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.