Seattle Jazz Scene

FRIDAY, MAY 16 – 8:30pm
WHITNEY JAMES
MARRIOTT HARPER, INC

THE ROYAL ROOM
5000 Rainier Ave South
Seattle

Whitney James
Whitney James & Company with Bill Anschell on piano, Geoff Harper on bass, D’Vonne Lewis on drums, LaRue Nickeslon on guitar, Jeremy Powell on tenor saxophone.
For their show at The Royal Room James will be presenting some classic jazz standards along with what she calls “new standards” modern popular music that has been flipped on its head, reharmonized and jazz-i-fied. Join us for a truly inspiring and energetic evening of jazz with this new voice in jazz music.

Vocalist Whitney James studied musical theater and opera before falling in love with jazz at a young age, and her theatrical background has served her well. James was born in Chicago but grew up in Los Gatos, CA and moved to Seattle to attend Cornish College of the Arts where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Music. Her debut CD The Nature of Love spent 16 weeks on the National Jazz Charts and received critical acclaim from US and International Jazz Press. In 2012, Whitney was one of thirteen jazz musicians heralded as “Legends in the Making” and was featured on Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz: Rising Stars on NPR radio hosted by Jon Weber. To hear Whitney sing and read more about her, visit www.whitneyjames.com .

Marriot Harper Inc.
Marriot Harper Inc. opens the night, with Tom Marriott on trumpet, Geoff Harper on bass, Steve Moore on keys/trombone and Mike Stone on drums.

The Dave Peck Trio plays Tula’s Jazz Club this weekend, May 16-17. For reservations, call (206) 443-4221

from The Seattle Times:

Of the many distinctive jazz musicians who came up on Seattle’s fertile 1980s scene, pianist Dave Peck — who’s got two nights at Tula’s Friday and Saturday, May 16-17 — has distinguished himself by continually refining his craft.

Firmly ensconced in the lyrical school running from Bill Evans to Keith Jarrett — and sharing their technical mastery, which makes lickety-split execution seem effortless — Peck plays pretty and swings, too, digging deeply for the sweetest notes and coming back up with surging, honest emotions.

Peck grew up in Oregon, but came into his own here, where for many years he taught at the Cornish College for Arts. He is one of the few musicians from the Emerald City to have appeared on “Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz,” where he impressed the great hostess — no pushover — enough that she praised his “great musicality” and “sensitive touch.”

Peck worked as a sideman for a long time, most notably with the late saxophonist Bud Shank, who once put on a whole concert and then recorded an album devoted to Peck’s considerably attractive compositions, work that tends to highlight the pastoral nature of our surroundings here in the Northwest.

Continue reading at The Seattle Times

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Fred Hoadley’s Sonando
2214 Second Avenue, 206-443-4221, 7:30pm

JAZZ ALLEY: The Family Stone
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30pm

ROYAL ROOM: Third Thursday Twang w/ The 1 Uppers
5000 Rainier Ave S, Seattle, (206) 906-9920, 8:00pm

BARCA: Adam Kessler / Phil Sparks Trio
1510 11th Avenue, Seattle, (206) 325-8263, 9:00pm

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

VITO’S: 5:30pm: Casey MacGill; 9:00pm: Julie Cascioppo
927 9th Ave, Seattle, 206-682-2695, 5:30pm

BLUE MOON: Blue Moon session w/ Dave Abramson
712 NE 45th St, 206-675-9116, 4:30pm

PINK DOOR: Greg Ruby Trio
1919 Post Alley, Seattle, 206-443-3241, 8:00pm

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Carolyn Graye student showcase
9pm – Blue Hawaiian with Nikki Dee (vocals), Mack Grout (piano), Matt Wexler (bass) and Tim Tacket Brown (drums)
1707 NW Market Street, Seattle, (206) 789-1621

BAKE’S PLACE: Gotz/Lowe Duo
155 108th Ave NE, Bellevue, 425-454-2776, 6:00pm

THE CHAPEL: Clarinet/Harp Quintet w/ Beth Fleenor, Paul Hoskin, Jenny Ziefel, Carol Levin, Monica Schley
Good Shepherd Center, 4649 Sunnyside Ave N, Seattle, 8:00pm
from Earshot Jazz: The five members of this quintet come from very different backgrounds: classically trained, jazz schooled, refusal of any. The common devotion is to one of spontaneously composed sonic creations. What we play displays an understanding of music in all its depths and surfaces, writes contrabass clarinetist Paul Hoskin, performing on the bill. For harpist Carol Levin it’s an extension on recent work at Amsterdam’s Dutch Impro Academy. She performs on both electric and acoustic harp with effects. Three clarinets (Beth Fleenor, Jenny Ziefel, Paul Hoskin) and two harps (Carol Levin, Monica Schley) create this improvised music night at the Chapel Performance Space. Admission is $5-$15, sliding scale.

THE CHAPEL: Burn List & Mount Eerie
Good Shepherd Center, 4649 Sunnyside Ave N, Seattle, 8:00pm

JAZZ ALLEY: The Headhunters
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30pm

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Jim Sisko’s Bellevue College Big Band
2214 2nd Ave, 206-443-4221, 7:30pm

VITOS: Michael Owcharuk Trio
927 9th Ave, Seattle, 9:00pm

SHIP CANAL: Jay Thomas Jam Session
3218 Eastlake Avenue East, Seattle, 206-588-8885, 7:30pm

SEAMONSTER LOUNGE: Adrian Xavier All Star Reggae
2202 N 45th St, (206) 992-1120, 10:00pm

BOXLEY’S: 5:00pm: Future Jazz Heads; 7:00pm: Jazz Heads
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, WA, 425-292-9307

THE PINK DOOR: Casey MacGill Trio
1919 Post Alley, Seattle, 8:00pm

BAKE’S PLACE: Gotz/Lowe Duo
155 108th Ave NE, Bellevue, 425.454.2776, 6:00pm

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Vocal Showcase featuring Cara Francis, Leah Stillwell and Kathleen Donnelly
9pm – Vocal Jam hosted by Julie Olson
1707 NW Market Street, Seattle, (206) 789-1621

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

JAZZ ALLEY: The Headhunters
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30pm

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

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

SEAMONSTER LOUNGE: McTuff Trio
2202 N 45th St, (206) 992-1120, 10:00pm

THE PINK DOOR: Casey MacGill Trio
1919 Post Alley, Seattle, 8:00pm

BAKE’S PLACE: Gotz / Lowe Duo
155 108th Ave NE, Bellevue WA 98004, 425.454.2776, 7:00pm

OUTWEST BAR: Tutu Combo w/ Don Berman
5401 California Ave SW, West Seattle, 206-937-1540, 8:00pm

Burn List CD Release Show
Wednesday, May 14

Good Shepherd Center
4649 Sunnyside Ave. N.
206-679-6576.

$10 ($20 with CD).
7:30 p.m. All ages.

from The Seattle Weekly:

When many people hear the word “jazz,” they grumble. As Spinal Tap’s David St. Hubbins said in a recent interview, “Jazz is mistakes. You’re playing a song, but you are playing it wrong . . . [It’s] an accident waiting to happen.” Hubbins’ expert analysis be damned, Seattle’s jazz musicians have been playing all the right wrong notes of late, pushing the genre into uncharted territory by mashing its traditional forms with far-flung influences. Table & Chairs, a local jazz label founded by grads of UW’s excellent School of Music, purposefully signs artists with academic jazz knowledge who willingly skewer their work with all sorts of left-field weirdness that might make the seemingly unapproachable genre more fun and palatable for rock fans.

Take Burn List, the latest Table & Chairs signees. Something of a jazz supergroup, it brings together influential and celebrated trumpeter Cuong Vu, who has played with Laurie Anderson and David Bowie; Aaron Otheim, a keyboardist who also cuts his chops in an “experimental” band named Uncle Pooch; Chris Icasiano, an incredible, fluid percussionist who lends his talents to Table & Chairs’ flagship drum-assault band King Tears Bat Trip; and saxophonist Greg Sinibaldi, who plays with local manic indie band Heatwarmer. The result is a spooky, Lynchian noir sound that swirls in movements alternating between smooth, crisp grooves and maniacal breakdowns—a self-described intersection of “Ligeti to Albert Ayler to Aphex Twin to Meshuggah.”

Continue reading at The Seattle Weekly.

Earshot Jazz, Seattle’s non-profit jazz support organization, has scheduled a series of summer concerts for June 26, 27, & 28, at 8 pm, in Seattle Art Museum’s Plestcheeff Auditorium. The series features established and emerging artists, with international acclaim and Seattle relevance, in three separately themed evenings. Appearing are the Ambrose Akinmusire Quintet on a bill with Darius Jones featuring Tarbaby, former Seattleites-now-in-New York Human Feel with The Westerlies, and Icelandic pianist Sunna Gunnlaugs and her trio sharing an evening with Seattle’s Dawn Clement Trio.

On Thursday, June 26, rising-star jazz trumpeter/composer Ambrose Akinmusire returns to the Earshot stage with his quintet of tenor saxophonist Walter Smith III, pianist Sam Harris, bassist Harish Raghavan, and drummer Justin Brown. The Oakland native’s second Blue Note record, the imagined savior is far easier to paint, has received wide critical acclaim and significant international awards. Sharing the night is the Brooklyn-based avant-garde saxophonist Darius Jones with the raucous piano trio Tarbaby, made up of Grammy Award-winning bassist/composer Eric Revis, acclaimed pianist Orrin Evans, and renowned drummer Nasheet Waits. {buy tickets}

Friday night, June 27, features two ensembles forged in Seattle jazz education, 20 years apart, and now integral to the jazz Mecca of New York and beyond. Combining elements of chamber music, alternative rock, and free jazz, the group Human Feel is comprised of Chris Speed and Andrew D’Angelo on saxophones, who, with drummer Jim Black, left the Seattle jazz scene for Boston in the early 1990’s and teamed up with guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel. Kicking off the evening is the brilliant chamber-jazz brass quartet, The Westerlies. Trumpeters Riley Mulherkar and Zubin Hensler, and trombonists Willem de Koch and Andy Clausen are all recent graduates of Seattle’s Garfield and Roosevelt high schools,, whose recent national acclaim includes a full-page Jazz Times rave by NY Times critic, Nate Chenin. Their debut album, Wish the Children Would Come On Home: The Music of Wayne Horvitz, is set to release May 13 on Canada’s Songlines Recordings. {buy tickets}

Two remarkable, women-led ensembles round out the series on Saturday, June 28. Sunna Gunnlaugs is a compelling Icelandic jazz pianist whose spare, lyrical playing is informed by American artists like Keith Jarrett and Bill Evans, as well as Scandinavian pianists like Bobo Stenson and Jon Balke. Her trio mates are Icelandic bassist Thorgrimur Jónsson and American drummer Scott McLemore. Pianist/vocalist/composer Dawn Clement is a faculty member at Cornish College of the Arts, and has emerged as one of the Northwest’s premiere jazz artists in recent years. Here, she explores new compositions from her fourth release, Tempest Cobalt, with a trio of Byron Vannoy on drums and Geoff Harper on bass. {buy tickets}

Tickets for the concert run from $18-24 general admission. Discounts are available for Earshot members, senior citizens and students. Tickets are available through Brown Paper Tickets at brownpapertickets.com or 1-800-838-3006.

For more information, contact Earshot Jazz at 206-547-6763 or go online to www.earshot.org.

From The Seattle Times:

Seattle-area high school jazz bands fared less well than usual at the Essentially Ellington competition Saturday in New York.

None of the bands — Garfield, Roosevelt or Mount Si — made it into the top three, though Garfield received an honorable mention.

Since 1999, when the competition opened to schools west of the Mississippi, Garfield has won first place four times, Roosevelt three times, and both bands are used to turning up somewhere in the top three.

This year, the Tucson Jazz Institute, from Arizona, placed first; Jazz House Kids, from Montclair, N.J., second; and Dillard Center for the Arts, from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., third.

Band directors from Garfield and Roosevelt noted the top three are arts magnet schools or community schools. Garfield and Roosevelt have bested such schools in the past, but there are more of them now.

Continue reading at The Seattle Times.

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: David Marriott Big Band
2214 Second Ave, 206-443-4221, 7:30pm

THE ROYAL ROOM: Steve O’Brien’s Decomposers; Newaxeyes
5000 Rainier Ave South, Seattle, 206-906-9920

BOXLEY’S: 5:00pm: MSHS Vocal Jazz Clinic; 7:00pm: CKMS Jazz Bands
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, WA, 425-292-9307

BLUE MOON: Andy Coe Band
712 NE 45th St, Seattle, 206-675-9116, 10:00pm

THURSTON’S BISTRO: Marc Smason Trio w/ Bruce Barnard & Lamar Lofton
6421 Latona NE, Seattle, 9:30pm

CAPITOL CIDER: Entre Mundos jam w/ Ernesto Pediangco
818 E Pike St, 9:00pm

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Peter Daniel Quartet
2214 Second Avenue, 206-443-4221, 7:30pm

JAZZ ALLEY: Kenny G
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30 & 10:00pm

ROYAL ROOM: Ranger and the Re-Arrangers
5000 Rainier Ave South, Seattle, 8:00pm

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

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

SERAFINA: John Sanders & Sue Nixon
2043 Eastlake Ave E, 206-323-0807, 9:00pm

DUOS LOUNGE: Jeff Ferguson’s Triangular Jazztet
2940 SW Avalon Way, 206-452-2452, 7:30pm

GRAZIE: Edward Paul Trio
23207 Bothell-Everett Hwy, Bothell, 425-402-9600, 7:00pm

VITO’S: Jovino Santos Neto
927 9th Ave, Seattle, 206-682-2695, 8:00pm

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE: Piaf Rising
1707 NW Market Street, Seattle, (206) 789-1621, 7:00pm

DARRELL’S TAVERN: Crack Sabbath
18041 Aurora Ave N, Shoreline, 206-542-6688, 9:00pm

by Michael Gebhart

The sixth annual Improvised Music Project festival promises to be an incredible mix of jazz, free improvisation, and forward thinking pop music. As always, the festival pairs world class musicians with UW jazz students to create a diverse, energy-filled festival. This year, Bill Frisell, Ted Poor , and Cuong Vu will play every night of the festival. Joining them on separate nights will be Holly Palmer, (LA based singer-songwriter), Pete Rende (NYC based keyboardist), Ben Street (NYC Bassist), and the legendary drummer and composer Billy Hart.

Night one of the festival features the music of Holly Palmer. The first set will be her original songs arranged and performed by UW students accompanying Holly. Her music is soulful, providing melodies and accompaniment that reveals a meticulous attention to sound and timbre. The headlining set that night will feature Holly with Bill Frisell, Cuong Vu, Pete Rende, and Ted Poor.

Saturday’s show will highlight the diverse music of Pete Rende. First, he will play with UW students in what will be an exciting, yet sensitive set of music. Headlining that night will be the highly explosive, newly formed Poor/Rende/Vu trio with Bill Frisell as special guest. Their music draws inspiration from delta blues, folk, swing and hardcore free improvisation.

Sunday’s finale presents the deep connection of bassist Ben Street and drummer Billy Hart. These musicians comprise half of the Billy Hart quartet, a group that brings together two generations of jazz innovation, tradition and emotive compositions. The night will feature three acts, the first two being students with Street and Hart separately. The night and festival culminates with a never before heard trio of Ben Street, Billy Hart and Bill Frisell. While having played together in various other projects, this will be a truly amazing peformance brought to you by jazz masters that transcend instrument and genre.

When: May 9-11, 7:30 P.M.
Where: Floyd and Delores Jones Playhouse, 4045 University Way NE
Tickets: $10 Public, available through Brown Paper Tickets
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/663617
Free for UW students with Student ID

JAZZ ALLEY: Lao Tizer featuring Karen Briggs and Chieli Minucci
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30pm

TRIPLE DOOR MAINSTAGE: Cassandra Wilson
216 Union Street, Seattle, 206-838-4333, 7:00pm

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

THE ROYAL ROOM: Seattle Jazz Composers Ensemble 5th Anniversary
5000 Rainier Ave S, Seattle, (206) 906-9920, 8:00pm
from Earshot Jazz: The Seattle Jazz Composers Ensemble celebrates 5 years of community events and collaborations with an anniversary party at the Royal Room. The first set will feature music from SJCE’s collection of original works, commissioned throughout the life of the ensemble. The second set will be a reading of new tunes by SJCE contributing composers. In the band: Beth Fleenor (clarinet), Samantha Boshnack (trumpet), Kate Olson, Brian Bermudez, Chris Credit (woodwinds), Michael Owcharuk (piano), Tim Carey (bass), and Kyle Doran (drums). Admission is all ages, pay what you can, at the Royal Room, May 7, 8pm.

VITOS: Brad Gibson Quartet
927 9th Ave, Seattle, 9:00pm

SHIP CANAL: Jay Thomas Jam Session
3218 Eastlake Avenue East, Seattle, 206-588-8885, 7:30pm

SEAMONSTER LOUNGE: Scott Pemberton Band
2202 N 45th St, (206) 992-1120, 10:00pm

BOXLEY’S: 5:00pm: Future Jazz Heads; 7:00pm: Jazz Heads
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, WA, 425-292-9307

THE PINK DOOR: Casey MacGill Trio
1919 Post Alley, Seattle, 8:00pm

BAKE’S PLACE: Gotz/Lowe Duo
155 108th Ave NE, Bellevue, 425.454.2776, 6:00pm

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: The Jazz Underground
2214 Second Ave, 206-443-4221, 7:30pm

THE ROYAL ROOM: The Royal Room Collective Music Ensemble
5000 Rainier Ave South, Seattle, 206-906-9920

BOXLEY’S: 5:00pm: MSHS Vocal Jazz Clinic; 7:00pm: TFMS Jazz Bands
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, WA, 425-292-9307

BLUE MOON: Andy Coe Band
712 NE 45th St, Seattle, 206-675-9116, 10:00pm

THURSTON’S BISTRO: Marc Smason Trio w/ Bruce Barnard & Lamar Lofton
6421 Latona NE, Seattle, 9:30pm

CAPITOL CIDER: Entre Mundos jam w/ Ernesto Pediangco
818 E Pike St, 9:00pm

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Randy Halberstadt Quintet
2214 Second Avenue, 206-443-4221, 7:30pm

JAZZ ALLEY: Will Downing
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30 & 10:00pm

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

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

SERAFINA: Tim Kennedy
2043 Eastlake Ave E, 206-323-0807, 9:00pm

DUOS LOUNGE: Jeff Ferguson’s Triangular Jazztet
2940 SW Avalon Way, 206-452-2452, 7:30pm

GRAZIE: Andre Thomas and Quiet Fire
23207 Bothell-Everett Hwy, Bothell, 425-402-9600, 7:00pm

VITO’S: Joe Doria Trio
927 9th Ave, Seattle, 206-682-2695, 8:00pm

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Bill Watrous Quartet
2214 Second Avenue, 206-443-4221, 7:30pm

JAZZ ALLEY: Pearl Django with Special Guests Gail Pettis and Greta Matassa
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30pm

ROYAL ROOM: The Royal Ramble
5000 Rainier Ave S, Seattle, (206) 906-9920, 8:00pm

BARCA: Adam Kessler / Phil Sparks Trio
1510 11th Avenue, Seattle, (206) 325-8263, 9:00pm

BOXLEY’S: Dan Marcus and Michael Marcus
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, WA, 425-292-9307, 7:00pm

VITO’S: Casey MacGill
927 9th Ave, Seattle, 206-682-2695, 5:30pm

BLUE MOON: Blue Moon session w/ Dave Abramson
712 NE 45th St, 206-675-9116, 4:30pm

PINK DOOR: Greg Ruby Trio
1919 Post Alley, Seattle, 206-443-3241, 8:00pm

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Jacob Zimmerman Quintet
1707 NW Market Street, Seattle, (206) 789-1621

LUCID JAZZ LOUNGE: The Evanstones & Jason Goessl Trio
5241 University Ave NE, 206-402-3042, 9:00pm

BAKE’S PLACE: Gotz/Lowe Duo
155 108th Ave NE, Bellevue, 425-454-2776, 6:00pm

JAZZ ALLEY: Fred Hersch Trio
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30pm

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: North Sound Jazz Band
2214 2nd Ave, 206-443-4221, 7:30pm

VITOS: Wally Shoup Quartet
927 9th Ave, Seattle, 9:00pm

SHIP CANAL: Jay Thomas Jam Session
3218 Eastlake Avenue East, Seattle, 206-588-8885, 7:30pm

SEAMONSTER LOUNGE: Kareem Kandi Trio
2202 N 45th St, (206) 992-1120, 10:00pm

BOXLEY’S: 5:00pm: Future Jazz Heads; 7:00pm: Jazz Heads
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, WA, 425-292-9307

THE PINK DOOR: Casey MacGill Trio
1919 Post Alley, Seattle, 8:00pm

BAKE’S PLACE: Gotz/Lowe Duo
155 108th Ave NE, Bellevue, 425.454.2776, 6:00pm

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Cheri Adams
1707 NW Market Street, Seattle, (206) 789-1621

Sunday, May 4th at 6:30pm | Triple Door

The Teaching CD Release for ‘Birds In Flight’ and Post-GRAMMY® Celebration
with Visual Musician, Jessie Sawyers

Doors open at 5:00pm
Show starts at 6:30pm

$15 adv // $18 day of
$3 off children under 18
(All ages)

Triple Door
216 Union Street
Seattle, WA 98101

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Jim Knapp Orchestra
2214 Second Ave, 206-443-4221, 7:30pm

THE ROYAL ROOM: Frankly Monday: MetriLodic / Beth Fleenor: Workshop Ensemble
5000 Rainier Ave South, Seattle, 206-906-9920

BOXLEY’S: 5:00pm: MSHS Vocal Jazz Clinic; 7:00pm: Bellevue College Jazz Band & Combo
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, WA, 425-292-9307

BLUE MOON: Andy Coe Band
712 NE 45th St, Seattle, 206-675-9116, 10:00pm

TINY NINJA CAFE: Mo’ Jam Mondays w/ Morgan Gilkeson
3510 Stone Way, Seattle, 9:00pm

CAPITOL CIDER: Entre Mundos jam w/ Ernesto Pediangco
818 E Pike St, 9:00pm