The 2012 edition of the Bellevue Jazz Festival kicks off tomorrow night, Wednesday, May 30 and runs through Sunday, June 3.

This year’s headliners include The Clayton Brothers, organist Booker T. Jones and flutist Hubert Laws.

In addition to the festival’s headliner performances, more than 40 free shows by top regional jazz artists and talented student musicians will take place throughout the weekend in restaurants, bars, and cultural spaces in downtown Bellevue.

All headliner performances are held at the 410-seat Theatre at Meydenbauer Center, one of the Pacific Northwest’s premier performing arts venues.

Thursday, May 31, 8:00 p.m.
Clayton Brothers Quintet
The GRAMMY-nominated Clayton Brothers Quintet was formed in 1977 by brothers John and Jeff, and while their paths sometimes diverged, the brothers continue to share a common musical vision. The quintet also consists of John’s and GRAMMY-nominee Gerald Clayton on piano, Obed Calvaire on drums, and Terell Stafford, a highly regarded trumpeter and band-leader. $34 ($17 students)

Friday, June 1, 8:00 p.m.
Booker T. Jones
Booker T. Jones is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, record producer and arranger, and four-time GRAMMY Award winner, but he is best known as the front-man of the band Booker T. and the MGs. Jones was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992, and was honored with a Lifetime Achievement GRAMMY Award in 2007. In 2011, Jones released The Road from Memphis and in 2012 the album won Best Pop Instrumental Album at the 54th GRAMMY Awards. $34 ($17 students)

Saturday, June 2, 8:00 p.m.
Hubert Laws Quintet
Internationally-renowned flutist Hubert Laws is one of the few classical artists who has also mastered jazz, pop, and rhythm-and-blues genres – moving effortlessly from one repertory to another. Winner of the prestigious 2011 NEA Jazz Masters Award, Laws has appeared as a soloist with orchestras around the world. Members of the Quintet include David Budway on acoustic piano, John Leftwich on bass, Ralph Penland on drums, and Rob Mullins on synth keyboard. $34 ($17 students)

For more information, and for a complete schedule, visit the Bellevue Jazz Festival website.

 

Category:
Seattle Jazz