Saturday Jazz

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Susan Pascal Soul Sauce Quintet
2214 2nd Ave, 206-443-4221, 7:30pm

JAZZ ALLEY: Sérgio Mendes and Brazil 2014
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30 & 10:00pm

SERAFINA: Tim Kennedy Trio
2043 Eastlake Ave E, 206-323-0807, 9:00pm

BOXLEY’S: Paul Green Quintet
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, WA, 425-292-9307, 7:00pm

ROYAL ROOM: African Music Nite with Spirit of Ojah and Super Mokako
5000 Rainier Ave South, Seattle, 8:00pm

VITO’S: 6:00pm: Jerry Zimmerman; 9:00pm: Kareem Kandi,
927 9th Ave, Seattle, 206-682-2695

GRAZIE: Edward Paul Trio
23207 Bothell-Everett Hwy, Bothell, 425-402-9600, 7:00pm

SHIP CANAL GRILL: Kelley Johnson
3218 Eastlake Avenue East, Seattle, 206-588-8885, 8:00pm

Friday Jazz

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Hal Galper Trio with Jeff Johnson and John Bishop
2214 Second Avenue, 206-443-4221, 7:30pm

JAZZ ALLEY: Sérgio Mendes and Brazil 2014
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30 & 10:00pm

ROYAL ROOM: A to Z: Five In One
5000 Rainier Ave South, Seattle, 8:00pm

LATONA PUB: Phil Sparks Trio
6423 Latona Avenue NE, 5:00 – 7:00pm, No Cover, 21+

BOXLEY’S: Ham Carson Quartet
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, WA, 425-292-9307, 7:00pm

SERAFINA: Alex Guilbert Duo
2043 Eastlake Ave E, 206-323-0807, 9:00pm

DUOS LOUNGE: Jeff Ferguson’s Triangular Jazztet
2940 SW Avalon Way, 206-452-2452, 7:30pm

GRAZIE: Edward Paul Trio
23207 Bothell-Everett Hwy, Bothell, 425-402-9600, 7:00pm

VITO’S: Casey MacGill
927 9th Ave, Seattle, 206-682-2695, 8:00pm

BLACK DIAMOND BAKERY: Dan Duval Trio
32805 Railroad Ave, Black Diamond, 6:30pm

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
9pm – Thomas Marriott Quartet
1707 NW Market Street, Seattle, (206) 789-1621

What’s coming up this weekend

Lots of great jazz in Seattle this weekend … here are some of our picks.

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB
This Friday Tula’s hosts NYC pianist Hal Galper with his trio featuring Jeff Johnson (bass) and John Bishop (drums). This trio has been working steadily for the past half-decade and their shows in Seattle are always a highlight of the year.

Saturday night features vibraphonist Susan Pascal and her tribute to Cal Tjader.

JAZZ ALLEY
Sérgio Mendes and Brazil 2014 are at Jazz Alley through Sunday. If you plan on going make sure and order your tickets in advance.

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE
Trumpter Thomas Marriott is performing Friday night at 9pm. Make plans to catch him and his quartet at the intimate room in Ballard.

BOXLEY’S
Friday features the Ham Carson Quartet and on Saturday the Paul Green Quintet will perform.

LATONA PUB
Heading home from work on Friday, one of the best weekly gigs in Seattle is Phil Sparks Trio at the Latona Pub from 5-7pm. No cover and great beer and food. 65th and Latona Ave NE.

DeMiero Jazz Festival this weekend in Edmonds

Starting tonight, the DeMiero Jazz Festival runs through the weekend at the Edmonds Performing Arts Center.

March 6: Dee Daniels; Greta Matassa
March 7: Kathy Kosins; Charenee Wade
March 8: Uptown Vocal Jazz Quartet; Soundsation ’14

Also performing: Josh Nelson, Alvester Garnett, Jay Leonhart & Bruce Forman, Rosana Eckert, Greg Jasperse and Louise Rose

Edmonds Center for the Arts
410 Fourth Avenue North
Edmonds, WA

More info on their website

Thursday Jazz

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Isabella Du Graf Quartet
2214 Second Avenue, 206-443-4221, 7:30pm

JAZZ ALLEY: Sérgio Mendes and Brazil 2014
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30pm

ROYAL ROOM: Rain City Slam
5000 Rainier Ave S, Seattle, (206) 906-9920, 8:00pm

BARCA: Adam Kessler / Phil Sparks Trio
1510 11th Avenue, Seattle, (206) 325-8263, 9:00pm

BAKE’S PLACE: Gotz/Lowe Duo
155 108th Ave NE, Bellevue, 425-454-2776, 6:00pm

BOXLEY’S: Randy Halberstadt & Alexey Nikolaev
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, WA, 425-292-9307, 7:00pm

VITO’S: Sunga Rose and Her Rhythm Percolators
927 9th Ave, Seattle, 206-682-2695, 9:00pm

BLUE MOON: Blue Moon session w/ Dave Abramson
712 NE 45th St, 206-675-9116, 4:30pm

PINK DOOR: Greg Ruby Trio
1919 Post Alley, Seattle, 206-443-3241, 8:00pm

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Jacob Zimmerman Quintet
1707 NW Market Street, Seattle, (206) 789-1621

The Duke meets The Bard in “Such Sweet Thunder” in a concert broadcast on 88.5 KPLU

Duke_Ellington_-_publicityIn 1957, Duke Ellington completed and presented “Such Sweet Thunder” in concert for the first time. Working with Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington composed a suite of musical portraits of characters from Shakespeare’s plays; Hamlet, Lady MacBeth, Caesar, Cleopatra, Henry V, Iago and others. In two unique performances last month, The Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra was joined by actors from the Seattle Shakespeare Company to perform the Ellington suite with related excerpts from Shakespeare’s plays.

The complete concert will be broadcast in two parts on Jazz Northwest on 88.5 KPLU. Part 1 will air on Sunday, March 9 at 2 PM Pacific, and Part 2 will air one week later on Sunday, March16 at 2 PM Pacific.

Actors from The Seattle Shakespeare Company include Hana Lass, Darragh Kennan and George Mount, The Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra is co-directed by Clarence Acox and Michael Brockman. The concert performance was recorded at Kirkland Performance Center on February 16.

Jazz Northwest is recorded and produced by Jim Wilke exclusively for 88.5 KPLU. It is also available as a live stream and a podcast after the broadcast at kplu.org .

For more information:
srjo.org
seattleshakespeare.org
jazznw.org

Wednesday Jazz

JAZZ ALLEY: Janiva Magness
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30pm

VITOS: Synthesis featuring Brad Gibson, Denny Goodhew, Brian Kinsella and Steve Kim
927 9th Ave, Seattle, 9:00pm

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Smith / Staelens Big Band
2214 2nd Ave, 206-443-4221, 7:30pm

SHIP CANAL: Jay Thomas Jam Session
3218 Eastlake Avenue East, Seattle, 206-588-8885, 7:30pm

SEAMONSTER LOUNGE: Rippin’ Chicken
2202 N 45th St, (206) 992-1120, 10:00pm

NEW ORLEANS: The Legacy Band with Clarence Acox
114 First Ave S, 206-622-2563, 7:00pm

BOXLEY’S: 5:00pm: Future Jazz Heads; 7:00pm: CBC Jazz Vocalists
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, WA, 425-292-9307

THE PINK DOOR: Casey MacGill Trio
1919 Post Alley, Seattle, 8:00pm

BAKE’S PLACE: Gotz/Lowe Duo
155 108th Ave NE, Bellevue, 425.454.2776, 6:00pm

SRJO Presents “The Art of the Jitterbug,” April 5, 6 and 27, 2014

This April, the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra (SRJO) will present a pair of concerts titled “The Art of the Jitterbug,” celebrating the irresistible dance music of the 1930s. The concert is proving to be very popular. In addition to the two performances scheduled for early April, the SRJO will be taking the concert to Edmonds Center for the Arts in late April for a third performance.

Two award-winning pairs of dancers will perform on stage alongside SRJO to showcase the jitterbug plus other exciting dance styles of early jazz such as the Lindy Hop, East Coast Swing and the Balboa. The SRJO will play some of the most lively swing music drawn from the early years of big band jazz, when the musical style swept the nation’s popular music scene during years that combined the emergence of broad social liberation, the Harlem Renaissance, and recovery from the Great Depression.

Big band jazz grew up in the nightclubs and dance halls of New York and Chicago as high-energy dance music. The zenith of jazz dancing was the jitterbug, igniting the wild enthusiasm of dance-crazed youth in the 1930s. Seattle is recognized as having one of the most active and extensive cultures in the nation for swing dancing, with ballrooms and dance halls hosting swing events year-round throughout the city.

This concert features the most popular hits from the world’s greatest dance bands—Chick Webb, Tommy Dorsey, Jimmie Lunceford, Fletcher Henderson, and Benny Goodman. Selections include Basie’s Swingin’ the Blues, Goodman’s Swing Time in the Rockies and Henderson’s Big John’s Special.

SRJO’s presentation of The Art of the Jitterbug performs Saturday, April 5, 2014 at 7:30 PM at the Nordstrom Recital Hall, Sunday, April 6, 2014 at 2 PM at the Kirkland Performance Center and Sunday, April 27 at 4 PM at the Edmonds Center for the Arts.

Tickets and Info:

Tickets are available through the SRJO’s website srjo.org or by calling (206) 523-6159.

Single tickets range from $15 to $44. Most SRJO concerts sell out, so advance purchase is highly recommended. In a special effort to encourage attendance by young people at SRJO subscription series concerts, the SRJO offers tickets for all jazz fans ages 25 and under at $15 (for all seats in the house).

Tuesday Jazz

JAZZ ALLEY: Janiva Magness
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30pm

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Pony Boy Presents: The Young Lizards
New CD Release: “Freebird & Other Jazzy Things”

2214 2nd Ave, 206-443-4221, 7:30pm

BOXLEY’S: Mardi Gras Celebration with Jay Thomas All-Stars
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, WA, 425-292-9307, 7:00pm

ROYAL ROOM: Fat Tuesday: The Meter Maids/ Tribute to Ray Charles, Dr. John and Leon Russell
5000 Rainier Ave South, Seattle, 206-906-9920

OWL ‘N THISTLE: Jam w/ Eric Verlinde
808 Post Ave, 206-621-7777, 10:00pm

SEAMONSTER LOUNGE: McTuff Trio
2202 N 45th St, (206) 992-1120, 10:00pm

THE PINK DOOR: Casey MacGill Trio
1919 Post Alley, Seattle, 8:00pm

BAKE’S PLACE: Gotz / Lowe Duo
155 108th Ave NE, Bellevue WA 98004, 425.454.2776, 7:00pm

Seattle Times Review: Cecile McLorin Salvant, Julian Priester shine at Portland Jazz Festival

from The Seattle Times:

Singer Cecile McLorin Salvant dazzled Jazz Alley Wednesday, then hit the Portland Jazz Festival this past weekend. Portland, on the other hand, got first dibs on veteran Seattle trombonist Julian Priester — in bassist Buster Williams’ band Something More, which hits Jazz Alley Tuesday.

But never mind the timing, Portland got the best deal: Salvant and Williams shared a double bill at the Newmark Theatre there Saturday.

If you missed Salvant this time, make sure you don’t make that mistake again. At 24, she is easily the most thrilling and formidable new singer in jazz. Imagine the elastic time feel and smoky atmospherics of Betty Carter; the huge hoot of Sarah Vaughan’s basement range; the literate storytelling of Karrin Allyson; and an archivist’s curiosity about cool, unknown songs — and that’s just a catalog. Salvant adds up to far more than the sum of her individual parts.

Williams followed with an all-star band featuring three members of Herbie Hancock’s fondly remembered band that made the album “Mwandishi”: Williams, Priester and celebrated reed man Bennie Maupin.

This was some beefy, soulful, resonant jazz, with rhythmic elbow room and a dark fire crackling underneath, thanks to the rock solid hookup of Williams with drummer Cindy Blackman Santana and pianist George Colligan.
Colligan rattled the rafters on a metrically rejiggered version of Thelonious Monk’s “Epistrophy,” and the 78-year-old Priester, though his best playing days are probably behind him, offered a solo of grace and dignity on the closing ballad, “I Didn’t Know What Time It Was.”

The group plays Jazz Alley Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. 25-26.

One act in Portland that won’t make a Seattle date was a rare pairing of hipster pianist-singer-songwriters Bob Dorough and Dave Frishberg, most famous for their composing collaboration on the classic sendup “I’m Hip.”

Read the full review at The Seattle Times.

Monday Jazz

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: The Jazz Underground
2214 Second Ave, 206-443-4221, 7:30pm

THE ROYAL ROOM: The Royal Room Collective Music Ensemble / Jacques and Ty play notes
5000 Rainier Ave South, Seattle, 206-906-9920

BALLARD STATION: Christian Smith Quartet
2236 NW Market, Seattle, 6:00pm

BOXLEY’S: 5:00pm: MSHS Vocal Jazz Clinic; 7:00pm: CHK Workshop
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, WA, 425-292-9307

NEW ORLEANS: New Orleans Quintet
114 First Ave S, 206-622-2563, 7:00pm

BLUE MOON: Andy Coe Band
712 NE 45th St, Seattle, 206-675-9116, 10:00pm