Seattle Times: Charlie Hunter Trio serves up rich stew of jazz

From The Seattle Times:

Jazz guitarist Charlie Hunter is 41, a husband, father of two young children, with tattoos on both arms. He resembles the actor Matthew Fox, who plays the surgeon and tortured soul Jack Shephard, from TV’s “Lost.”

A serious and earnest musician (although he would probably resist that description) Hunter, too has had near-paralyzing bouts of torment in the form of artistic angst.

“If you asked me a few years ago,” said Hunter, who performs with his trio at Jazz Alley Tuesday and Wednesday, “I would have said I couldn’t stand anything I played. I was going to stop playing. I was done with it. I felt like I couldn’t come up with any more tricks. The next stage would have been lighting myself on fire.”

Hunter, who has a distinct way with words, did not quit playing or resort to onstage flambé but rather embarked on a new direction with his music — something simple, spare and naturally suited to him, and more importantly, to his instrument, which is a rhythm instrument at heart, not a melodic one. Despite that fact, jazz guitarists are often obliged to play like horn players, at least if they want to be considered true masters.

Continue reading at The Seattle Times.

Walt Weiskopf at Tula’s tonight!

New York saxophonist Walt Weiskopf will lead a group of Northwest all-stars tonight at Tula’s Jazz Club.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 8pm
TULA’S JAZZ CLUB

2214 2nd Ave, Seattle
http://tulas.com

featuring:
Walt Weiskopf – saxophone
Bill Anschell – piano
Jeff Johnson – bass
Steve Korn – drums

Saxophonist, composer and author Walt Weiskopf began his New York career performing with the Buddy Rich Big Band in 1981 at the age of 21. Since then, he has made an impressive mark as both a leader and sideman with 12 critically-acclaimed CDs and countless sideman credits, including performing and recording with Frank Sinatra, Steely Dan, Donald Fagen and Steve Smith’s Jazz Legacy. A dynamic player with enormous technical prowess, Walt is equally well-regarded as a composer and his CDs contain predominantly original work. His five books on advanced topics in improvisation are among the most respected in the field. He lives in New Jersey and is an Associate Professor at the Eastman School of Music.

Friday Jazz

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Walt Weiskopf Quartet with Steve Korn, Bill Anschell and Jeff Johnson

JAZZ ALLEY: Guitars and Saxes Christmas Featuring Richard Elliot, Paul Brown and Jessy J

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Jannie & Friends Jazz Band, featuring American and Chinese jazz standards plus originals, with Steve Tanimoto (piano), Gary Barnes (bass), Craig Critchfield (guitar), Cal Dimas (sax), Jannie Spain (vocals)
9pm – Rochelle House, with D’Vonne Lewis (drums) and Evan Flory-Barnes (bass)

BAKE’S PLACE: Denise Donatelli Quartet

SERAFINA: Pete Leinonen’s Salon du Swing

GRAZIE: Dennis Hastings Quartet

CONCERT: Jazz Nutcracker: Roosevelt Jazz Band
Roosevelt High School Performing Arts Theatre
1410 NE 66th St, 7:30pm

from Earshot Jazz: The Roosevelt Jazz Band presents its ninth annual performance of Duke Ellington’s Jazz Nutcracker. Composed towards the end of Ellington’s career, the Jazz Nutcracker is more than a jazzy arrangement of Tchaikovsky’s Christmas-time classic. Instead Ellington re-imagined Tchaikovsky’s original and brought a new collection of timbres and rhythms to the table. Along the way, Ellington renamed the movements to reflect the modern and hip sensibility of his composition. The “Dance of the Reed Pipes,” became, for example, “Toot Toot Tootie Toot” and “The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” became “Sugar Rum Cherry.” Performing Arts Theatre, Roosevelt High School (1410 NE 66th St). Show starts at 7:30 pm on December 5 & 6, at 2:00 pm on December 7. Tickets $20 general/$15 seniors/$10 students & youth. Visit www.rooseveltjazz.org for tickets and more information.

HIROSHI’S JAZZ AND SUSHI: Karen Shivers & Susan Pascal

PAMPAS ROOM: Brian Nova Quartet

Thursday Jazz

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Brian Kirks SCCC Jazz Ensemble

NEW ORLEANS: The Bob Jackson Band

PLU: KPLU Christmas Jam w/ Sara Gazarek
Pacific Lutheran University, Mary Baker Russell Music Center, Noon

SEATTLE CITY HALL: Michael Powers Trio
600 4th Ave, Seattle, Noon

THAIKU: Jon Alberts, Jeff Johnson & Tad Britton

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – The French Connection, with The Wonderland Trio and guests, performing French-inspired jazz (No cover – cash donations will be accepted for Food Lifeline.)
9pm – Justin Farren

JAZZ ALLEY: Guitars and Saxes Christmas featuring Richard Elliott, Paul Brown and Jesse J.

MAY: Hans Teuber Trio

SEAMONSTER: Joe Doria, Michael Shrieve, Danny Godinez

This Sunday on Jazz Northwest


Cory Weeds and Joe Doria (photo by Jim Levitt)

Vancouver saxophonist Cory Weeds joined Seattle organist Joe Doria‘s Trio during the Ballard Jazz Walk on November 20th, and the evening was recorded for Jazz Northwest on KPLU. Chris Spencer on guitar and Byron Vannoy on drums were also on stage at The Lock and Keel for this performance. This was one of 11 venues with live jazz at this year’s event and this show will air at 1 pm on Sunday, December 7 on 88.5 KPLU.

The group plays original music from Cory Weeds’ recent CD “Big Weeds” on his Cellar Live label. Cory also owns and operates the Cellar Jazz club on Broadway West in Vancouver BC. The Joe Doria Trio plays regularly in Seattle and this was a rare opportunity for musicians from Vancouver and Seattle to work together. The Ballard Jazz Walk also presented musicians from Oregon and Idaho as well as Seattle groups. The Jazz Walk and the Ballard Jazz Festival are produced by John Bishop and Matt Jorgensen of Origin Records.

Jazz Northwest is recorded and produced by Jim Wilke exclusively for 88.5, KPLU and airs on Sundays at 1PM PST and streams to the internet at kplu.org . The program is also available as a podcast the day after it airs.

Review: Reptet – Chicken or Beef?

from All About Jazz.com

A sextet based out of Seattle, Washington, Reptet present a sound and message that, in its own words, aptly describes both the group’s approach and its broader mission “to compose, interpret and improvise music that inspires growth through freedom and discipline.” Working within a good-natured, party band atmosphere, the unit manages to stretch its genre’s typical trappings on Chicken or Beef?, with both a broad array of stylistic capabilities as well as an adventurous, fun-loving attitude too often lacking in this setting.

The album opens with the funky “Danger Notes.” Starting off in New Orleans party band mode, percussionist John Ewing and bassist Tim Carey guide a path that ebbs from the scorching solo of saxophonist Chris Credit to the more contemplative, textural mood over which Samantha Boshnack’s trumpet can shine.

Things get even less predictable on “Reptet Score!” With a flurry of horns and percussion, the piece uses a Latin-tinged theme, building until the whole unit yells “hey!” before slinking into a steady, understated groove that meets somewhere between the dance floor and the lounge. The piece breaks apart soon enough, with horn squalls and guffaws abounding, sounding not unlike Spike Jones and his City Slickers if they were to cover Sun Ra.

… continue reading at All About Jazz.com

Wednesday Jazz

JAZZ ALLEY: Robert Glasper Trio

THE TRIPLE DOOR:
MAINSTAGE: Judith Owen and Harry Shearer’s Holiday Sing-A-Long
MUSICQUARIUM: BGD Trio

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Katie King Vocal Showcase

THAIKU: Ron Weinstein Trio

NEW ORLEANS: The Legend Band w/ Clarence Acox

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Liis Todd (vocals), with Darin Clendenin (piano), Geoff Cooke (bass) and Special Guest Dan Sales (guitar)
9pm – Vocal Jam with Katy Bourne and Randy Halberstadt

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

WHISKEY BAR: Ronnie Pierce

Tuesday Jazz

JAZZ ALLEY: Robert Glasper Trio

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB:
7:00pm: Edmonds Woodway HS Jazz
8:00pm: Jay Thomas Big Band

THE TRIPLE DOOR:
MAINSTAGE: Judith Owen and Harry Shearer’s Holiday Sing-A-Long
MUSICQUARIUM: Jose Gonzales

NEW ORLEANS: Holotradband

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Chuck Ogmund Trio
9pm – Helen Chance

DEXTER AND HAYES: Tim Kennedy Trio

MARTIN’S ON MADISON: Karin Kajita

MIX: Don Mock, Steve Kim & Charlie Nordstrom

SWOJO at Jazz Alley Tonight

The Pacific Jazz Institute at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley presents for one night SWOJO with special guest Greta Matassa. Set time on Monday is at 7:30pm with doors opening at 6pm.

Click here for tickets and more information.

Band members are Musical Director Dr. Daniel Barry, Lisa Gordanier, Stephanie Dupuis, Cynthia Mullis, Jenny Ziefel and Ann Babb (saxophones), Carolyn Caster, Mariah Ralston, Jenny Brown, Erin Easley (trombones), Dennis Haldane, Marge Rosen, Debby Meyer, Kristen Rasmussen (trumpets), Ann Reynolds (piano) Rachael Contorer (bass) and Maria Joyner (drums).

Join SWOJO and very special guest artist Greta Matassa for an evening of fine food and dynamic big band jazz. This special concert event is co-sponsored by KBCS 91.3 FM. Proceeds to support the Seattle Women’s Jazz Orchestra, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Monday Jazz

JAZZ ALLEY: Seattle Womens Jazz Orchestra with Special Guest Greta Matassa

SEATTLE DRUM SCHOOL: Jim Knapp Orchestra
12510 15th Ave, NE, 8:00pm

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Vocal Jazz Jam

NEW ORLEANS: The New Orleans Quintet

MEANY STUDIO THEATER: UW Percussion Ensemble w/ Marc Seales
University of Washington, 7:30

TOST: Michael Shrieve’s Spellbinder