Jazz Jam with the DARIN CLENDENIN Trio

NEW ORLEANS: The New Orleans Quintet

TOST: Michael Shrieve’s Spellbinder

Anything else happening today? Send us an email at [email protected].

Sunday Jazz

JAZZ ALLEY: The Bad Plus Joined by Wendy Lewis

TRIPLE DOOR MUSICQUARIUM: Sunday Night Salsa: Rumbeggae

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB:
3pm: Jay Thomas Big Band
8pm: Jim Cutler Big Band

SERAFINA:
11am-1:30pm: Jazz Brunch: Conlin Roser Duo
6:30-9pm: Ryan Burns, solo piano

LUCID: Jam Session
5241 University Way, Seattle

DOCKSIDE BISTRO: Gail Pettis Quartet,
501 Columbia Street NW, Olympia, 6pm

Drop us a line and let us know what else is happening tonight!

Saturday Jazz

JAZZ ALLEY: The Bad Plus Joined by Wendy Lewis

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Marc Seales’ American Songs w/ Chuck Deardorf, Cuong Cu, Fred Hamilton, Gary Hobbs

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Peter Spencer (guitar/vocals) and Dave Bristow (piano)
9pm – Marti MacEwan, with Joe Casalini (bass), Charlie Hiestand (piano) and Adam Kessler (drums)
11pm – Gryphon

BAKE’S PLACE: Kelley Johnson Quartet

LOCAL COLOR: Rochelle Julie Olson, Pat Johnston & Lee Brown

SERAFINA: Jose Gonzales Trio

EL GAUCHO BELLEVUE: Trish Hatley Trio

LUCID: Jason Parker Quartet

SORRENTO HOTEL: Katy Bourne Trio

Friday Jazz

JAZZ ALLEY: The Bad Plus Joined by Wendy Lewis

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Greta Matassa Quartet

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Steve Alboucq Quartet, with Steve Alboucq (trumpet), Matt Page (drums), Chris Morton (piano) and Nathan Parker (bass)
9pm – Lora Chiorah & Leif Totusek – “Mbira & Guitar” music of Zimbabwe
11pm – Matt Price and Scott Katz

LATONA PUB: Phil Sparks Trio

BAKE’S PLACE: Jay Roberts & Don Mock Guitar Duo

LOCAL COLOR: Rochelle House

SERAFINA: The Djangomatics

BRECHEMIN AUDITORIUM: Marc Seales w/ Fred Hamilton, Gary Hobbs & Cuong Vu
University of Washington

EL GAUCHO BELLEVUE: Trish Hatley Trio

HIROSHI’S JAZZ AND SUSHI: Greg Williamson Quartet

NORTH CITY BISTRO: Arturo Rodriguez & Friends

LUCID: Lee Redfield Trio

Thursday Jazz

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Beth Winter Quartet

JAZZ ALLEY: The Bad Plus Joined by Wendy Lewis

NEW ORLEANS: The Ham Carson Quintet

THAIKU: Jon Alberts / Tad Britton / Jeff Johnson

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Stealth Session!
9pm – Ksenia Popova (soprano), with Brandon Peck (piano) and special guest Rachel Finley

LUCID: New Architects

LO-FI: The Teaching

SEATTLE ART MUSEUM: Art Lande & Mark Miller

SORRENTO HOTEL: Miss Rose & Casey MacGill

Tuesday Jazz

JAZZ ALLEY: Barbara Morrison, Danny Caron and Ruth Davies in the Spirit of Charles Brown

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Emerald City Jazz Orchestra

NEW ORLEANS: Holotradband

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Victor Noriega solo piano
9pm – Nate Omdal Quintet, w/ Jim Knodle (trumpet), Art Brown (alto sax), Mike Dodge (tenor sax), Cody Rahn (drums) and Nate Omdal (bass) – Come celebrate Nate’s birthday!

DEXTER AND HAYES: Tim Kennedy

MIX: Don Mock, Steve Kim & Charlie Nordstrom

EAST SIDE JAZZ CLUB: Ben Thomas Quartet, w/Chuck Deardorf  (bass), John Bishop (drums), Alex Chadsey (piano). 7:30pm, 1000 Bellevue Wa, (425) 454-0633

Byron Vannoy’s Meridian at Tula’s – Tonight

Drummer Byron Vannoy will lead his group Meridian at Tula’s tonight, Monday, March 9, starting at 7:30pm.

Meridian won the 2008 Earshot Golden Ear Award for NW Recording of the Year this past February.

The show is all ages for the first set so bring the entire family.

MONDAY, MARCH 9
TULA’S JAZZ CLUB

2214 2nd Ave, Seattle
206-443-4221
7:30 – 10:00pm

Byron Vannoy – drums/compositions
Eric Barber – saxophones
Kacey Evans – piano
Chris Spencer – guitar
Chris Symer – bass