Seattle Jazz Scene

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Chris McCarthy Trio with D’Vonne Lewis and Nate Parker
2214 Second Ave, 206-443-4221, 7:30pm

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

EL GAUCHO: Paul Richardson
2505 1st Ave, 6:00pm

PARATII: Paratii session w/ Jeff Busch
5463 Leary Ave NW, 206-420-7406, 9:00pm

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

WHITE RABBIT: Michael Shrieve’s Spellbinder
513 N 36th St Suite E, Seattle, 9:30pm

STILL LIQUOR: O’Brien & Kessler Trio w/ Nate Parker
1524 Minor Ave, Seattle, 9:00pm

ROYAL ROOM: Collective Music Ensemble
5000 Rainier Ave South, Seattle, 8:00PM

BOXLEY’S: 5:00pm: Mt. Si Vocal Workshop; 7:00pm: CCK Workshop
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, WA, 425-292-9307, 7:00pm

Thursday, January 10
TULA’S JAZZ CLUB
2214 2nd Ave
7:30pm
Reservations: 206-443-4221

from The Seattle Times:

Most parents discourage their children from going into the arts, but when Canadian saxophonist Cory Weeds graduated from high school, his father promised to pay his first year of tuition — if he went to music school.

“Usually, it’s the other way around,” says the 39-year-old jazz man, who’s playing at Tula’s Thursday.

But Weeds’ dad loved jazz and could see his son had talent.

“I think he had designs that I would become a band teacher,” says Weeds. “If he had known that later I would be going into business, he probably wouldn’t have paid.”

The business Weeds refers to is Vancouver, B.C.’s, longest-running venue devoted exclusively to jazz, the Cellar. But that’s just one of the hats this Renaissance jazz man wears. He has a thriving career as a touring musician, heads a record label and hosts his own radio show.

“Jazz is my life,” he says.

When Weeds started the Cellar 12 years ago, he was pretty sure it would spell the end of his playing career. But his two vocations turned out to be symbiotic. In 2003, through booking the club, he met Hammond B-3 organ master Dr. Lonnie Smith, and they wound up touring and recording together.

“The Doctor Is In” was recorded at Weeds’ club, on his label, Cellar Live. So in one fell swoop, Weeds was launched — as a musician, club owner and label head.

Continue reading at The Seattle Times.

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

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

HIROSHI’S: Jazz and Sushi
2501 Eastlake Ave E, 726-4966

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

VITO’S: Tim Kennedy Trio
927 9th Ave, Seattle, 206-682-2695, 9:00pm

ROYAL ROOM: Piano Royale
5000 Rainier Avenue South, Seattle, 8:00pm

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

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

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Analog Honking Device, featuring Cynthia Mullis (tenor sax), Brent Jensen (soprano sax), Chuck Deardorf (bass), John Bishop (drums)
1707 NW Market Street, Seattle, 206-789-1621

Pacific Jazz Institute at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley presents gypsy jazz artists Pearl Django in support of their new release Eleven. Joining Pearl Django will be special guest vocalist Connie Evingson. Band members include Troy Chapman (guitar), and Ryan Hoffman (Guitar), Rick Leppanen (bass), Michael Gray (violin), and David Lange (accordion). Set times Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday at 7:30pm, Friday and Saturday at 7:30pm and 9:30pm. Doors open at 6:00 pm Wednesday and 5:30pm all other nights.

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.

The newest release by Pearl Django, Eleven (2012), showcases an even further evolving sound than their earlier recordings. While Pearl Django wears their love of Django Reinhardt and Gypsy Jazz on their sleeves, they also display a unique ability to stretch the genre in new directions. Eleven features a majority of original compositions, including two by Martin Taylor, their special guest on this CD. All of the group’s members contribute compositions to the repertoire. Eleven also solidifies a change in group personnel as Pearl Django founder Neil Andersson leaves the rigors of life on the road to enjoy the life of a painter while the new disc is the first full album length collaboration between guitarists Ryan Hoffman and Troy Chapman. Released to critical acclaim in June 2012, Eleven made it to #2 on the “US Roots Chart” and had a solid ten week run in the Jazz Week Top 40. JazzTimes says of Eleven in its recent review that it “points to the charm, wit, swing and lyricism that await Pearl Django devotees and newcomers alike. Small wonder that Martin Taylor was happy to oblige.” And, that indeed, is the Gypsy swing or ‘hot club’ sound that’s made Pearl Django a worldwide favorite.

from The Seattle Times:

Easy Street Records, a mainstay of Seattle’s thriving popular music scene and one of the few record stores left in the city, is closing its Lower Queen Anne branch.

“They wanted a long-term lease,” said store owner Matt Vaughan of his landlord, Diamond Parking. “The rent that was being asked was significantly higher.”

Vaughan declined to say what the rent was or by what percentage it would go up. But for each of the past two years, the store has signed a one-year lease at a rent he says the store could afford. A new tenant — Chase Bank — agreed to the new terms. Easy Street’s last day of operation at its 20 Mercer Street location will be Jan. 18.

Easy Street has been on Queen Anne for 12 years. Its other store, which remains in West Seattle, has been there since 1988.

Vaughan said the Queen Anne store did good business in 2012 but that it could not absorb a rent increase.

“What’s happened to South Lake Union has impacted real estate in the surrounding area,” he said. “There’s a commercial real-estate boom happening here in Seattle and for guys like myself it becomes too difficult to consider being in locations like the one I have here.”

Continue reading at The Seattle Times.

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Pete Christlieb with Linda Small and Bill Ramsay: Hadley Caliman Tribute
2214 Second Avenue, 206-443-4221, 7:30pm

JAZZ ALLEY: Pearl Django with Special Guest Connie Evingson
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30pm & 9:30pm

THE CHAPEL: Analog Honking Device
Good Shepherd Center, 4649 Sunnyside Ave N, 8:00pm

LAKESIDE BISTRO: Lakeside Jam
11425 Rainier Ave S, 206-772-6891, 6:00pm

COPPER GATE: Jon Alberts, Jeff Johnson & Tad Britton
6301 24th Ave NW, 206-706-3292, 8:00pm

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

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

ROYAL ROOM: The Royal Ramble- Seattle’s All-Star Hootenanny Hosted by The Jelly Rollers
5000 Rainier Avenue South, 8:00pm

BAKE’S PLACE: Patricia Lee Allen
155 108th Ave NE, Bellevue, (425) 454-2776, 8:00pm

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Clausen-Strosahl Quintet, with Andy Clausen (trombone), Logan Strosahl (tenor sax), Mark Hunter (bass), Evan Woodle (drums) and Gus Carns (piano)
9pm – Harmelodics – The music of Ornette Coleman, with Xavier Del Castillo (tenor sax), Corey Dansereau (trumpet), Mat Muntz (bass) and Evan Woodle (drums)
1707 NW Market Street, Seattle, 206-789-1621

Cynthia Mullis’ new band, Analog Honking Device, debuts this Thursday and Friday performing music based on the modern jazz repertoire approached with a free and open, improvisatory, experimental aesthetic. As notes on her website, “Compositions are explored intuitively based what each band member brings to the table from their own musical experience. The result is a seat-of-the-pants musical adventure that veers between the inside and outside parameters of the jazz experience.”

Both shows feature fellow saxophonist Brent Jensen who is familiar to Seattle jazz fans from his recordings on Origin Records.

Thursday, January 3rd, 2013 at 8pm:
Cynthia Mullis, tenor sax
Brent Jensen, soprano sax
Steve Kim, electric bass
Chris Symer, acoustic bass
Chris Icasiano, drums

WAYWARD MUSIC SERIES
Chapel Performance Space
Fourth floor of the Good Shepherd Center
4649 Sunnyside Ave. N, Seattle (SW corner of 50th & Sunnyside in Wallingford)
Admission: $5-15 sliding scale.

Friday, January 4th, 2013 at 7pm:
Cynthia Mullis, tenor sax
Brent Jensen, soprano sax
Chuck Deardorf,  bass
John Bishop, drums
Tim Kennedy, piano

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE
1707 NW Market Street
Seattle, WA 98107
Phone: 206-789-1621

Earshot Jazz is currently accepting nominations for the 2012 Golden Ear Awards, which recognize and celebrate the outstanding achievements of the previous year in Seattle jazz.

Please email nominations to [email protected] by January 11, 2013.

The ballot for the 2012 awards will be available in the February.

Send Earshot your suggestions for:

• NW Recording of the Year
• NW Acoustic Jazz Ensemble of the Year
• Alternative Jazz Group of the Year
• NW Concert of the Year
• NW Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year
• Emerging Artist of the Year
• NW Vocalist of the Year
• Seattle Jazz Hall of Fame

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: 7:30pm: MWNW Honors Ensemble; 8:30pm: Smith/Staelens Big Band
2214 2nd Ave, 206-443-4221, 7:30pm

ROYAL ROOM: 6:30: The John Otten Quintet; 8:00pm: The Westerlies
5000 Rainier Avenue South, 7:30pm

JAZZ ALLEY: Pearl Django with Special Guest Connie Evingson
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30pm

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

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

418 PUBLIC HOUSE: 418 session w/ Claudio Rochat-Felix
418 NW 65th St, 9:00pm

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Evan Shay Group with Evan Shay (saxes), Xavier Del Castillo (tenor sax), Gus Carns (piano), Mat Muntz (bass) and Evan Woodle (drums) ($10 cover/$7 students)
9pm – Slant Quartet
1707 NW Market Street, Seattle, (206) 789-1621

CAFE CON LECHE: Brazilian jam w/ Jeff Busch
2901 1st Ave South, Seattle, 9:00pm

from Jim Wilke:

For Pacific Northwest jazz fans in particular, here are some of the exceptional releases from artists living in Seattle, Portland, and Vancouver.

Clipper Anderson – The Road Home – Origin
Human Spirit – Dialogue Live at Earshot Festival – Origin
Cory Weeds – Up A Step – Cellar Live
Pearl Django – Eleven– Modern Hot
Ezra Weiss/Rob Scheps Big Band – Our Path To This Moment– Roark
Bill Anschell/Brent Jensen/Chris Symer – Blueprints – Origin
Jon Hamar – Hymn – Origin
Jeff Johnson – Suitcase – Origin
Johnny Conga – Oye! – Hand to Drum
The Cats / Jay Thomas et al – Neo-Boogaloo – Pony Boy

Make sure and check out Jim Wilke’s complete 2012 list here.

Reservations recommended for all venues with New Year’s Packages!

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Greta Matassa
2214 2nd Ave, 206-443-4221, 8:30pm, $35

JAZZ ALLEY: Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band
**New Year’s packages include music and food. Prices range from $60.50 – $175.50/person
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 8:45 & 11:00pm

ROYAL ROOM: Big Band Jazz from the 30s, 40s, 50s
5000 Rainier Avenue South, 8:00pm

BOXLEY’S: Bernie Jacobs and Greg Williamson
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, WA, 425-292-9307, 7:00pm and 9pm

SERAFINA: John Sanders Quartet w/ Sue Nixon
2043 Eastlake Ave E, 206-323-0807, 9pm

CEDARBROOK LODGE: Jacqueline Tabor Jazz Band
18525 36th Ave S, Seatac, 7:30pm

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

WHITE RABBIT: Michael Shrieve’s Spellbinder
513 N 36th St Suite E, Seattle, 9:30pm

Did we miss something? Send us an email: [email protected]

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Bill Anschell Standards Trio
2214 2nd Ave, 206-443-4221, 7:30pm

BOXLEY’S: Pete Christlieb & Bill Ramsay
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, WA, 425-292-9307, 7:00pm

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

LAKESIDE BISTRO: Butch Harrison
11425 Rainier Avenue South, Seattle, 206-772-6891

SORRENTO HOTEL: Eugenie Jones
900 Madison St, 206-622-6400, 7:30pm

ROYAL ROOM: Mash + Horns record release w/ Pigpen
5000 Rainier Avenue South, 8:30pm

SCOTCH AND VINE: Jason Higginson
22341 Marine View Dr S, Des Moines, 7:00pm

GRAZIE: Emily McIntosh
23207 Bothell-Everett Hwy, Bothell, 425-402-9600, 7:00pm

Jim Wilke features some of his favorite jazz CDs by Northwest musicians from the past year on Jazz Northwest this Sunday afternoon at 2 PM Pacific. Tune in to hear his picks, or check out the complete list at jazzafterhours.org.

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: 5:00: Ryan Burns / Mark Taylor; 7:30pm: Stephanie Porter Quartet
2214 2nd Ave, 206-443-4221, 7:30pm

JAZZ ALLEY: Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30 & 10:00pm

HIROSHI’S: Jazz and Sushi
2501 Eastlake Ave E, 726-4966

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

VITO’S: McTuff
927 9th Ave, Seattle, 206-682-2695, 9:00pm

ROYAL ROOM: Mash + Horns record release w/ Pigpen
5000 Rainier Avenue South, Seattle, 8:00pm

GRAZIE: Emily McIntosh
23207 Bothell-Everett Hwy, Bothell, 425-402-9600, 7:00pm

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Alex Guilbert (piano) and Stuart MacDonald (sax)
9pm – Grant Richards Trio
1707 NW Market Street, Seattle, 206-789-1621

Jazz Night School, offering jazz combos and big bands for aspiring musicians of all ages in the Seattle area, announces several new programs for the New Year.

Gypsy Jazz Ensemble, led by Rick Leppanen of nationally-renowned Pearl Django, will feature Hot Club Jazz style music made famous by guitarist Jean “Django” Reinhardt in the 1930s. Open to guitars, clarinet or sax, violins, accordion, mandolin, vibes, bass, and percussion. Rick Leppanen has been a member of Pearl Django since 1998 and is an accomplished double bassist, composer, and educator. He has toured nationally, and since 1985 has been a freelance jazz bassist.

Monk Ensemble, led by Dawn Clement, one of Seattle’s jazz luminaries, will concentrate on pieces by the iconic piano genius Thelonious Monk. Participants should be comfortable with at least intermediate improvisation concepts. Open to piano, guitar, bass, and drums, and multiple melody instruments. Dawn Clement, a pianist, singer, and composer, is a master musician and one of the most sought-after performers in the Pacific Northwest.

Other programs include: the Latin Jazz Ensemble, led by Julio Jauregui, which features music from latin jazz artists such as Chucho Valdes, Emiliano Salvador, Poncho Sanchez, and more; the Big Band Express ensemble led by Stuart MacDonald, jazz band director with award-winning Roosevelt High School jazz band program; and the Gig Prep Weekly Workshop for moderately experienced small combo musicians will focus on reading charts and working up a full set of music.

For a description of the full range of classes offered for all levels, go to the Jazz Night School website. Classes begin the week of January 6, 2013. Sign up online now or by calling 206-722-6061.

from The Seattle Times:

“Every man prays in his own language and there is no language God does not understand,” said composer Duke Ellington when he was called to task decades ago for writing sacred music in the jazz idiom. No such defense is necessary today, of course, as Ellington’s Sacred Concerts — written in 1965, 1968 and 1973 (a year before he died) — have become standard holiday repertoire. The Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra, presented by Earshot Jazz, offers its annual sampling of Ellington’s inspiring music at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., Seattle; $15-$34 (206-547-6763 or www.brownpapertickets.com).

Paul de Barros, Seattle Times jazz critic

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Tatum Greenblatt Quintet w/ Roxy Coss
2214 Second Avenue, 206-443-4221, 7:30pm

JAZZ ALLEY: Karrin Allyson
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30pm

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

LAKESIDE BISTRO: Lakeside Jam
11425 Rainier Ave S, 206-772-6891, 6:00pm

COPPER GATE: Jon Alberts, Jeff Johnson & Tad Britton
6301 24th Ave NW, 206-706-3292, 8:00pm

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

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

VITO’S: Jennifer Kienzle and Friends
927 9th Ave, Seattle, 206-682-2695

ROYAL ROOM: Expanded Correo Aereo
5000 Rainier Avenue South, 8:00pm

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Tasty Trio w/ Max Holmberg, Mat Muntz, Max Williams
1707 NW Market Street, Seattle, 206-789-1621

from The Seattle Times:

If it seems as if vocalist Karrin Allyson was just here, you’re right — she played Jazz Alley in August, and showed yet again why she is hands down one of the finest singers in jazz. But her fans — and they are legion in Seattle — will no doubt be delighted to come hear her again. Expect everything from “ ’Round Midnight” and “Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most” to her signature Brazilian song, “O Pato.” Allyson plays at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday at Jazz Alley, 2033 Sixth Ave., Seattle; $24.50 (206-441-9729 or www.jazzalley.com

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

ROYAL ROOM: Home for the Holidays w/ Mulherkar Brothers Quintet, Roxy Coss
5000 Rainier Avenue South, 7:30pm

JAZZ ALLEY: Karrin Allyson
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30pm

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

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

VITO’S: Wally Shoup Trio
927 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, 206-397-4053, 9:00pm

418 PUBLIC HOUSE: 418 session w/ Claudio Rochat-Felix
418 NW 65th St, 9:00pm

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm: Vocal Showcase featuring Billy Brandt, Elsa Lund, and David Arteaga
9pm: Vocal Jam with Hans Brehmer (piano), Kevin McCarthy (bass) and Beri Puhlovski (drums
1707 NW Market Street, Seattle, (206) 789-1621