Wednesday Jazz

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: John Schleckler Trio
2214 2nd Ave, 206-443-4221, 7:30pm

JAZZ ALLEY: John Lee Hooker, Jr.
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30pm

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: Jazz Heads
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, WA, 425-292-9307, 7:00pm

418 PUBLIC HOUSE: 418 session w/ Claudio Rochat-Felix
418 NW 65th St, 9:00pm

TRIPLE DOOR MUSICQUARIUM: How Now Brown Cow
218 Union Street, Seattle, 206-838-4333, 9:00pm

OWL ‘N THISTLE: Skerik Trio
808 Post Ave, 206-621-7777, 9:30pm

VITO’S: Wally Shoup Trio
927 9th Ave, Seattle, 206-682-2695, 8:00pm

CAFE CON LECHE: Brazilian jam w/ Jeff Busch
2901 1st Ave South, Seattle, 9:00pm

ROYAL ROOM: Piano Starts Here: The Music of Sun Ra
5000 Rainier Avenue South, 8:00pm

Review: Free Funk Union at The Triple Door

On The Scene with Howard LonderON THE SCENE WITH HOWARD LONDNER

Free Funk Union
Evan Flory-Barnes – bass
Darrius Willrich – keyboard, vocals
D’vonne Lewis – drums

The Triple Door
Jan 14, 2013

I went see the Mr Lewis’ gig expecting to hear the great and fun jazz one usually gets from D’vonne and the cats he rotates in and out for his trios. Tonight they were playing most pop songs, and that was a big disappointment for me.

Years ago I saw Mr Lewis play with a quartet, he was driving the band, and got way out in front … and I hate when drummers do that. Since then, every time I hear D’vonne he sounds better and better. More and more brilliant. I stated in a previous review that Byron Vannoy and D’vonne remind me of favorite drummer, Ed Blackwell. Just like Mr Blackwell D’vonne has a timing that is inherently superior to most, and he never forgets where the music and drumming came from. No matter what type of music, D’vonne always brings a lot of spark, funk, soul, excitement, and fun to the party.

Monday Jazz

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Pacific Cascade Big Band
2214 Second Ave, 206-443-4221, 7:30pm

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

EL GAUCHO: Paul Richardson
2505 1st Ave, 6:00pm

PARATII: Paratii session w/ Jeff Busch
5463 Leary Ave NW, 206-420-7406, 9:00pm

EL GAUCHO BELLEVUE: Primo Kim
555 110th Ave NE, Bellevue, 425-455-2734, 6:00pm

WHITE RABBIT: Michael Shrieve’s Spellbinder
513 N 36th St Suite E, Seattle, 9:30pm

STILL LIQUOR: O’Brien & Kessler Trio w/ Nate Parker
1524 Minor Ave, Seattle, 9:00pm

ROYAL ROOM: Ask The Ages, Majestical Quintet
5000 Rainier Ave South, Seattle, 8:00PM

BOXLEY’S: 5:00pm: Mt. Si Vocal Workshop; 7:00pm: CCK Workshop
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, WA, 425-292-9307, 7:00pm

Sunday Jazz

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: 3:00pm: Fairly Honest Jazz Band; 8:00pm: Jim Cutler Jazz Orchestra
2214 2nd Ave, 206-443-4221

JAZZ ALLEY: Kenny G
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30pm

BOXLEY’S: Danny Kolke Trio
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, WA, 425-292-9307, 6:00pm

TRIPLE DOOR MUSICQUARIUM: Kareem Kandi
216 Union Street, 206-838-4333, 8:00pm

CAFE RACER: Open Session
5828 Roosevelt Way NE, 8pm

DARRELL’S TAVERN: Kevin Mccarthy & Friends Jam Session
18041 Aurora Ave N, Shoreline, 8:00pm

VITO’S LOUNGE: 6pm: Ruby Bishop; 9:30pm: Ron Weinstein Trio
927 9th Ave, Seattle, 6:00pm

PROHIBITION GRILL: Bob Strickland jam
1414 Hewitt Ave, Everett, 425-258-6100, 5:00pm

ROYAL ROOM: Bandalabra
5000 Rainier Avenue South, 206-906-9920, 9:30pm

Saturday Jazz

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Susan Pascal Quintet plays the music of Keith Jarrett
2214 2nd Ave, 206-443-4221, 7:30pm

BOXLEY’S: Janette West Band
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, WA, 425-292-9307, 7:00pm

JAZZ ALLEY: Kenny G
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30 & 10:00pm

LAKESIDE BISTRO: Thelxie Eaves Trio
11425 Rainier Avenue South, Seattle, 206-772-6891

VITO’S: Ruby Bishop
927 9th Ave, Seattle, 206-682-2695, 6:00pm

ROYAL ROOM: The Jelly Rollers
5000 Rainier Avenue South, 8:30pm

SCOTCH AND VINE: Brian Lee Trio
22341 Marine View Dr S, Des Moines, 7:00pm

GRAZIE: Michael Powers Group
23207 Bothell-Everett Hwy, Bothell, 425-402-9600, 7:00pm

Review: Jeff Johnson, Suitcase

from All About Jazz:

Bassist Jeff Johnson traveled the United States from the 1970s until 1990. He followed the work during his time of transience, and played an array of styles, from R&B to country, from blues to pop, and jazz. Then he put his suitcase down in Seattle and evolved into something of a house bassist for Origin Records, backing pianists Jessica Williams and Hal Galper, saxophonist Mark Taylor, vocalists Carrie Wicks and Jeff Baker, drummer John Bishop, and many more.

For his own recordings, he favors a free jazz approach and the trio—saxophone, bass and drums. His trio, with saxophonist Han Teuber’s smooth, fluid sound in the center, is spacious and cool, a sort of West Coast Zen music. But on Suitcase, Johnson adds a pianist into the fold for the first time since 2001’s Art of Falling (Origin Records).

The quartet’s chemistry is remarkable. While Johnson has been playing and recording with Teuber for more than twenty years, pianist Steve Moore and drummer Eric Eagle are newcomers who have lent a new dimension to the bassist’s sound. Moore, in this setting, is very effectively stingy with the notes he plays, placing them perfectly in this flexible, chamber music-like ensemble; and Eagle is a master of percussive subtlety who has no problem laying on a bit of muscle when the situation calls for it. And it calls for it on Johnson’s “Scene West,” and “Soweto Man, where the bassist leads the group deep into the groove.

With the exception of the disc’s opener, “Shake it Off,” an in-the-moment, four-way improvisation, all the tunes are from Johnson’s pen, written during his “twenty years of wandering” around the country, following the jobs. “Avion” features Teuber on bass clarinet, contributing a smooth, deep tone to a tune that floats, untethered in a cloud- drift mode. “Kiwi” is a rather jaunty, light-stepping waltz and “Artist” has a brooding, late night mood, with Teuber at his most beautiful.

“Letters for Marcy,” written for the special lady in Johnson’s life, is a gorgeous, tender love song, with Johnson singing the woman’s praises in the most poignant of fashions on his Fender Jazz bass, before Teuber blows in like an intimate whisper. The band closes with “Soweto Man,” with Teuber’s alto flute layered over a steady dance beat, wrapping up Johnson’s finest recording to date.

Friday Jazz

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Stephanie Porter Quartet
2214 2nd Ave, 206-443-4221, 7:30pm

COMET TAVERN:  Hardcoretet, Industrial Revelation, Skerik Trio
922 E Pike St, 9:30pm

JAZZ ALLEY: Kenny G
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30 & 10:00pm

HIROSHI’S: Jazz and Sushi
2501 Eastlake Ave E, 726-4966

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

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

ROYAL ROOM: Piano Royale/ Cordaviva
5000 Rainier Avenue South, Seattle, 8:00pm

LAKESIDE BISTRO: Butch Harrison
11425 Rainier Ave S, 206-772-6891, 7:00pm

GRAZIE: Michael Powers Group
23207 Bothell-Everett Hwy, Bothell, 425-402-9600, 7:00pm

BOXLEY’S: Susan Pascal Trio
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, WA, 425-292-9307, 7:00pm

Thursday Jazz

TRIPLE DOOR: Mingus Dynasty
218 Union Street, Seattle, 206-838-4333, 7:30pm

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Fred Hoadley’s Sonando
2214 Second Avenue, 206-443-4221, 7:30pm

JAZZ ALLEY: Kenny G
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30pm & 9:30pm

LAKESIDE BISTRO: Lakeside Jam
11425 Rainier Ave S, 206-772-6891, 6:00pm

COPPER GATE: Jon Alberts, Jeff Johnson & Tad Britton
6301 24th Ave NW, 206-706-3292, 8:00pm

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

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

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

THE ROYAL ROOM: Jacob Navarro/The Renegade String Band
5000 Rainier Avenue South, 8:00pm

Review: Gregg Belisle-Chi Trio at The Triple Door

On The Scene with Howard LonderON THE SCENE WITH HOWARD LONDNER

Jan 10, 2013 – The Triple Door
The Gregg Belisle-Chi Trio

Gregg Belisle-Chi – guitar
Chris Symer – double bass
Evan Woodle – drums

The only problem I have with tonight’s gig was the song list for the first set (three sets total.). Too many mellow songs in a row ( when you’re old like me you want some more excitement.).

About Mr Belisle-Chi… this kid can play! He is very good. If I was all about competition like downbeat or earshot I would vote this kid as one of the up and coming superstars of the Seattle jazz scene.

While the first set was mellow, Gregg always tried to give the songs that all important emotional extra that great musicians do. The next set was great! All the songs were either more up tempo than before, or if as slow or slower than before, much more interesting. That is, most weren’t just tunes, they intricate and more complex pieces to perform and listen to. The same was almost true of the third set,  just not as much as the second.

Gregg plays with a lot of skill, always tries new ideas and techniques, always trying to present the music as artfully as possible, always striving for the listener to feel as if Gregg played this music just for him.

Evan Woodle also played great. Always good fills, solos, and accompanying the others. Mr Woodle is a racer session kid. Evan, like Gregg, have both learned all the vocabulary of their art and are writing the verses their way. Good! Because it sounds so good!

Mr Symer really had it all going on tonight. No matter if he was plucking or bowing the bass, he sounded great. His accompanying always insightful, his bass lines always interesting, often making outstanding statements, always harmonizing well, solos, killer great. Chris did more bowing than I’ve heard him do in a gig before. Sounded awesome. Hope he does more
of it.

I want to write about this one song of the second set, Ornette Coleman’s Lonely Woman. Their presentation was knock out, light’s out, everybody else can pack up their stuff and go home. It seemed as if the three (I’m not a musician and I might be getting this wrong.) were playing at different tempos, so the trio was like a polyrhythm all it’s own, everybody serving up the music a little differently, all together. Yeah, man! That’s the best kind of jazz!

Thank you Gregg, Evan, and Chris

Wednesday Jazz

TRIPLE DOOR: Mingus Dynasty
218 Union Street, Seattle, 206-838-4333, 7:30pm

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Greta Matassa Jazz Workshop
2214 2nd Ave, 206-443-4221, 7:30pm

JAZZ ALLEY: Davina and the Vagabonds
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30pm

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: Jazz Heads
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, WA, 425-292-9307, 7:00pm

418 PUBLIC HOUSE: 418 session w/ Claudio Rochat-Felix
418 NW 65th St, 9:00pm

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

CAFE CON LECHE: Brazilian jam w/ Jeff Busch
2901 1st Ave South, Seattle, 9:00pm

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Vocal Showcase featuring Maryellen Hearn, Steve Carver, and Katie Davi
9pm – Vocal Jam with Hans Brehmer (piano), Ted Enderle (bass) and Robert Rushing (drums)
1707 NW Market Street, Seattle, 206-789-1621

ROYAL ROOM: closed for a private event
5000 Rainier Avenue South, 8:00pm

Tuesday Jazz

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Music Works with Mt. Rainier HS Big Band
2214 2nd Ave, 206-443-4221, 7:30pm

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE: Carolyn Graye Student Showcase
1707 NW Market Street, Seattle, 206-789-1621, 7:00pm

JAZZ ALLEY: Davina and the Vagabonds
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30pm

MIX: Don Mock, Steve Kim & Jaques Willis
6006 12th Ave South, 206-767-0280, 9:00pm

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

SEAMONSTER LOUNGE: McTuff Trio
2202 N 45th St, 206-633-1824, 10:00pm

COPPER GATE: Suffering F#ckheads
6301 24th Ave NW, 206-706-3292, 8:00pm

BOXLEY’S: Aaron Tevis Project
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, WA, 425-292-9307, 7:00pm

BAKE’S PLACE: Hans Brehmer Trio
155 108th Ave NE, Bellevue, (425) 454-2776, 8:00pm

On The Scene with Howard Londner: Three groups at The Royal Room

On The Scene with Howard LonderJanuary 13, 2013
Three Bands (or musical groups) at the Royal Room.

Storm D’Angelo’s All Star Big Band
Storm D’Angelo – tenor sax, bass clarinet
Rubin Hohlbein – trumpet
John Otten – trumpet
David Klein – baritone sax
Lise Ramaley – bass
Daniel Arthur – piano
Quinn Anex-Ries – alto sax, clarinet
Noah Halpern – trumpet
Adam Shimabakuro – guitar
Kenzo Perron – drums
Porter Jones – trombone
Logan Pendergrass – bass trombone

Some of Roosevelt High’s finest, these kids are just great!

They could be tighter (how perfect were you in high school?), so what! These kids played great, were a lot of fun.
Support the kids… they’re doing something positive!

I was especially impressed with, Mr Hohlbein, Mr Arthur, Ms Anex-Ries, and Mr Jones. If Mr Storm D’Angelo was a baseball player he’d be like Ken Griffey Jr. This kid is killer! He composes, plays great, and leads the band with a poise and grace and talent well beyond his years. You better be listening to these kids now, before they head off to NY.

This was the first band of the night, the last band was …

Nelda Swiggett Stringtet
Nelda Swigett – piano, voice, composer
Rachel Swerdlow – viola
Walter Gray – cello
Chris Symer – bass
Byron Vannoy – drums

Tonight’s performance was a tune-up for a CD they will be recording soon.

All the compositions were originals by Ms Swiggett, who played piano and sang well. All the tunes were pleasant, enjoyable.
Ms Swerdlow and Mr Gray are from the Seattle Symphony, so I’ll just shut up about them and you listen. Mr Symer played a great solo bowing (keep bowing, man, it sounds great.). Mr Vannoy and D’vonne Lewis both remind me of my favorite drummer, Ed Blackwell. Byron always has impecable time keeping, and always makes great statements concisely, that is, he doesn’t need a lot of flash and jive, he just plays the right amount of notes the right way! (Byron was my drum teacher, ’till he fired me because I was a lousy drummer and a lousier student.)

The band has a blend of third stream music with a touch of Stephan Grappelli.

The large group of musicians playing between these two bands call themselves Scrape.

Mostly classiacal folks, with jazz’s own Chris Symer on bass, and Gregg Belisle-Chi on guitar. Exquisite harmonies, interesting compositions (these aren’t quick little ditties). All of the compostions except two were by local jazz trumpeter, educator, and composer, the great Jim Knapp. If you want to hear classical music without paying the high ticket prices classical music usually charges … come see this band. A couple of drinks and a donation, and you’ll still be money ahead.

Thank you to all the musicians and composers tonight.
Thank you.

Monday Jazz

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Mach One Jazz Orchestra
2214 Second Ave, 206-443-4221, 7:30pm

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

EL GAUCHO: Paul Richardson
2505 1st Ave, 6:00pm

PARATII: Paratii session w/ Jeff Busch
5463 Leary Ave NW, 206-420-7406, 9:00pm

EL GAUCHO BELLEVUE: Primo Kim
555 110th Ave NE, Bellevue, 425-455-2734, 6:00pm

WHITE RABBIT: Michael Shrieve’s Spellbinder
513 N 36th St Suite E, Seattle, 9:30pm

STILL LIQUOR: O’Brien & Kessler Trio w/ Nate Parker
1524 Minor Ave, Seattle, 9:00pm

ROYAL ROOM:The Royal Room Collective Music Ensemble
5000 Rainier Ave South, Seattle, 8:00PM

 

Greta Matassa Quartet on Jazz Northwest, KPLU, January 20

Seattle’s busiest singer, Greta Matassa sings all over town from jazz clubs to concert halls, tours internationally, has recorded eight CDs and appeared as guest on many more, and makes time to teach and do clinics and workshops.  Her recent appearance in the Art of Jazz series at the Seattle Art Museum was recorded and an hour of highlights will air on Jazz Northwest on 88.5 KPLU at 2 PM Pacific on Sunday, January 20.  The program ranges from standards to rarities and more contemporary songs by Stevie Wonder and Pat Metheny.

Appearing with her in the Greta Matassa Quartet are Darin Clendenin, piano, Clipper Anderson, bass and Mark Ivester, drums.  The concert was part of the Art of Jazz series presented by Earshot Jazz on the second Thursday of each month from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.  The next concert in the series features fluegelhorn player Dmitri Matheny in a Valentine’s day concert on February 14.   The concerts are free and open to the public in the Brotman Forum at SAM.

Jazz Northwest is recorded and produced by Jim Wilke exclusively for 88.5 KPLU and is heard every Sunday at 2 PM. The program is also streamed simultaneously to an international audience via kplu.org and a podcast is available following the broadcast.

More Info:
gretamatassa.com
earshot.org
seattleartmuseum.org
jazznw.org

Jazz from A to Z in Seattle next week

from The Seattle Times:

Longtime Seattle jazz fans no doubt remember the motto of the old Bud’s Jazz Records in Pioneer Square: “Jazz in all its forms.”

That’s the story this week in Seattle, where a wide spectrum of jazz, from ultraviolet to infrared, is on offer. Some folks, of course, would say the improvised abstractions of this weekend’s Racer Sessions festival aren’t really jazz — not to mention the buzz of Kenny G’s smooth jazz, which returns to Jazz Alley on Thursday — but if we adhere to Bud’s more catholic view, there’s a whole lotta jazz in town this week.

The marquee show is the Monterey Jazz Festival 55th Anniversary Celebration On Tour, at Benaroya Hall Tuesday. Grammy and Tony award-winning vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater is center stage. Though she has a distinctly tangy personality of her own, Bridgewater specializes in homages to classic jazz singers, her latest subject being the late Billie Holiday.

Saxophonist Chris Potter, whose epic new album, “The Sirens,” is due Jan. 29, is also on the program, as are fiery young trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire, veteran bassist Christian McBride, pianist Benny Green and drummer Lewis Nash.

Long before a tragic multiple homicide put the University District’s Cafe Racer on the map in the worst way, fans of experimental music knew this cozy, communal hang as a place where eccentric musicians come together Sundays to forge new ways of making music. The scene is back on track, with “Cry & Roar: A Festival Celebrating Three Years of the Racer Sessions.”

It’s a great gumbo of scruffy, scrape-y and trance-y stuff, including the septet King Tears Bat Trip, which starts where Albert Ayler and John Coltrane left off; ferocious improvising saxophonist Neil Welch’s Sleeper Ensemble; the electronic folk jazz duo Syrinx Effect (Kate Olson, Naomi Segel); Christian Pincock’s Soundpainting, which uses signed gestures to cue the music; the spontaneous improv trio Japanese Guy; the haunting sextet Wand; and the offbeat jazz trio Insistent Caterpillars.

Continue reading at The Seattle Times for more about what’s happening next week.

Friday Jazz

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Philip DeMaree Quartet featuring Pete Olstad
2214 2nd Ave, 206-443-4221, 7:30pm

JAZZ ALLEY: Rickie Lee Jones with Opener Jesse Dee
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30 & 10:00pm

HIROSHI’S: Jazz and Sushi
2501 Eastlake Ave E, 726-4966

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

VITO’S: Jovino Santos Neto
927 9th Ave, Seattle, 206-682-2695, 9:00pm

ROYAL ROOM: Piano Royale/ Django’s Birthday Concert
5000 Rainier Avenue South, Seattle, 8:00pm

LAKESIDE BISTRO: Thelxie Eaves Trio
11425 Rainier Ave S, 206-772-6891, 7:00pm

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

BOXLEY’S: Dan Kramlich’s Grunge Trio
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, WA, 425-292-9307, 7:00pm

 

Thursday Jazz

KANE HALL (UW): Jazz on the Cover exhibit lecture with Rafal Olbinski
The Jazz on the Cover exhibit features artwork by Rafal Olbinski. Before his career in New York began, Rafal Olbinski spent 10 years in Warsaw working as an art director for the iconic Polish jazz magazine Jazz Forum. This exhibit contains select covers from 1970-1981, representing Olbinski’s remarkable illustrations and a part of the history of jazz behind the Iron Curtain. The opening celebration is Thursday, January 17, 6:30pm, at the Allen Library, North Lobby, UW Campus. Olbinski speaks at the Walker Ames Room, Kane Hall, 7:30pm, preceding a reception with the artist. Free.

TRIPLE DOOR MUSICQUARIUM: Hardcoretet
218 Union Street, Seattle, 206-838-4333, 9:00pm

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Contempo
2214 Second Avenue, 206-443-4221, 7:30pm

JAZZ ALLEY: Hiroshima
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30pm & 9:30pm

LAKESIDE BISTRO: Lakeside Jam
11425 Rainier Ave S, 206-772-6891, 6:00pm

COPPER GATE: Jon Alberts, Jeff Johnson & Tad Britton
6301 24th Ave NW, 206-706-3292, 8:00pm

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

BOXLEY’S: Milo Peterson
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, WA, 425-292-9307, 7:00pm

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

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Keith Cook and the Travis Hartnett Trio
1707 NW Market Street, Seattle, 206-789-1621

Review: Eastside Jazz Club / Owl ‘n Thistle

On The Scene with Howard LonderON THE SCENE WITH HOWARD LONDNER

Tom Marriott and Friends
Tom Marriott – trumpet
Mark Taylor – alto sax
Eric Verlinde – electric piano
Phil Sparks – double bass
Greg Williamson – drums

Eastside Jazz Club
Marriott Hotel, Bellevue
January 15, 2013

Started the night listening to this all-star quintet. As usual Phil Sparks was playing great bass.

Tom Marriott also played very well. His leadership was evident with the song selection,and the band’s balance. When I go to the Racer Sessions I feel like everyone’s Dad or Grandpa … Here I felt like a kid. The songs were all pretty straight ahead stuff or  recognizable ballads.

Eric Verlinde is a great piano player. As in any community or industry, some people get all the hype, some don’t enough. Unfortunately Eric may be in the latter category, not that others don’t deserve what they get (and some don’t), I just believe Mr Verlinde deserves more. He played some solos that really wowed the crowd.

Mark Taylor is a special musician. His is a unique, great tone. His presentation is mature, professional, thoughtful, and honest. He KO’ed everyone on “body and soul” during the second set.

Read More

Wednesday Jazz

KIRKLAND PERFORMANCE CENTER: Freddy Cole
350 Kirkland Ave, Kirkland, 425-828-0422, www.kpcenter.org

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Hal Sherman Bellevue College Jazz Band
2214 2nd Ave, 206-443-4221, 7:30pm

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

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: Jazz Heads
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, WA, 425-292-9307, 7:00pm

418 PUBLIC HOUSE: 418 session w/ Claudio Rochat-Felix
418 NW 65th St, 9:00pm

VITO’S: Brad Gibson Trio
927 9th Ave, Seattle, 206-682-2695, 8:00pm

CAFE CON LECHE: Brazilian jam w/ Jeff Busch
2901 1st Ave South, Seattle, 9:00pm

ROYAL ROOM: call for schedule
5000 Rainier Avenue South, 8:00pm

Cry & Roar: A Festival Celebrating Three Years of the Racer Sessions

Table & Chairs is excited to celebrate the Racer Sessions’ third birthday with a festival at Café Racer. The festival will run from Friday, January 18th through Sunday, January 20th. There will be multiple Table & Chairs artists performing throughout the weekend, as well as many other Seattle-area artists. Cry & Roar will be an accumulation of the talent seen at Café Racer so often over the past few years.

This year, the festival is not simply dubbed “The Racer Sessions Festival” once again, in order to honor a fallen member of the Racer Sessions family. Andrew Carrico passed away recently, and had only begun attending the Racer Sessions a few months before he left us, though he left a lasting impression on so many. He once described his sound on the baritone saxophone as “somewhere between a cry and a roar” — a more than apt description.

The weekend of the 18th, we remember our friends, appreciate our loved ones, and celebrate music.

Cry & Roar: A Festival Celebrating Three Years of the Racer Sessions. January 18th-20th. Café Racer (5828 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105).

Friday, January 18th
8:30pm: Insistent Caterpillars
9:30pm: Sleeper Ensemble
10:30pm: Wand

Saturday, January 19th
8:30pm: Christian Pincock Live Composition Ensemble
9:30pm: Syrinx Effect
10:30pm: Japanese Guy

Sunday, January 20th
8:00pm: King Tears Bat Trip curates the Racer Sessions
10:15pm: Super Secret After Party Guest Artist!

suggested donation of $5-15 at the door.

more information and links here.