Seattle Jazz Scene

from The Seattle Times:

In the two small buildings on the Bellevue College campus that house radio station KBCS-FM (91.3), music spanning from jazz to the Grateful Dead drifts through as volunteers come and go. Colorful posters for shows like the World Rhythm Festival and “An Evening with Robin and Linda Williams” hang on the walls.

But on Aug. 24, the community radio station once dubbed “Place to Catch the Craziest Music” by a local magazine will eliminate four morning music shows and use that time instead to air the same show every day. The station also is cutting a staple: two hours of early-morning jazz in lieu of public-affairs news.

Continue reading at The Seattle Times.

JAZZ ALLEY:  Ahmad Jamal

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

MARTINS OFF MADISON: Tim Kennedy

SERAFINA: Conlin Roser Duo, 11am

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Susan Pascal Quartet

JAZZ ALLEY: Ahmad Jamal

BAKE’S PLACE: Tingstead and Rumbel

LOCAL COLOR: Benjamin Doerr

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – ThorNton Creek
9pm – Sunship, with Brian Heaney (guitar), Michael Monhart(sax), Stuart Dempster (trombone), Andrew Luthringer (bass) and David Revelli (drums)
11pm – Michael Owcharuk Trio, with Cody Rahn (drums), Michael Catts (bass) and Mike Owcharuk (piano)

SERAFINA: Leo Raymundo w/Sue Nixon

SOUTH PORT CAFE: Gail Pettis Trio
1083 Lake Washington Blvd N, Renton, 7pm

GRAZIE: Sue Bell Quartet
23207 Bothell-Everett Hwy SE, Bothell, 7pm

NEW ORLEANS RESTAURANT: Voices Of Seattle w/ Elnah Jordan, Katie King, Reggie Goings

CONCERT: Monktail Creative Concern’s Sounds Outside
1:00 – Melbatones
2:30 – Figeater
4:00 – Greg Sinibaldi
5:30 –  Syncopated Taint
7:00 – Bert Wilson
Cal Anderson Park, 1625 11th Ave., 1pm, Sounds Outside

Doug Miller, bass and Benny Green, piano in a Tribute to Oscar Peterson at Jazz Port Townsend 2009
photo by Jim Levitt

The general consensus is that one of the major highlights at this Summer’s Jazz Port Townsend was The Tribute to Oscar Peterson played by the Benny Green Trio. This exciting performance brought the capacity audience to its feet with the brillance of Benny Green’s Tribute to piano great Oscar Peterson. Most of the music was also composed by Oscar Peterson. This special concert will air on Jazz Northwest from 88.5, KPLU and kplu.org on Sunday August 16 at 1 PM PDT.

Benny Green was officially designated a protegé of Oscar Peterson in connection with the Glenn Gould prize awarded to Mr. Peterson in 1993. As a result, the two spent considerable time together as friends and fellow pianists. They recorded one CD together, “Oscar and Benny” for Telarc in 1998.

Jazz Northwest is recorded and produced by Jim Wilke exclusively for KPLU. The program is also available as a podcast from kplu.org after the airdate.

South Lake Union Summer Concert Series: McTuff
(2200 Westlake Ave, upper plaza), 11:45am

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Hadley Caliman Quartet

HIROSHI’S JAZZ AND SUSHI: Ocho Pies (Afro-Cuban music and more.)
featuring: Connie Bunyer – vocals, Paul Hjelm – guitar, Steve Luceno – guitar and bass, Michael Olson – percussion

LATONA PUB: Phil Sparks Trio

JAZZ ALLEY: Ahmad Jamal

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Pat Donohue with Tamara Lewis opening – Pairie Home Companion’s Grammy-winning acoustic guitarist! Guitar legend Chet Atkins once said, “Pat Donohue is one of the greatest finger pickers in the world today.”
9pm – The Side Project: Suzie Bradford (vocals/piano) and Ben Bradford (bass/synth/vocals)
11pm – Stick Trio, with Jacob Stickney (tenor sax), Evan Flory-Barnes (bass), Jeremy Jones (drums)

GRAZIE: Sue Bell Quartet

EL GAUCHO BELLEVUE: Trish Hatley Trio

PAMPAS ROOM: Brian Nova Quartet

LUCID JAZZ LOUNGE: Mercedes Nicole Trio

Les Paul, who helped revolutionize popular music with his innovations on the guitar and in the recording studio, died today of complications from pneumonia. He was 94.

As the recording executive Ahmet Ertegun said in 1988 upon Mr. Paul’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, “Les Paul is an inspiration to a world of guitarists for his playing, for the instrument he created and his multiple-track recording innovations. Without him, it’s hard to imagine how rock and roll would be played today.”

continue reading at The Boston Globe

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Sonando

JAZZ ALLEY: Ahmad Jamal

NEW ORLEANS: Ham Carson Quintet

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Ideal Bread West featuring the music of Steve Lacy, with Josh Sinton (baritone sax), Tom Varner (french horn), Geoff Harper (bass) and Paul Kikuchi (drums)
9pm – Dan Czaran with Karin Kajita (piano), Kevin McCarthy (bass) and Larry Bergman (drums)

LO-FI: Gravity w/ Tim Kennedy, Ian Sheridan, & Claudio Rochat Felix

LUCID JAZZ LOUNGE: The Hang w/ Teaching

THAIKU: Jon Alberts, Jeff Johnson & Tad Britton

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Tatum Greenblatt Quintet

JAZZ ALLEY: Ahmad Jamal

NEW ORLEANS: Legacy Quartet w/Clarence Acox

THAIKU: Ron Weinstein Trio

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Jessica Stenson with Darin Clendenin (piano) and Clipper Anderson (bass)
9pm – Vocal Jam hosted by Marti MacEwan, with the Dan Sales Trio

Photos by Jim Levitt

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North City Jazz Walk: Multiple venues in Shoreline’s North City neighborhood. Performers include: Greta Matassa with Critical Mass Big Band, Stephanie Porter with Brian Nova, Susan Pascal Quartet, Blazing Altos, Dan Sales Jazz Group and more!
For more information, visit http://northcityjazzwalk.org

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Emerald City Jazz Orchestra

JAZZ ALLEY: Bela Fleck and Toumani Diabate

NEW ORLEANS: Holotradband

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Steve Smith and Chris Sanders
9pm – Mark Zaleski Band, with special guest Isabella Du Graf – Mark Zaleski (alto/sop sax), Jon Bean (tenor sax), Glenn Zaleski (piano), Alex Brown (piano), Will Graefe (guitar), Will Slater (bass) and Tyson Stubelek (drums)

DEXTER AND HAYES: Tim Kennedy Trio

MARTIN’S ON MADISON: Karin Kajita

MIX: Don Mock

CHOP SUEY: Acknowledgement of a Celebration
9:00pm-9:50pm: Threat of Beauty
10:00pm-10:50pm: Industrial Revelation
11:00pm-11:45pm: New Seattle Percussion Ensemble
11:45am-12:30am: The Teaching

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Chad McCullough & Banff Nocturnes
from Earshot Jazz: A veteran of the Seattle scene, trumpeter and composer Chad McCullough has been an integral voice in countless regional ensembles and projects. Having received his Masters of Music from the University of Washington in 2005, McCullough has more recently been a member of the Origin team, working alongside John Bishop and Matt Jorgensen. McCullough’s terrific debut Origin release, “Dark Wood, Dark Water” – which features Bill Anschell, Jeff Johnson, John Bishop, Mark Taylor, and Geof Bradfield – has begun to introduce him to a larger audience, and it is high time he become appreciated on a level in accordance with his skills as an improviser and composer. McCullough will be performing with the Banff Nocturnes at Tula’s on August 10 at 7:30 PM.

TOST: Michael Shrieve’s Spellbinder

JAZZ ALLEY Fleck and Toumani Diabate

NEW ORLEANS: New Orleans Quintet

JAZZ ALLEY:  Bill Evans Soulgrass featuring Dennis Chambers with special guest Robben Ford

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB:
3pm – Jazz Police Big Band
8pm – Jim Cutler Orchestra

MARTINS OFF MADISON: Tim Kennedy

SERAFINA: Alex Guilbert Duo, 11am

TRIPLE DOOR MUSICQUARIUM: Sunday Night Salsa: Tor Dietrichson and Mambo Cadillac

CONCERT: Greta Matassa Trio w/Susan Pascal
Teahouse Concerts Series, 939 25th Ave S, 5pm

CONCERT: Lloyd Jones Struggle, KPLU Jazz Cruise
More info: KPLU Jazz Cruise, 10:30am

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Greta Matassa Quartet

JAZZ ALLEY: Bill Evans Soulgrass featuring Dennis Chambers with special guest Robben Ford

LUCID JAZZ LOUNGE: Matt Hopper Quartet

BAKE’S PLACE: Kelley Johnson Quartet

LOCAL COLOR: Elnah Jordan and Katie King

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Overton Berry Trio w/Grace Holden
9pm – Ann Vriend
11pm – Ethan Thomas Quartet, w/ Ethan Thomas (saxophone), Mike Owcharuk (piano), Mike Catts (bass), Lynn Roberson (drums)

SERAFINA: Kelly Ash

Greta Matassa is a long time fixture on the local music scene and possesses an enduring adoration from jazz fans throughout the Northwest. This admiration is well-deserved. She approaches the music with a musician’s sensibility and a joyful fervor and energy that exhilarate her audiences again and again. Greta is the proverbial “whole package”: Her improvisational chops are spot-on, and she jumps into her solos with a take-no-prisoners style that is nothing short of thrilling. She has an authentic sensitivity to the lyric, and her repertoire of songs is vast, encompassing all the standards as well as multitudes of unique and lesser- known compositions. Throughout the evolution of her craft, Matassa has left no stone unturned. Through painstaking listening, study and hard-worked Greta culled her inspiration and knowledge from the masters of the jazz genre. Now it can easily be said that she is among them.

Greta’s new CD I Wanna Be Loved is her first release on the Resonance record label. I Wanna Be Loved features arrangements by the esteemed pianist Tamir Hendelman, who also plays on the recording. The CD includes songs written by a who’s who list of composers the likes of Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, Cy Coleman, Alan and Marilyn Bergman, Al Jarreau and Henry Mancini. The CD features string arrangements by Kuno Schmidt and also performances by many prominent Los Angeles musicians as well as two of Greta’s longtime bandmates, Darin Clendenin on piano and Clipper Anderson on bass. I Wanna Be Loved debuted at #19 on national jazz charts for radio airplay. The release of this exciting new CD is yet another pinnacle on Greta’s long and distinguished career

The eastside release party for I Wanna Be Loved will be held at Bake’s Place at Providence Point, where Matassa has been a featured artist for many years. Reservations can be made by calling 425-391-3335 or by sending an email to [email protected]. For more information, please visit www.bakesplace.org.

From the SaveKBCS Blog:

The “Save KBCS” working group requested a meeting with Bellevue College President Jean Floten. The meeting was held on July 15th. Present at the meeting from “Save KBCS” were representatives Jean Geiger, Dave Long, and Al Barnes. Representing KBCS management was Mike Talbott, Dean of Information Services (General Manager Steve Ramsey’s immediate supervisor), and President Jean Floten. We presented President Floten with 350 printed emails that had been sent to [email protected] in the week prior to the meeting. Since then the number of emails we received is well above 500. We requested that President Floten:

1) Postpone the Phase 1 August 24th changes,
2) Appoint a mediator to facilitate the completion of the Strategic Plan. (This has been in the works for over 3 years),
3) Direct KBCS management to open a dialog with the volunteer and listener community for all future programming changes.

On Monday, July 27th, President Floten sent an email to SaveKBCS stating her support for Phase 1 changes to be implemented as planned and stated she believes a more inclusive process should be incorporated for Phase 2 and 3 changes.

Shortly after the July 15th meeting with President Floten, KBCS management held 3 meetings for all active volunteers for questions and the presentation of statistics to support their decision to drop 20 hours of distinct Jazz/Folk/World music and close to 20 non-paid DJ volunteers Monday-Friday. The replacement for this dropped programming will be syndicated, purchased public affairs and news programs and a paid DJ for a blended Jazz/World/Americana show in the 9am-12noon slot. Originally management wanted a paid DJ for the 12noon-3pm slot. Due to a lack of funds the afternoon paid DJ has been put on hold. However, the existing afternoon DJs are summarily dismissed and will be replaced by other volunteers of the Program Director’s choosing based on new applications.
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from The Seattle Times:

The business district along 15th Avenue Northeast in Shoreline, called North City, got its new sidewalks three years ago when the city spent millions to put utility lines underground, widen the walkways and install new light standards.

Inspired by the neighborhood facelift, three local businessmen, one of them a jazz musician, came up with the idea to host a one-day jazz festival in the style of the three-day festival in Port Townsend. The budget and lead time were small three years ago. But from that notion came the first North City Jazz Walk. The festival drew 400 people, who saw shows in four restaurants.

“It even rained that night,” said Steve Cook, chairman of the neighborhood business association, and one of the event organizers. “The next year we got 700 people [at the height of the Beijing Olympic Games]. This year we’re expecting 1,400.”

Continue reading at The Seattle Times.

EVENT DETAILS: North City Jazz Walk
7 p.m. Tuesday, in nine venues along 15th Avenue Northeast, Shoreline; $12 for all-inclusive tickets (in advance at www.northcityjazzwalk.org) or $10 in person (at Peking House restaurant, Laughing Ladies Café, North City Bistro & Wine Shop, the Shoreline Chamber of Commerce and the Shoreline-LFP Arts Council; more information, 206-364-4566 or www.northcityjazzwalk.org)

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: David Frisen Trio w/ John Gross and David Goebel

JAZZ ALLEY: Bill Evans Soulgrass featuring Dennis Chambers with special guest Robben Ford

LUCID JAZZ LOUNGE: Ambience

BAKE’S PLACE: Greta Matassa
CD Release Party for I Wanna Be Loved

LOCAL COLOR: Marc Smason

LATONA PUB: Phil Sparks Trio

SOUTHPORT CAFE: Brooks Giles Band
1083 Lake Washington Blvd N, Renton, 7:00pm

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Momentum Jazz Quartet, with Mikel Rollins (sax/flute/percussion), Gregg Robinson (keyboards), Sylvia Rollins (electric bass) and Mark Jelsing (drums)
9pm – Shoemaker Brothers, with Samuel Shoemaker (violin/vocals), Nathanael Shoemaker (cello/vocals), Daniel Shoemaker (viola/vocals) and Gabriel Shoemaker (violin/vocals)
11pm – Paul Rucker and Hans Teuber

NORTH CITY BISTRO: Bassic Saxx

13 COINS: Lance Buller w/ Phil Sparks, Chris Spencer, & Mike Slivka

PAMPAS ROOM: Brian Nova

Northwest jazz artists from Portland to Vancouver continue to pour out new CDs, and this Sunday afternoon we’ll sample recent releases by McTuff, Tony Grasso’s Saxophone? Quartet!, Cory Weeds, Eric Verlinde, Chad McCullough and Darin Clendenin, and talk about live jazz around the region this coming week.

Jazz Northwest airs Sundays at 1 PM on 88-5, KPLU, Jim Wilke is host and producer.

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Beth Winter Quartet with Randy Halberstadt

JAZZ ALLEY: Bill Evans Soulgrass featuring Dennis Chambers with special guest Robben Ford

NEW ORLEANS: Bob Jackson Quintet

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Damon Zick and Friends, with Damon Zick (saxophone), Chris Stover (trombone), Chris Symer (bass), Dawn Clement (piano) and Eric Eagle (drums)
9pm – Crown Hill Invention, with Tom Watson (vocals/guitar), Mike Sievers (vocals/piano/guitar) and John Isenhart (bass)

THAIKU: Jon Alberts, Jeff Johnson and Tad Britton

LO-FI: Gravity w/ Tim Kennedy, Ian Sheridan, & Claudio Rochat Felix

LUCID JAZZ LOUNGE: The Hang