Seattle Jazz Scene

The Seattle Composers’ Salon is pleased to announce the third-annual IS THAT JAZZ? music festival taking place the last two weekends in January (Fri-21, Sat-22, Fri-28, Sat-29) in Seattle, Washington. The festival will feature four inspired evenings with eight compelling performances at an exquisite space for listening to music, the Chapel Performance Space.

IS THAT JAZZ? is a festival dedicated to daring and exploratory artists who are redrawing the boundaries of jazz, and infusing the genre with new forms, new sounds, and renewed sense of immediacy. Rather than limiting jazz to a specific and narrow definition, IS THAT JAZZ? embraces jazz as a living, breathing, ever-evolving art-form.

The festival takes place at The Chapel Performance Space (4639 Sunnyside Avenue North, Seattle – SW corner of 50th and Sunnyside in Wallingford). Concerts start at 8:00pm and there is a suggested donation of $15. For more information, visit: www.isthatjazz.org

FULL SCHEDULE:

Friday, January 21
EMPTY CAGE QUARTET
SUN RA TRIBUTE BAND

Saturday, January 22
OPERATION ID
DANA REASON

Friday, January 28
AMY DENIO + LUCIO MENEGONE
DOUGLAS DETRICK’S ANYWHEN ENSEMBLE
with special guest WAYNE HORVITZ

Saturday, January 29
TRIPTET
NELS CLINE SINGERS with YUKA C. HONDA

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Vocal Jam with Darin Clendenin Trio
2214 2nd Ave, 206-443-4221, 7:30pm

TRIPLE DOOR MAINSTAGE: Aurelio with Garifuna Soul
216 Union Street, 206-838-4333, 7:30pm

NEW ORLEANS: New Orleans Quintet
114 First Ave S, 206-622-2563, 7:00pm

AMORE: Ronnie Pierce Jazz Ensemble
2301 5th Ave, 206-770-0606, 7:30pm

EL GAUCHO BELLEVUE: Primo Kim
555 110th Ave NE, Bellevue, 425-455-2734, 6:00pm

MARTIN’S ON MADISON: Howard Dixon
1413 14th Ave, 206-325-7000, 7:30pm

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB:
3pm – Jay Thomas Big Band
8pm – Jim Cutler Jazz Orchestra
2214 2nd Ave, 206-443-4221, 7:30pm

JAZZ ALLEY: Ain’t Misbehavin’
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729

BOXLEY’S: Danny Kolke Trio
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, WA, 425-292-9307, 7:00pm

BAKE’S PLACE:
10am – Sunday Breakfast w/ Michael Gotz
4135 Providence Point Dr SE, Issaquah, 425-391-3335

CAFE RACER: Racer Sessions
5828 Roosevelt Way NE, 8pm

DARRELL’S TAVERN: Jam w/ Kevin McCarthy
18041 Aurora Ave N, Shoreline, 8pm

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB:
3pm – Carolyn Graye Showcase
7:30pm – Marc Seales Group
2214 2nd Ave, 206-443-4221

JAZZ ALLEY: Ain’t Misbehavin’
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30 & 10:00pm

BOXLEY’S: Leah Stillwell Quartet
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, WA, 425-292-9307, 7:00pm

LUCID: Yogi & The Yoginis
5241 University Ave NE, Seattle, (206) 402-3042, 9:00pm

TRIPLE DOOR MUSICQUARIUM: DOA Trio

SERAFINA: Jose Gonzales Trio
2043 Eastlake Ave E, 323-0807, 9pm

THE CHAPEL: Seattle Percussion Collective
Good Shepherd Center, 4649 Sunnyside Ave N

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Karin Blaine / 9pm – The Kareem Kandi Band
1707 NW Market St, 789-1621

BAKE’S PLACE: Geoffrey Castle
4135 Providence Point Dr. SE Issaquah, (425) 391-3335, 7:30pm

LAKESIDE BISTRO: call venue
11425 Rainier Avenue South, Seattle, (206) 772-6891

There have been two recent passing of musicians with ties to the Northwest.

Bassist Mark Bullis passed away on January 5th in Palm Springs after a brief illness from diverticulitis complications. He was 54.

Bullis was active on the Seattle scene performing Mondays with Ronnie Pierce at Amore, in addition to performances with Steve Allen, Diane Shure, Barbara McNair, Johnny Barnes of the Platters, Edmonia Jarrett, and Hadley Caliman. He also performed with the Seattle Philharmonic and the Bellevue Philharmonic.

Shortly before his death, Bullis recorded a CD with pianist Sam Pannunzio and drummer Lionel Kramer which will be released later this year.

More information is available here.

Pianist Tricia Woods, who was a student at Cornish College of the Arts in the early-90s and continued to perform in Seattle until moving to New York, passed away in her home in Mapplewood, NJ, on Tuesday, January 11, 2011 after a long battle with breast cancer.

She was forty-four years old. Tricia was born and raised in Tupper Lake, New York, attended Brown University where she majored in biology, studied music at Cornish College in Seattle and received a Masters in Music at City College in New York City. She was a beloved piano teacher and active member of the Maplewood, New Jersey community over the last seven years.

She is survived by her husband, Gregory Jones and her son, Christopher Woods-Jones.

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Jay Thomas Quartet
2214 2nd Ave, 206-443-4221, 7:30pm

JAZZ ALLEY: Ain’t Misbehavin’
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30 & 10:00pm

NEW ORLEANS: Thomas Marriott’s Flexicon
114 First Ave S, 206-622-2563, 8:00pm

LATONA PUB: Phil Sparks Trio
6423 Latona Avenue NE, 5:00 – 7:00pm, No Cover, 21+

AMORE: Lonnie Williams
2301 5th Ave, (206) 770-0606

BOXLEY’S: Reuel Lubag
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, WA, 425-292-9307, 7:00pm

BAKE’S PLACE: Gail Pettis Trio
4135 Providence Point Dr. SE Issaquah, (425) 391-3335, 7:30pm

TRIPLE DOOR MUSICQUARIUM: Tor Dietrichson Blues Machine
Triple Door, 216 Union St, 838-4333, 9pm

LUCID: Kevin McCarthy Quartet
5241 University Ave NE, Seattle, (206) 402-3042, 9:00pm

HIROSHI’S: Leah Stillwell
2501 Eastlake Ave E, 726-4966

SERAFINA: Kiko Freitas
2043 Eastlake Ave E, 323-0807, 9pm

LAKESIDE BISTRO: call venue
11425 Rainier Avenue South, Seattle, (206) 772-6891

CONCERT: Jovino Santos Neto Trio
Brechemin Auditorium, UW campus, 12:30pm

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Bert Gulhaugen-John Hansen Showcase
2214 2nd Ave, 206-443-4221, 7:30pm

JAZZ ALLEY: Ain’t Misbehavin’
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30 & 10:00pm

SEATTLE ART MUSEUM: Art of Jazz w/Kelly Eisenhour Quartet
100 University St, 654-3100, 5-7pm

MARTIN’S ON MADISON: Jerry Zimmerman
1413 14th Ave, 206-325-7000, 7:30pm

NEW ORLEANS: Ham Carson Quintet
114 First Ave S, 206-622-2563, 7:00pm

THAIKU: Jon Alberts, Jeff Johnson, Tad Britton
5410 Ballard Ave NW, 8:30pm

LUCID: The Hang with The Teaching
5241 University Ave NE, 206-402-3042, 9:00pm

BOXLEY’S: Katie Bourne Duo
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, WA, 425-292-9307, 7:00pm

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7:00pm: Eco Quartet / 9pm: Alicia Healey and Susan Harper’s Acoustic Conspiracy
1707 NW Market St, 789-1621

BARCA: Clark Gibson Trio
1510 11th Avenue, Seattle, (206) 325-8263, 9:00pm

We remember and miss you.

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: “Yet What is Any Ocean” CD Release with Q.E.D. (Ben Thomas, Chris Stover and Alex Chadsey)
2214 2nd Ave, 206-443-4221, 7:30pm

JAZZ ALLEY: Ain’t Misbehavin’
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30pm

MARTIN’S ON MADISON: Bonnie Birch
1413 14th Ave, 206-325-7000, 7:30pm

NEW ORLEANS: The Legacy Band with Clarence Acox
114 First Ave S, 206-622-2563, 7:00pm

THAIKU: Ron Weinstein Trio
5410 Ballard Ave NW, 8:30pm

BOXLEY’S: Randy Halberstadt and Gail Pettis
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, WA, 425-292-9307, 7:00pm

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE: 7pm: Vocal Jam hosted by Charles Key; 9pm: Vocal Showcase featuring Emily McVicker and Penolope Donado
1707 NW Market St, 206-789-1621

LUCID: Rochelle House & Evan Flory-Barnes
5241 University Ave NE, Seattle, 206-402-3042, 8:30pm

Drummer Matt Jorgensen is in Denver this week for the opening of Dale Chisman In Retrospect an exhibition of paintings by the noted Denver abstractionist. Jorgensen’s recent recording, Tattooed by Passion, is based on the paintings of Chisman, who is his wife’s late-father.

The show starts this Thursday, with an opening reception at 6:00pm and runs through February 27 at RedLine (2350 Arapahoe Street, Denver).

Jorgensen will be interviewed on KUVO 89.3fm radio Wednesday afternoon (1:20pm Denver time, 12:20pm Seattle time) talking about his recent recording and the opening at RedLine. (You should be able to listen to the interview online on KUVO’s website).

This past week has also seen a surge in airplay of Jorgensen’s Tattooed by Passion CD. It currently sits at #30 on the JazzWeek Radio Chart, up from #70 last week.

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Emerald City Jazz Orchestra
2214 2nd Ave, 206-443-4221, 7:30pm

JAZZ ALLEY: Ain’t Misbehavin’
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30pm

MARTIN’S ON MADISON: Karin Kajita
1413 14th Ave, 206-325-7000, 7:30pm

MIX: Don Mock & Steve Kim … and it is Ryan Burns’ Birthday Party!
6006 12th Ave South, 206-767-0280, 9:00pm

NEW ORLEANS: Holotradband
114 First Ave S, 206-622-2563, 7:00pm

OWL ‘N THISTLE: Jam w/ Eric Verlinde & Jose Martinez
808 Post Ave, 206-621-7777, 10:00pm

BOXLEY’S: Future Jazz Heads
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, WA, 425-292-9307, 7:00pm

SEAMONSTER LOUNGE: McTuff Trio
2202 N 45th St, 206-633-1824, 10:00pm

THE CHAPEL: Gretta Harley
Good Shepherd Center, 4649 Sunnyside Ave N

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Hal Sherman and the BCC Jazz Orchestra
2214 2nd Ave, 206-443-4221, 7:30pm

NEW ORLEANS: New Orleans Quintet
114 First Ave S, 206-622-2563, 7:00pm

AMORE: Ronnie Pierce Jazz Ensemble
2301 5th Ave, 206-770-0606, 7:30pm

EL GAUCHO BELLEVUE: Primo Kim
555 110th Ave NE, Bellevue, 425-455-2734, 6:00pm

MARTIN’S ON MADISON: Howard Dixon
1413 14th Ave, 206-325-7000, 7:30pm

BOXLEY’S: Chris Stevens
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, WA, 425-292-9307, 7:00pm

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB:
3pm – Jazz Police Big Band
8pm – Jim Cutler Jazz Orchestra
2214 2nd Ave, 206-443-4221, 7:30pm

JAZZ ALLEY: Pearl Django with Special Guest Martin Tayl
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729

BOXLEY’S: Danny Kolke Trio
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, WA, 425-292-9307, 7:00pm

BAKE’S PLACE:
10am – Sunday Breakfast w/ Michael Gotz
4135 Providence Point Dr SE, Issaquah, 425-391-3335

CAFE RACER: Racer Sessions
5828 Roosevelt Way NE, 8pm

DARRELL’S TAVERN: Jam w/ Kevin McCarthy
18041 Aurora Ave N, Shoreline, 8pm

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Greta Matassa Quartet
2214 2nd Ave, 206-443-4221, 7:30pm

JAZZ ALLEY: Pearl Django with Special Guest Martin Taylor
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30 & 10:00pm

BOXLEY’S: Carolyn Graye Quartet
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, WA, 425-292-9307, 7:00pm

LUCID: Sambatuque
5241 University Ave NE, Seattle, (206) 402-3042, 9:00pm

SERAFINA: Leo Raymundo Quartet with Sue Nixon
2043 Eastlake Ave E, 323-0807, 9pm

THE CHAPEL: Sounds Outside Benefit
Good Shepherd Center, 4649 Sunnyside Ave N

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm-Jose Gonzales Trio
1707 NW Market St, 789-1621

LAKESIDE BISTRO: call venue
11425 Rainier Avenue South, Seattle, (206) 772-6891

BAKE’S PLACE: call venue
4135 Providence Point Dr. SE Issaquah, (425) 391-3335, 7:30pm

from Jim Wilke:

There’s an amazing amount of activity in the jazz world this week…. the JEN conference (successor to IAJE) is this week in New Orleans, the APAP presenters conference is happening in New York City and both are chock full of artists’ showcases and presentations and concerts, stirring up more interest and involvement in Jazz.

Add to this the NEA Jazz Masters Awards Tuesday night in New York (already sold out) and you have a lot of positive energy in the jazz world over the next several days. NEA Jazz Masters Awards recipients this year are Hubert Laws, David Liebman, Johnny Mandel, and the Marsalis Family (!), all of whom will have features with the LCJO. Record producer Orin Keepnews will receive the Jazz Advocacy Award.

Roberta Gambarini will pay tribute to some of those greats who passed in the last year, notably Hank Jones and James Moody (who were both close personal friends of hers) and Abbey Lincoln and Dr.Billy Taylor. Although not yet quite prime time enough for CBS, NBC, ABC or PBS, the Awards event will be video streamed live on Tuesday @ 4:30 PM (Pacific) (7:30 Eastern) through arts.gov. Live audio will be available on WBGO/wbgo.org, Sirius XM Ch.70 and npr.org/music.

Yesterday, I had a nice phone conversation with one of the NEA Jazz Masters recipients, the saxophonist Dave Liebman, who at 64 is one of the first of his generation to be so honored. He’s one of the hardest working guys in the biz; small groups, recording, touring, teaching, composing, big bands, workshops, etc, etc. There were major feature articles on Lieb in the December JazzTimes and January DownBeat. A veteran of Miles Davis, Lookout Farm, Quest, Saxophone Summit, fusion, bop, post bop, numerous bands of his own, he’s in New Orleans this weekend for the JEN, and also playing a gig at Snug Harbor … he’s an amazing dynamo. It’s an honor to have him as guest on Jazz After Hours in the 1 AM hour Saturday night/Sunday morning.

I think April was supposed to Jazz Appreciation Month, but January is looking pretty good, too!

Jim Wilke
Jazz After Hours, PRI
http://jazzafterhours.org

Guitarist Chris Spencer has also been making a name for himself as a studio owner and recording engineer. We got an email from him announcing the remodel of his studio and offering a special Winter Rate. Read below.

Over the past 18 months I’ve been working on a remodel of my recording studio space, Sofia Hat Studios, resulting in a larger, more comfortable place to record. We can accommodate sessions up to half a dozen musicians and work either isolated or in the same open space. In addition, we are very pleased to announce the addition of a fine grand piano, a Fandrich 6’ 8”. Darrell Fandrich is a local technician who is known for his innovative techniques and gorgeous sounding instruments and we feel very fortunate to have one in our space.

We have also made more of an investment on our gear, a larger selection of microphones, preamps, and converters; all the important things to make better sounding recordings. You can find a complete list of all our gear on through the link below.

As I have slowly put my space back together, reorganized and refitted, I decided to redesign my studio website, adding more content, demo material and conveniences such as online booking. At your convenience please have a look and spread the word to any friends, students, and coworkers who might be interested.

Also, I’d like to offer you a $5/hr break on the session rates good through March 21. That’s $35/hr, so a typical 4 hour session would come in less than $150. Just mention this email or the “winter special rate”. Thanks for taking a look and hope to see you soon.

Thanks and Happy New Year,
Chris Spencer
Website: http://www.sophiahatstudio.com

The Seattle Times has published their list of the Top 10 Jazz CDs of 2010. Actually, they reprinted The Chicago Tribune’s Howard Reich’s list of top jazz CDs.

Is it too much to ask that Seattle’s only daily newspaper actually hire a jazz writer to write a story that has some sort of relevance to community in which they are based?

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Katie King Quartet
2214 2nd Ave, 206-443-4221, 7:30pm

JAZZ ALLEY: Pearl Django with Special Guest Martin Taylor
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30 & 10:00pm

NEW ORLEANS: Brent Jensen Quartet
114 First Ave S, 206-622-2563, 8:00pm

LATONA PUB: Phil Sparks Trio
6423 Latona Avenue NE, 5:00 – 7:00pm, No Cover, 21+

AMORE: Lonnie Williams
2301 5th Ave, (206) 770-0606

BOXLEY’S: Milo Peterson Trio
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, WA, 425-292-9307, 7:00pm

BAKE’S PLACE: Greta Matassa and Jovon Miller
4135 Providence Point Dr. SE Issaquah, (425) 391-3335, 7:30pm

LUCID: Leif Totusek, Johnny Conga, Derek Learned and friends
5241 University Ave NE, Seattle, (206) 402-3042, 9:00pm

HIROSHI’S: Clark Gibson Trio
2501 Eastlake Ave E, 726-4966

SERAFINA: Djangomatics
2043 Eastlake Ave E, 323-0807, 9pm

LAKESIDE BISTRO: Trish Hatley and Hans Bremer
11425 Rainier Avenue South, Seattle, (206) 772-6891

Earshot’s John Gilbreath lands at #17 of CityArts magazine’s list of Seattle’s top culture makers. He is in between The Seattle Channel’s Nancy Guppy and Pacific Northwest Ballett’s Artistic Director Peter Boal … fine company indeed.

from CityArts:

17 John Gilbreath
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, EARSHOT JAZZ
John Gilbreath says his to-do list is a block and a half long, and it’s easy to see why. Earshot produces nearly a hundred performances each year, including a monthly concert series at the Seattle Art Museum and the renowned annual Earshot Jazz Festival, which Gilbreath has grown from a three-day to a three-week event. The longtime host for KEXP’s Jazz Theater, he’s also given prominent airtime on KBCS, where his show The Caravan, which showcases world music that has roots in jazz, airs every weekday. He also serves on the board of directors for the Western Jazz Presenters Network and the new Seattle JazzED program and sculpts when he, ahem, carves out enough free time.

from Jim Wilke’s Jazz After Hours Best of 2010 List:

Each year I publish a list of jazz CDs issued in the past year that I found most interesting and enjoyable. The list is selected from among the thousand or so CDs received in an average year. It also represents music that I have played frequently on Jazz After Hours and Jazz Northwest. The Best NW category zeros in on musicians in our area but only as a point of reference. Musically, their CDs could just as well be in the national categories.

Gail Pettis – Here In the Moment – Origin
Hadley Caliman – Straight Ahead – Origin
Nelda Swiggett – This Time – OA2
Wellstone Conspiracy – Motives – Origin
Karin Plato – Out of Town – KVP
Dave Peck – Modern Romance – Let’s Play Stella
Ziggurat Quartet – Calculated Gesture – Origin
Cory Weeds – The Many Deeds of – Cellar Live
Matt Jorgensen – Tattooed by Passion – Origin
Hadley Caliman/Pete Christlieb – Reunion – Origin
Randy Halberstadt – Flash Point – Origin
Thomas Marriott – Constraints & Liberations – Origin
Greta Matassa & Clipper Anderson – And To All A Good Night – Origin

Click hereJazz After Hours Best of 2010 List to read Jim’s complete list.