Seattle Jazz Scene

While all jazz is improvised music, not all improvised music is jazz. And that is about as good a place to start a discussion about the experimental art form collectively called “improvised music.”

Starting tonight and continuing for two consecutive weekends, the Seattle Improvised Music Festival will feature a dozen musicians in various combinations, performing one of the most- difficult-to describe forms of modern music. There are several saxophone players (Wilson Shook, Wally Shoup, Kelvin Pittman), keyboard players (Gust Burns and Jonathan Zorn — not to be confused with avant-garde composer John Zorn), a trumpet player (Greg Kelley), even a singer (Liz Tonne) — many of whom perform with sophisticated, electronic effects.

“I see it as a tangled core of different strands of music that developed out of jazz and free jazz in the ’60s and ’70s,” said Burns, director of the festival, whose history goes back 24 years.

“It’s also heavily experimental, electronic music that has nothing to do with jazz. It doesn’t have swing; it doesn’t have a groove. Then, there’s a post-rock, post- Sonic Youth spirit, noise music. It’s kind of a tangled mess that has an improvisational and experimental core.”

Continue reading at The Seattle Times

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Hadley Caliman Quartete

JAZZ ALLEY: Mindi Abair

BAKE’S PLACE: Lorraine Feather – Shelly Berg

LATONA PUB: Phil Sparks Trio (5-7pm)

TRIPLE DOOR:
MAINSTAGE: Joan Rivers
MUSICQUARIUM: Kiko Freitas, Soul Kata

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Susan Carr Ensemble
9pm – Far Corner
11pm – Menagerie of Extravagance

GRAZIE: Sue Bell Trio

LOCAL COLOR: Rebekka Goldsmith

CAFE HARLEQUIN: Finn Hill Jazz Quartet w/ Kay Bailey
107 Lake Street, Kirkland, 8:00pm

NORTH CITY BISTRO: Fred Hoadley Trio
1520 NE 177th, Shoreline

PAMPAS ROOM: Brian Nova Quartet

A bit of controversy has erupted in advance of the Frank DeMiero Jazz Festival which takes place later this month in Edmonds.

The Seattle Women’s Jazz Orchestra (SWOJO) had been contacted by Executive Producer Joe DeMiero in mid-January to back up vocalist Carmen Bradford on Saturday, February 28. According to members of SWOJO, a fee had been negotiated and preparations were underway for the evenings music. Doug Reid had been hired to direct the band, replacing Daniel Barry who had a scheduling conflict, and DeMiero had promised to send a contract. As late as Tuesday, February 10, SWOJO was advertised on the Frank DeMiero Jazz Festival’s website.

On February 8, SWOJO Executive Director Carolyn Caster emailed band members that she was notified by DeMiero that he had continued to look for cheaper groups and had found one that was willing to perform all three nights of the festival for the same price SWOJO was getting paid for a single concert. Caster expressed her dismay that DeMiero would continue to search for another group when he had already hired one, but in the end DeMiero informed SWOJO that the festival would be going with the other band.

Contacted by Seattle Jazz Scene, DeMiero said in an email, “It is the policy of our organization not to discuss artist negotiations with anyone but the artists and their management. We have tremendous respect for the Seattle Women’s Jazz Orchestra and its members, and we hope to have the opportunity to work together in the future.”

On Wednesday, February 11, the Frank DeMiero Jazz Festival’s website was updated replacing SWOJO with the Mach One Jazz Orchestra.

All of this adds a cloud over what otherwise is a stellar line-up of headliners. The festival’s focus is on providing a non-competitive educational environment for 40+ school ensembles from around the Pacific Northwest. One of the headliners, Sara Gazarek, previously performed at the festival when she was a student at Roosevelt High School in Seattle.

Said one member of SWOJO, “It devalues the work we do and ruins it for everybody. Since DeMieiro now knows that he can get a band to work for this little money, it will never be what is was: a decent paying gig for good musicians. In the end, that festival will get what they pay for and the music will suffer. ”

For more information:
http://www.frankdemierojazzfestival.com

SEATTLE ART MUSEUM: Steve Korn Group
1st and Union, 5:30pm, Free with museum admission

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Nelda Swiggett Trio

THAIKU: Jon Alberts / Jeff Johnson / Tad Britton

JAZZ ALLEY: Mindi Abair

NEW ORLEANS: The Ham Carson Quintet

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Elspeth Savani Quintet, with Chris Stover (trombone), Julio Jauregui (piano), Jeff Norwood (bass), Jeff Busch (percussion) and Elspeth Savani (vocals/hand percussion)
9pm – Amir Beso (guitar), presenting an acoustic blend of Flamenco, Gypsy, Jazz and traditional Balkan music

LUCID: Hochiwichi

LO-FI: The Teaching

MAY: Hans Teuber Trio

Pony Boy Recording Artist and el-primo pianist LARRY FULLER will be appearing tonight, February 11, on “LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O’BRIEN” with guitarist/vocalist JOHN PIZZARELLI. Fuller has been a member of Pizzarelli’s New York–based group for several years. It’s a very swinging and exciting ensemble.

“Late Night” can be seen on NBC-TV at 12:35am (11:35 Central Time)
You can also watch full episodes the next day at NBC’s Late Night web site.

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Hal Sherman and the BCC Jazz Orchestra

JAZZ ALLEY: Mose Allison

NEW ORLEANS: The Legacy Band w/Clarence Acox

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Jessica Stenson, with Darin Clendenin (piano)
9pm – Vocal Jam hosted by Marti MacEwan, with Darin Clendenin (piano) and Robert Rushing (drums)

THAIKU: Ron Weinstein Trio

WHISKEY BAR: Ronnie Pierce

JAZZ ALLEY: Mose Allison

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Emerald City Jazz Orchestra

NEW ORLEANS: Holotradband

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Ben Fisher
9pm – Eric Elven and Dust Free High, with Eric Elven (vocals/guitar), Scott Becker (guitar), Doug Pierson (bass) and Thane Michell (drums)

DEXTER AND HAYES: Tim Kennedy Trio

MARTIN’S ON MADISON: Karin Kajita

MIX: Don Mock, Steve Kim & Charlie Nordstrom

Dorothy Rodes with at Tula’s this Wednesday night.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Dorothy Rodes – vocals
Dave Peterson – guitar
Jeff Johnson – bass
Byron Vannoy– drums

Tula’s Jazz Club
2214 Second Avenue
Seattle, WA 98121
(206) 443-422
tulas.com

7:30 to 11:30 pm
$10 cover charge

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Clark Gibson Quartet

NEW ORLEANS: The New Orleans Quintet

LA SPIGA: Eli Rosenblatt

TOST: Michael Shrieve’s Spellbinder

from The Seattle Times:

Reborn for its sixth season as the Alaska Airline/Horizon Air Portland Jazz Festival, the 10-day event opens Friday and runs through Feb. 22, presenting many of jazz’s most-celebrated artists within a square mile of downtown. The program, dubbed “Somethin’ Else” this year, celebrates the 70th birthday of Blue Note, the definitive modern jazz label.

Among the artists featured over the first weekend are New Orleans trumpeter Terence Blanchard, presenting “A Tale of God’s Will (A Requiem for Katrina)”; Cuban pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba; tenor saxophonist Joe Lovano; vocalist Dianne Reeves; guitarist John Scofield; pianist McCoy Tyner; and clarinetist Don Byron. All those artists have recorded extensively for Blue Note. The festival also features numerous onstage artist interviews, panel discussions, jam sessions and gigs by resident stars such as vocalist Nancy King, pianist/songwriter Dave Frishberg and drummer Mel Brown.

A majority of the Grammy Awards will be given out this afternoon starting at 1:00pm during the pre-telecast. This includes all of the jazz and classical awards.

Excerpt from The Seattle Times preview …

The Northwest has always been a hotbed of jazz. This year, there are two jazz nominees from the area. Seattle guitarist Bill Frisell is up for Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group for “History, Mystery.” (In 2005, he won Best Contemporary Jazz Album for his album “Unspeakable.”) Also, Chris Walden — on Seattle-based jazz and classical label Origin Records — is nominated for Best Orchestral Performance and Best Classical Contemporary Composition for “Symphony No. 1: The Four Elements.”

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Jay Thomas Quartet

JAZZ ALLEY: Ramsey Lewis Trio

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Dina Blade Trio, with Hans Brehmer (piano) and Jim Knodle (trumpet) – “Mood For Love”, pre-Valentine’s tribute to lyricist Dorothy Fields
9pm – Voodoo Trio, with Andrea Ramirez (vocals/light percussion), Park Olson (acoustic guitar/vocals), Mike Sievers (piano/vocals)
11pm – Modu, Anyu & Abdu, sounds of West Africa. Modu (vocals/guitar), Anyu (vocals/percussion) & Abdu (lead guitar)

BAKE’S PLACE: Rising Stars Concert & Benefit for Children’s Hospital

LATONA PUB: Phil Sparks Trio

GRAZIE: Andre Thomas and Quietfire

SERAFINA: Kelly Ash Trio

ROCKFISH GRILL (Anacortes): Gail Pettis Quartet

EL GAUCHO (Bellevue): Trish Hatley Trio

PAMPAS ROOM: Brian Nova Quartet

HIROSHI’S JAZZ AND SUSHI: Milo Petersen & Associates

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Ziggurat Quartet, with Bill Anschell (piano), Eric Barber (saxophones), Doug Miller (bass), Byron Vannoy (drums)
9pm – Jeni Wren, with Michael Owcharuk (keys), Kevin McCarthy (bass) and Adam Kessler (drums)

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Susan Carr Ensemble

THAIKU: Jon Alberts, Jeff Johnson, Tad Britton

JAZZ ALLEY: Ramsey Lewis Trio

NEW ORLEANS: The Ham Carson Quintet

TRIPLE DOOR MAINSTAGE: Marco Benevento Trio featuring Reed Mathis & Andrew Barr

LUCID: Bryan Smith Trio
5241 University Way NE, 9pm

LO-FI: The Teaching

MAY: Hans Teuber Trio

JAZZ ALLEY: Strunz and Farah

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Beth Winter Vocal Showcase

NEW ORLEANS: The Legacy Band w/Clarence Acox

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Silverhands, with Mike McDermott (guitar/vocals) and Julian Martlew (steel/dobro player)
9pm – Vocal Jam, hosted by Dina Blade and the Steve Marx Trio, with Eddie Creed (piano), Ned Smith (drums) and Steve Marx (bass)

TUTTA BELLA: Djangomatics

THAIKU: Ron Weinstein Trio

RONNIE PIERCE: Ronnie Pierce

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Jay Thomas Big Band

JAZZ ALLEY: Strunz and Farah

NEW ORLEANS: Holotradband

DEXTER AND HAYES: Tim Kennedy Trio

MARTIN’S ON MADISON: Karin Kajita

MIX: Don Mock, Steve Kim & Charlie Nordstrom

THE EARSHOT JAZZ GOLDEN EAR AWARDS with HADLEY CALIMAN QUINTET, DAS VIBENBASS, and EMCEE JIM WILKE

THE TRIPLE DOOR
216 Union Street, Seattle
7PM
$15 general / $13 earshot members / $7 working musicians
phone: 206-838-4333

Join us for Seattle’s premier Jazz Awards featuring a performance by the Hadley Caliman Quintet with Jim Wilke, emcee, and a late set by Das Vibenbass.

The veteran tenor saxophonist Hadley Caliman performs with his new quintet at 7pm, with announcer Jim Wilke hosting the awards ceremony at 8pm. At 9:30, Earshot Jazz and the Triple Door present a special send-off concert by Das Vibenbass as they prepare for a collective move to New York City.

from The Seattle Times today …

Polished though the surroundings might be, the sense and scale of the 2008 Golden Ear awards remain much the same. It is a chance to visit with old friends and to measure progress, a night of personal stocktaking and private celebration.

“The quality of the music, the quality of the camaraderie is palpable,” said John Gilbreath, Earshot’s executive director. “It’s important for this to be a community event and for everyone to feel connected to the other people there.
…
Winners will be chosen in eight categories: recording of the year, emerging artist, acoustic jazz ensemble, vocalist of the year, outside jazz group, concert of the year, jazz instrumentalist and the Hall of Fame category, which is open to nonmusicians. This year’s program will also include a special-recognition award.

“Even though it seems like the scene is shrinking, there are more people on it [the ballot] than ever,” said Marriott, winner of five past awards.

Although musicians agree a Golden Ear is very much an honor between peers, they also concede it is difficult to measure the tangible effect of winning.

“It’s like having a music degree,” said drummer and past winner John Bishop. “It’s nice to have, something you can put in your bio and carry with you for whatever it’s worth. As far as tangible things … I noticed when I got into the Hall of Fame last January, I looked at my calendar and for the first time since 1976, I had no gigs that week.”