THE HEADHUNTERS
50th Anniversary and Album Release Celebration
Live from Brooklyn Bowl

Tue & Wed Sept 17-18, 7:30 PM / Jazz Alley

This Headhunters reunion does not include the band’s founder and guiding force, Herbie Hancock– let’s get that out right away. The music however, remains the same as when this band was founded in 1973 by Hancock riding the crest of the fusion wave of the early seventies. Hancock was experimenting with synthesizers and electric keyboards for this groove show, this time around with keyboardist Kyle Roussel surrounded by percussionist Bill Summers and drum kit ace Mike Clark. Bassist Chris Severin and NRA Jazzmaster Donald Harrison on alto saxophone completes the band. 

This is the celebration of a new live album, and more specifically, a celebration of this transformative music launched into orbit by the master Hancock. https://www.jazzalley.com/www-home/artist.jsp?shownum=7572

Cecil Young: The Beer and his Audio Cocktails!- One night, Two Set Limit

with Phil Sparks, Xavier Lecouturier & Ryan Burns

Thu Sept 19, 7:30 PM / Seattle Jazz Fellowship- 109 S. Main St.

Trumpeter / composer Cecil Young returns to Seattle Jazz Fellowship, following up on his 2023 two set performance that rated among the best of the year. The Garfield High School grad and longtime resident of New York City began his musical journey here under the tutelage of Seattle stalwarts Floyd Standifer, Clarence Acox, Hadley Caliman, Phil Sparks and the late great drummer, Larry Jones. Prompted by studies at The New School, Young eventually moved to New York. Browsing through wanted ads looking for employment, he answered a query that has led to his long-term association with the multimedia musical phenomena that is M’lumbo. It is that spread of musical landscape that Young has occupied since.

Interestingly, his history led to broad speculation as to what to expect from Young during his fall of 2023 SJF debut. It was jazz music that had a deep connection to soul, activism, humanity and unity. It also had a deep, intrinsic connection with Seattle culture that has been a part of his family’s story here. His performance reminded us of what a special place we inhabit, and how we take that spirit into the rest of the world. I’ve done my best here to describe the vibe, but in the end it is up to you to attend and decide for yourselves! Young described it as, “Experience the Joker’s Wild.” Updated title and personnel above. Cecil is “The Beer.” Have no fear, I’m your beer. Toast and cheer, I’m a beer- Yes I’m here!

https://seattlejazzfellowship.org/events

Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio

Thu Sept 19 – Sun Sept 22, 7:30 & 9:30 PM / Jazz Alley

Seattle’s own Delvon Lamarr has found success in recent years with his soul jazz / funk Hammond B-3 organ trio, taking life one day at a time on the road for a large portion of the year. His travels are on a constant international scale, buoyed by the ace management of his wife Amy Novo. While Lamarr’s jazz skills are capable of so much more in terms of project pursuance, the trio occupies his time to the extent that his brilliance as a keyboardist, as a musical mind, has become interwoven into his current joyful, danceable approach with the groove based trio. 

The organist was a Seattle kid who literally could play whatever he layed his hands on and eventually settled on trumpet. Soon he added drums to his skill set, and while playing with B-3 stalwart Joe Doria, picked up the organ simply by witnessing and listening to Doria play. His dedication to the B-3 has been ever present, ever since. 

Lamarr is joined by guitarist Josh Perdue and Seattle based drummer Ehssan Karimi. https://www.jazzalley.com/www-home/artist.jsp?shownum=7571

Tim Kennedy Trio / Quintet

Fri & Sat Sept 20-21, 7:30 PM / Seattle Jazz Fellowship- 109 S. Main St.

Pianist Tim Kennedy is next up for a two night residency at 109 S. Main. Kennedy has always been one of the most versatile keyboardists in Seattle, but his persona as a jazz pianist is the core of his talents. The Friday night half of this weekend tilt will feature the pianist in a trio setting with bassist Geoff Harper and drummer Brad Gibson. On Saturday, the trio is the rhythm section of a quintet featuring multi-reedist Hans Teuber and trumpeter Thomas Marriott. 

The two night stand concept curated by SJF has brought out the best in its residents, a huge plus for Seattle jazz fans. The trio sets on Friday here, sets up the weekender Saturday with the classic quintet format. One nighters do not facilitate that kind of a glimpse into the soul of the artist. With the major economic barriers removed at the Fellowship, attending both very different nights is a real option. https://seattlejazzfellowship.org/events

109 S. Main St. / Mondays at 7:30 PM FREE

It’s good news to hear that the Seattle Jazz Fellowship will host a jazz jam session on Monday nights. The all ages weekly session will provide that vital opportunity for mentorship between generations of players, and just as importantly, a chance for the Seattle jazz community to gather and just hang out. The weekly tilt is needed to continue the tradition of jazz jam sessions in the city. Not only are Mondays the least active evening for musicians playing gigs, the 7:30 start time should bring in a wider swath of the scene. The all ages component helps as well. If Thomas Marriott’s curation of sessions in the past is any indicator, the session will start with a house band playing a few tunes, and then the session begins. The cherry on top for the new session is that a good piano is employed. Most importantly, it will be FUN!https://seattlejazzfellowship.org/events

Underground Sounds with Thomas Marriott, Rick Mandyck, Jeff Johnson & John Bishop

Tuesdays 8 PM / Underbelly

Underbelly, the quaint cellar bar on First Avenue in Pioneer Square sits directly across the street from what was the New Orleans club, a former hub of local Seattle jazz. That vibe lives on Tuesday nights in the former burlesque venue, with four of the city’s top jazz musicians colliding in an explosive chordless quartet that at times has been known as Free Fall. This is an opportunity to witness great jazz in an informal environment with no cover. 

Trumpeter Thomas Marriott leads this band of long time mates with a strong intuitive connection. The author of fourteen albums as a leader and a recent inductee into the Seattle Jazz Hall of Fame is joined by the incomparable duo of bassist Jeff Johnson and drummer John Bishop. Saxophonist Rick Mandyck has switched to alto, but bears the sound and approach of some of the great tenor players in jazz. The band plays originals from Marriott, Mandyck and Johnson, along with a few standards. The vibe in the room is relaxed, the drinks are first class and there is a very cute puppy in the house to add to the charm. The house screens classic films and cartoons as well! A highly recommended hang on Tuesday nights.

The current iteration includes trumpeter Marriott. The author of fourteen albums as a leader adds a different sonic presence to the band. Johnson and Bishop have since been the groundbreaking presence in Galper’s rubato revolution, and are the tidal force that allows both Mandyck and Marriott to blast off. Unencumbered by chordal harmony, all four players are equal participants in terms of soloing. The format does put great dependence on the abilities of the bassist and drummer, again stating the importance of the foundational presence of original members Johnson and Bishop. The quartet plays originals from Johnson and Mandyck that are open conduits to exploration. Toss in Marriott’s formidable tunes, and adventurous interpretations of standards and you have Free Fall. https://seattlejazzfellowship.org/events

Ray Larsen Quintet

Thu Sept 26, 7:30 PM / Seattle Jazz Fellowship- 109 S. Main St.

I have had difficulty getting to know trumpeter Ray Larsen as a musician in a complete sense. I know certain things such as his trumpet sound that is very original (how cliche). I once raced down a block because I heard a single trumpet floating through the air in Pioneer Square, KNOWING it was Ray Larsen. Sure enough, he was just outside of his next gig on art walk night, “clearing his throat” as they say, before hitting. So, not cliche at all.

I dare say that Larsen has assembled the perfect cast to present his original tunes and those of Lennie Tristano, Lee Konitz and Ornette Coleman for this date at 109 S. Main. Larsen’s music resides in a territory neighbored by jazz, classical and folk forms–I’m sure one could add to this list extensively. Leave it to be said, he is a melody based improviser with a wonderful imagination and elegant tonality. In bringing in iconoclastic saxophonist Neil Welch to the front line, Larsen gives a nudge to his more experimental side. Pianist Matt Williams has been fully exposed post-pandemic, emerging as a major contributor to the Seattle scene, both as a pianist and vibraphonist. What he has in common with veteran bassist Geoff Harper and drummer Evan Woodle is the ability to play on the periphery steeped in a clear understanding of the territory within that periphery. Simply put, they can swing in any fashion or variation you throw at them. That may be the best way to describe Larsen’s playing as well. https://seattlejazzfellowship.org/events

Ben Wolfe Trio

Fri & Sat Sept 27-28, 7:30 PM / Seattle Jazz Fellowship- 109 S. Main St.

Master bassist Ben Wolfe has Northwest roots and New York digs at the Juilliard School. He makes his second appearance at SJF, the first being at the non-profit’s original site at Vermillion. Wolfe brings in the great pianist George Colligan for this one, another major artist with Portland ties. Drummer Aaron Kimmel rounds out this trio of excellence, brought together to perform new music from Wolfe’s new CD, The Understated. Wolfe’s compositional chops are as sharp as his musicianship, both with the strong potential of swinging with intent. 

While SJF primarily presents Seattle artists, it does on occasion bring in artists of international renown. As well, it has developed strong ties with the scene in Portland, something that works both ways. This trio checks both boxes. To see artists of this quality in the intimate confines at 109 S. Main is a rare bird, and one not to be missed. https://seattlejazzfellowship.org/events

Tarbaby

featuring Orrin Evans, Eric Revis & Nasheet Waits

Tue Oct 1, 7:30 PM / Seattle Jazz Fellowship

The term “power trio” conjures images of electric guitar infused, blues based rock between three essential elements of the form. In the case of Tarbaby, you could easily apply the term, though the application is attached to a jazz piano trio. Certainly the term would have to be presented in a collective sense, as all three participants revolving around a common post-bop center, exploring the piano trio with a complete and open approach that faces the tradition from all sides, both emotionally and intellectually. The trio’s fearless deep dive into the collective spirit can take the members from bright, humorous environes to darkly introspective melodies and guided only by fearless spontaneity. 

The band has often performed and recorded with added personnel to the core threesome, making this date on their tour a unique and special occasion performing strictly as a trio. While the trio is making the rounds of festivals and clubs around the country, their stop at Seattle Jazz Festival finds them in a room that holds seventy patrons at most–an intimate space housing the most intimate of forms in the jazz tradition. 

Pianist Orrin Evans is one of the most important, trailblazing artists in the music today, and a friend of Seattle and the Fellowship. Bassist Eric Revis is known widely for his work with the Branford Marsalis Quartet, but on his own, the Los Angeles based artist is a fearless composer and notable bandleader. Drummer Nasheet Waits has been around the music his entire life, being the son of esteemed drummer Freddie Waits. His recording and touring resume is extensive, including turns with Jason Moran, Christian McBride’s New Jawn, The Fred Hersch Trio and most recently with Dave Holland’s New Quartet. This is to mention but a few.

The three musicians have a history that predates the trio, and share common core values concerning the music. Those who have become acquainted with Evans’ playing during his many stops in Seattle as a bandleader, as a member of Bad Plus and with trumpeter Thomas Marriott, have surely noticed that the music is a sacred thing to him personally. There are certain truths about the music that need to be expressed no matter what path is traveled within the tradition. Tarbaby is a medium that invites telling the story from beginning to end, reading and reacting to all that comes to be during the journey getting there. I highly recommend researching the three musicians and listening to their music pre-gig. I could make that assertion for every date listed here, but this evening is truly special and deserves your full attention. https://seattlejazzfellowship.org/events

Double Bill: Frank Kohl Quartet

featuring Bill Anschell, Jeff Johnson & Matt Jorgensen

Chris Patin’s Acompanist’z AllgoRhythm

Veteran guitarist Frank Kohl has lived life on the road–both as a musician and driving an eighteen -wheeler. The native New Yorker has settled into a nice groove here in Seattle, performing both solo and in combos. His style is in the Jim Hall vein to give you an idea of his playing, but his extensive harmonic knowledge can lead him elsewhere. His style circumnavigates the jazz tradition from coast to coast.

Veterans tend to know how to put a band together for a given date, and Kohl has supported that notion by choosing drummer Matt Jorgensen, bassist Jeff Johnson and pianist Bill Anschell as bandmates, Seattle legends all. He will be challenged to engage in the give and take that group improvisation brings with this configuration. The performance is the front end of this two set, two band evening at SJF.

Explosive drummer Chris Patin is a product of the Seattle jazz scene in a pure sense. He was born and raised here, and has had his ear close to the vibe of the city music scene over the course of his life. Those sounds, that energy he possesses comes from the heart of life in Seattle. His sound is also the result of being the ultimate sideperson on a variety of gigs around town. This time around, he finds himself the leader of the band, named appropriately and creatively, Acompanist’z AllgoRhythm.

For this evening, Patin gathers a collection of notable Seattle musicians who themselves have been known as bandleaders, for a performance titled The Accompanist’z Allgorhythm. Keyboardist Jake Sele, bassist Marina Christopher and alto saxophonist Medearis Dixon have appeared frequently with area artists in the fields of jazz and rhythm and blues, though mostly as leaders of their own bands. This gig flips the script. How Patin as a bandleader leads this gathering in collective sound will be fascinating. There is a lot of musical intelligence in the band that has covered a broad stroke of the BAM tradition. https://seattlejazzfellowship.org/events

Nancy Erickson Lamont

Fri Oct 4, 7:30 PM / Seattle Jazz Fellowship- 109 S. Main St.

Seattle vocalist Nancy Erickson Lamont hits the Fellowship in Pioneer Square to perform original tunes from her new album, Through the Passages. Lamont will be supported by pianist Shawn Schlogel, bassist Chris Symer and drummer Eric Eagle. Lamont makes her Fellowship debut, bringing the unique and intriguing aspect of performing originals with modern lyrical value. She spent many years as a music educator and has become a fixture on the scene over the past few years, with four album releases. https://seattlejazzfellowship.org/events

Alex Guilbert Quartet featuring Jeff Johnson, Hans Teuber & Andy Roth

Sat Oct 5, 7:30 PM / Seattle Jazz Fellowship- 109 S. Main St.

Pianist Alex Guilbert is a man of many styles within the modern jazz world. One may find him on a trad jazz gig one night, and a delve into modern, free music the next. His musical imagination is wide ranging and open, employing marvelous chops. For this date at the Fellowship, he is joined by a formidable band featuring trailblazing bassist Jeff Johnson and multi-reedist Hans Teuber. Versatile drummer Andy Roth completes the quartet. 

Guilbert will perform originals and innovative covers of tunes from Keith Jarrett and others. Both Johnson and Teuber are Seattle jazz icons, and like Roth, great listeners and read and react players. The results should be exciting. Guilbert seems to fly under the radar when discussing Seattle’s considerable piano talent pool, making this a great opportunity to see him perform his original music with a superior cast in support. https://seattlejazzfellowship.org/events

Keyon Harrold presenting Foreverland

Tue & Wed Oct 8-9, 7:30 PM / Jazz Alley

Detroit born trumpeter Keyon Harrold has a warm and bold trumpet sound, and a high end jazz pedigree in whatever form the music takes on a given project. His virtuosity is augmented by a keen sense of social awareness and an openness to change. His modern music blends a combination of  jazz, Afrobeat, soul, spoken word, hip-hop, blues and rock into an amalgam of twenty first century sounds. He can return to a more post-bop resonance within a given performance as well. Whatever form he decides to settle on, he is worth the effort to see live simply to witness one of the most prominent trumpet voices on the scene today. Harrold unfairly gets a bad rap for his participation in the unfortunate release of Don Cheadle’s Miles Ahead, or from traditional jazz fans who fear he has wandered off the rightgeous path. Yet every once in a while it is good to shake up your musical world and include the vibrancy of excellence in a differernt light. This may be one of those times.

Harrold hits JA with a quintet featuring Chad Selph on keyboards, guitarist Matt Sewell, bassist Dan Winshall and drummer Clean Edwards. https://www.jazzalley.com/www-home/artist.jsp?shownum=7588

Marta Sanchez Trio

Thu Oct 10, 7:30 PM / Seattle Jazz Fellowship

SJF welcomes pianist Marta Sanchez and her trio to Seattle, for a one night hit at 109 S. Main. Sanchez is a noted composer whose melodic compositions reflect her style as an improviser as well. The trio will perform music from her latest release, Perpetual Void. 

Sanchez was born and raised around the music of her hometown of Madrid, Spain. She is currently a force on the scene in New York City. Sanchez will be joined by NYC drummer Eliza Dalem and in-demand bassist Tyrone Allen. After a long period of performing in a quintet format, the pianist has reverted to the trio in search of space and the possibilities it presents. Sanchez is very melodic in her spontaneous composing as an improviser, an orchestral approach that speaks to the melodic ease of her written pieces. Allen is a known quantity in Seattle from his appearances with Immanuel Wilkins and Micah Thomas, as well as the bassist in Portland born tenor sensation, Nicole Glover’s trio. 

The art of the jazz piano trio has been extensively examined at the Seattle Jazz Fellowship. It is an environment that encourages full immersion from the audience, and full expression from the musicians. Sanchez has a way of creating melodies that welcome you in as a listener, before applying a full embrace emotionally. Even the most complex of her melodies lead to a simpler light for her bandmates to interpret freely in the moment. This is one of those rare opportunities to see a notable artist whose performances in the PNW are few and far between. https://seattlejazzfellowship.org/events

Dawn Clement

Fri & Sat Oct 11-12, 7:30 PM

Pianist / Vocalist Dawn Clement returns to Seattle to perform at SJF. The long tenured Seattle musician / educator moved to Denver a few years back, but still has a major presence in the Emerald City, including as a board member of SJF. She recently took over the directorship of Jazz Port Townsend, furthering her commitment to jazz in the PNW. Clement is not only a major force as a pianist and composer–her time as an educator in Seattle had a huge impact on many young musicians passing through her time at Cornish. Her soaring vocal style is accentuated perfectly by her original compositions, creating an orchestral perfornance style within one musician. This is a weekend not to be missed–and that’s before the band and program have been announced. More to come…….https://seattlejazzfellowship.org/events

Jeremy Pelt Quintet

Tue & Wed Oct 22-23, 7:30 PM / Jazz Alley

Trumpeter Jeremy Pelt returns to Jazz Alley with a quintet configuration he has employed for the past year. Fleet vibraphonist Jalen Baker and guitarist Misha Mendelenko are front and center in the rhythm section and the front line, with bassist Leighton Mckinley-Harrell and drummer Jared Spears holding down the fort. For his part, Pelt is not only a trumpeter with superior chops and a large sound, he is a band leader and advocate for the music whose work has great integrity. His respect for the history of the music, and realization of new musical roads to travel and carry it forward is adorned with great pride and humility. He allows his band to play and have a prominent voice in where the music goes on a given night, something one might say with a wink when the bandleader is a trumpeter in need of a blow now and again. The truth is, Pelt envisions his original tunes within the context of collective interaction onstage. He is seemingly always on point, and always delivers a satisfying set of music. You can cash this one in. https://www.jazzalley.com/www-home/artist.jsp?shownum=7589

Thu Oct 24, 7:30 PM / Seattle Jazz Fellowship- 109 S. Main St.

Always nice to extend a hand across the border and bring our friend Cory Weeds into town to perform. The Vancouver based saxophonist arrives with a two tenor front line featuring NYC tenorist Jerry Weldon. Weeds’ BC mate, the marvelous pianist Miles Black heads up the rhythm section that includes Seattle stalwarts in bassist Michael Glynn and drummer Matt Jorgensen. 

Weeds’ bands are always swingin’, and steeped in the modern post-bop tradition. He has a long term relationship with this superb rhythm section, a history that dates back to dates at the now demolished Tula’s Jazz Club in Seattle, and Weeds’ current digs at Frankie’s in Vancouver. Having Weldon in town from Gotham is the cherry on top of the sundae. https://seattlejazzfellowship.org/events

Caleb Wheeler Curtis Trio

Fri & Sat Oct 25-26, 7:30 PM / Seattle Jazz Fellowship- 109 S. Main St.

Caleb Wheeler Curtis was raised around the strong jazz scene in and around Detroit in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and is currently based in New York City. One of the premier saxophonists in jazz today, Curtis has an extensive recording and performance resume. He is an Imani Records recording artist, and a fixture on the scenes in New York and Philadelphia. He has appeared previously at the Fellowship with the Ember trio, and in Seattle with Orrin Evans’ Captain Black Big Band. His 2022 Imani release, Heatmap received critical acclaim, as did his duo release with pianist Laurent Nicoud titled Substrate. 

For this performance, Curtis forms a trio with bassist Colson Jiminez and drummer Michael Sarin. Sarin is New York based, but has Seattle roots. Curtis thrives in a chordless environment such as this, something Fellowship members bore witness to with his appearance at Vernmillion with Ember. He performs on the straight alto saxophone, also known as the stritch, and doubles on trumpet on occasion. His playing is adventurous, hence the preference for the melodic freedom gained in a piano-less environment. He is technically brilliant, but not constrained by those abilities. The approach he employs is very much melody based, ascendent and probing for beauty. An absolute can’t miss opportunity for Seattle jazz fans. https://seattlejazzfellowship.org/events

Legacy of Wayne Shorter: Danilo Pérez, John Patitucci, Brian Blade with Mark Turner

Sat Oct 26, 8 PM / Town Hall

The Earshot Jazz Festival hits its absolute peak with this evening of music from four masters of the form. Individually, pianist Danilo Perez, bassist John Patitucci and drummer Brian Blade have created extensive legacies as solo artists, and on a variety of collective projects. But together, they are the children of the great Wayne Shorter, three fourths of his historic and trailblazing quartet of the twenty first century. In what may have been the most groundbreaking period of his storied career, Shorter employed the trio to actually build compositions piece by piece through group improvisation. This trio not only brings Shorter’s music with them, but that group mind that the master so brilliantly curated.

For this date, they bring in saxophonist Mark Turner, an adventurer in his own light, and a generational presence on tenor saxophone. This show should prove to be one of the true highlights of the year in Seattle jazz. https://earshotjazz.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/#/instances/a0FUJ00000BzSsH2AV

Skerik Quartet featuring Johnaye Kendrick

Sun Oct 27, 8PM / Royal Room

2024 Earshot Jazz Festival artist-in-residence Skerik is perhaps the perfect musician to hold that distinction. A versatile, shape shifting saxophonist, he can morph into different forms without jettisoning his musical identity. Vocal artist Johnaye Kendrick can be described along those terms as well, making this a spellbinding union. Kendrick uses her voice as an instrument of perfect pitch, while Skerik can summon emotional response in a variety of ways.

Pianist Tim Kennedy, bassist Geoff Harper and drummer D’Vonne Lewis are familiar partners for both artists, making this unique union one with foundational presence. I’m mildly surprised that this gig is being staged at the Royal Room–one would think it would sell out fast there. Be sure to make a dinner reservation if you want to be seated in a good location. It’s a separate act at the quirky Columbia City venue. https://earshotjazz.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/#/instances/a0FUJ00000BzqL72AJ

Kenny Garrett and Sounds From The Ancestors

Tue & Wed Oct 29-30, 7:30 PM / Jazz Alley

Saxophonist Kenny Garrett was raised in the music under the tutelage of Detroit legend Marcus Belgrave, and went on to develop his craft while performing with some of the music historic greats- Duke Ellington, Art Blakey and Miles Davis. He has gone on to become one of the most prominent jazz artists of the new century, creating a style that includes elements of the entirety of the jazz tradition. While the altoist’s performances are clear testaments to his virtuosity and creative individuality, his direct connection with his audience is something special to experience. Yes, there are the Grammys and the obvious influences that many will point out. But nobody has embodied the spirit of his age in music quite like Garrett. There is a lot of his hometown of Detroit in his sound, with images of Aretha Franklin and Gaye merging with those of John Coltrane and Joe Henderson in his music. It is the collective experience of life growing up in one of the world’s great music cities. Like his mentor Belgrave, he is a jazz wanderer, a gatherer of sound that has created a unique and vibrant musical identity that is steeped in jazz tradition and open to the journey ahead. This is one not to miss. Band TBA https://www.jazzalley.com/www-home/artist.jsp?shownum=7518

Bill Anschell Standards Trio

Wed Oct 30, 8 PM / The Alhadeff Studio Theater at Seattle Center

The tradition of the jazz piano trio is well exemplified by this trio that works as an equal partnership between three very unique individual musicians. Those three individuals are all in on the “we” narrative of the tradition that evolved into a genuine sub-genre in jazz under the auspices of the trios of Bud Powell, Ahmad Jamal and Bill Evans.

The trio’s group mind is perfectly presented on their 2018 Origin Records release, Shifting Standards, skillfully recorded live in studio without isolation by ace engineer, Reed Ruddy. Pisnist Bill Anschell‘s fertile imagination as a composer translates perfectly to his approach as an interpreter of song, and his ability to improvise within the framework of a tune. In choosing bassist Jeff Johnson as a partner on this journey, he chooses a major component of the trios of iconic pianists Jessica Williams, Chano Dominguez, and most importantly, the groundbreaking rubato trio of Hal Galper. Johnson’s ability to utilize melodic solo passages, earth shattering chordal swipes and an elegant vibrato enables him to get inside Anschell’s playing and add broad strokes of musical intelligence. Drummer D’Vonne Lewis has a wide ranging, athletic skill set, tempered by the fact that he is one of the great listeners on the Seattle scene. He has a wonderful sense of when to add explosive color and when to lay back and provide nuance.

The trio has a rare connectivity, a trait found in all of the great piano trios in jazz history. This perfornance as part of the 2024 Earshot Jazz Festival allows Seattle jazz fans t know we have a sizable chunk of that great tradition right here in our city.

Joshua Redman Group featuring Gabrielle Cavassa

Thu Oct 31 – Sun Nov 3, 7:30 & 9:30 PM / Jazz Alley

Veteran saxophonist Joshua Redman has appeared on the venerable stage at Jazz Alley on many occasions in many configurations. In this iteration, he fronts the band with laid back vocalist Gabrielle Cavassa. Having just seen this quintet perfrom at the 45th annual Detroit Jazz Festival, I can honestly say I was more than surprised how much I enjoyed their set. Why surprised you say? Because despite the fact that I have seen Redman perform admirably many, many times, the presence of the almost non-chalant style of Cavassa worried me. It’s true, I am naturally suspicious of vocal intrusion into what I see as an instrumental artist’s musical landscape. Well folks, I was way off on this one. The band turned in a performace that built up a presence and intensity in the making, with all band members turning in splendid performances. Cavassa’s style with Redman’s bold passages and melodic figures alongside made for a beautiful union of sound.

The collective resonance of the band was lit by the fire of pianist Paul Cornish, bassist Philip Norris and drummer Nazir Ebo, the same virtuosic rhythm section on this date. This is very straight ahead fare, not for the near jazz crowd. It lives on melody, harmony and killin’ chops. If that’s your thing, this is one to hit. https://www.jazzalley.com/www-home/artist.jsp?shownum=7590