Sunday Jazz

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB:
3:00 – Fairly Honest Jazz Band
8:00 –Jim Cutler Jazz Orchestra

BOXLEYS: Tracy Knoop Quartet

MARTIN’S ON MADISON: Tim Kennedy

TRIPLE DOOR MUSICQUARIUM: Sunday Night Salsa

SERAFINA:
11:00 – Conlin Roser
6:00 – Alex Guilbert

JAZZ ALLEY: Tower of Power

CONCERT: Wayne Horvitz’ These Hills of Glory w/ Beth Fleenor & Figeater,
Rendezvous, 2320 2nd Ave., 7:30pm

TRIPLE DOOR MAINSTAGE: Seattle Jazz Legends in Concert
From Earshot Jazz: This special one-night-only event features guest artists Buddy Catlett, Grammy Award-nominated vocalist Ernestine Anderson, George Griffin, and Dave Holden alongside Seattle legend Ronnie Pierce, Clarence Acox, Bill Anschell, and Brian Nova. The event is being filmed as part of the feature-length documentary project entitled “In Between the Raindrops,” which showcases Seattle jazz artists’ performances and interviews, in addition to interviews with such greats as Quincy Jones and Clark Terry. The film, co-produced by Jessica Davis and Joe Andolina, pays tribute to these historical jazz figures and highlights Seattle’s rich jazz history. Performance is at 8pm at the Historic University Theater (5510 University Way NE). Following the concert there will be an after-party at Lucid Lounge, just down the block at 5241 University Way NE. For more information, visit seattlejazzlegends.com

“Seattle Jazz Legends” Concert – Sunday

By Andrew Gilbert
Special to The Seattle Times

This concert, with Buddy Catlett, Ernestine Anderson and others, is part of a jazz-documentary project spearheaded by Jessica Davis. As part of the process she’s donned a new hat, taking on the role of concert producer for Sunday’s “Seattle Jazz Legends in Concert” at the Historic University Theater. Presented by Lynx Records, the event features several of the musicians interviewed for “Raindrops,” including bassist Buddy Catlett, vocalist Ernestine Anderson, saxophonist Ronnie Pierce and drummer George Griffin, whose credits range from Jimi Hendrix and Etta James to Ray Charles and Lionel Hampton.

Read the complete Seattle Times article.

8 p.m. Sunday, Historic University Theater, 5510 University Way N.E., Seattle; $20 (206-420-8091 or www.brownpapertickets.com).

Saturday Jazz

CONCERT: IS THAT JAZZ? – Tom Baker Quartet and Cuong Vu Trio
The Chapel Performance Space, 4639 Sunnyside Avenue North, 8pm

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB:
8pm – Randy Halberstadt Quintet
Midnight – Urban Acheivers, Led Zeppelin cover band, plays a one night only set of music

JAZZ ALLEY: Tower of Power

BAKE’S PLACE: Visiting Songbirds:
Crossing Borders w/ Jennifer Scott and Kristen Strom

SERAFINA: Tim Kennedy Trio

LUCID: Brendan O’Donnell Quartet

BOXLEY’S: Karen Shiver’s Quartet

EL GAUCHO BELLEVUE: Trish Hatley Trio

LOMBARDI’S: Leah Stillwell

LOCAL COLOR: Maggie Laird

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Overton Berry Ensemble, w/Overton Berry (piano), Rick Spano (drums), Jeff Davies (bass)
9pm – Overton Berry Ensemble

Friday Jazz

CONCERT: IS THAT JAZZ? – Jessie Canterbury’s Vertigo and Bad Luck
The Chapel Performance Space, 4639 Sunnyside Avenue North, 8pm

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Ingrid Jensen/Jon Wikan Group

JAZZ ALLEY: Tower of Power

BAKE’S PLACE: Visiting Songbirds:
Crossing Borders featuring Jennifer Scott and Kristen Strom

SERAFINA: Djangomatics

LUCID: Jason Parker Quartet – Tribute to Miles Davis

LATONA PUB: Phil Sparks Trio

BOXLEY’S: Susan Pascal Trio

EL GAUCHO BELLEVUE: Trish Hatley Trio

HIROSHI’S: Ocho Pies

LOMBARDI’S: Leah Stillwell

LOCAL COLOR: Marc Smason and Joann Klein

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Susan Harper and the Acoustic Conspiracy
9pm – Tony Grasso Saxophone? Quartet! + Manghis Khan, w/ Tony Grasso (trumpet), Dan Blunck (soprano/alto sax), Brian Kent (tenor sax), David Johnson (bari sax), Tim Carey (bass), Viren Kamdar (cajon/congas) and Yaw Amponsah (African drums)
11pm – Chris Stover (trombone), Josh Wolff (piano), Chris Symer (bass) – Music by Caetano Veloso, Tom Jobim, and Bill Evans, plus Chris Stover originals!

Is That Jazz? pt.2

Here’s what’s happening for the second weekend of  Is That Jazz?
Festival Website: www.isthatjazz.org

Friday, January 29
JESSE CANTERBURY’S VERTIGO
Seattle clarinetist Jesse Canterbury leads an all-acoustic ensemble in a strikingly original mix of chamber music, improvisation, and tune-oriented melodic material informed and inspired by the music of clarinetists Louis Sclavis and Michael Moore. The group includes guitarist Tom Baker, cellist Joanne DeMars, and trombonist Chris Stover.

BAD LUCK
Co-led by drummer Chris Icasiano and saxophonist Neil Welch, Bad Luck is about sound art, slowly developed loops and pedals used to propel the music into new aural fields. Tight-knit original compositions meet sonic mosaics in a musical relationship cultivated by years on the bandstand.

Saturday January 30
CUONG VU TRIO
The brilliantly creative Cuong Vu brings his trio mates (Stomu Takeishi and Ted Poor) from New York to headline and close out the 2010 Is That Jazz? Festival. If you haven’t heard this scorching ensemble, do not miss this opportunity. In the words of one critic: “It’s pure art. There’s dark-darkenss, joyful lament… and everything about anguish and despair in flat, naked beauty… it will shake you.”

TOM BAKER QUARTET
Led by Seattle guitarist and composer Tom Baker, this quartet (with clarinetist Jesse Canterbury, bassist Brian Cobb, and drummer Greg Campbell) weaves modern avant-jazz tunes with beautiful and haunting improvisations. Their music blurs the boundaries between notated music and free improvisation; the unique soundscapes that result are grounded in history, while pushing at the boundaries of jazz.

All performances at: The Chapel Performance Space
(4639 Sunnyside Avenue North, Seattle – SW corner of 50th and Sunnyside in Wallingford).


Thursday Jazz

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Whitney James w/ Ingrid Jensen & Jon Wikan

NEW ORLEANS: Ham Carson Quintet

JAZZ ALLEY: Tower of Power

BOXLEY’S: Monkstone Theocracy

LUCID: The Hang w/ The Teaching

SEAMONSTER: Hammond B3 Night

THAIKU: Jon Alberts, Jeff Johnson and Tad Britton

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Roosevelt High Vocal Showcase, hosted by Stuart MacDonald
9pm – Tap Jam! Hosted by Jessie Sawyers w/ Hans Brehmer (piano), Frank Heye (drums), Nathan Reese (bass), George Bullock (guitar)


Wednesday Jazz

JAZZ ALLEY: Herb Alpert and Lani Hall

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Greta Matassa Jazz Workshop

THAIKU: Ron Weinstein Trio

BOXLEY’S: Danny Kolke Trio

NEW ORLEANS: Legacy Band w/ Clarence Acox

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
6pm – West Woodland Student Showcase, hosted by Robert Parks
9pm – Vocal Jam, hosted by Katy Bourne, w/Randy Halberstadt (piano)


Tuesday Jazz

JAZZ ALLEY: Herb Alpert and Lani Hall

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Music Works Big Band

NEW ORLEANS: Holotradband

DEXTER AND HAYES: Tim Kennedy Trio

SEAMONSTER LOUNGE: McTuff Trio

OWL & THISTLE: Jam Session w/ Eric Verlinde

MIX: Don Mock and Steve Kim

MARTIN’S ON MADISON: Karin Kajita

DULCES LATIN BISTRO: Eric Verlinde 6:30pm

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – KREED Quartet, w/Kelly Reed (vocals), Steve Hopkins (drums), Donn Harvey (bass), Rich Rorex (guitar)

Review: Hadley Caliman, Straight Ahead

from All Music Guide:

Hadley Caliman, Straight Ahead
by Ken Dryden

Hadley Caliman has had a long, distinguished career as a sideman, appearing on albums by Gerald Wilson, Bobby Hutcherson, Hampton Hawes, and Joe Henderson, among others, though he has had relatively sporadic opportunities to record as a leader. His second CD for Origin indicates he may have found a regular outlet for his music, backed by the young trumpeter Thomas Marriott (who also records as a leader for the label and appeared on Caliman’s first Origin CD), pianist Eric Verlinde, bassist Phil Sparks, and drummer Matt Jorgenson. Rather than choose typical approaches, such as heavy doses of originals or covers of familiar standards and jazz works, Caliman mixes it up with a few of each, plus less frequently played gems. Harold Land’s “Rapture” has yet to enter the jazz canon, but the blend between the leader and Marriott in this soothing, easygoing piece suggests a relaxing walk along a sunny beach. Lee Morgan’s “Totem Pole” is overshadowed by his better-known compositions, though the quintet makes the most of this long-forgotten hard bop vehicle. The originals also stand out. Marriott’s vibrant “Cathlamet” has a bit of an urban swagger, while Caliman’s upbeat “Cigar Eddie” blends soul-jazz with a Latin undercurrent that turns Afro-Cuban at its conclusion. Caliman’s potent solo in “Lush Life” and playfulness in a brisk finale of “The Night Has a Thousand Eyes” also breathe new life into these familiar pieces.

Monday Jazz

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Bellevue CC Jazz Orchestra w/ Hal Sherman

TOST: Michael Shrieve’s Spellbinder

NEW ORLEANS: New Orleans Quintet

Sunday Jazz

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB:
3:00: Easy Street
8:00: Jim Cutler Jazz Orchestra

BOXLEYS: Tracy Knoop Quartet

MARTIN’S ON MADISON: Tim Kennedy

JAZZ ALLEY:Trial by Fire w/ Robben Ford, Michael Landau, Jimmy Haslip, Gary Novak

CONCERT: Jo Lawry w/ Bill Anschell
More info: www.jazzvox.com, Camano Island, 2pm

TRIPLE DOOR MAINSTAGE: Bill Frisell Trio w/ Kenny Wollesen, Tony Scherr
From Earshot Jazz: One of the most distinctive improvising musicians of his generation, guitarist and Seattle-resident Bill Frisell makes a rare trio appearance on the Triple Door Mainstage. Deeply influenced by bluegrass, rock, and folk music, Frisell is equally at home performing alongside country studio musicians as he is Paul Motian and Joe Lovano in their long-standing trio. Frisell’s sound, difficult though it is to describe, takes advantage of a variety of pedals and loops to create a swelling, chiming, and beautifully natural voice, to which there is no real comparison. Frisell is master at building shapes of sound on top of one another, creating lush and densely textured music. Frisell performs at the Triple Door tonight at 7pm and 9:30pm.

Saturday Jazz

IS THAT JAZZ? – Bill SmithTrio and Threat of Beauty
The Chapel Performance Space, 4639 Sunnyside Avenue North, 8pm

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Greta Matassa Quartet

JAZZ ALLEY: Robben Ford, Michael Landau, Jimmy Haslip, Gary Novak

SERAFINA: Alex Guilbert Trio

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Dawson Taylor Trio, w/ Tony Beaulaurier (guitar) and Joe Casalini (bass)
9pm – Penelope Donado and Chip Parker, Jazz & Bossa, w/ Ed Weber (piano), Chuck Kistler (bass), Robert Rushing (drums)
11pm – Jim Knodle and the Distract Band

LOCAL COLOR: Julie Olsen

LUCID: Jamasaurus Rex

GRAZIE: Ruel Lubag Trio

BOXLEY’S: Karen Shivers Quartet

LOMBARDI’S: Marcus Brothers Trio

CONCERT: Jazz It Up! w/ Jeff Kashiwa
Shorecrest Performing Arts Center (15343 25th Ave NE), 7:30

CONCERT: Jo Lawry w/ Bill Anschell
more info: www.jazzvox.com, Auburn, 7:30

BAKE’S PLACE: In the Key of Cornish
From Earshot Jazz: Featuring Randy Halberstadt, Dawn Clement, and Jovino Santos Neto of Seattle’s Cornish College of the Arts, this performance presents an opportunity to hear three greatly talented and wildly diverse pianists play in an intimate Issaquah performance space. Originally from Rio de Janeiro, Jovino Santos Neto blurs the boundaries between classical music, jazz, and indigenous Brazilian music with his virtuosic piano playing and complex compositions. Pianist Dawn Clement is herself a Cornish Alum, and balances a hectic schedule of composing, teaching, performing with fellow-faculty member Julian Priester, Jane Ira Bloom, the Seattle Pianist Collective, and leading her own trio with Matt Wilson and Dean Johnson. Randy Halberstadt performs throughout the Pacific Northwest and is an accomplished pianist, arranger, composer, author, and professor of music theory. The three pianists will be joined on stage by Cornish faculty Mark Ivester (drums) and Chuck Deardord (bass). Bake’s Place is located at 4135 Providence Point Dr SE, Issaquah. The performance is at 7:45pm, with an optional dinner at 6pm

Downbeat CD Review: Tom Varner

from the February 2010 issue of Downbeat Magazine

Tom Varner – Heaven And Hell
OMNITONE 12210
4 Stars

It’s usually a good idea to avoid programmatic interpretations of music. The ear of the beholder can be made of tin in detecting intended mean­ings, assuming there are any. But when a work is as powerfully rooted in a cultural and political moment as Heaven And Hell, French hornist Tom Varner’s extended piece for tentet, it’s difficult not to assume the images you see in your mind’s eye and the emotions you feel are ones the artist is seeing and feeling as well.

Heaven And Hell was largely inspired by 9/11. Varner witnessed the attacks and their aftermath as a New Yorker. Now based in Seattle, where he and a predominately local cast recorded the album (his first in eight years), he is still coming to terms with the tragedy. A mournful uncertainty defines the opening “Overview,” with its constrained melody and irregular ensemble patterns. As the music builds to the operatic, Greek chorus-like effects and eerie descending tones of “Structure Down,” it draws hope from happier events in Varner’s life, notably the adoption of his Vietnamese son and starting a new life in Seattle. But making stirring use of grouped and clustered horns and sparing use of drums, Varner is nagged by unre­solved questions.

For all its darkness, Heaven And Hell unfolds with the easygoing, open clarity that is a hallmark of his music, striking a reward­ing balance between bold modern jazz harmonies and austere modern classical voicings. Connected by brief pensive interludes, the longer individual composi­tions unfold deliberately. But there’s no lack of peak moments, as witness the lively solos over Phil Sparks’ limber walking bass on “Queen Tai” by the brilliant East Coast trumpeter Russ Johnson, the Konitzian altoist Mark Taylor and the virtuosic Varner.

More than ever, Varner’s warmly expansive but tough-edged playing rescues the French horn from the “miscellaneous” instrument cate­gory. The voice of conscience on Heaven And Hell, he also bestows its greatest pleasures.
—Lloyd Sachs

Boxley’s February Music Schedule

WEDNESDAYS: PIANO @ NIGHT
3rd: Bob Hammer, piano; Chris Clark, bass
10th: Craig Hoyer, solo piano
17th: Randy Halberstadt, solo piano
24th: John Hansen, solo piano

THURSDAYS: STABLEMATE HORNS
4th: Jay Thomas Trio
11th: Gary Shutes Quartet
18th: Greg Williamson Trio feat Alexey Nikolaev
25th: Pete Petersen Quartet

FRIDAYS: Cuban and World Jazz
“OCHO PIES” 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th.
Cuban and World Jazz with guitars, vocals and percussion
*new CD coming out next month – first release onto Pony Boy for popular Olympian based group.

SATURDAYS: KELLY EISENHOUR QUARTET
KELLY EISENHOUR QUARTET: 6th, 13th, 20th
Saturday, Feb 27th: Special Vocal Summit Night w/KELLY EISENHOUR and guest vocalists

SUNDAYS: DANNY KOLKE TRIO
*re-release of DK’s 1990 CD “A New Meaning” new this month

TUESDAY, Feb 16th: Mardis Gras “OUTSIDE NEW ORLEANS” BIG BAD GROOVE SOCIETY JAZZ SEXTET
Special 5:15pm show for Mardis Gras Parade

A Tribute to Overton Berry- Tonight at at Bake’s Place

Fridays in the Living Room with Greta-A Tribute to Overton Berry

Fridays in the Living Room with Greta-A Tribute to Overton Berry
Friday, January 22, 2010
Bake’s Place at Providence Point

“Fridays in the Living Room With Greta” are fun and spontaneous evenings, based loosely on the old Dean Martin variety show, and with Greta holding court, they will feature musical guests, occasional comedians, friends sitting in and Greta taking audience requests -always a crowd favorite!

For this very special performance, Greta will pay tribute to jazz icon Overton Berry. Overton has held court at the Sorrento Hotel for years, playing piano and singing. Greta and Overton share a long history together, and this tribute performance will feature Greta, Overton and Seattle bassist Clipper Anderson reminiscing about good times and performing favorite songs. Overton is a much-loved and well-respected member of the Seattle music scene, and we are excited to honor both the man and the contributions he’s made throughout the years.

Dinner is at 6:00pm. Show starts at 7:45pm. For reservations, call 425-391-3335 or send an email to [email protected]. Bake’s Place is the Northwest’s premiere jazz supper club. Nestled into the serene, hillside setting of Providence Point in Issaquah, this elegant establishment is home to several of the regions top jazz performers and is also a frequent stop for national, touring artists. It was named as one of the “top 100 jazz clubs in the world” by Downbeat magazine. Bake’s is located at 4135 Providence Point Dr. SE, Issaquah, WA 98029. Phone is 425-391-3335. For more information, visit www.bakesplace.org

This Sunday on Jazz Northwest


Photo by Daniel Sheehan

Tenor saxophonist Hadley Caliman leads a quintet in an Art of Jazz concert at the Seattle Art Museum on 88.5 KPLU on Sunday, January 24 at 1 PM Pacific Time. The recorded concert is presented as part of the regular series of on-location recordings presented on Jazz Northwest. The performance includes several selections from the new CD “Straight Ahead” (Origin Records). Joining the veteran saxophonist are Thomas Marriott, trumpet, Eric Verlinde, piano, Chuck Kistler, bass and John Bishop, drums.

Hadley Caliman grew up in Los Angeles where he played on the fabled Central Avenue. His associations range from the Gerald Wilson Orchestra to Santana, and he has been a major influence on young musicians, teaching for over 20 years at The Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle.

The Art of Jazz series is presented by Earshot Jazz on the second Thursday of each month in the Brotman Forum at The Seattle Art Museum with the support of KPLU and The Weekly. The next concert in the series will feature the Dawn Clement Trio on February 11.

Jazz Northwest is recorded and produced by Jim Wilke exclusively for 88.5, KPLU. The program airs Sundays at 1 PM Pacific Time and streams to the internet at kplu.org. A podcast of the program is also available after the air date at kplu.org.

Listen to the audio preview below

Friday Jazz

IS THAT JAZZ? – Sunship and Sun Ra Tribute Band
The Chapel Performance Space, 4639 Sunnyside Avenue North, 8pm

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Stephanie Porter Quartet

BAKE’S PLACE: Greta Matassa -Tribute to Overton Berry

SERAFINA: Fred Hoadley Trio

LATONA PUB: Phil Sparks Trio

TRIPLE DOOR MUSICQUARIUM:
5:30: Birch Pereira
9:00: Tiger’s Wood

BOXLEY’S: Susan Pascal Trio

NEUMOS: Rebirth Brass Band

EL GAUCHO BELLEVUE: Trish Hatley Trio

HIROSHI’S: Greg Williamson Quartet

LOMBARDI’S: Marcus Brothers Trio

Bellevue High Band Director Vince Caruso strikes a national chord

from Bellevue Reporter.com

The management and musical abilities of Bellevue High School teacher Vince Caruso have struck a chord with a national publication, which recently named him as one of the nation’s 50 band directors who are making a significant difference in music education.

Caruso was chosen for the honor by School Band and Orchestra magazine, which annually selects one director who deserves the honor from each U.S. state.

“I’m very proud to be on the list,” Caruso said. “Other directors I know who have been honored in the past all are excellent teachers. ”

The selection team said Caruso and the other notable directors represent “a reason to have confidence that music will find its way through the dark and twisting maze of funding and bureaucracy and into the hearts and minds of tomorrow’s leaders.”

More than 20,000 music directors read the monthly magazine, which focuses on the management aspects of running a successful music program.

Caruso has taught at Bellevue High School for nine years of his 15-year career. He leads 115 students involved in Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, Jazz Band and Pep Band – as well as an after-school Jazz Club. Caruso told the magazine he tries to be a person students “can trust and a musician they can follow. Hopefully, those things lead to a musical experience that is memorable for them.”

Continue reading at Bellevue Reporter.com

Is That Jazz? – Complete Schedule

All performances at: The Chapel Performance Space
(4639 Sunnyside Avenue North, Seattle – SW corner of 50th and Sunnyside in Wallingford).

Festival Website: www.isthatjazz.org

Friday, January 22 – Sunship and Sun Ra Tribute Band

SUNSHIP
Sunship reunites Brian Heaney, one of Seattle’s most creative guitarists, with the amazing New York saxophonist Michael Monhart, both formerly of the band Stinkhorn. Add in a fantastic rhythm section – David Revelli on drums and Andrew Luthringer on bass – and top it all off with the inimitable Stuart Dempster (trombone, didjeridu, conch, etc.) and this swinging “intergalectric” ensemble is ready for lift-off.

SUN RA TRIBUTE BAND This all-star dectet reunites to pay tribute to the
inspirational iconoclast Sun Ra by playing many of his compositions from the late 1950s and early 1960s. Expect sparkly robes, processions, group vocals, flying objects and planetary alignment. The cast of characters includes Stuart Dempster: trombone, Bill Smith: clarinet, Tom Baker: guitar, Greg Sinibaldi: saxophone, Michael Monhart: saxophone, Jim Knodle: trumpet, Lynette Westendorf: piano, Greg Campbell: percussion, horn, Dan O’Brien: bass, Bill Moyer: percussion.

Saturday January 23 – Bill SmithTrio and Threat of Beauty

BILL SMITH TRIO Master composer and clarinetist Bill Smith leads this impressive jazz trio (with Brian Cobb on bass and Greg Campbell on drums) through his original compositions and improvisations. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to hear a musical legend in this profoundly intimate setting.

THREAT OF BEAUTY Seattle’s most prolific young jazz lion, Evan Flory-Barnes, takes the stage with his big band, Threat of Beauty, for a set of astonishingly beautiful and modern compositions. Featuring voices, braensemble reunites for this special festival performance.

Friday, January 29 – Jesse Canterbury’s Vertigo and Bad Luck

ESSE CANTERBURY’S VERTIGO Seattle clarinetist Jesse Canterbury leads an all-acoustic ensemble in a strikingly original mix of chamber music, improvisation, and tune-oriented melodic material informed and inspired by the music of clarinetists Louis Sclavis and Michael Moore. The group includes guitarist Tom Baker, cellist Joanne DeMars, and trombonist Chris Stover.

BAD LUCK Co-led by drummer Chris Icasiano and saxophonist Neil Welch, Bad Luck is about sound art, slowly developed loops and pedals used to propel the music into new aural fields. Tight-knit original compositions meet sonic mosaics in a musical relationship cultivated by years on the bandstand.

Saturday January 30 – Tom Baker Quartet and Cuong Vu Trio

CUONG VU TRIO The brilliantly creative Cuong Vu brings his trio mates (Stomu Takeishi and Ted Poor) from New York to headline and close out the 2010 Is That Jazz? Festival. If you haven’t heard this scorching ensemble, do not miss this opportunity. In the words of one critic: “It’s pure art. There’s dark-darkenss, joyful lament… and everything about anguish and despair in flat, naked beauty… it will shake you.”

TOM BAKER QUARTET Led by Seattle guitarist and composer Tom Baker, this quartet (with clarinetist Jesse Canterbury, bassist Brian Cobb, and drummer Greg Campbell) weaves modern avant-jazz tunes with beautiful and haunting improvisations. Their music blurs the boundaries between notated music and free improvisation; the unique soundscapes that result are grounded in history, while pushing at the boundaries of jazz.