Seattle Jazz Scene

photo by Daniel Sheehan

The Washington Composers Orchestra (WACO) is back at TOST starting this Sunday night February 28th at 8 p.m.

Featuring compositions by Robin Holcomb, Tom Varner, Wayne Horvitz and others, this ensemble features a fantastic line-up of great Seattle players performing scores originally written for the New York Composers Orchestra as well as more recent compositions

www.tostlounge.com
http://waynehorvitz.net/projects/nyco.html

513 N. 36th St, at Evanston St., Fremont, Seattle (across street from
the Lenin statue)

Steve Treseler – reeds
Mark Taylor – reeds
Stuart MacDonald – reeds
Eric Barber – reeds
Jim DeJoie – reeds
Al Keith – trumpet
Thomas Marriot – trumpet
Samantha Boshnack – trumpet
Nelson Bell – trombone
Chris Stover – trombone
Tom Varner – french horn
Byron Vannoy – drums
Phil Sparks – bass
Robin Holcomb – piano, conductor
Wayne Horvitz – piano, conductor

from The Seattle Times:

Jazz bands from Garfield and Roosevelt high schools in Seattle and Edmonds-Woodway High School will represent the Northwest at the 15th annual Essentially Ellington competition and festival in New York City, May 8-10.

Fifteen bands are chosen from around the country every year to compete in the prestigious event. This year’s contest is shaping up as a rematch between Garfield and Roosevelt; both Seattle schools have logged 10 past trips to Essentially Ellington, and three wins apiece.

But don’t count out Edmonds-Woodway, returning to the field this year for the third time after competing in 2003 and 2007.

from The Seattle Times:

The jazz trio Medeski Martin and Wood first performed together in 1991 at the now-defunct Village Gate nightclub in downtown Manhattan, in a style neither they nor others put a name to. They sounded as much like a rock band as a jazz group, creating some new fans, and puzzling some others.

In retrospect, the trio (also known as MMW), which performs Saturday night at the Showbox at the Market, was part of a shift in jazz, although few were conscious of it at the time. The genre had settled into a thoughtful, formal conservatism (defined largely by the trumpeter Wynton Marsalis) based on the studied rules and musical discipline set by earlier masters.

Musicians such as pianist John Medeski, drummer Billy Martin and bassist Chris Wood — then in their early 20s — had different inclinations. They chose to indulge their curiosities outside of conventional jazz, applying their personalities as much as their training to their music.

“I can’t always call what we do jazz,” said Medeski, who plans to play the piano, organ and electronic keyboard at the Showbox. “But there is a spirit of jazz in our music. For some people we’re jazz; for some people we’re rock. We have a loyal following because there is a true spontaneity in our music. We do that every night.”

Continue reading at The Seattle Times.

Two Seattle releases, Hadley Caliman’s “Straight Ahead” and Gail Pettis’ “Here In The Moment,” are currently tied in the #7 spot on the JazzWeek National Radio Airplay Chart with Pat Metheny’s “Orchestrion.”

1 – STEVE HOBBS Vibes, Straight Up (Challenge)
2 – AHMAD JAMAL A Quiet Time (Dreyfus)
3 – JOHN STEIN Raising The Roof (Whaling City Sound)
4 – JEREMY PELT Men Of Honor (HighNote)
5 – JOE LOCKE For The Love Of You (E1 Entertainment)
6 – DON BRADEN & MARK RAPP The Strayhorn Project (Premium Music Solutions)
7 – HADLEY CALIMAN Straight Ahead (Origin)
7 – PAT METHENY Orchestrion (Nonesuch)
7 – GAIL PETTIS Here In The Moment (OA2 Records)
10 – ROBERTO FONSECA Akokan (Enja/Justin Time)

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Susan Pascal Quartet

JAZZ ALLEY: SFJAZZ Collective

TRIPLE DOOR MUSICQUARIUM:
5:30pm: Monarch Duo
9:00pm: Tarik Abouzied Organ Trio

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Nikki DeCaires (vocals) and Kiko Freitas (guitar)
9pm – Industrial Revelation, with D’Vonne Lewis (drums), Aham Oluo (trumpet), Josh Rawlings (piano/rhodes) and Evan Flory-Barnes (bass)

BAKE’S PLACE: Greta Matassa: A Tribute to Jim Wilke

BOXLEY’S: Ocho Pies

CYPRESS LOUNGE: Jim Basnight

THE CHAPEL: Garrett Fisher Ensemble

EL GAUCHO BELLEVUE: Trish Hatley Trio

LATONA PUB: Phil Sparks Trio

SERAFINA: Fred Hoadley Trio

HIROSHI’S: Jazz and Sushi

BOXLEY’S: John Hansen Trio

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Bruce Staelens Quintet

NEW ORLEANS: Legacy Quartet w/Clarence Acox

THAIKU: Ron Weinstein Trio

LUCID JAZZ LOUNGE: Vocalize It w/ Kelly Ash

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE: Vocal Jam hosted by Randall O’Dowd, with Steve Rice (piano), Larry Holloway (bass) and Matt Page (drums)

SERAFINA Sue Nixon & Friends

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Little Big Band

NEW ORLEANS: Holotradband

MARTIN’S ON MADISON: Karin Kajita

MIX: Don Mock

TRIPLE DOOR MAINSTAGE: Tinariwen

from The New York Times:

HAL GALPER TRIO (Tuesday) Hal Galper is a pianist well schooled in modernism, with a particular emphasis on bebop. His current trio includes the bassist Jeff Johnson and the drummer John Bishop. At 8:30 and 11 p.m., Birdland, 315 West 44th Street, Clinton , (212) 581-3080, birdlandjazz.com; cover, $30, with a $10 minimum.

The Dawn Clement Trio plays an Art of Jazz Concert at The Seattle Art Museum on the next Jazz Northwest at 1 PM PT on Sunday, February 21 on 88.5, KPLU. Dawn Clement is pianist, singer and leader of this trio with Geoff Harper on bass and Jaz Sawyer on drums.

Ms.Clement also performs with the Julian Priester Quartet and Jane Ira Bloom Quartet in addition to leading her own groups. She has performed frequently in Seattle as well as in New York, Washington and Paris. She has several CDs as a leader, the most recent of which is “Break” on Origin Records and is on the faculty at the Cornish College of the Arts.

The Art of Jazz Series is presented by Earshot Jazz with support from KPLU and the Seattle Weekly on the second Thursday of each month in the Brotman Forum at the Seattle Art Museum. The concerts are recorded and prepared for broadcast by Jim Wilke, exclusively for KPLU. The concerts are also available as a podcast at kplu.org following the airdate.

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Dave Peck Trio with Jeff Johnson and Eric Eagle

JAZZ ALLEY: Pete Escovedo Orchestra with Sheila E. and Juan Escovedo

TRIPLE DOOR:
5:30pm: Leif Todusek
9:00pm: Motel 5

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Penelope Donado, with Bill Anschell (piano), Chuck Kistler (bass) and Robert Rushing (drums)
9pm – Johnny Butler

BAKE’S PLACE: Greta Matassa with Stephanie Porter

EL GAUCHO BELLEVUE: Trish Hatley Trio

JAZZ VOX: Kristin Korb w/ Randy Halberstadt

BOXLEY’S: Ocho Pies

HIROSHI’S: Jazz & Sushi

LATONA PUB: Thomas Marriott, Phil Sparks and Matt Jorgensen

LOCAL COLOR: Marti MacEwan

SERAFINA: Gravity w/ Tim Kennedy

Jazz Impressions of Ennio Morricone
from Earshot Jazz: J&J Music, Seattle Jazz Composers Ensemble, and University Prep present Jazz Impressions of Ennio Morricone, a special one-time performance by the Seattle Jazz Composers Ensemble (SJCE). For the program, SCJE commissioned Seattle composers and arrangers to create 4 new original works and new arrangements of Morricone classics, including music from the films The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, A Fistful of Dollars, Il Mercenario, The Mission, Cinema Paradiso, and Inglourious Basterds. Featured composers include Jim Knodle, Michael Owcharuk, Nate Omdal, Samantha Boshnack, Josh Rawlings, and Ethan Thomas. The music is to be performed by a 17 piece band featuring many of Seattle’s top musicians, including Cynthia Mullis, Beth Fleenor, Jim Knodle, Jason Parker, Samantha Boshnack, Nelson Bell, Michael Owcharuk, Nate Omdal, Cody Rahn, Scott Morning, Aaron Jenkins, Brian Bermudez, Mike Dodge, Elijah Clark, Elsa Nilsson, Ron Gilchrist, and Greg Belisle-Chi. Jazz Impressions of Ennio Morricone takes place Friday, February 19th, 2010 at 7pm at University Prep Founder’s Hall, 8000 25th Avenue NE Seattle, WA 98115. Discounts available for students and seniors.

THE CHAPEL: Speak CD Release Party

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – The Ashkenazy Collective – NYC-based jazz trio!
9pm – Jim Rotondi Quintet, with NYC-based trumpet player Jim Rotondi, John Hansen (piano), Chuck Deardorf (bass) and Matt Jorgensen (drums)

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Sonando

JAZZ ALLEY: Pete Escovedo Orchestra with Sheila E. and Juan Escovedo

NEW ORLEANS: Ham Carson Quintet

BOXLEY’S: Greg Williamson Trio w/ Alexey Nikolaev

SIP: Sue Bell & Chris Morton

LUCID: The Hang w/ The Teaching

THAIKU: Jon Alberts, Jeff Johnson & Tad Britton

Two great shows to choose from on Thursday night.

SPEAK CD RELEASE SHOW – THE CHAPEL, 8pm
from Earshot Jazz: Speak will release their much anticipated debut album at a special Chapel Performance Space release party on February 18 at 8pm. The great Seattle quintet consists trumpeter Cuong Vu, saxophonist Andrew Swanson, keyboardist Aaron Otheim, drummer Chris Icasiano, and bassist Luke Bergman. Adventurous, witty, energetic, and LOUD, Speak is a true ensemble that is set to command our attention in 2010 and beyond. Featuring complex, winding compositions and some of the finest young improvisers on the scene, Speak incorporates a variety of influences while crafting an unmistakably original sound. And as ever, the Chapel Performance Space at the Good Shepherd Center in Wallingford is among the most graceful and open venues for music such as this. Don’t miss it.

JIM ROTONDI QUARTET – EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE, 9pm
NYC trumpeter is headed up to Vancouver to perform this weekend at The Cellar and has added a last-minute stop in Seattle. Catch him performing with John Hansen, piano, Chuck Deardorf, bass, and Matt Jorgensen, drums, in the intimate environment of Egan’s. Make sure and call for a reservation: 206-789-1621

JAZZ ALLEY: Tierney Sutton Band

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Greta Matassa’s Teen Student Showcase

NEW ORLEANS: Legacy Quartet w/Clarence Acox

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Ian Baldwin-Madison and Conrad Schmechel, with Roosevelt High jazz combo
9pm – Vocal Showcase hosted by Marti MacEwan, featuring John LoPresti, Cara Francis and Ann Brittain. Acccompanied by Rob Lindfors (guitar), Dan O’Brien (bass) and Robert Rushing (drums)

BOXLEY’S: Randy Halberstadt

SERAFINA: Jerry Frank

THAIKU: Ron Weinstein Trio

The 2009 Earshot Golden Ear Awards were presented last night at the Triple Door.

Jeff Johnson accepts the award for Mark Taylor, who is on vacation in Mexico. Mark Taylor’s Spectre was named NW Recording of the Year.

The Teaching (Evan Flory-Barnes, Josh Rawlings and Jeremy Jones) won the award for NW Acoustic Jazz Group.

Paul Rucker presented the award to Neil Welch and Chris Icassiano for NW Alternative Jazz Group.

Evan Flory-Barnes‘ “Acknowledgment of a Celebration” got the nod for NW Concert of the Year.

Eric Barber was named NW Jazz Instrumentalist.

Tom Varner presents the award for NW Emerging Artist to Roosevelt trombonist Andy Clausen.

NW Vocalist of the Year went to Cocoa Martini (Karen Shivers, Kimberly Reason and Kay Bailey).

Cuong Vu inducts Marc Seales into the Seattle Jazz Hall of Fame. Stuart Dempster was also inducted into the Seattle Jazz Hall of Fame. He was unable to attend.

David Pierre-Louis, owner of Lucid Jazz Lounge, was given a special award for community service.

Steve Peters, co-founder of the Nonsequitur Foundation, which runs the Chapel Performance Space, also received a community service award.

Performing at the 2009 Golden Ear Awards.

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Roadside Attraction Big Band

JAZZ ALLEY: Tierney Sutton Band

NEW ORLEANS: Holotradband

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – The Daffodils, featuring Billie Wildrick, Candice Donehoo and Jeannette d’Armand
9pm – Dave Anderson Quartet, with Dave Anderson (saxophones), John Hansen (piano), Chuck Kistler (bass) and Adam Kessler (drums)

BOXLEY’S: Outside New Orleans Big Bad Groove Society

MARTIN’S ON MADISON: Karin Kajita

MIX: Don Mock

Tonight the Seattle jazz community will meet at The Triple Door to celebrate the 2009 Golden Ear Awards. The show kicks off at 7:00pm with Greg Williamson’s A-Y-P Large Ensemble performing.

EARSHOT’S GOLDEN EAR AWARDS – THE TRIPLE DOOR
216 Union Street
Seattle, WA 98101
Tickets 206.838.4333
7:00pm

Other events happening tonight …

TOST: Michael Shrieve’s Spellbinder

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

NEW ORLEANS: New Orleans Quintet

POGGIE TAVERN: Better World w/ Marc Smason

photos by Chad McCullough

photo by Matt Jorgensen

photo by Chad McCullough

photo by Chad McCullough

photo by Chad McCullough