Monday Jazz

March 14, 2011 / / No Comments

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Hal Sherman and the BCC Jazz Orchestra
2214 2nd Ave, 206-443-4221, 7:30pm

JAZZ ALLEY: Jackson High School Jazz Ensembles
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30pm

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

AMORE: John Terpin Trio
2301 5th Ave, 206-770-0606, 7:30pm

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

MARTIN’S ON MADISON: Howard Dixon
1413 14th Ave, 206-325-7000, 7:30pm

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

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

Jazz Drummer Joe Morello, Of ‘Take Five’ Fame, Dies At 82

March 13, 2011 / / No Comments

via NPR:

Drummer Joe Morello, the longtime drummer with the Dave Brubeck Quartet, has died.

Raised in Springfield, Mass. with impaired vision from birth, Morello eventually found his way to New York City, where he played with many leading jazz musicians. In the 1950s, he was a regular member of pianist and NPR host Marian McPartland’s band. In 1990, that band, known as the Hickory House Trio after the venue of their employment, reconvened to tape a special reunion episode of Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz.

However, Morello is best known for his tenure with Brubeck, who employed him for over 12 years during the height of Brubeck’s fame. Famously, the smash hit “Take Five” was arranged as a solo feature for Morello.

Sunday Jazz

March 13, 2011 / / No Comments

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB:
3pm – Jazz Police Big Band
8pm – Jim Cutler Jazz Orchestra
2214 2nd Ave, 206-443-4221

JAZZ ALLEY:
David Sanborn Trio featuring Joey DeFrancesco
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729

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

BAKE’S PLACE:
10am – Sunday Breakfasts w/guitarist Michael Gotz
6:45pm – Kevin Mahogany
4135 Providence Point Dr SE, Issaquah, 425-391-3335

CAFE RACER: Racer Sessions
5828 Roosevelt Way NE, 8pm

CONCERT: Kevin Mahogany w/Bill Anschell
Jazz Vox Camano, 206-963-2430, 2pm

DARRELL’S TAVERN: Jam w/ Kevin McCarthy
18041 Aurora Ave N, Shoreline, 8pm

New Seattle label Table and Chairs launch concert Saturday

March 11, 2011 / / No Comments

Chemical Clock – Undercurrent (Dec 2010) from Table & Chairs on Vimeo.

from The Seattle Times:

A new Seattle label, Table and Chairs, launches Saturday with a concert at the Q Café, in Interbay. The label features experimental jazz, but not exclusively. It is associated with students of University of Washington music professor Cuong Vu. The same circle of musicians are involved with the Improvised Music Project (IMP), which presents monthly concerts and a festival, and Café Racer, which features Sunday night shows in the University District. “I think of IMP as the little brother to Racer, which then feeds into TnC,” said Vu, in an e-mail. “It’s one fluid path that starts at the UW, then to Racer where then more of the non-UW public is now joining.” The launch concert features Friendly Creature, guitarist Kristian Garrard, Small Face, Chemical Clock and saxophonist Neil Welch.

The show is at 8 p.m. Saturday, Q Café, 3223 15th Ave. W., Seattle; $10 (206-352-2525 or http://www.qcafe.org).

Friday Jazz

March 11, 2011 / / No Comments

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

JAZZ ALLEY: David Sanborn Trio featuring Joey DeFrancesco
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30 & 10:00pm

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

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

TRIPLE DOOR MUSICQUARIUM: Waterbabies
216 Union St, 206-838-4333, 9:00pm

AMORE: Lonnie Williams
2301 5th Ave, (206) 770-0606

BAKE’S PLACE: Greta Matassa & special guest Robert Vaughan
4135 Providence Point Dr. SE, Issaquah, 425-391-3335

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

HIROSHI’S: Greg Williamson Quartet
2501 Eastlake Ave E, 726-4966

LAKESIDE BISTRO: Coreena Brown w/ Jimmy Holden
11425 Rainier Avenue South, Seattle, (206) 772-6891

THE CHAPEL: Chris deLaurenti
The Chapel Performance Space (4639 Sunnyside Avenue North), 8:00pm

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE: 7PM: David Arteaga; 9pm: Lorrie Ruiz and McTuff

NORTH CITY BISTRO: David George Quartet
1520 NE 177th, Shoreline, (206) 365-4447, 8:00pm

Saturday Jazz

March 11, 2011 / / No Comments

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

JAZZ ALLEY: David Sanborn Trio featuring Joey DeFrancesco
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30 & 10:00pm

BOXLEY’S: Karen Shivers Quartet
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, WA, 425-292-9307, 7:00pm

TRIPLE DOOR MUSICQUARIUM: Tiger’s Wood
216 Union St, 206-838-4333

LAKESIDE BISTRO: Sam Chambliss
11425 Rainier Avenue South, Seattle, 206-772-6891

CONCERT: Kevin Mahogany w/Bill Anschell
Jazz Vox Auburn, 206-963-2430, 7:30pm

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Paul Miranda Trio
9pm – Dan Czaran w/Ed Weber (piano), Kevin McCarthy (bass), Larry Bergman (drums)
1707 NW Market Street, 206-789-1621

CONCERT: Table and Chairs label launch
Q Cafe, 3223 15th Ave W, 8pm

BAKE’S PLACE: (show cancelled-closed)
4135 Providence Point Dr. SE, Issaquah, 425-391-3335

Thursday Jazz

March 10, 2011 / / No Comments

TRACTOR TAVERN: Reptet CD Release Party
5213 Ballard NW, 206-789-3599, 9:00pm
Read the review of their new CD.

SEATTLE ART MUSEUM: Orkestar Zirkonium
100 University St, 654-3100, 5:30pm

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Beth Winter Cornish Showcase
2214 2nd Ave, 206-443-4221, 7:30pm

JAZZ ALLEY: David Sanborn Trio featuring Joey DeFrancesco
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30 & 10:00pm

MARTIN’S ON MADISON: Jerry Zimmerman
1413 14th Ave, 206-325-7000, 7:30pm

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

THAIKU: Jon Alberts, Jeff Johnson, Tad Britton
5410 Ballard Ave NW, 8:30pm

LUCID: The Hang Hosted By Evan Flory-Barnes, Jason Holt, Mark Sampson
5241 University Ave NE, 206-402-3042, 9:00pm

BOXLEY’S: HB Radke and Craig Hoyer
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

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE: 7pm: Martine with Keiko Freitas; 9pm: Bruce Phares and Overton Berry
1707 NW Market Street, Seattle, 206-789-1621

DISTRICT LOUNGE: Cassia DeMayo Quintet
4507 Brooklyn Ave NE, 206-547-4134

Spokane jazz world to honor the late Arnie Carruthers

March 9, 2011 / / No Comments

from KREM:

SPOKANE — A giant in the Spokane jazz scene is dead. Arnie Carruthers died Monday at the age of 81 after a lengthy illness.

Many considered Carruthers as the godfather of jazz who influenced many of the major players in the Spokane music scene.

A car accident left him immobile. A stroke took away the use of one of his hands. But that didn’t stop him. Many said Carruthers was a character and a musician’s musician who played off and on in the lobby of the Davenport Hotel in the 1970s and 1980s. He invented new chords and his talent gained some attention across the country.

“These artists would come in. Major artists off the road and they’d hear Arnie playing. They’d say this guy is great and they’d look and realize he was doing this with one hand. He’d figure out a way to re-do it,” said Spokane Falls Community College Music Director David Wakely.

A tribute to Arnie has been in the works for several years. It is scheduled for next weekend. Apparently Arnie knew about the tribute. He was excited about it and had even gone back to the piano to practice in hopes of being able to play. But he succumbed to his illness before that happened.

The show will go on March 19 at Spokane Falls Community College in building 15 at 7:00 p.m. Many alumni who have played with Arnie over the years will perform along with Arnie’s children.

Wednesday Jazz

March 9, 2011 / / No Comments

THE CHAPEL: Agogic & Andy Clausen
4639 Sunnyside Avenue North, 8:00pm

JAZZ ALLEY: Steve Smith and Vital Information
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30pm

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

MARTIN’S ON MADISON: Bonnie Birch
1413 14th Ave, 206-325-7000, 7:30pm

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

THAIKU: Ron Weinstein Trio
5410 Ballard Ave NW, 8:30pm

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

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE: Vocal Showcase and Vocal Jam
1707 NW Market St, 206-789-1621, 7:00pm

LUCID: Farko Collective
5241 University Ave NE, Seattle, 206-402-3042, 8:30pm

Bellevue Jazz Festival announces headliners

March 7, 2011 / / No Comments

from The Seattle Times:

The Bellevue Jazz Festival has announced headliners for its 2011 edition. Appearing at the 4-year-old fete’s anchor venue, the Theatre at the Meydenbauer Center, are violinist Regina Carter; saxophonist Charles Lloyd with tabla master Zakir Hussain; saxophonist Chris Potter’s Underground; bassist Michael Formanek; vocalist Tierney Sutton; pianist Luis Perdomo and the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra, with the Festival Rising Stars.

The Bellevue celebration also showcases more than 30 performances by Seattle-area artists at various venues in downtown Bellevue.

June 1-5, Theatre at the Meydenbauer Center, 11100 N.E. Sixth St., Bellevue; free-$78, all-access pass, $98 (www.bellevuejazz.com). Tickets go on sale later in March.

Monday Jazz

March 7, 2011 / / No Comments

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Vocal Jam hosted by Greta Matassa
2214 2nd Ave, 206-443-4221, 7:30pm

MEANY THEATER: UW Studio Jazz Ensemble
University of Washington Campus, 7:30pm

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

AMORE: Ronnie Pierce Jazz Ensemble
2301 5th Ave, 206-770-0606, 7:30pm

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

MARTIN’S ON MADISON: Howard Dixon
1413 14th Ave, 206-325-7000, 7:30pm

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

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

Sunday Jazz

March 6, 2011 / / No Comments

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB:
3pm – Reggie Goings Jazz Offering
8pm – Jim Cutler Jazz Orchestra
2214 2nd Ave, 206-443-4221

JAZZ ALLEY:
McCoy Tyner Quintet ft. Bill Frisell, Gary Bartz, John Patitucci and Herlin Riley
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729

TRIPLE DOOR MAINSTAGE:
Kenny Werner All-Star Quintet w/Randy Brecker, Antonio Sanchez,David Sanchez
Triple Door, 216 Union St, 838-4333

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

CONCERT: Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra – Tribute To Benny Goodman
Kirkland Performance Center, 350 Kirkland Ave, Kirkland, 3pm

BAKE’S PLACE:
10am – Sunday Breakfasts at Bake’s with guitarist Michael Gotz
4135 Providence Point Dr SE, Issaquah, 425-391-3335

CAFE RACER: Racer Sessions
5828 Roosevelt Way NE, 8pm

DARRELL’S TAVERN: Jam w/ Kevin McCarthy
18041 Aurora Ave N, Shoreline, 8pm

Saturday Jazz

March 5, 2011 / / No Comments

CONCERT: Jovino Santos Neto Quinteto, CD Pre-Release for “Current”
Cornish College of the Arts, PONCHO Concert Hall, 710 East Roy Street

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Marc Seales Group
2214 2nd Ave, 206-443-4221, 7:30pm

JAZZ ALLEY: McCoy Tyner Quintet ft. Bill Frisell, Gary Bartz, John Patitucci and Herlin Riley
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30 & 10:00pm

BAKE’S PLACE: closed for private event
4135 Providence Point Dr. SE, Issaquah, 425-391-3335

BOXLEY’S: Katy Bourne Quartet
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, WA, 425-292-9307, 7:00pm

DEMIERO JAZZ FEST: Karrin Allyson
Edmonds Center for the Arts, 410 4th Ave North, Edmonds, 7:00pm, 425-275-9595

TRIPLE DOOR MUSICQUARIUM: Baby Bok Choy
216 Union St, 206-838-4333

LAKESIDE BISTRO: Phil Westbrook
11425 Rainier Avenue South, Seattle, 206-772-6891

ST. CLOUD’S: Jose Gonzales Trio
1131 34th Ave., 206-726-1522

CONCERT: Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra – Tribute To Benny Goodman
Nordstrom Recital Hall, 200 University St, 7:30pm, srjo.org

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Chris Johansen Quartet, 9pm – Susan Carr’s Ensemble
1707 NW Market Street, 206-789-1621

LO-FI: PK & What Army?/ Farko Collective
429 Eastlake Ave E, Seattle

Friday Jazz

March 4, 2011 / / No Comments

DEMIERO JAZZ FEST: Freddy Cole Quartet
Edmonds Center for the Arts, 410 4th Ave North, Edmonds, 7:00pm, 425-275-9595

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

JAZZ ALLEY: McCoy Tyner Quintet ft. Bill Frisell, Gary Bartz, John Patitucci and Herlin Riley
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30 & 10:00pm

NEW ORLEANS: Chad McCullough Quartet
114 First Ave S, 206-622-2563, 8:00pm

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

AMORE: Lonnie Williams
2301 5th Ave, (206) 770-0606

BAKE’S PLACE: Primo Kim Trio
4135 Providence Point Dr. SE, Issaquah, 425-391-3335

BOXLEY’S: Reuel Lubag 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

LAKESIDE BISTRO: Trish Hatley
11425 Rainier Avenue South, Seattle, (206) 772-6891

THE CHAPEL: Seattle Composers’ Salon w/ Wayne Horvitz
The Chapel Performance Space (4639 Sunnyside Avenue North), 8:00pm

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE: 7PM: Creative Music Adventures Jazz Night with Michael Stegner; 9pm: Passarim

Review: Reptet, At the Cabin

March 3, 2011 / / No Comments

from the March 2011 issue of Earshot Jazz:

Reptet, At the Cabin
Artist Recording Collective

Reptet is less a jazz outfit than just what they are: skilled musicians with primarily Northwest-reared chops shaped over nearly a decade together. Reptet’s fourth release, At the Cabin, is out on the Artist Recording Collective label, a platform for member-based record promotion out of Kansas City. The release shows a hodgepodge of skills and styles, but members Samantha Boshnack (brass), Nelson Bell (brass), Chris Credit (winds), Izaak Mills (winds), Tim Carey (bass), and John Ewing (drums) do bring common references to the sextet. The multi-instrumentalists pull from among twenty-plus instruments and reference styles ranging from jazz, rock, and ska to avant-garde, punk, and eastern European folk music. With a plethora of performance timbres, At the Cabin stands out as snap shot of the band right now, a palm full of grooves showing each member’s character and performed as a group.

The record opens with somewhat of a suite of compositions by Boshnack. “Mayfield Safety” launches with strong marching drums from Ewing, above immovable bass brass licks from Bell and horns. The sextet shifts into an extended bridge section, then cools off and fizzles out on some skronk sax. Next is “Snow Leopard x3” and “Milky Shakes.” These first three tracks make full use of the sextet’s collective character, though do stand out stylistically as Boshnack’s – patient horn interplay supported by heavy bass grooves, some with structural rhythmic phrasings that lend a larger dimension than a sum of parts.

That character is especially present on “Snow Leopard x3” and later on Boshnack’s “Mock Arena,” a steady piece with clever, crunchy drum sounds from Ewing, and bright horns, all landing with an afrobeat vocabulary. The vibe allows soloists Bell and Mills to comment at leisure.

Further character shines on the record with Carey’s “Songitty Song” and the two Mills pieces at the end of the record. “Songitty Song” is a cohesive piece, as the name itself suggests, with a light Mingus quality. Mills brings another two clear musical points-of-view to the album. On “Trash Can Race,” the band thrashes somewhere between Zappa and Zorn, and Mills juxtaposes his flute solo over a gritty jam. After a string of rhythmic hits, the piece moves into a half-time psychedelia on the same riff, with some appropriate comping by guitar guest Mark Oi. Then “Pills” follows in the same vein but with a more ambitious time signature to riff on, vital for the ensemble, who delight in elements of the raucous eastern European folk marching music.

Reptet also delights in a particular brand of humor that surfaces on the record. Tracks “Milky Shakes” and “Agendacide,” for example, incorporate vocal riffs that seem to reference inside jokes. For a band whose existence spans eleven years, five in its current iteration, with a mix of musical personalities, a bit of home-cooked humor is likely a given. It doesn’t affect the overall appeal of the At the Cabin, and that humor is evidence of Reptet’s tendency to give permissions to each other that not all bands can afford. The result is a band difficult to qualify, but exciting in its potential to delight and surprise.

Don’t take this reviewer’s word for it: Reptet holds their At the Cabin CD release party on March 10 at the Tractor Tavern, 9pm. Eyvind Kang, Jessika Kenney, and Geoff Harper open.

DeMiero Jazz Festival this weekend

March 3, 2011 / / No Comments

from Earshot:

Weekend in Edmonds at the DeMiero Jazz Festival

John Pizzarelli returns for the fourth consecutive year with his quartet to lend artistic direction to this annual Edmonds event. Festival attendees can catch Pizzarelli and quartet each night, along with Friday and Saturday headliners Freddy Cole Quartet and Karrin Allyson.

The festival also features performances by more than 50 elementary, middle, and high school jazz choirs and jazz bands and adult choirs from throughout the Pacific Northwest.

The festival is made possible by a collaborative partnership with Edmonds Community College and the Friends of Frank DeMiero Foundation, honoring the vocal educator and community agent Frank DeMiero, who currently resides in Edmonds.

The festival also hosts the Tenuto Awards each year. In music, a tenuto mark signifies that a note should be sustained for its whole value. The award is given to individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions to music education – enabling young people to live their lives to their fullest value. Recipients in 2010 were Sara Gazarek and Symetra Financial.

DeMiero Jazz Festival events are held at the Edmonds Center for the Arts on the weekend of March 3-5. Full details are available at www.demierojazzfest.org.

Thursday Jazz

March 3, 2011 / / No Comments

CORNISH: John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble
PONCHO Concert Hall, 710 E Roy St, 8:00pm

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Ryan Burns Trio w/ Mark Taylor, Geoff Cooke and Jose Martinez
2214 2nd Ave, 206-443-4221, 7:30pm

JAZZ ALLEY: McCoy Tyner Quintet ft. Bill Frisell, Gary Bartz, John Patitucci and Francisco Mela
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30 & 10:00pm

MARTIN’S ON MADISON: Jerry Zimmerman
1413 14th Ave, 206-325-7000, 7:30pm

NEW ORLEANS: Skelbred/Jackson Quintet
114 First Ave S, 206-622-2563, 7:00pm

THAIKU: Jon Alberts, Jeff Johnson, Tad Britton
5410 Ballard Ave NW, 8:30pm

LUCID: The Hang hosted by Gravity
5241 University Ave NE, 206-402-3042, 9:00pm

BOXLEY’S: Greg Williamson Quartet
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

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE: Paul Meyers with John Stowell and Jovino Santos Neto
1707 NW Market Street, Seattle, 206-789-1621, 7:00pm

Wednesday Jazz

March 2, 2011 / / No Comments

JAZZ ALLEY: Janiva Magness
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30pm

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

MARTIN’S ON MADISON: Bonnie Birch
1413 14th Ave, 206-325-7000, 7:30pm

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

THAIKU: Ron Weinstein Trio
5410 Ballard Ave NW, 8:30pm

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

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE: Underground Swing
1707 NW Market St, 206-789-1621, 7:00pm

LUCID: Elnah Jordan & Michael Hepburn
5241 University Ave NE, Seattle, 206-402-3042, 8:30pm

NORTH CITY BISTRO: Jazz Decree Trio
1520 NE 177th, Shoreline, (206) 365-4447

NY Times: Review of Cuong Vu 4-tet

March 1, 2011 / / No Comments

from The New York Times:

CUONG VU 4-TET
“Leaps of Faith” (Origin)

The voracious sweep of postmillennial jazz has plenty of exemplars but few truer than the trumpeter Cuong Vu. Over the last decade he has upheld a dreamlike sound informed by post-bop but just as rooted in noise pop, grunge and ambient minimalism. He has an invaluable partner in the bassist Stomu Takeishi, who shares his fluency with electronics and his fondness for immersive lyricism. Together with the smart young drummer Ted Poor they have tended to an aquatic, darkly inviting, calmly exploratory style.

Each of their previous two albums featured a guest: the guitarist Bill Frisell, then the multi-reedist Chris Speed. “Leaps of Faith” has a fourth member too: Luke Bergman, who until recently was one of Mr. Vu’s music students at the University of Washington. But Mr. Bergman, who plays electric bass and also mixed and helped produce the album, isn’t an interloper here. His contribution changes the metabolism of the group — freeing up Mr. Takeishi, for one thing — without undermining its identity.

The album begins with three standards, which isn’t common practice for Mr. Vu. They land transformed, more remixed than covered, with creeping momentum and shadowy detail. But Mr. Vu is largely true to their melodies, bringing a terse caress to “My Funny Valentine” and austere clarity to “Body and Soul.” He gets teasingly atmospheric with the theme of “All the Things You Are,” laying out its distinctive intervals over a glacial groove. (He does much the same on “Something” by George Harrison, and “My Opening Farewell” by Jackson Browne.)

There are aspects of Mr. Vu’s tone that suggest the softer side of Miles Davis, or the moody poise of a Davis emulator like Mark Isham. But Mr. Vu has more subversive designs, which become clearer on the album’s three originals, notably “Child-Like” and “I Shall Never Come Back,” which develop like ominous weather systems, with sculptured distortion and drones. The title track, a collective improvisation, recasts John Coltrane’s “Giant Steps” as hold music for a doom-metal help line.

“Leaps of Faith” was recorded live in Seattle last spring, but you could get pretty far into it before you register the presence of an audience. When you finally hear some applause, it sounds distant, filtered: yet another effect in an album reverberating with them.

– NATE CHINEN

Tuesday Jazz

March 1, 2011 / / No Comments

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Gerald Clayton Trio (presented by Earshot Jazz)
2214 2nd Ave, 206-443-4221, 7:30pm

JAZZ ALLEY: Janiva Magness
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30pm

MARTIN’S ON MADISON: Karin Kajita
1413 14th Ave, 206-325-7000, 7:30pm

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

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

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

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

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

VITO’S: Michel Havedo Quartet
927 9th Ave, Seattle, 9:00pm

BROADWAY PERFORMANCE HALL: David Paul Mesler & Friends
1625 Broadway, Seattle, 7:30pm

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE: Dina Blade Student Showcase
1707 NW Market Street, Seattle, 206-789-1621, 7:00pm