Seattle Jazz Scene

The BlueStreet Jazz Voices are featured in an Art of Jazz concert at the Seattle Art Museum on KPLU’s Jazz Northwest on Sunday, March 21 at 1 PM PDT. The jazz choir is a community-based group of singers under the direction of Ken Wilson accompanied by a jazz trio and featuring guest Susan Pascal on vibes in this concert. The community-based group has been presenting a series of concerts billed as “Under the Influence” – the influences being great jazz singers including Ella Fitzgerald, Mel Tormé, Tony Bennett, The Hi-Los and others. For more information, see bluestreetvoices.com .

The Art of Jazz Series is presented on the second Thursday of each month by Earshot Jazz and the Seattle Art Museum with the support of The Seattle Weekly and KPLU. The next concert in the series will feature the instrumental duo of Brent Jensen and Bill Anschell on April 8 at 5:30 pm.

Jazz Northwest is recorded and produced by Jim Wilke exclusively for 88-5, KPLU and kplu.org. A podcast of the program is available following the airdate at kplu.org/wilke.

Monday, March 22, 2010 – The Triple Door
7:30pm
216 Union Street
Seattle, WA 98101
tickets: 206.838.4333 or online at www.tripledoor.net

“The jazz sound is lush and rich without being cluttered or slick” – Westword Magazine, Denver, CO

featuring:
Clark Gibson, sax / Mike West, sax / Chris Stover, trb / Nathan Vedder, trb / Mac Grout, pno / Phil Sparks, bs / Adam Kessler, drm / Sean Glenn, cello
with special guest Dave Anderson, sax, previewing his new CD “Clarity” – out soon!

This recording presents all original material arranged in different configurations of instrumentation – from a quartet to an eight piece ensemble. Performer, arranger, composer and educator Gibson has worked throughout North America, playing in genres ranging from salsa, cumbia, rock and blues to R&B, and jazz. He toured as a member of the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, and performed with Javon Jackson, Pat Bianchi, Greg Gisbert, Edgar Winters, Diane Reeves, The Red Hot Blues Sisters, the Jim Knapp Orchestra, the Pony Boy All-Star Big Band, 4Culture Site-Specific Baker’s Band, “Sugar” Rodriguez, Orcestra De Nueva Era and more. He has been a student of jazz legends Hadley Calliman, Jullian Priester, and Denny Goodhew at Seattle’s Cornish College of the Arts. He currently holds down a weekly gig on Capitol Hill in Seattle, as well as monthly “Pony Boy Presents” appearances at Boxley’s in North Bend, WA.

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Jay Thomas Quartet

NEW ORLEANS: Thomas Marriott’s Flexicon

JAZZ ALLEY: Maceo Parker

PARAMOUNT THEATER: Hot Java Cool Jazz
from Earshot Jazz: Starbucks presents the 15th Annual Hot Java Cool Jazz concert, benefiting music education in Seattle public schools. Starbucks presents Hot Java Cool Jazz as a way to help local high school music programs bridge the gap between what they receive in funding and what they actually need. But more than a benefit concert, Hot Java Cool Jazz is an evening of great big band jazz presented by some of Seattle’s award-winning high school jazz programs. This year, Garfield, Edmonds-Woodway, Mountlake Terrace, Newport, and Roosevelt High School will take the Paramout stage in support of their arts programs. The benefit is on Friday March 19 at 7:30pm at the Paramount Theatre (911 Pike St). For more information of to purchase tickets online visit www.stgpresents.org.

BAKE’S PLACE: Greta Matassa with special guest Alexey Nikolaev

LATONA PUB: Phil Sparks Trio

BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Annie Reed, with Hans Brehmer (keys), Michael Barnett (bass) and Dave Snodgrass (drums)
9pm – Holly Hamilton Jones with Hans Brehmer (piano)

BOXLEY’S: Milo Petersen Trio

CYPRESS LOUNGE, BELLEVUE: Gail Pettis Trio

EL GAUCHO BELLEVUE: Trish Hatley Trio

LUCID: Elsa Nilsson Quartet

SOUTHPORT CAFE: Steve Yusen Band & Stephanie Porter

HIROSHI’S: Jazz & Sushi

GRAZIE: Sue Bell Quartet

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Sonando

JAZZ ALLEY: Maceo Parker

NEW ORLEANS: Ham Carson Quintet

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Paul Benoit and Chris Chandler
9pm – Lionel Kramer & Friends, with Bud Schultz (piano/vibes/melodica), Bob Antolin (saxes/guitar), Makini (vocals), Cheetah (congas), Mark Bullis (bass) and Lionel Kramer (drums)

BOXLEY’S: Jay Thomas Trio

THAIKU: Jon Alberts, Jeff Johnson & Tad Britton

LUCID: The Hang w/ The Teaching

JAZZ ALLEY: Martin Taylor

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Kelley Johnson Showcase

NEW ORLEANS: Legacy Quartet w/Clarence Acox

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – St Paddy’s Day Vocal Jam, hosted by Marti MacEwan
9pm – Vocal Showcase featuring Rosemary Sweeney, Lisa Eve Knight and Lisa Petion! Hosted by Kim Davis, with Darin Clendenin (piano), Dan O’Brien (bass) and Bob Merrihew (drums)

THAIKU: Ron Weinstein Trio

Starbucks Presents
HOT JAVA COOL JAZZ
Five amazing high school jazz bands. One great cause.

On March 19, 2010, five of the top high school jazz bands will take the stage at the Paramount Theatre in support of their school music programs. The will step it up. Will you?
Help us support music education. For 15 years, Starbucks has presented Hot Java Cool Jazz as a way to help local high school music programs bridge the gap between what they receive in funding and what they actually need. But more than a benefit concert, Hot Java Cool Jazz is an evening of great big band jazz that you don’t want to miss.

Live at the Paramount Theatre
Friday, March 19, 2010 at 7:30pm
All proceeds benefit the participating schools: Edmonds-Woodway, Mountlake Terrace, Newport, Garfield and Roosevelt

Tickets: $15 adult, $8 students/seniors
Available at The Paramount Theatre box office, at www.stgpresents.org and at Starbucks store locations.

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Roadside Attraction

JAZZ ALLEY: Martin Taylor

NEW ORLEANS: Holotradband

MIX: Don Mock

OWL ‘N THISTLE: Jam w/ Eric Verlinde & Jose Martinez

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Darin Clendenin Jazz Jam

NEW ORLEANS: New Orleans Quintet

AMORE: Ronnie Pierce Jazz Ensemble

BOXLEY’S: Boxley Creek Blues Review

TOST: Michael Shrieve’s Spellbinder

On May 16 jazz musicians will gather at Central Washington University to remember the late jazz educator John Moawad in the way that he would most appreciate: a day-long jam session!

Moawad was a charismatic educator who brought jazz to high school and college classrooms before it was “normal” in the Pacific Northwest. During his 30-years at CWU he built what arguably was and still is the best instrumental and vocal jazz program on the West coast. He also built jazz programs at Nathan Hale High School and Stevenson High School in Seattle. His former students run many of the top Northwest Middle and High School jazz programs.

Location:
– Central Washington University in Ellensburg, WA–just 100 miles from Seattle!
– Student Union & Recreation Center Ballroom

Time:
1:00 – 5:00 PM, with tours of the CWU Music Building beginning at noon

An admission donation of $10 will cover costs of the event and help fund the Moawad Jazz Scholarship Fund.

The celebration will feature performances by alumni of CWU’s jazz program:
– Pre 1985 jazz band organized by Norm Wallen
– 1986-96 jazz band organized by Jake Bergevin
– Pre 1985 vocal jazz ensemble organized by Dave Barduhn
– 1986-96 vocal jazz ensemble organized by Dave Cazier

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Hadley Caliman Quintet featuring Kay Bailey

NEW ORLEANS: Rick Mandyck Quartet

TRIPLE DOOR MUSICQUARIUM: Tarik Abouzied Organ Trio

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE
7pm – Dave Dolengewicz Trio, with Dave Dolengewicz (saxophones), Lauren Hendrix (upright and electric basses) and Ben Morrow (drums)

BOXLEY’S: Bryant Urban Trio

SERAFINA: Djangomatics

NORTH CITY BISTRO: Scott Lindenmuth Trio

SOUTHPORT CAFE: Kelley Johnson

LATONA PUB: Phil Sparks Trio

JAZZ VOX: Stephanie Nakasian w/ Bill Anschell

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Ryan Burns Trio + Mark Taylor CD Release Party

NEW ORLEANS: Ham Carson Quintet

BOXLEY’S: Hans Brehmer Trio

LUCID JAZZ LOUNGE: The Hang w/ The Teaching

THAIKU: Jon Alberts, Jeff Johnson and Tad Britton

SEATTLE ART MUSEUM: Art of Jazz: BlueStreet Jazz Voices
from Earshot Jazz: The BlueStreet Jazz Voices is a musical collective whose mission is to promote vocal jazz music in the Seattle community and provide high-quality, entertaining, and moving musical experiences for audiences and performers alike. The new ensemble has built quite a following with their combination of original arrangements of jazz standards, lush ballads, and contemporary jazz. Boasting 20-members, BlueStreet is a diverse group of musicians who are united by their passion for jazz interpretation. As one critic has noted: “The only thing matching the joy that the ensemble brings to the stage is the joy they feel while creating music together.” Ken Wilson and Andy Carr serve as artistic and instrumental director respectively. The BlueStreet voices perform on Thursday, March 11 at 5:30pm as part of the ongoing Art of Jazz Series at the Seattle Art Museum. Admission to the performance is free with your museum tickets. Also- catch the BlueStreet Jazz Voices in performance with guests Stephanie Nakasian and the Todd Beamer High School Vocal Jazz Ensemble at the West Seattle HS Performing Arts Center (3000 California Ave SW) on Saturday, March 13 at 7:30pm.

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Nelda Swiggett CD Release Party for This Time
featuring Chris Symer (bass) and Byron Vannoy (drums)

JAZZ ALLEY: John Scofield featuring Mulgrew Miller, Ben Street and Kendrick Scott

NEW ORLEANS: Legacy Quartet w/Clarence Acox

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Jessica Stenson, with Darin Clendenin (piano) and Geoff Cooke (bass)
9pm – Vocal Jam hosted by Dina Blade, with Ed Weber (piano), Dan O’Brien (bass) and Bob Merrihew (drums)

THAIKU: Ron Weinstein Trio

BOXLEY’S: Clark Gibson Duo

Pianist Ryan Burns will celebrate the release of his new CD, Birds, at Tula’s this Thursday, March 11.

THURSDAY, MARCH 11 – RYAN BURNS QUARTET

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB
2214 2nd Ave, Seattle
7:30pm
Reservation: 206-443-4221

Mark Taylor – saxophone
Ryan Burns – keyboards
Geoff Cooke – bass
Jose Martinez – drums

The Pacific Jazz Institute at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley presents for one night only the Sixth Annual Sister City Female Jazz Vocalist Audition. Doors open at 5:30pm, auditions start at 6:30pm and the evening will end around 9:30pm.

The 6th Annual Sister City Female Vocalist Jazz Audition at Jazz Alley is right around the corner so mark your calendars! The Seattle Kobe Sister City Association (SKSCA) is pleased to announce its sixth Seattle-Kobe Female Jazz Vocalist Audition. SKSCA will select one high school and one adult female jazz vocalist from the greater Seattle area to Kobe, Japan to perform at the Kobe Jazz Queen Vocalist Contest on a weekend on May (date to be announced in early January).

Every fall for the last ten years, the winner of the Kobe Jazz Queen Contest has flown to Seattle to debut in the US at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley. Last year SKSCA sent local jazz vocalist Greta Matassa and high school vocalist Katherine Stuber to Kobe for the May 2010 Kobe Jazz Queen Contest. This year, the SKSCA is proud to host its sixth jazz vocalist audition as a reciprocal exchange to send two Seattle female jazz vocalists to Japan.

Finalists will be selected by late February, and they will perform at a live audition at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley on Monday, March 22, 2010, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. (Doors open at 5:30 pm.) Family, friends, and community members are encouraged to come and support the finalists. The suggested donation will be $5.00/students and $10.00/adults with proceeds supporting this and future Seattle-Kobe Jazz competitions. Finalists will be announced the last week of February.

For interested singers, please go to the SKSCA website for further information and an application form:

www.sksca.org

Sponsors for this event include: Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Kobe Trade Information Office, Sankei Travel, Seattle-Kobe Sister City Association, and Shinkaichi Music Street.

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Emerald City Jazz Orchestra

JAZZ ALLEY: John Scofield featuring Mulgrew Miller, Ben Street and Kendrick Scott

NEW ORLEANS: Holotradband

SHERMAN CLAY BELLEVUE: Magnolia Big Band

MARTIN’S ON MADISON: Karin Kajita

THE MIX: Don Mock

(BELLEVUE, Wash.) – The Bellevue Downtown Association today announced the featured lineup for the 2010 Bellevue Jazz Festival presented by First Tech Credit Union at the Theatre at Meydenbauer Center, June 3-6. Festival packages and individual tickets go on sale March 11 at
www.bellevuejazz.com.

2010 FEATURED ARTISTS:

Terence Blanchard Quintet
The Bad Plus
Pat Martino
Bill Charlap and Renee Rosnes plus Sachal Vasandani Quartet Seattle
Repertory Jazz Orchestra also featuring the Bellevue Jazz Festival
Rising Stars

Celebrating its third year, the Bellevue Jazz Festival will also stage more than 30 free performances and jam sessions led by top regional artists at venues throughout Downtown Bellevue; the artists and schedule will be announced in April. All ticketed featured artist performances will be at the Theatre at Meydenbauer Center.

TICKETS AND PACKAGES:
Tickets will go on sale March 11 at www.bellevuejazz.com. Tickets may also be purchased by phone (800-838-3006) or at the Brown Paper Tickets box office at Meydenbauer Center in Downtown Bellevue.

Discounted ALL ACCESS and SATURDAY MARQUEE ticket packages also go on sale March 11 and offer up to a 30 percent savings. The ALL ACCESS Package ($119) includes premium seating to all featured performances, plus entry to a private festival reception. The SATURDAY MARQUEE Package ($59) includes premium seating to both featured shows on Saturday, June 5.

Student discounts are available for all individual shows.

FEATURED ARTIST SCHEDULE:

Thursday, June 3, 2010: 7:00 p.m. Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra, also featuring Bellevue Jazz Festival Rising Stars (tickets: $10-$20) Friday, June 4, 2010: 7:00 p.m.: The Bad Plus (tickets: $20-$30) Saturday, June 5, 2010: 2:00 p.m. Pat Martino (tickets: $20-$30); 8:00 p.m. Terence
Blanchard Quintet (tickets: $40-$50) Sunday, June 6: 2:00 p.m. Bill Charlap and Renee Rosnes plus Sachal Vasandani Quartet (tickets: $30-$40)

The Bellevue Jazz Festival is produced by the Bellevue Downtown Association, a non-profit, member-based organization charged with leading the evolution of Downtown Bellevue as the economic and cultural heart of the Eastside. 2010 Festival sponsors are First Tech Credit Union, the City of Bellevue, Microsoft, 4Culture and KPLU 88.5.

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Katie King Vocal Showcase

NEW ORLEANS: New Orleans Quintet

TOST: Michael Shrieve’s Spellbinder

AMORE RESTAURANT: Ronnie Pierce Jazz Ensemble

A concert mash-up celebrating the Centennial of the first Seattle World’s Fair, the 1909 A-Y-P Exposition is featured on the next Jazz Northwest. Highlights from the concert premiere will air on 88.5 KPLU and kplu.org on Sunday, March 7 at 1 PM Pacific Time.

The 16 member band led by Greg Wiiliamson with singer Greta Matassa recreate some of the music from 100 years ago that was performed at the fair, and morphs into references to Duke Ellington, Quincy Jones, swing, boogaloo and modern jazz. There are moments when several musical threads are played simultaneously a la Charles Ives in a kind of musical time machine. Some period instruments were used and photographs from the A-Y-P were projected as a backdrop on stage.

This concert was recorded at the premiere performance at the Triple Door during the 2009 Earshot Jazz Festival. The music was recently given a second performance at the 2010 Golden Ear Awards also at the Triple Door.

Jazz Northwest is recorded and produced exclusively for 88.5 KPLU and kplu.org. The program airs on Sundays at 1 PM Pacific Time and a podcast is available after the airdate from kplu.org. More info at kplu.org/wilke and ponyboyrecords.com.

Pony Boy Records Presents JAZZ and SUSHI
Friday Nights – Hiroshi’s Restaurant
2501 Eastlake Avenue East, Seattle, WA
ph: (206)726-4966, no cover, 7:30 – 10:00

A very fine line-up to swing into spring. Come check out some of the fine artists on Pony Boy Records, and preview some of our newest recording artists.

Sushi master Hiroshi and his gang prepare a full menu of Japanese cuisine that is fresh, tasty, and full of flavor – all matched with some very special sake and beverages (try the plumb wine) Favored by local Japanese and music lovers, Hiroshi’s has been featuring live jazz on Friday nights for over three years – presented by the Pony Boy Records stable of artists. Come by for some fine food, and see who will be sitting in with the band – Fridays have become a ‘happening’ on Eastlake! Cheers!

info on all Pony Boy CDs and artists: http://www.ponyboyrecords.com

Friday, March 5 – Greg Williamson Quartet
Alexey Nikolaev, sax
John Hansen, piano
Jon Hamar, bass
Greg Williamson, drums

Friday, March 12 – Jake Bergevin
Jake Bergevin, vocal & trp
Milo Petersern, guitar
RJ Whitow, bass
Greg Williamson, drums

Friday, March 19 – Dave Anderson Quartet
Dave Anderson, sax
band tba

Friday, Feb 26 – Carolyn Graye Quartet
Carolyn Graye, vocals
Christopher Woitach, gtr
Chris Symer, bass
Greg Williamson, drums

from The Seattle Times:

On paper, the practice that Butch Morris calls “conduction” sounds like a recipe for musical chaos. But after more than three decades, Morris is a maestro of spontaneously directed ensemble performance, an artist capable of transforming an ad-hoc group of musicians into a thrilling vehicle for instantaneous arranging and composing.

Using a system of graphics and gestures, Morris has honed a semaphoric vocabulary that allows him to shape a performance in real time, initiating or altering harmony, timbre, dynamics, melody and any other musical dimension. After leading hundreds of conductions around the world, he doesn’t set out with a stylistic agenda, preferring to suss out his collaborators through rigorous workshops.

“Every situation is different,” says Morris, 63, who concludes a 10-day residency at Cornish College of the Arts with his first Seattle conduction on Saturday at Poncho Hall.

Continue reading at The Seattle Times.