Seattle Jazz Scene

Today’s All About Jazz daily download features a track from trumpeter Jason Parker.

Click here to download “Bashert“

Monday, March 30 at 7:30pm
Marc Seales Quintet with Special Guest Rochelle House

JAZZ ALLEY
2033 6th Avenue
Seattle
Reservations: 206-441-9729
http://jazzalley.com

The Pacific Jazz Institute at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley presents pianist Marc Seales with special guest vocalist Rochelle House for one night only. Both artists are celebrating the release of new CD’s. Band members are Marc Seales (piano), Rochelle House (vocals), Thomas Marriott (trumpet), Evan Flory-Barnes (bass), Larry Barilleau (percussion) and D’Vonne Lewis (drums). Set time is 7:30pm and doors open at 6pm.

Appearing at Jazz Alley for one night in support of his latest CD, The Paris Suite, Marc Seales, a Professor at the University of Washington, is well known in the Puget Sound area for his many appearances in jazz venues. He has played with nearly every visiting jazz celebrity from Joe Henderson and Art Pepper to Benny Carter, Mark Murphy, and Bobby Hutcherson. With Don Lanphere he performed in such places as London, England; Kobe, Japan; The Hague in the Netherlands; and the North Sea Jazz Festival. “Playing with all those guys was like going to school for me,” says Seales

Rochelle’s latest CD entitled Water, is being released on March 30th at Jazz Alley. This CD is her second collaboration with Marc Seales and also features Seattle jazz musicians D’Vonne Lewis, Evan Flory-Barnes, and Paul Rucker, as well as Cuong Vu. Rochelle House is a vocalist who understands, in a deep, lived sense, what she is singing about, and has the talents and tools to express it. Her debut disc Dreams of Love earned her a nomination for Earshot’s Golden Ear awards, in the vocalist of the year category. She demonstrates on Water that her debut was no fluke. Four of the nine compositions are originals, while the remainder of the selections really are selections: chosen for their sympathetic reinforcement of the album’s moods and pacing, as well as House’s own singular expressive talents.

JAZZ ALLEY: George Duke

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Elspeth Savani Orchstra Zarabanda

NEW ORLEANS: The Ham Carson Quintet

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Ambience, with Leah Natale (vocals), George Stone, Chris Busa and Burt Boice (bass)
9pm – Jeremy Udden’s Plainville, with Jeremy Udden (alto/soprano sax), Victor Noriega (keys), Will Graefe (guitar) and Sean Hutchinson (drums)

LUCID: Sasha Herschberg Trio

LO-FI: The Teaching

THAIKU: Jeff Alberts, Jeff Johnson & Tad Britton

SORRENTO: Miss Rose & Casey Macgill

JAZZ ALLEY: Tony DeSare Trio

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Greta Matassa Jazz Workshop

NEW ORLEANS: The Legacy Band w/Clarence Acox

THAIKU: Ron Weinstein Trio

WHISKEY BAR: Ronnie Pierce

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – David Maloney (of Reilly and Maloney) solo show!
9pm – Vocal Jam hosted by Cara Francis, with the Dan Sales Trio

Tony DeSare Trio at Jazz Alley
March 24-25, 2009
http://www.jazzalley.com

The Pacific Jazz Institute at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley presents pianist and vocalist Tony DeSare touring in support of his latest release Radio Show. Band members joining Mr. De Sare are Mike Klopp (drums) and Mike Lee (bass). Set times Tuesday and Wednesday at 7:30pm. Doors open at 6:00pm Tuesday and 5:30pm Wednesday.

“With his dark hair, bright brown eyes and toothpaste smile that rarely fades he exhibits the slicked-up charm of an early ’60s pop star with Rat Pack dreams” raved the New York Times. United Press International called him “the freshest face on the saloon circuit…” MSNBC praised him as “an engaging singer, with a warm, clear, mellifluous voice and some real stage charisma.”

The Tony DeSare Trio was one of the most popular bands in central New York State while DeSare attended Ithaca College. Shortly after moving to New York City in 1999, DeSare was cast as the star of the long running Off-Broadway musical, Our Sinatra. In the fall of 2002, DeSare performed at the Apollo Theater where he first met jazz guitar icon Bucky Pizarelli. Since then, Pizzarelli has continued to perform with DeSare’s band around the country.

DeSare’s latest recording, is entitled Radio Show and was recently released on January 20, 2009. The CD is a concept album that spans generations of pop music and all takes place in the realm of radio. Radio Show is an engaging affair because the smooth baritone singer-songwriter takes the old, mixes it with some new and offers a few originals for balance. The CD even features a duet with star jazz singer, Jane Monheit.

JAZZ ALLEY: Tony DeSare Trio

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Music Works Big Band

NEW ORLEANS: Holotradband

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Jump Ensemble
9pm – David Arteaga, with Randy Halberstadt (piano), Doug Miller (bass) and Steve Korn (drums)

MARTIN’S ON MADISON: Karin Kajita

JAZZ ALLEY: An Evening with Branford Marsalis

TRIPLE DOOR MUSICQUARIUM: Sunday Night Salsa: Rhythm Syndicate

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB:
3pm: Ziggurat Quartet
8pm: Jim Cutler Big Band

SERAFINA:
11am-1:30pm: Jazz Brunch: Conlin Roser Duo
6:30-9pm: Jerry Frank, solo piano

LUCID: Jam Session
5241 University Way

NORTH CITY BISTRO: Jam Session
1520 NE 177th Street, Shoreline, WA, 4-7pm

Drop us a line and let us know what else is happening tonight!

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB:
4:00pm – Kathleen Donnelly
8:00pm – Susan Pascal

JAZZ ALLEY: An Evening with Branford Marsalis

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – and how! Quintet
9pm – Ben Darwish Trio, with Ben Darwish (piano), Eric Gruber (bass) and Jason Palmer (drums)
11pm – Sambatuque, with Jeff Busch (drums), Mikaela Romero (vocals), Tim Carey (bass), Alex Chadsey (keys), and Denny Stern (congas & percussion)

TRIPLE DOOR MUSICQUARIUM: How Now Brown Cow

BAKE’S PLACE: Greta Matassa

LOCAL COLOR: Fathia Atallah

SERAFINA: Leo Raymundo w/ Sue Nixon

LUCID: Industrial Revelation

EL GAUCHO BELLEVUE: Trish Hatley Trio

CONCERT: Tom Varner
Chapel Performance Space at the Good Shepherd Center, Wallingford in Seattle

Donny was Buddy Rich’s and Gene Krupa’s protégé. He’s the last link to the great drummers of the swing era. He will do a clinic and sign copies of his new DVD and book.

FRIDAY, MARCH 20 – 7:30pm … Only $5

Donn Bennett Drum Studio
13212 NE 16th St. #7
Bellevue, WA 98005

(425) 747-6145 (telephone)

From The Seattle Times:

At its best, jazz is hand-tailored music that can be shaped to fit just about any setting. For French-horn master Tom Varner, a concert in the intimate, resonant Chapel Performance Space at the Good Shepherd Center offers an opportunity to design a program calibrated for a sacred space.

Saturday’s performance, part of the Wayward Music Series, features Varner in a variety of contexts, from solo to quintet, exploring a cross section of music he’s written since relocating from New York City to Seattle in 2006. He’s reorchestrated two movements from his “Heaven and Hell” suite, distilling them from 10 to five pieces. And he’s composed some new tunes dedicated to the ingenious soprano saxophonist Steve Lacy, who brought Varner out to Seattle in 1993 for, appropriately enough, his “Vespers” project.

Continue reading at The Seattle Times.

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Hal Galper Trio featuring Jeff Johnson and John Bishop

JAZZ ALLEY: An Evening with Branford Marsalis

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Andrew Oliver Kora Band, with Kane Mathis (kora/guitar), Andrew Oliver (piano/keyboard), Chad McCullough (trumpet), Eric Gruber (bass), Mark DiFlorio (drums) [Website] ($7 cover)
9pm – Crown Hill Invention, with Tom Watson (acoustic guitar/vocals), Mike Sievers (piano/keyboard/acoustic guitar/vocals) and John Isenhart (acoustic fretless bass) ($5 cover)
11pm – Chemical Clock, UW jazz combo, with Cameron Sharif (keyboard/piano), Ray Larsen (trumpet), Mark Hunter (bass) and Evan Woodle (percussion/drums)

TRIPLE DOOR MUSICQUARIUM:
5:30pm: Jason Parker / Josh Rawlings Duo
9:00pm: Reptet

BAKE’S PLACE: Gail Pettis Trio

LOCAL COLOR: JoAnne Klein

LATONA PUB: Phil Sparks Trio

SERAFINA: Kiko de Freitas

BELLEVUE WESTIN: Geoffrey Castle

HIROSHI’S JAZZ AND SUSHI: Jay Thomas w/ Monkstone Theocracy

CAFE HARLEQUIN: Finn Hill Jazz Quartet w/ Kay Bailey

EL GAUCHO BELLEVUE: Trish Hatley Trio

Plan your Friday night … lots of great music.

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Hal Galper Trio featuring Jeff Johnson and John Bishop (8:00pm, http://tulas.com)
With over 82 recordings to his credit, 20 as a leader in his own right, pianist, composer, publisher, educator, author and touring artist, Hal Galper is best known for his work with Chet Baker, Connonball Adderley, John Scofield and the Phil Woods Quintet. His recordings as a leader with Mike and Randy Brecker are considered among the best.

EGAN’S: Andrew Oliver Kora Band (7:00pm, http://www.ballardjamhouse.com/)
Andrew Oliver is a pianist and composer from Portland, Oregon. He grew up playing classical music but switched to jazz at the beginning of high school, when he began taking lessons from Randy Porter. He lived in New Orleans from 2002 until 2005, where he studied jazz at Loyola University and performed as both a bandleader and sideman. After evacuating from Hurricane Katrina in the summer of 2005, he returned to Portland and finished his studies in music and French at Portland State University. He has studied with Matt Lemmler, Michael Pellera, and Darrell Grant, and performed with many musicians in New Orleans and Portland including Devin Phillips, Irvin Mayfield, and Glen Moore. He is currently active in many groups including his own sextet, the Portland Jazz Composers’ Ensemble, which he recently co-founded, and Devin Phillips’ group New Orleans Straight Ahead.

JAZZ ALLEY: Branford Marsalis Quartet (7:30 & 9:30pm, http://www.jazzalley.com
Branford performing at a club … enough said.

HIROSHI’S JAZZ AND SUSHI: Jay Thomas w/ Monkstone Theocracy (7:30 – 10:00pm)
Trumpeter and saxophonist Jay Thomas performs with an all-star Seattle rhythm section featuring Bill Anschell (piano), Chris Symer (bass) and Greg Williamson (drums).

JAZZ ALLEY: An Evening with Branford Marsalis

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Sonando

NEW ORLEANS: The Ham Carson Quintet

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Lionel Kramer & Friends, with Bud Schultz (piano/vibes/melodica), Bob Antolin (saxes/guitar), Makini (vocals), Cheetah (congas), Mark Bullis (bass) and Lionel Kramer (drums)
9pm – FLEX 4, with Dan Blunck (woodwinds/etc), David Haney (piano), Dan O’Brien (bass) and Ken Paine (drums)

LUCID: Shiri Zorn

SORRENTO HOTEL: Katy Bourne & Randy Halberstadt

THAIKU: Jon Alberts, Jeff Johnson & Tad Britton

MOXIE: Dennis Moss

FRIDAY, MARCH 20 – GALLERY 1412
1412 18th Ave, Seattle
http://gallery1412.org/

Percussionist Paul Kikuchi will perform solo compositions and improvisations centered around the drum set, and his new series of original instruments entitled topographs, this Friday at Gallery 1412 in Seattle.

Paul Kikuchi is a percussionist, composer, and instrument maker from Indianola, WA. He is a member of the acclaimed Empty Cage Quartet, Balkan-influenced Orkestar Zirkonium, and the rock band Battery D. He has performed and recorded with musicians such as Daniel Carter, Marilyn Crispell, Wayne Horvitz, and the NOW Orchestra.

Paul’s playing can be heard on a number of different record labels including Clean Feed, Nine Winds, PfMentum, and Tomlab. Paul holds degrees in music from Bennington College and California Institute of the Arts, where he studied closely with Milford Graves and Wadada Leo Smith.

from The Seattle Times:

Branford Marsalis is one of the biggest names in jazz, a midcareer master who’s maintained an enviable level of visibility for nearly three decades.

But the sardonic tenor and soprano saxophonist isn’t much impressed by personal accolades. As a musician, he’s devoted to a group concept that puts a premium on free-flowing interaction, a powerfully kinetic sound marked by breakneck tempo shifts and odd meters. It’s the kind of approach that can only be developed through long hours on the bandstand — and his band has clearly put in the time.

Marsalis’ quartet opens a four-night run at Jazz Alley on Thursday.

“The American ethos praises the individual,” says Marsalis, 47, from his home in Durham, N.C. “In music it translates into an obsession with being a genius, inventing a style, all those things. I’ve always been blessed with the marvelous gift of not being too ambitious. The hard part is to get everyone to embrace the idea that the music’s not about them. We’re just a bunch of conduits.”

Continue reading at The Seattle Times.

JAZZ ALLEY: Kenny Rankin

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Katie King Vocal Showcase

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Jeni Wren (vocals), with Gregg Belisle (guitar), Mark Bullis (bass) and Lionel Kramer (drums)
9pm – Vocal Jam hosted by Katy Bourne, with Randy Halberstadt (piano)

THAIKU: Ron Weinstein Trio

WHISKEY BAR: Ronnie Pierce

from the final article by Gene Stout, Seattle PI Music Critic:

My time on the music beat — from 1983 to the present — has been a wild ride, with hundreds of interviews with some pretty famous people and hundreds of concert reviews.

It has been an honor to write about music in a city that has helped launch the careers of Quincy Jones, Ray Charles, Jimi Hendrix, The Sonics, Ventures, Wailers, Heart, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Death Cab for Cutie, among many others.

People often ask me to name a favorite concert, but there have been so many, from big arena shows to little piano-bar performances. I couldn’t pick just one.

Among my most recent favorites was a Patsy Cline tribute concert March 5 at the Columbia City Theater featuring local singers Rachael Flotard, Kim Virant, Star Anna, Kristen Ward and Victoria Wimer Contreras. Collectively, they captured the spirit of Cline and her music in a stirring, heartfelt concert.

My first concert review for the P-I actually came in October 1979, when I saw Lenny and Squiggy of “Happy Days” at a Burien nightclub. It was a silly show, but readers enjoyed my goofy little review, which led to a series of assignments before I was officially hired as a reporter and critic in 1983.

It marked a real commitment by the P-I to popular music coverage, which had been a part-time beat for many years in the very capable hands of my predecessor, the late George Arthur.

Continue reading at the Seattle PI.

JAZZ ALLEY: Kenny Rankin

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Roadside Attraction

NEW ORLEANS: Holotradband

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE: PK & What Army?, with Paul Kemmish (bass), Brian Kent (sax), and Olli Klomp(drums), joined by guests Jim Knodle (trumpet) and Amy Denio (clarinet)

TRIPLE DOOR: Tribute to Little Blue and the Bluenotes

MARTIN’S ON MADISON: Karin Kajita

MIX: Don Mock