Friday Jazz

November 30, 2012 / / No Comments

CORNISH: Mark Robbins and Tom Varner
710 East Roy St., Seattle, 8:00pm

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

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

JAZZ ALLEY: Roy Hargrove Quintet
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30 & 10:00pm

BOXLEY’S: Bryant Urban’s Blue Oasis
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, WA, 425-292-9307, 7:00pm

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: Darrius Willrich
927 9th Ave, Seattle, 206-682-2695, 9:00pm

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

NORTH CITY BISTRO: Scott Lindenmuth Trio
1520 NE 177th, Shoreline, (206) 365-4447, 7:00pm

Garfield Jazz Band launches new season with kick-off concert

November 29, 2012 / / No Comments


Photo by Daniel Sheehan, EyeShotJazz.com

The public is invited to hear Seattle’s renowned Garfield Jazz Band I as it launches its 2012-2013 performance season with a free kick-off concert on Thursday, November 29 at the Quincy Jones Performance Center.

Thursday, November 29
7:30 pm
Quincy Jones Performance Center
Garfield  High  School
400 23rd Avenue, Seattle

The band performs under the direction of Clarence Acox, Jr., recently honored by Earshot Jazz for his 40-plus years leading one of the nation’s most esteemed high school jazz programs.

Seattle Schools Superintendent Jose Banda will be on hand to help inaugurate the new season, which includes a full schedule of regional and national competitions, festivals, and concerts.  Please join us in welcoming Superintendent Banda to our city and its stellar music programs.

Admission to this highly-anticipated annual concert is free (donations accepted).  Families welcome!

Upcoming Garfield Jazz Band winter concerts include:

Saturday, Dec. 1: Seattle Center Winterfest with Garfield Jazz Bands II and III
12:15-1:15 pm – Free at the Armory/Center House

Sunday, Dec. 23: Seattle Center Winterfest featuring Garfield Jazz Band I
1:00 pm – Free at the Armory/Center House

Sunday, Jan. 13: Winter Concert featuring Garfield Jazz Bands I, II and III
7 pm – Quincy Jones Performance Center, 400 23rd Avenue, Seattle

(Schedule is subject to change; go to www.garfieldjazz.org for the most current information.)

Thursday Jazz

November 29, 2012 / / No Comments

GARFIELD HIGH SCHOOL: Garfield Jazz Band Kickoff
400 23rd Avenue, Seattle, 7:30pm

JAZZ ALLEY: Roy Hargrove Quintet
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30pm

TRIPLE DOOR MUSICQUARIUM:
8:00pm: How Now Brown Cow
216 Union Street, 206-838-4333

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Katie King Vocal Showcase
2214 Second Avenue, 206-443-4221, 7:30pm

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

LAKESIDE BISTRO: Jam w/ Thelxie Eaves, Michael Berman, Pavel Shepp
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: Randy Halberstadt
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: Rik Wright
927 9th Ave, Seattle, 206-682-2695

Cornish Presents Mark Robbins and Tom Varner

November 27, 2012 / / No Comments


Photo by Daniel Sheehan

Mark Robbins and Tom Varner
Friday, November 30 at 8 pm

PONCHO Concert Hall
710 East Roy St.
Seattle WA

“Across oceans or across towns, French Horn players find one another. They all dwell, after all, in a curious musical isolation” writes Peter Monaghan. Read more of his preview of this concert that features two superb French hornists – Seattle Symphony Orchestra associate principal hornistMark Robbins and jazz improviser extraordinaire Tom Varner – as they team up with Gina Gillie, horn and Dawn Clement, piano to present a concert that showcases the diversity of the French horn repertoire in both chamber music and jazz settings.
Learn more

Tickets: $20 general, $15 seniors, $10 students and Cornish alumni (with ID)
Purchase tickets

Tuesday Jazz

November 27, 2012 / / No Comments

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

JAZZ ALLEY: Gabriel Mark Hasselbach
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30pm

MIX: Don Mock, Steve Kim & Jaques Willis
6006 12th Ave South, 206-767-0280, 9:00pm

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

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

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

COPPER GATE: Suffering F#ckheads
6301 24th Ave NW, 206-706-3292, 8:00pm

BOXLEY’S: Aaron Tevis Project
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, WA, 425-292-9307, 7:00pm

BAKE’S PLACE: The Fig Brothers
155 108th Ave NE, Bellevue, (425) 454-2776, 8:00pm

Monday Jazz

November 26, 2012 / / No Comments

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Lonnie Mardis and the SCC Big Band
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: Frankly Monday
5000 Rainier Ave South, Seattle, 8:00PM

BOXLEY’S: Chamber Night: Snoqualmie Strings Faculty Quartet
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, WA, 425-292-9307, 7:00pm

Review: Chad McCullough & Bram Weijters: Urban Nightingale

November 24, 2012 / / No Comments

from All About Jazz.com

Chad McCullough, with one CD under his own name—the outstanding Dark Wood, Dark Water (Origin Records, 2009)—has also contributed his distinctive voice to recordings by the Kora Band and Tunnel Six, all under the Origin Records banners. But the Seattle-based trumpeter must have a European sensibility; his finest work to date has been in teaming, as co-leader, with artists from the other side of the Atlantic—Slavakian pianist Michal Vanoucek, on The Sky Cries (Origin Records, 2010), and Antwerp-based pianist Bram Weijters, on Imaginary Sketches (Origin Records, 2011), and now, again with Weijters, on what could be a breakout effort for both players, Urban Nightingale.

Recordings that are tagged “breakouts” aren’t necessarily way better than the efforts that preceded them. It’s more a matter of the output reaching a critical mass of sustained excellence that pushes the music to a level where it gains greater notice. A re-visitation of McCullough’s previous CDs as leader or co-leader reveals a well-developed artist who is smart enough to pick great sidemen starting out with his Dark Wood, Dark Water debut. He is a rare instrumentalist who makes each note sound as if it were imbued with a deeper meaning. Certainly a player with great chops, his approach—especially on his two teamings with Weijters—is one that is a measured and deliberate, often introspective, sometimes gorgeously melancholic, and one that employs a continuity of mood and atmosphere that the best recordings have.

That said, Weijters is, perhaps, more responsible for the concepts of their two CDs together. His is the dominant songwriting voice, having penned five tunes to McCullough’s two on Imaginary Sketches and seven tunes to McCullough’s two on Urban Nightingale. His piano playing has a distinctively searching quality, and he has added to his arsenal (or at least brought it into play since Imaginary Sketches) the Fender Rhodes, which he uses to give some of the tunes a gritty, urban atmosphere.

Inside the sound is the perfect, understated bass pulse of Piet Verbist and subtle percussive intricacies of drummer John Bishop the super sideman in the drum chair for Origin Records, also the label’s honcho, and one of the finest CD cover art designers in jazz, rounding out the quartet on an outstanding set of sounds.

Track Listing: Nightingale; Residu; Freezing; Love Song; Flow; Tired and Dizzy; Buildings in a Dark City; Phrygian; Downtime.

Personnel: Chad McCullogh: trumpet, flugelhorn; Bram Weijters: piano, Fender Rhodes; Piet Verbist: bass; John Bishop: drums.

Review: Jon Hamar, Hymn

November 23, 2012 / / No Comments

from All About Jazz.com

Origin Arts bassist Jon Hamar effects an intimate trio with alto saxophonist Todd DelGiudice and pianist Geoffrey Keezer on Hymn. Heard most recently, prior to this date, on Richard Cole‘s Inner Mission (Origin Records, 2007), Hamar’s Hymn is heavy on introspective yet muscular originals, as Hamar also chooses some sturdy standards upon which to improvise.

Hamar closes is disc with a swinging reading of Lew Brown’s “Comes Love.” Keezer rolls his fingers just right in the introduction, preparing the way for Hamar to state the melody down low, with piquant accents by DelGiudice. The song is played as an insinuation. Each instrument is responsible for keeping the others between the lines at different times, and each instrument makes every effort to color outside those lines. Keezer tries to foil Hamar’s walking bass, and Hamar hands it right back to him in his solo. DelGiudice takes advantage of the situation, running away in his solo, looking for the spirit of Johnny Hodges.

Personnel: Jon Hamer: bass; todd DelGiudice: alto saxophone; Geoffrey Keezer: keyboards

Friday Jazz

November 23, 2012 / / No Comments

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

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

JAZZ ALLEY: Taj Mahal Trio
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30 & 10:00pm

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

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: Casey MacGill
927 9th Ave, Seattle, 206-682-2695, 9:00pm

GRAZIE: Michael Powers Group
23207 Bothell-Everett Hwy, Bothell, 425-402-9600, 7:00pm

NORTH CITY BISTRO: Greta Matassa & Darin Clendenin
1520 NE 177th, Shoreline, (206) 365-4447, 7:00pm

 

Tessa Souter Free Show at Jazz Alley

November 22, 2012 / / No Comments

December 10, 2012
Tessa Souter Quintet
JAZZ ALLEY
2033 6th Avenue

Showtime: 7:30pm | Free
Reservations Required: 206-441-9729

The Pacific Jazz Institute at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley welcomes fearless jazz vocalist Tessa Souter for one night only.  Band members are Tessa Souter (vocals), Bill Anschell (piano), Don Braden (sax), Chris Symer (bass) and Jose Martinez (drums).  Show time 7:30pm Monday. Doors open at 5:30pm.   

Daughter of English and Trinidadian parents, award-winning, New York-based jazz vocalist Tessa Souter’s gorgeous voice, and penchant for exploring strikingly beautiful music mostly untouched by other vocalists, has set her apart as “one of the few exceptional standouts in the crowded field of female jazz singers.” – Los Angeles Times

Wednesday Jazz

November 21, 2012 / / No Comments

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Clipper Anderson’s Road Home
2214 2nd Ave, 206-443-4221, 7:30pm

JAZZ ALLEY: Taj Mahal Trio
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: Brad Gibson 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

Tuesday Jazz

November 20, 2012 / / No Comments

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

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

ROYAL ROOM: Cactus Truck/ Diminished Men
5000 Rainier Ave South, Seattle, 8:00pm

MIX: Don Mock, Steve Kim & Jaques Willis
6006 12th Ave South, 206-767-0280, 9:00pm

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

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

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

COPPER GATE: Suffering F#ckheads
6301 24th Ave NW, 206-706-3292, 8:00pm

BAKE’S PLACE: Ledward Ka’apana
155 108th Ave NE, Bellevue, (425) 454-2776, 8:00pm

Photos: Murl Allen Sanders w/ Warren Rand

November 19, 2012 / / No Comments

by Daniel Sheehan, EyeShotJazz.com

Murl Allen Sanders performed at Tula’s as part of the Earshot Jazz Festival on Saturday November 3rd along with  Seattle bassist Clipper Anderson, Tacoma drummer Mark Ivester and Portland saxophonist Warren Rand. “This is a high-energy ensemble combining modern and traditional aesthetics,” Sanders writes. Murl Allen Sanders describes his music as zyfusico – a fusion of jazz, pop and zydeco. He sings and performs on accordion, piano and harmonica.

Monday Jazz

November 19, 2012 / / No Comments

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Cascadia Big Band
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

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

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: Empty Boat; The Royal Room Collective Music Ensemble
5000 Rainier Ave South, Seattle, 8:00PM

Thursday Jazz

November 15, 2012 / / No Comments

JAZZ ALLEY: Graham Dechter Quartet w/ Jeff Hamilton
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30pm

TRIPLE DOOR MUSICQUARIUM:
7:30pm: Kasumai Africa w/ Thione Diop
216 Union Street, 206-838-4333

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Sarah Slonim and All Grooves
2214 Second Avenue, 206-443-4221, 7:30pm

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

BAKE’S PLACE: Dee Daniels
155 108th Ave NE, Bellevue, (425) 454-2776, 6:00pm

LAKESIDE BISTRO: Jam w/ Thelxie Eaves, Michael Berman, Pavel Shepp
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: Reuel Lubag
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: Michael Owcharuk Trio
927 9th Ave, Seattle, 206-682-2695

Tuesday Jazz

November 13, 2012 / / No Comments

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

JAZZ ALLEY: Graham Dechter Quartet featuring Jeff Hamilton
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30pm

ROYAL ROOM: David Haney and A Blanket for the Moon
5000 Rainier Ave South, Seattle, 8:00pm

MIX: Don Mock, Steve Kim & Jaques Willis
6006 12th Ave South, 206-767-0280, 9:00pm

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

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

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

COPPER GATE: Suffering F#ckheads
6301 24th Ave NW, 206-706-3292, 8:00pm

BAKE’S PLACE: Charles Mack Band featuring Josephine Howell
155 108th Ave NE, Bellevue, (425) 454-2776, 8:00pm

BOXLEY’S: Aaron Tevis Project
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, WA, 425-292-9307, 7:00pm

Monday Jazz

November 12, 2012 / / No Comments

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Dave Marriott Big Band
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

BOXLEY’S: Down The Road Band
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, WA, 425-292-9307, 7:00pm

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: Ply; Gravity
5000 Rainier Ave South, Seattle, 8:00PM

Human Spirit heading back East, preview in the New York Times

November 9, 2012 / / No Comments

Human Spirt (Thomas Marriott, Mark Taylor and Matt Jorgensen) are headed back east next week for a couple of shows in Philadelphia and New York.

November 14 – Chris’ Jazz Cafe, Philadelphia, PA
1421 Sansom Street
Philadelphia, PA
(215) 568-3131, 7:00pm

November 15 – Smalls Jazz Club, New York, NY
183 West 10th Street
New York, NY
9:30pm

The Smalls show is previewed in today’s New York Times by Nate Chinen:

Matt Jorgensen & Human Spirit (Thursday) Mr. Jorgensen is a drummer and bandleader of prominence in Seattle, his hometown, and the owner of Origin Records, which recently released “Dialogues,” a live album by Human Spirit, his progressive post-bop band. For this one-nighter with that group, he features a Seattle front line of Thomas Marriott on trumpet and Mark Taylor on alto saxophone, along with the pianist David Budway and the bassist Joe Martin. From 9:30 p.m. to midnight, Smalls, 183 West Tenth Street, West Village, (212) 252-5091, smallsjazzclub.com; $20 cover. (Nate Chinen)

In addition, Marriott will be hanging around a few extra days and performing on Monday, November 19, with Orrin Evans’ Captain Black Big Band at Smoke.

Friday Jazz

November 9, 2012 / / No Comments

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

NEW ORLEANS: Flexicon featuring Mark Taylor
114 First Ave S, 206-622-2563, 8:00pm

JAZZ ALLEY: Average White Band
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30 & 10:00pm

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

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+

THE CHAPEL: Seattle Modern Orchestra plays John Cage
Good Shepard Center, 4649 Sunnyside Ave N, 8:00pm

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

GRAZIE: Katie King Trio
23207 Bothell-Everett Hwy, Bothell, 425-402-9600, 7:00pm

NORTH CITY BISTRO: David George Trio
1520 NE 177th, Shoreline, (206) 365-4447, 7:00pm

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE: Michael Owcharuk and Friends
1707 NW Market Street , 206-789-1621, 7:00pm