The weekend is here so let’s celebrate with some live music.
TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Marc Seales Quintet
JAZZ ALLEY: Kenny Rankin (Kendra Shank opens)
HIROSHI’S JAZZ AND SUSHI: Susan Pascal Trio
EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Katy Bourne and Randy Halberstadt
9pm – Rochelle House
11pm – Kimball and the Fugitives with Stickshift Annie
SERAFINA: Javier Anderson, bossa nova
BIRKSHIRE GRILLS: Bassic Saxx
LA SPIGA: Gail Pettis
GRAZIE: Blues Union
It’s Thursday … there are a couple of CD release parties tonight and lots more stuff to check out.
JAZZ ALLEY: J & J Music and Broken Time Records Showcase
The first set will be a solo set from pianist Eric Vaughn. The second set will feature the Michael Owcharuk Sextet. Band members are Michael Owcharuk (piano), Nate Omdal (bass), Mike Hamms (drums), Jim Knodle (trumpet), Beth Fleenor (clarinets) and Jacob Brietbach (violin). Set time on Thursday January 31st is 7:30pm and doors will open at 6pm.
TRIPLE DOOR MUSICQUARIUM: Leah Stillwell CD release party
216 Union Street, 9:00pm, No Cover
EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE: McTuff, with Joe Doria (Hammond B3), Skerik (tenor sax), Andy Coe (guitar), and D’Vonne Lewis (drums)
TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Tumbao featuring Thomas Marriott
THE NEW ORLEANS: The Ham Carson Quintet
THAIKU: Tad Britton Trio
THE ASTEROID CAFE: Tim Kennedy Jam Session
3601 Fremont Ave N, 547-9000, 9:30pm
Pianist Jovino Santos Neto leads his quartet at Bake’s Place this Saturday.
SATURDAY, FEB 2- BAKE’S PLACE
Jovino Santos Neto Quarteto with Chuck Deardorf (bass), Tom Varner (French Horn) and Jeff Busch (drums)
Bake’s Place at Providence Point
4135 Providence Point Dr. SE
Issaquah, WA 98029
phone: 425-391-3335
Click here for more info
Jovino Santos Neto is a Brazilian-born pianist, flutist and composer who moved in 1993 from his hometown of Rio de Janeiro to Seattle, after spending 15 years playing in the ensemble led by the legendary Hermeto Pascoal. Since his arrival in the U.S., he has established a solid reputation as an artist with a unique musical voice, blending the rich rhythmic heritage of Brazil with a contemporary approach to harmony and improvisation.
THE JAZZ HANG with Katy Bourne
This Friday: Susan Pascal Trio
Susan Pascal, vibes
Chuck Deardorf, bass
Dave Petersen, guitar
Last Friday night, my teenage son, Emmett, and I were looking for something to do. The planets must have been in some kind of quirky alignment. Or maybe there was some residual weirdness from the full moon of a few days before; Emmett doesn’t usually want to hang out with mom, especially on a Friday night. But there we were. The kid likes sushi, so we decided to head over to Hiroshis for the Jazz and Sushi night, which happens every Friday.
If you’ve never been before, Hiroshis is a jumping little sushi joint on Eastlake Avenue. It’s a bright and lively spot with busy waitresses navigating around tightly arranged tables. On past visits, the place has been packed and there has been a lengthy wait for a table. However, this was not the case on Friday. There were plenty of available tables, and we were seated immediately. Jazz happens in the main room, right underneath a giant TV, which was mercifully turned off. The band this particular night consisted of Alexey Nikolaev on sax, Jon Hamar on bass, Randy Halberstadt on piano and of course, Greg Williamson on drums. (Jazz and Sushi is presented by Pony Boy Records, of which Greg is the big cheese.) They started out with “All the Things You Are” and then moved on to original compositions by Greg and Randy. God, what a treat. There was no histrionic manager wringing his hands and asking the band to turn down. This was no pansy-ass background music. This was jazz exactly as it should be: Out there for all to hear and enjoy. Heaven. The band seemed free to do whatever they wanted, and I was particularly taken by the unbound improvisation and the take-no-prisoners solos. It was the first time I’d ever heard Alexey play. Man, that cat can blow! Jon, Randy and Greg also delivered the goods, providing the high-octane performances we’ve happily come to expect from them. Adding to the jovial and laid back vibe was Greg’s between tune banter, which was pretty entertaining all by itself. The teenager was even amused.
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This week, Jazz Northwest previews two major upcoming jazz events – The Hot Java Cool Jazz benefit concert at the Paramount on February 8, and the Portland Jazz Festival February 15-24.
Starbucks presents the 12th annual Hot Java Cool Jazz with support from KPLU, featuring 5 top area high school jazz bands (Shorewood, Mountlake Terrace, Edmonds/Woodway, Rooseveltl and Garfield), and 2 middle school bands (Eckstein and Washington). Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the music programs of the participating schools. Jim Wilke will emcee the concert.
The Portland Jazz Festival is one of the largest annual jazz festivals in the Northwest. The festival includes over 150 events over ten days. Many international stars will perform, ranging from Bela Fleck and the Flecktones to Ornette Coleman and Cecil Taylor, and there are many free and educational events as well. KPLU is sponsoring special Amtrak “jazz trains” transporting Seattle fans to Portland both weekends.
Jazz Northwest is produced by Jim Wilke exclusively for KPLU and airs Sundays at 1 pm Pacific Time on 88.5, KPLU and steams to the internet at www.kplu.org.
Next week (2/10): Rising jazz stars Ben Roseth, alto sax, and Julian Lage, guitar play an intimate duet set recorded live at Egan’s Jam House in Ballard. Ben Roseth (23) is a former star of the Garfield Jazz Band who recently graduated with two degrees, from Tufts University and New England Conservatory. Julian Lage, who’ll be twenty this year, grew up in the San Francisco area, attended Berklee College of Music in Boston and has recorded and toured with Gary Burton among others. Roseth and Lage began playing duets in Boston and this set is notable for the astonishing maturity and sophistication of their music.
LISTEN TO THE PREVIEW BELOW
Vocalist Leah Stillwell is having a release party for her new CD, “So This Is Love,” at the Triple Door Musicquarium on Thursday, January 31.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 31
TRIPLE DOOR MUSICQUARIUM
216 Union Street
9:00pm, No Cover
From her website: Leah is influenced by the greats and fell in love with jazz immediately once introduced as a teen to the satin melodies of classics like Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Billie Holiday. Her vocal style is a personal amalgamation of the old standards along with any and all other music that has ever appealed to ear, heart and soul.
Born and raised in Western Washington, Leah is influenced and inspired by the diverse flavors and talents of the local jazz community. She is proud to be establishing herself in the area and is eager to build her name and reputation.
With a fresh new approach to a classic art form, Leah gracefully captures the style and charisma of jazz with her sultry voice and laid back expression. Calm and alluring, her tunes will relax you into the finest essence of vocal jazz.
For more informaton, visit http://leahstillwell.com
Here is a list of what’s happening tonight …
JAZZ ALLEY: Jackson High School Jazz Ensembles
TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Greta Matassa Jazz Workshop
EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
6:00pm – University Prep jazz combos
8:00pm – Vocal Jam with Carrie Wicks
THE NEW ORLEANS: The Legend Band w/ Clarence Acox
THAIKU: Ron Weinstein Trio
WHISKEY BAR: Eric Verlinde & Friends
VICTORY LOUNGE: Joe Doria Trio
VERRAZANO’S: Katy Bourne with Randy Halberstadt & Chuck Kistler
28835 Pacific Highway South, Federal Way, WA 98003, 253-946-4122, 7-10pm
Vocalist Kendra Shank (former Seattle resident and now living in New York) is opening for singer-songwriter Kenny Rankin at Jazz Alley this week and will be accompanied by pianists Bill Anschell (Friday and Sunday) and Randy Halberstadt (Saturday).
Shank’s latest release, “A Spirit Free,” has been named one of the best of 2007 by Downbeat, JazzTimes, Newsday and more.
For more information on Kendra Shank, visit her website at http://kendrashank.com
Click here to listen to the CD.
FEBRUARY 1- 3, JAZZ ALLEY
Fri. & Sat. – 7:30 PM & 9:30 PM shows
Sun. – 7:30 PM show only
2033 6th Ave. @ Lenora St., Seattle
(entrance in the alley between 6th & 5th ave.)
$24.50 admission / free parking
Reservations: 206-441-9729
http://jazzalley.com
The snow has stayed away for now … so let’s go hear some music.
JAZZ ALLEY: Campbell Brothers
TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Magnolia Big Band
THE NEW ORLEANS: Holotradband
EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE: Jump Ensemble
IKEA: Susan Pascal Quartet
601 SW 41st Street, Renton, 5:00pm
THE JAZZ HANG by Katy Bourne
Editor note: Check out the J & J Music Showcase at Jazz Alley this Thursday night.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 31
JAZZ ALLEY
2033 6th Avenue
phone 206.441.9729
http://www.jazzalley.com
J & J Music isn’t just a booking agency. It’s not exactly a production company or a publicity firm. It’s not a record label either. Any of these descriptions would be too limiting. Instead “J & J Music” is a labor of love, formed to get bands working, create cohesion among musicians and to better the music community at large. The “J’s” behind J & J Music are pianist, Josh Rawlings, and trumpeter, Jason Parker. I recently met Josh and Jason over breakfast at Seattle’s B & O Espresso. I found myself sitting across the table from two very bright, articulate artists with loads of energy and lots of big ideas.
Trumpeter Jason Parker
Josh and Jason are working musicians on the Seattle jazz scene. Both are extremely busy players and juggle a multitude of projects. Jason’s band, The Jason Parker Quartet, plays at many venues throughout the northwest and also keeps busy with a heavy casual business. In addition, Jason plays with the funk group, Water Babies, and in duos with many fine Seattle Musicians, including pianist Ty Bailie, guitarists Jamie Baumgart and George Stone, and others. Josh also has a long list of projects, which includes the bands Soul Kata, Industrial Revelation, The Teaching, Water Babies, Pocket Change, the Flora MacGill Band, the Jason Parker Quartet and, of course, the Josh Rawlings Trio. Josh and Jason also perform together as a duo. Although their backgrounds are quite different, their life experiences and passion for jazz led them to each other and ultimately, to J & J Music.
Josh Rawlings had a deep connection to music, even before birth. “My Mom said it felt like I was playing drums in her womb.” He was born in St. Croix, Wisconsin and spent a good part of his childhood in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Around 5 years of age or so, Josh began taking piano lessons from a classical teacher and would study with many teachers over the years. By his own admission, however, Josh wasn’t particularly engaged by the necessities of theory or reading music. He just wanted to improvise, explore and enjoy the music. His greatest inspiration was Billy Joel. “I wanted to be the piano man. I wanted to be Billy Joel”, he recalls, unabashed. When Josh was 14, his family moved to Issaquah, Washington. Here Josh found himself playing piano at church and also singing and playing with his high school jazz choir. This was his first taste of jazz piano, mostly just playing chord changes. After high school, Josh enrolled in the jazz program at Cornish College. Josh’s first year at Cornish was sobering. He realized that he did not know as much about jazz piano as he’d thought. He lacked a firm foundation in “the fundamentals” and his first year at Cornish was spent “trying to keep up.” Josh almost dropped out of the jazz program after the first year. However, the support of fellow students and encouragement from mentor and Cornish faculty member, Randy Halberstadt, kept him going. “Randy is a great jazz pianist. He was doing what I wanted to do. He was very encouraging. Randy replaced Billy Joel.” Josh stuck it out, completed the program and graduated from Cornish. He’s been working as a professional pianist ever since.
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Well the snow finally arrived … but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t live jazz happening tonight.
TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: JAZZ JAM with the Darin Clendenin Trio
THE NEW ORLEANS: The New Orleans Quintet
LA SPIGA: Darliene & Ryan (7 – 10 p.m.)
Catch some live jazz before heading back to work tomorrow … your soul will thank you.
JAZZ ALLEY: Marlena Shaw
TULA’S JAZZ CLUB:
3:00 – 7:00pm: Fairly Honest Jazz Band
8:00 – 11:30pm: Jim Cutler Jazz Orchestra
THE TRIPLE DOOR:
MAINSTAGE: SEATTLE SYMPHONY AT THE TRIPLE DOOR: LATIN arranged by WES “WESITO” DYRING
MUSICQUARIUM: Sunday Night Salsa: Rhythm Syndicate
THE NEW ORLEANS: Karin Kajita
GRAZIE: Reuel Lubag Trio leads a jam session
TUTTA BELLA (Wallingford): Casey MacGill and Blue 4
SERAFINA:
11am to 1:30pm: Jazz Brunch with the Conlin Roser Duo
6:30pm to 9pm: Ann Reynolds and Tobi Stone, piano-sax duo
LA SPIGA: Eric Fridrich (7 – 10 p.m.)
GALLERY 1412: Tim Catlin (melbourne), Matt Shoemaker, Bill Horist, Paintings for Animals
Also … make sure and add your two cents to What Are You Listening To?
Snow?!? What Snow? Put on your snowshoes and pick a venue:
BAKE’S PLACE: Madeline Eastman Quartet, Randy Porter (piano), John Bishop (drums), Chuck Deardorf (bass)
From The Seattle Times: … the SF renaissance also produced some world-class singers. One of the very best, Madeline Eastman, makes a rare Seattle appearance at Bake’s Place Saturday as part of the club’s “Visiting Songbirds” series.
TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Milo Peterson and the Jazz Disciples
HENDRIX LOUNGE: Big Neighborhood
Origin Records’ Hendrix Lounge series starts up again, this time moving to Saturday nights, and debuts with Big Neighborhood featuring David White (guitar), Chris Fagen (saxophone), Doug Miller (bass) and Steve Korn (drums).
TRIPLE DOOR MUSICQUARIUM: How Now Brown Cow Nu Jazz
JAZZ ALLEY: Marlena Shaw
SERAFINA: Voodoo Trio, acoustic blues
TUTTA BELLA: The Tarantellas
GRAZIE: Michael Powers Group
LA SPIGA: Greta Matassa (10pm – 1am)
EGAN’S BALLARD JAZZ HOUSE:
7pm – Rik Wright Quintet, with Rik Wright (guitar), Tony Grasso (trumpet), James DeJoie (sax), Birch Pereira (bass) and Jeremy Jones (drums)
9pm – Tom Baker Quartet, with Tom Baker (guitar), Greg Campbell (drums), Jesse Canterbury (clarinet) and Brian Cobb (bass)
11pm – Percolations, with Charlie Bommarito (piano, keyboards, percussion), Brian Sorum (trumpet, flugelhorn) and Chaz Bommarito (drums)
GALLERY 1412: Big Spider’s Back, Wilson Shook, Matthew McDowell
Let’s get the Comments section going this weekend!
Give us your list of what’s in your CD player or iPod at the moment … what’s your Top 10 for 2007 … Desert Island Picks?
Let’s get the weekend started … lots of live jazz tonight.
TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Greta Matassa Quartet
BAKE’S PLACE: Crossing Borders featuring Jennifer Scott and Kristen Strom
Crossing Borders is a new international jazz group led by the heralded Canadian jazz vocalist/pianist Jennifer Scott and S.F. Bay Area saxophonist Kristen Strom
JAZZ ALLEY: Marlena Shaw
LATONA PUB: Phil Sparks Trio with Ricky Kelly (vibes) and Matt Jorgensen (drums)
6423 Latona Ave NE, Seattle, 5:30 – 7:30pm, No Cover
EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Steve Alboucq Quartet, with Steve Alboucq (trumpet), Chris Morton (piano), Matt Page (drums), and Nate Parker (bass)
9pm – Narmada Ensemble, with Chris Icasiano (drums), Luke Bergman (bass), Brian Kinsella (piano), Cam Peace (guitars), Tor Dietrichson (tablas/congas/percussion), Pandit Debi Prasad Chatterjee (sitar), and Neil Welch (saxophones). From composed improvisation to classical Hindustani music, multi-meter composition, and free improvisation. ($8 cover)
11pm – Dan Sales Trio
TRIPLE DOOR MUSICQUARIUM: Kiko Freitas (brazilian guitar)
SERAFINA: Fred Hoadley Trio, latin jazz
LA SPIGA: Guy Alston & Ozmosis (10 p.m. – 1 a.m.)
GRAZIE: Michael Powers Group
HIROSHI’S JAZZ AND SUSHI: Greg Williamson Trio + 1
2501 Eastlake Avenue, Seattle
and for those of you up North …
THE REPP: Jason Parker/George Stone Duo
924 First Street, Snohomish, WA, 6:30 – 10:30pm
Bake’s Place Visiting Songbirds Series continues this weekend.
Friday January 25, 2008
Crossing Borders featuring Jennifer Scott and Kristen Strom
Dinner Time: 7:00 – 8:00pm
Performance Time: 8:00 – 10:30pm
Crossing Borders is a new international jazz group led by the heralded Canadian jazz vocalist/pianist Jennifer Scott and S.F. Bay Area saxophonist Kristen Strom who is well–known for her melodic, engaging style. The band also includes guitarist Scott Sorkin (Novo Tempo), bassist Rene Worst (Ernestine Anderson, Joe Pass, Jon Faddis), and drummer Mark Ivester (Freddie Hubbard, Mose Allison, Diane Schuur).
Saturday January 26, 2008
Madeline Eastman Quartet with Randy Porter, piano; Chuck Deardorf, bass; and John Bishop, drums
Dinner Time: 7:00 – 8:00pm
Performance Time: 8:00 – 10:30pm
Often referred to as a “singer’s singer”, Madeline Eastman has been lauded for her original, “hip” take on the music prompting CD Review to write, “She doesn’t tinker aimlessly, she reconstructs with purpose. She lays depth charges right from the beginning.” Don Heckman of the LA Times called Madeline “a consummate, inventive, endlessly entertaining artist at work.” Eastman was recognized twice as one of the “Top Female Vocalists” in DownBeat Readers Poll. She has recorded five CDs featuring such luminaries as Tony Williams, Cedar Walton, Phil Woods, and Kenny Barron. Barron also joined Madeline on a soon-to-be-released album they recorded with Amsterdam’s famed 50-piece Metropole Orchestra under the direction of Vince Mendoza. In addition, her new “live” recording will be released in the Spring.
BAKE’S PLACE
4135 Providence Point Dr. SE
Issaquah, WA 98029
phone: 425-391-3335
http://bakesplace.org
Victor Noriega‘s explosive trio playing in the Brotman Forum of the Seattle Art Museum in the January Art of Jazz Concert. An hour of highlights from the concert will air on KPLU (88.5) and stream on www.kplu.org on Sunday, January 27 at 1 PM Pacific Time.
Pianist Victor Noriega is a fast rising star on the Seattle jazz scene and beyond. After graduation from the University of Washington School of Music, his CD debut was “Stone’s Throw” in 2004. The following year he was voted NW Emerging Artist of the Year by Earshot readers. In 2006 he produced his second CD “Alay” which received an Earshot Golden Ear Award for Northwest Recording of the year and a second award for Northwest Instrumentalist of the Year.
Victor Noriega’s cross-cultural style is distinctly his own, blending elements of Filipino traditional music and classical music with jazz. He was recently featured in the 2007 Philippine International Jazz and Arts Festival playing in Seattle and Hollywood, and has performed in Asia as well, notably in Shanghai. He’s currently preparing a third CD and we’ll hear some new music on this concert that will be included on the new CD.
Joining him in this concert at the Seattle Art Museum are an exciting young bassist, Evan Flory-Barnes, and drummer Greg Campbell . The Art of Jazz concerts are presented by Earshot Jazz on the second Thursday of each month at The Seattle Art Museum.
Jazz Northwest is recorded and produced by Jim Wilke exclusively for 88.5 KPLU. It is also available as a podcast after broadcast from www.kplu.org
TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Earshot Jazz Presents Atomic
The Guardian calls Atomic “one of the most exhilarating groups on the European circuit.” A brilliant Scandinavian quintet, Atomic plays original music that mixes grooves and modes with a distinctive approach to free improvisation.
TRIPLE DOOR: Toumani Diabate’s Symmetric Orchestra
More than any other artist, Toumani Diabaté is responsible for introducing the kora—a 21-string harp unique to West Africa—to audiences around the world. But aside from being a player of exceptional virtuosity and creativity, Diabaté plays a vital role as bandleader, teacher, musical conservationist and composer in the capital city of Bamako, Mali, where he was born and has lived all his life.
JAZZ ALLEY: Marlena Shaw
GALLERY 1412: Skiff Feldspar, Greg Sinibaldi, Greg Campbell, Bob Rees
NEW ORLEANS: The Ham Carson Quintet
EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Greta Matassa
9pm – Swati – New York-based vocalist/guitarist – Her only Seattle performance on this West Coast tour
THAIKU: Tad Britton
LA SPIGA: Mark Bullis
ASTEROID CAFE: Tim Kennedy Jam Session
Trumpeter Cuong Vu, who is now teaching at the University of Washington in addition to his touring and recording, has two new reviews for his most recent CD, Vu-Tet.
Vu-Tet—an innovative, modernistic, compelling recording, from start to finish—answers the “Why plug in a trumpet?” question convincingly. Outstanding!
Read the full review at All About Jazz.com
With the possible exception of Norway’s Nils Petter Molvaer and Arve Henriksen, there’s simply no other trumpeter on the radar today as innovative in blending extended technique and electronic processing to expand the possibilities of his instrument. Utilizing both to dramatic effect, Vu turns the opening “Intro” into a sonic tour de force that begins atmospherically but gradually intensifies, with Takeishi creating his own layers of sound and Poor playing orchestrally rather than rhythmically.
Read the full review at All About Jazz.com
Listen to samples of Cuong Vu’s new CD on his website:
http://cuongvu.com
Here is what is on tap tonight:
TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Jack Bergevin Group
JAZZ ALLEY: Janiva Magness
THE NEW ORLEANS: The Legend Band w/ Clarence Acox
EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
6pm – Figure Five – Roosevelt High jazz combo with Matt McCloskey (piano), Xavier McHugh (drums), Nolan Woodle (bass), Spencer Leroux (sax) and Wyatt Palmer (sax)
8pm – Vocal Jam with Carrie Wicks
THAIKU: Ron Weinstein Trio
VICTORY LOUNGE: Joe Doria Trio
TUTTA BELLA: Steve Mason
WHISKEY BAR: Eric Verlinde & Friends
JEWEL BOX THEATER: Ev Stern’s Winter Jazz Workshop Preview Concert
2232 2nd Avenue, 7-9:30 PM, No cover, All Ages till 9