Seattle Jazz Scene

Seattle Jazz Beat: A Weekly Look at the Seattle Jazz Scene

Seattle Jazz Beat is a weekly column from Jazz Journalist Association writer, Paul Rauch. It is a narrative covering news and events, providing musician profiles, reviews and gathering community resources in support of jazz music in Seattle. To read and subscribe, follow this link-https://substack.com/@seattlejazzbeat

Manazma Sheen

Thu July 9, 7:30 PM / Seattle Jazz Fellowship- 103 S. Main St.

The trio, Manazma Sheen, has a new album out titled, Strictly Everything, which may be the best way to describe this improvisation based threesome. They describe their approach on the band’s website like this: “We are an instrumental group of musicians  based in Seattle, Washington seeking to groove and swing and rock and everything in between. We focus on playing original compositions and arrangements of music by people we admire. Sometimes surreal, sometimes focused, the trio explores the full depth of consciousness within our repertoire which spans ‘strictly everything.”

The band consists of drummer Davy Nefos, vibraphonist Alfred Marra and bassist Trevor Pelletier. This is the second appearance by the band at SJF, the first in the newer basement space. There is a lot of space in the music, meaning the results vary in accordance with the vibe. There is a fearless component to what they do. Good bunch of guys, which should attract a good bunch of folks to see them. After all, the hang is the thing! http://seattlejazzfellowship.org

Greta Matassa

Fri July 10, 7:30 PM / Seattle Jazz Fellowship- 103 S. Main St

Master jazz vocal artist Greta Matassa is one of the true greats in the history of jazz music in our city. Her performances around town are remarkably excellent, not to mention consistent- I can’t recall ever being disappointed with one of her shows, and I have attended dozens. In terms of range, dynamics, improvisational chops and all around jazz sensibility, she is without peer in Seattle. Her impact on the jazz vocal community as a mentor is immeasurable. Witness this for yourself, as the SJF space is the hottest place in town to see any of the luminaries on the Seattle scene. Band TBA, but I am assuming she will be with her long-time band featuring bassist Clipper Anderson, pianist David Lee Joyner, drummer Mark Ivester and saxophonist Alexey Nikolaev. Guitarist Brian Monroney is frequently with the band. Updates soon. http://seattlejazzfellowship.org

Monday Night Jam Session

Monday Nights, 7:30 PM / Seattle Jazz Fellowship- 103 S. Main St.

The Monday night jam in Pioneer Square has been quite the thing since the third Monday in January 2025. The session has been a gathering spot for some of the best musicians in town, from seasoned professionals to ascending high school and college players. It has also become a focal point for gen z to gather socially outside of the shadow of technology and screen life. Each week the club is full, and a line ascends up the stairs, around the corner and down First Avenue. These young people arrived via a Tic Tok video with the idea of an all ages, cover free experience with new music performed honestly, in the moment. They became a jazz audience with much more reverence for the music than most sessions. They listen, applaud solos, cheer on their favorites and deeply enjoy the idea of musicians creating on the spot jam style. We long-time patrons of the art are right there alongside them and it is a true joy. The musicians, both in house band led by Thomas Marriott, and the jammers feel the vibe as well. The early start and end allows for those who have school and work the next day. If you are looking for a ray of hope in our city, this may be your gig. Show up by 7 PM and you should have a seat. Musicians enter at will as long as they sign up to play. https://seattlejazzfellowship.org/

Tuesday Night Jam at the Owl

Tuesdays at 9:30 PM / Owl ‘n Thistle

The Tuesday night jam at the Owl is a Seattle tradition dating back to 1997, and a band known as Bebop and Destruction. It’s interesting, and often zany history includes wild antics, colorful characters and many a drop in from national touring musicians including Wynton Marsalis, Roy Hargrove, Branford Marsalis, Emmet Cohen and the Spanish Harlem Orchestra. Pianist Eric Verlinde guided the jam into more tranquil waters over his eighteen years directing the session, a tenure that recently ended. Pianist Matt Williams has now taken the reins, injecting a new found enthusiasm and freeing up Verlinde to come and hang and play! The 9:30 start enables musicians with gigs that evening to show up and play after the opening set that lasts forty five minutes or so.

The session is very important within the musical and social fabric of the Seattle jazz scene. The very interesting and often humorous history of the session is well documented in an article I wrote for All About Jazz a few years back. Link provided below.https://www.allaboutjazz.com/tuesday-night-jams-at-the-owl-a-25-year-legacy-in-seattle

Jazz in the Square with Julio Jauregui

Wed July 8, 7 PM / Occidental Square

The first of this free outdoor series presented by the Seattle Jazz Fellowship, brilliant pianist Julio Jauregui performs in the shade under the London plane trees in Occidental. The stage is just outside of Darkalinos, who will be open to serve food and drinks. Jauregui is the city’s premier Latin Jazz pianist, with the skill set to play any style. I’m still researching band members, TBA. This is a great opportunity to socialize with your community surrounded by the unique vibe of the square in Seattle’s historic Pioneer Square neighborhood. https://seattlejazzfellowship.org/events

Jazz in the Square with Jay Thomas

Wed July 15, 7 PM / Occidental Square

Seattle Jazz Fellowship is staging this free concert outdoors in beautiful Occidental Square underneath the shade of the London plane trees. Seattle jazz icon Jay Thomas is one of the few players in jazz history to master both the trumpet and saxophone. His performances always include some of the top musicians in the city. For this special performance, he is joined by Matt Williams on Hammond B-3 organ, Oliver Groenewald on trumpet- drummer TBA. This is an excellent opportunity to enjoy the city’s first neighborhood, in all its summer splendor, with world class music in the air. Darkalinos will be open for food and drinks. Sounds like a party! I hope to see the community turn out for this one. http://seattlejazzfellowship.org

Elnah Jordan

Thu July 16, 7:30 PM / Seattle Jazz Fellowship- 103 S. Main St.

Vocalist Elnah Jordan was literally discovered performing on the streets of San Francisco by jazz vocal giant, Jon Hendricks. He saw in her the perfect voice, presence and persona to portray the legendary Bessie Smith in the stage production of The Evolution of the Blues. Her booming blues drenched vocal style and commanding stage presence were her ticket to jump starting her career. She can slow things down to an intimate level and treat ballads with tenderness and grace as well. I’m liking the makeup of this band, with pianist Josh Rawlings, bassist Jonti Siman and drummer Adam Kessler as the perfect rhythm section for a lyrical singer like Jordan. Tenor saxophonist Cliff Colon has some bite to go along with his bark, and a healthy portion of soulful blues in his sound. The thought of him going toe to toe with Elnah trading fours puts a smile on my face! A good night to uplift your spirits. http://seattlejazzfellowship.org

Reuel Lubag Trio

Fri July 17, 7:30 PM / Seattle Jazz Fellowship- 103 S. Main St.

Veteran pianist Reuel Lubag has been a veteran presence on the Seattle scene, while he hasn’t been traveling the world performing. He makes his debut in the basement club in Pioneer Square with his usual trio that features Seattle first call bassist Michael Glynn. Drummer Edward Littlefield rounds out this trio, diving into an evening of standards and originals. http://seattlejazzfellowship.org

Steve Treseler Quartet

Sat July 18, 7:30 PM / Seattle Jazz Fellowship- 103 S. Main St.

Woodwind artist Steve Treseler’s main interest is the tenor saxophone, but versatility is also a strength, something he can put in motion here with this formidable foursome. Pianist Dawn Clement and drummer John Bishop are two of the finest this city has produced, while bassist Jonti Siman, a relative newcomer to town, has been building a strong presence across a variety of projects. Tresler will be revisiting tunes he recorded with Clement on his first two albums, playing a few standards and exploring new music he recorded as a solo project at Fremont Abbey titled, Source (available early 2027). As I stated, he is a tenor player that can also be featured on a variety of woodwind instruments, on this occasion, including bass clarinet and shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute).

The last time Treseler performed at SJF, he was sitting in with Ingrid Jensen–he’s been keeping good company lately! This should be a fun night, both musically and socially. http://seattlejazzfellowship.org

Clipper Anderson Quintet

Fri July 24, 7:30 PM / Seattle Jazz Fellowship- 103 S. Main St.

Bassist Clipper Anderson is known for his fleet soloing, finely tuned compositional skills and an occasional transformation into a vocalist performing jazz standards. Truth be told, it is not all that common to see Anderson leading a band without his partner, the great jazz vocal artist, Greta Matassa. For this engagement at SJF, the bassist appears with musicians with whom he is well acqainted. Joined in the rhythm section by pianist David Lee Joyner and drummer Mark Ivester, this band is built for playing things out, with guitarist Brian Monroney and saxophonist Alexey Nikolaev staking out the front line. Of course, this is the same five that have played in Matassa’s band for many years. In other words, there is some serious familiarity and the resulting chemistry here to witness. This is one you can count on. http://seattlejazzfellowship.org

Susan Pascal Quartet

Sat July 25, 7:30 PM / Seattle Jazz Fellowship- 103 S. Main St.

Before the pandemic, vibraphonist Susan Pascal was a highly visible performer, a regular at the scene’s Belltown mainstage at Tula’s. Lately, she’s been out more and more, and that’s good news for Seattle jazz fans. For this gig, she reunites with two of her Tula’s mainstays in drummer Mark Ivester and a true Seattle jazz legend in pianist Bill Anschell. Jeff Johnson appears on bass, himself an iconic and highly influential player in the city’s jazz history. Pascal is a practicioner of the four mallet approach to the vibraphone, adding chordal harmonic emphasis to her single note work. She and Anschell have a great chemistry between them that adds an orchestral quality to the band’s overall sound. http://seattlejazzfellowship.org

Free Fall

featuring Rick Mandyck, Thomas Marriott, Jeff Johnson & John Bishop

Fri July 31, 7:30 PM / Seattle Jazz Fellowship- 103 S. Main St.

Free Fall is a chord-less quartet that plays original compositions tailored to feature free improvisation within an open harmonic structure. The foursome is a true collective, with each member an equal part of the conversation. All four players have a historic imprint on the Seattle jazz scene. Trumpeter Thomas Marriott is the author of fifteen albums as a leader, and is acclaimed on an international scale. He is the founder of the Seattle Jazz Fellowship. Drummer John Bishop was part of Hal Galper’s historic rubato trio and has performed with a wide range of jazz greats, including Jessica Williams and Chano Dominguez. He is the founder of Origin Records. Bassist Jeff Johnson was Bishop’s partner in the Galper trio, and has over a fifty year career, performed with the likes of Philly Joe Jones, Jessica Williams and Scenes. He has released over a dozen albums as a leader or co-leader, including the collectives Scenes and Wellstone Conspiracy. Alto saxophonist Rick Mandyck is an iconic presence in the history of jazz in Seattle, standing out as one of the most expressive and technically brilliant jazz musicians the city has had to offer. He has performed prominently with Michael Bisio, the band Scenes with Johnson, Bishop and guitarist John Stowell, and many others.

Free Fall is a must see, must hear experience on the live jazz scene in the city. They represent four of the best musicians in Seattle, in a format that allows for their total sense of personal and collective expression. http://seattlejazzfellowship.org