National Endowment for the Arts Announces the 2009 NEA Jazz Masters

June 10, 2008 / / No Comments

Washington, DC – The National Endowment for the Arts today announced the recipients of the 2009 NEA Jazz Masters Award–the nation’s highest honor in this distinctly American music. The six recipients will each receive a $25,000 grant award, and will be publicly honored in an awards ceremony and concert on Friday, October 17, 2008.

The six 2009 NEA Jazz Masters are: George Benson (vocalist and solo instrumentalist, guitar), Jimmy Cobb (rhythm instrumentalist, drums), Lee Konitz (solo instrumentalist, saxophone), Toots Thielemans (solo instrumentalist, harmonica and guitar), and Snooky Young (solo instrumentalist, trumpet). Recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder will receive the 2009 A.B. Spellman NEA Jazz Masters Award for Jazz Advocacy.

Click here to read the entire article at All About Jazz.com

Monday Jazz

June 9, 2008 / / No Comments

TRACTOR TAVERN: Bill Frisell/Eyvind Kang/Rody Royston

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Jazz Jam with the Darin Clendenin Trio

THE TRIPLE DOOR: Edmonds-Woodway High School Jazz Ensembles

LA SPIGA: Ray Baldwin

NEW ORLEANS: The New Orleans Quintet

It’s Saturday!

June 7, 2008 / / No Comments

And as of this morning it is still gray outside … imagine that. Better go hear some live music.

JAZZ ALLEY: Kurt Elling with Special Guest Ernie Watts

THIRD PLACE COMMONS: Marc Seales Group

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Susan Pascal Quartet

BAKE’S PLACE: Little Bill and the Bluenotes

HENDRIX LOUNGE: John Stowell and Jeff Johnson

TRIPLE DOOR MUSICQUARIUM: Das Vibenbass

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
3pm – Seattle Jazz Guitar Society guitar/vocal clinic, with John Stowell and Kelley Johnson. Open to all jazz guitarists and singers who want to refine their duo skills, from essentials to advanced techniques. ($25 clinic fee)
5:30pm – John Stowell, Michael Biller and Kelley Johnson post-clinic performance
7pm – Lee Pence Trio
9pm – The Hayburners & Friends CD Release Party, with special guests Val D’Alessio, Burgundy Pearl (Ron Dalton & Peggy Sullivan) and Brian Burgess.

JAZZ VOX CONCERT: Jenna Mammina
http://www.jazzvox.com

TOWN HALL: Robert Knatt Retirement Celebration
1119 8th Ave, Seattle, 7pm

GRAZIE: Andre Thomas Quiet Fire

KIRKLAND PERFORMANCE CENTER: Bobby McFerrin

Seattle Times: Return to Forever makes another comeback

June 6, 2008 / / No Comments

Read the entire article at The Seattle Times

Return to Forever, one of the supergroups of ’70s jazz-rock fusion, has reunited for the first time since 1983. Though the revived quartet is not the critically favored 1972 incarnation that featured Airto Moreira, Flora Purim and the late reed man Joe Farrell — and produced the evergreens “Spain” and “Captain Marvel” — it includes founding members Chick Corea (piano) and Stanley Clarke (bass), as well as searing guitarist Al Di Meola (who played on the band’s past three albums) and drummer Lenny White.

An aggressive electric band that crosses jazz chops with rock rhythm and volume, Return to Forever — like Herbie Hancock’s Headhunters and John McLaughlin’s Mahavishnu Orchestra — introduced many young fans to jazz.

Return to Forever performs at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at the Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St., Seattle; $39.50-$100 (206-628-0888 or www.theparamount.com).

Friday Jazz

June 6, 2008 / / No Comments

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Mark Taylor Quartet

JAZZ ALLEY: Kurt Elling with Special Guest Ernie Watts

THE TRIPLE DOOR:
5:00pm: James Baumgart Duo
9:00pm: Das Vibenbass

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Billy Brandt (vocals), with Darin Clendenin (piano), Geoff Cooke (bass) and Brad Boal (drums)
9pm – Moraine

CROSSROADS BELLEVUE: Marc Seales Group
15600 NE 8TH Street, Bellevue, WA 98008

GRAZIE: James Burnhard Blues Fusion

GALLERY 1412: Aphonia Recordings Performance Series no. 6

LATONA PUB: Phil Sparks Trio
5:00 – 7:00pm, 65th and Latona

HIROSHI’S: Susan Pascal Quartet
2501 Eastlake Ave E, 726-4966

Marc Seales performing this weekend

June 6, 2008 / / No Comments

Catch pianist Marc Seales with his group for free on Friday and Saturday nights.

FRIDAY, JUNE 6
Crossroads Bellevue
15600 NE 8TH Street, Bellevue, WA 98008
Music from 7:30pm – 10:00pm
http://www.crossroadsbellevue.com

SATURDAY, JUNE 7
Third Place Commons (Upper Level)
17171 Bothell Way NE, Lake Forest Park, WA 98155
Music from 7:30pm – 9:45pm
http://thirdplacecommons.org/

Up-coming: Bill Frisell at The Tractor Tavern

June 6, 2008 / / No Comments

Monday – Tuesday, June 9 – 10

BILL FRISELL TRIO feat.
EYVIND KANG
RUDY ROYSTON

Updated: Read the article in Friday’s Seattle Times …
“I had this thing in my mind, to try this with just Eyvind and him, without bass,” said Frisell earlier this week, adding one of his characteristically modest, self-deprecating caveats. “I don’t know how to explain why, but I think it might work.”

The Tractor Tavern
5213 Ballard Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107
http://www.tractortavern.com
206.789.3599 – music info line
Advance tickets available at the Tractor, Mon-Fri, 12:00- 4:00pm

From Earshot Jazz:
Bill Frisell, the only guitarist of his kind, and one who is has by now reshaped the instrument’s contributions to jazz as much as any of his predecessors, appears for two nights at the always friendly Tractor Tavern. Flush from the release of his new album – a 2CD set entitled History Mystery – Frisell is joined by two longtime collaborators: Seattle’s own Eyvind Kang, who is always a purveyor of great mystery and fascination, on viola, and Rudy Royston, on drums. These promise to be evenings in the vein that Frisell has perfected in the last 10 to 15 years: a mystery tour of music merged from all around the American songbooks and stylebooks. Like a comforting and transporting trip on a comfy farm vehicle. Recommended.

Thursday Jazz

June 5, 2008 / / No Comments

JAZZ ALLEY: Kurt Elling with Special Guest Ernie Watts

THE TRIPLE DOOR: James Baumgart Trio

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Katie King CD Release Party

NEW ORLEANS: The Bob Jackson Band

THAIKU: Jon Alberts, Jeff Johnson, Tad Britton

EGAN’S BALLARD JAZZ FESTIVAL:
7pm – Sue Nixon and the Leo Raymundo Trio
9pm – Daniel Kamas

ASTEROID CAFE: Tim Kennedy Jam Session

MAY: Hans Teuber Trio
1612 N 45th, Seattle, 10:30pm

13 COINS: HB Radke & Jet City Swingers
125 Boren Ave N, Seattle, 8pm

SMOKIN’ PETE’S: Rik Wright Trio
1918 NW 65th, Seattle, 6:30pm

LO-FI: The Teaching

Dawn Clement CD Review

June 4, 2008 / / No Comments

by Andrew Hamlin, Seattle Sound Magazine

Seattle-based jazz pianist and singer Dawn Clement’s back with a new album, Break. I just hope she doesn’t wait another five years between albums. I reviewed Hush, her debut as a leader, back in 2003, remarking that she “eloquently shares space with her bandmates … but her solo excursions show her capable of emulating a whole band, condensing, expanding, and rippling lines on her right side and mining new rhythms on her left.” She’s still all that, but “that” now absorbs and emanates a thicker multiverse.

At the keys she so often, so confidently, sprints up a scale, drops down a few steps like playing hide and seek, and finally pirouettes around the top of the previous figure. She musters an expressive muddle in the middle of “Distant Oasis,” then strides rightly out like a kid through the mud. The opener, Jerome Kern’s “I’ve Told Every Star,” stops and goes through “I Got Rhythm” figures, leaving her pulling and pushing at the time.

Click here to read the full review

Wednesday Jazz

June 3, 2008 / / No Comments

JAZZ ALLEY: Lance Buller and Stephanie Porter

GALLERY 1412: More Zero featuring Chris Stover

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Rochelle House Quartet

THE NEW ORLEANS: The Legend Band w/ Clarence Acox

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
6pm – Cyrille Gosselin’s guitar student showcase
8pm – Vocal jazz jam session, with Carrie Wicks

TUTTA BELLA: Marco de Carvalho

THAIKU: Ron Weinstein Trio

MEANY THEATER: UW Studio Jazz Ensemble & Modern Jazz Contingent
University of Washington Campus

Hadley Caliman CD Review

June 3, 2008 / / No Comments

From AllAboutJazz.com by John Barron

Legendary west coast saxophonist Hadley Caliman made his mark by touring and recording with the likes of Freddie Hubbard, Joe Henderson, Bobby Hutcherson and Santana. For Gratitude, his first recording as a leader in three decades, Caliman is joined by vibist Joe Locke, bassist Phil Sparks, drummer Joe LaBarbera and trumpeter Thomas Marriott, who also produced the recording.

The disc opens with Marriott’s “Back For More,” a 6/8 minor blues. The simplistic, captivating theme and energetic groove sets the stage for a session full of unrelenting energy. Well into his seventies, Caliman holds his own with his somewhat younger crew, playing with the confidence and inventiveness of someone half his age. The veteran weaves through the Kurt Weill obscurity “This Is New” with sophisticated playfulness and soars gracefully on his own Afro-Cuban-inspired burner “Comencio.”

“Linda,” Caliman’s meditative tribute to his wife, is reminiscent of John Coltrane’s “Naima” with its hauntingly sparse theme and bass pedal-tones. Locke’s out-of-time floating behind the melody is satisfyingly hypnotic.

Things really start to cook by the time Joe Henderson’s “If” is introduced. Supported by Sparks’ rock-solid walking pulse, Marriott, Caliman and Locke blow through the angular blues form with imaginative vigor, setting up raucous twelve-bar exchanges with LaBarbera. On “Joe Joe Dancer Bossa Nova,” another Caliman original, Marriott tips his hat to Hubbard with crackling lyricism.

Gratitude is an exceptional comeback for an unsung maverick of modern jazz. Hopefully the next one doesn’t take thirty years.

Tuesday

June 3, 2008 / / No Comments

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Jay Thomas Big Band

JAZZ ALLEY: Lance Buller and Stephanie Porter

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE: Chuck Ogmund Trio, with Hans Brehmer (piano) and Chris Symer (bass)

NEW ORLEANS: Holotradband

MIX: Don Mock, Steve Kim & Charlie Nordstrom
6006 12th Ave S, Seattle

HENDRIX LOUNGE: Marc Smason & Michael Gotz

Monday Jazz

June 2, 2008 / / No Comments

SEATTLE DRUM SCHOOL: Jim Knapp Orchestra with special guest, Andy Clausen Quintet opening
12510 15th Ave NE, Seattle, 8:00pm

THE TRIPLE DOOR: Mountlake Terrace High School Jazz Band

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Jazz Jam with Greta Matassa

THE NEW ORLEANS: The New Orleans Quintet

JEWEL BOX THEATER: Ev Stern’s Jazz Workshop Concert
2322 2nd Ave, Seattle, 6:30pm

Anything else happening tonight? Write a Comment and we’ll add it to the site.