Speak performing at The Knitting Factory in Boise, ID, last Thursday night.
Seattle jazz group, Speak, comprised of students from the University of Washington jazz program, made it to the finals of the Gene Harris/Origin Records Jazz Competition this past weekend in Boise, Idaho.
The members of Speak include Andrew Swanson – saxophones, Aaron Otheim – piano, Luke Bergman – bass, Chris Icasiano – drums.
Speak was one of the final three groups who perfomed Thursday night at The Knitting Factory in Boise. The other groups included The Alex Pinto Group from Los Angeles and Diverse, a quartet from Kansas City, which was named the winner at the end of the night.
As winner of the competition, Diverse performed at the mainstage concert opening for the great Roy Haynes and his Birds of a Feather band and will receive studio time and the release of their new CD on Origin Records.