Seattle Jazz Scene

Fri., Jan. 7, noon – 1 p.m.
City Hall

Assistant Conductor Eric Garcia will lead the Seattle Symphony Orchestra and guest bassoon soloist Andrew Brady in a free concert at City Hall. This special performance is part of Seattle Symphony’s ACCESS Project (Artistic and Cultural Community Engagement with Seattle Symphony), which is dedicated to bringing classical music to communities throughout the region, especially to underserved areas.

After the concert, audience members are invited to mingle with symphony members at a post-performance reception in City Hall’s Bertha Knight Landes Room.

from OneWorkingMusisican.com

The year-end lists are flooding in, and the jazz blogosphere is replete with best-of’s. I know I’m a little late to the party, but as I did last year, I thought I would put my own spin on this yearly ritual and shine the spotlight on the amazing jazz talent we have right here in the Emerald City.

There were many more than 10 great CD’s released by Seattle jazz artists in 2010, so I couldn’t put everyone on this list. I’m sure there’s one or two I’ve forgotten, so please feel free to add yours in the comments section. I reserve the right to amend this list as I’m reminded of the other great CD’s that came out of Seattle this year.

Here they are, in no particular order:

Matt Jorgensen – Tattooed By Passion (Origin Records)
Andy Clausen Sextet – Follow (self-produced)
Jovino Santos Neto – Veja o Som – See The Sound (Adventure Music)
Chad McCullough & Michal Vanoucek – The Sky Cries (Origin Records)
Dave Anderson Quartet – Clarity (Pony Boy Records)
Hadley Caliman – Straight Ahead (Origin Records)
Owcharuk 5 – Kobzar (Broken Time Records)
Wellstone Conspiracy – Motives (Origin Records)
Whitney James – The Nature Of Love (Damselfly Productions)
Thomas Marriott & Ray Vega – East-West Trumpet Summit (Origin Records)

Click here to read Jason’s complete list with descriptions of each CD and to hear sound samples.

Seattle Jazz Scene would also like to make mention of Jason’s last part of his post:

I’d like to point out that I purchased each and every one of these CD’s. None were sent to me free of charge and I was happy to give my support to these great musicians. I hope you’ll consider doing the same.

Well done!

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Smith/Staelens Big Band
2214 2nd Ave, 206-443-4221, 7:30pm

JAZZ ALLEY: Pearl Django with Special Guest Martin Taylor
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: Chris Morton
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, WA, 425-292-9307, 7:00pm

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE: 7pm: Jon Sheckler Group
1707 NW Market St, 206-789-1621

LUCID: Elnah Jordan & Eric Verlinde
5241 University Ave NE, Seattle, 206-402-3042, 8:30pm

Pacific Jazz Institute at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley presents gypsy jazz artists Pearl Django with special guest guitarist Martin Taylor for six nights. Band members include Troy Chapman (guitar), and Ryan Hoffman (Guitar), Rick Leppanen (bass), Michael Gray (violin), David Lange (accordion) and Martin Taylor (guitar). Set times are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday at 7:30pm. Set times Friday and Saturday at 7:30pm and 9:30pm. Doors open at 6:00 pm on Tuesday and 5:30 pm Wednesday through Sunday.

Entering their sixteenth year of performing Pearl Django continues to be one of America’s most respected and busiest Hot Club style groups. Though still strongly influenced by the music of Django Reinhardt, Pearl Django’s repertoire now includes many original compositions. Their music reaches out across the divides of taste to a wide variety of audiences. The band’s fervent followers include Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli fans, guitar enthusiasts, lovers of string music, including bluegrass devotees, who relish nimble, clean, intricate picking, “world music” fans drawn to French and Gypsy accents, plus jazz buffs and aficionados of the new swing music. Transcending simple categorization, Pearl Django packs in enthusiastic audiences at dancehalls and nightclubs, at folk music festivals and jazz festivals alike.

JANUARY 4 – 9
JAZZ ALLEY
2033 6th Avenue
Seattle WA 98121
Reservations: 206.441.9729

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

TRIPLE DOOR MUSICQUARIUM: Gravity
216 Union St, 206-838-4333, 9:00pm

JAZZ ALLEY: Pearl Django with Special Guest Martin Taylor
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
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

from The New York Times:

As another holiday season under a stagnating economy draws to a close, it is hardly surprising that San Francisco would lose that rarely profitable of ventures, a jazz room.

But Coda, a bar, restaurant and club in the Mission District, did not seem like it was going under. In just a year and a half, it had established itself as one of the most interesting jazz-based schedules in the Bay Area. Acts like the Jazz Mafia tapped into a vibrant younger music scene, and salsa Sunday bookings and Latin jazz nights sold out. Stevie Wonder dropped by for a set; Liz Phair covered Velvet Underground songs.

Two weeks ago Bruce Hanson, the club’s owner, shocked staff members and promoters with the news that Coda would close after a New Year’s Eve blowout featuring Rayband and 8 Legged Monster.

Mr. Hanson blamed poor economic timing, not the business model or the musical genre. “Maybe if we opened today, we’d make it,” he said.

Continue reading at The New York Times.

Bassist and composer Charles Fambrough passed away on New Year’s Day at his home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

During his nearly 40 year professional career, Fambrough performed and recorded with numerous bands, most famously Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers and the Wynton Marsalis Quintet, as well as Grover Washington, Jr., McCoy Tyner, Freddie Hubbard, Airto Moreira, Shirley Scott, and Rahsaan Roland Kirk to name only a few. At the time of his death, he led his band Charles Fambrough’s All Star Group.

On New Year’s Eve, Jim Wilke broadcast “Auld Lang Syne,” “Webb City” and “One By One” by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers recorded live at the old University Avenue Jazz Alley which featured Fambrough along with Wynton and Branford Marsalis.

For more information, visit this thread at JazzCornerTalk.com.

Charles Fambrough with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers:

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Vocal Jam hosted by Greta Matassa
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

POGGIE TAVERN: Better World w/ Marc Smason & Joanne Klein
4717 California Ave SW, 206-973-2165, 8:30pm

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

BOXLEY’S: Blues with Paul Green + Danny Kolke
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, WA, 425-292-9307, 7:00pm

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB:
3pm – Reggie Goings Jazz Offering
8pm – Jacob Zimmerman quartet
2214 2nd Ave, 206-443-4221, 7:30pm

JAZZ ALLEY: Happy New Year!
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

LUCID: Seattle Musicians Foundation meeting
5241 University Ave NE, Seattle, (206) 402-3042, 3:00pm

BOXLEY’S: John Hansen w/ Kelley Johnson
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, WA, 425-292-9307, 7:00pm

LUCID: Fabulous Party Boys
5241 University Ave NE, Seattle, (206) 402-3042, 9:30pm

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Happy New Year!
2214 2nd Ave, 206-443-4221

JAZZ ALLEY: Happy New Year!
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729

BAKE’S PLACE: Happy New Year!
4135 Providence Point Dr. SE Issaquah, (425) 391-3335, 7:30pm

SERAFINA: Happy New Year!
2043 Eastlake Ave E, 323-0807, 9pm

LAKESIDE BISTRO: Happy New Year!
11425 Rainier Avenue South, Seattle, (206) 772-6891

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE: Happy New Year!
1707 NW Market St, 789-1621