Seattle Jazz Scene

JazzWeek, the the definitive national jazz radio airplay charting organization, has released their nominees for their 2010 JazzWeek Awards and a number of Northwest organizations are represented.

For the third year in a row Origin Records was nominated for Record Label of the Year along with Concord Records, HighNote/Savant, Mack Avenue, Posi-Tone and Resonance Records.

Saxophonist Hadley Caliman‘s most-recent release, Straight Ahead, was nominated for Record of the Year. Other nominees for Record of the Year include: Dave Holland Octet, Tia Fuller, Gerald Wilson Orchestra (which Hadley Caliman played with many years ago), Orrin Evans and Claudio Roditi (whom Hadley shared the stage with at The Ballard Jazz Festival).

Spokane radio station KEWU picked up two nominations. The station was nominated for Station of the Year and their Program Director, Elizabeth Farriss, received a nomination for Programmer of the Year.

Awards will be announced during the JazzWeek Summit 2010 in Rochester, NY, June 17-19.

NOMINATION HIGHLIGHTS:

3. Station of the Year — Markets 80+
KANU, Lawrence
KCCK, Cedar Rapids
KEWU, Spokane
WAER, Syracuse
WGLT, Normal
WJSU, Jackson

6. Programmer of the Year — Markets 80+
Gina Carter, WJSU
Eric Cohen, WAER
Elizabeth Farriss, KEWU
Barry Gaston, KMUW
Bob McWilliams, KANU
Bob Stewart, KCCK

8. Record of the Year
Decisive Steps — Tia Fuller (Mack Avenue)
Detroit — Gerald Wilson Orchestra (Mack Avenue)
Faith In Action — Orrin Evans (Posi-Tone)
Pathways — Dave Holland Octet (Dare2)
Simpatico — Claudio Roditi (Resonance)
Straight Ahead — Hadley Caliman (Origin)

9. Label of the Year
Concord
HighNote/Savant
Mack Avenue
Posi-Tone
Origin
Resonance

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: MusicWorks Big Band

JAZZ ALLEY: Regina Carter’s Reverse Thread

NEW ORLEANS: Holotradband

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE: Zubin Hensler Group

THE CHAPEL: Oana Tomai

THE MIX: Don Mock

OWL ‘N THISTLE: Jam w/ Eric Verlinde & Jose Martinez

Riley Mulherkar, pictured here playing Flugenhorn, will be heading to Julliard next year.

The same day Riley Mulherkar competed in the Essentially Ellington jazz competition with the rest of the Garfield High School jazz band, he also auditioned for entrance into the jazz studies program at The Juilliard School.

According to Mulherkar, five minutes after the audition, Carl Allen, the artistic director of the jazz department, told Mulherkar, “I know you have a performance tonight and I hope this news doesn’t dampen your playing, but I’m sorry to have to tell you that you’ve been accepted to Juilliard.”

Mulherkar, Garfield’s lead trumpet player, completely “fell for it.”

He started the day by performing with the band before judges at Essentially Ellington. Garfield was announced as one of the top three bands. He then went next door to Juilliard to audition. After a 20-minute interview, and the 20-minute audition, he was told he got in. That’s not the way it usually happens, but Juilliard put in a rush order because a few spots unexpectedly opened up during the admission process. Mulherkar had been accepted to the New England Conservatory of Music, and had all but decided to go when Juilliard called.

After the audition, he played the evening concert at Alice Tully Hall, soloing with Wynton Marsalis, before Garfield was announced the winner of Essentially Ellington for the fourth time overall and the second time in a row. To top it off, Mulherkar was named the winner of the Ella Fitzgerald award for outstanding soloist.

“It was a huge day,” said Mulherkar, who got a partial scholarship to attend Juilliard. “I saw the Juilliard students play together at Essentially Ellington (at Dizzy’s club). I like the idea of being close to Lincoln Center.”

He will join friend Andy Clausen (the Roosevelt High trombonist who also competed at Ellington), who received a scholarship to attend Juilliard. Garfield alum Tatum Greenblatt got his master’s at Juilliard. He lives in New York and occasionally plays with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.

Mulherkar is not the only musician from Garfield’s winning band who will study jazz in college. Alto saxophonist Evan Shay will attend Montreal’s McGill University on scholarship; Bassist Carmen Rothwell is enrolling in the University of Washington’s jazz studies program; and drummer James Squires has been accepted to Berklee although he has not yet announced a decision.

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Jazz Coalescence

TRIPLE DOOR: Lynnwood High School Jazz Bands

NEW ORLEANS: New Orleans Quintet

AMORE: Ronnie Pierce Jazz Ensemble

TOST: Michael Shrieve’s Spellbinder

There’s lots of live jazz around Seattle and the Pacific Northwest, and new CDs by resident artists appear nearly every week. On this week’s show there are new releases from an East-West Trumpet Summit with Ray Vega & Thomas Marriott, Nelda Swiggett’s Trio, Wellstone Conspiracy, and guitarist Corey Christiansen who’s celebrating a new CD with gigs in Seattle and Vancouver BC this week. You’ll also get an update where to go for live jazz in the coming week on Jazz Northwest.

HANK JONES REMEMBERED

Also this weekend on Jazz After Hours on PRI (12M – 5 AM Saturday and Sunday on KPLU), Jim remembers the rich legacy of pianist Hank Jones, who died last week at the age of 91. Hank Jones’ career spanned over sixty years, from Jazz at the Phil with Coleman Hawkins, Charlie Parker, and others to the present decade – he was to play with Joe Lovano at Birdland next week. There will be two or three selections by Hank Jones in each hour of Jazz After Hours this weekend.

Among his many awards, Hank Jones was recipient of the NEA Jazz Masters Award in 1989, The National Medal of Arts in 2008, and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009. He toured all over the world and appeared on more than a thousand albums.

BAKE’S PLACE: Connie Evingson with Pearl Django

LUCID JAZZ LOUNGE: Jason Parker Quartet

TULA’S: Kelley Johnson Quartet

NEW ORLEANS: Mark Taylor, Rick Mandyck, Phil Sparks, John Bishop

JAZZ ALLEY: Bob James and Earl Klugh

TRIPLE DOOR MAINSTAGE: Skerik’s Syncopated Taint

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Katrina Kope/Nate Omdal duo
9pm – The Kareem Kandi Band, with Kareem Kandi (saxophone), Louie Ledbetter (bass), Jacques Willis (drums)

AMORE: Lonnie Williams

LAKESIDE BISTRO: Greta Matassa & Darin Clendenin

SERAFINA: Kiko de Freitas

SORRENTO HOTEL: Karin Kajita

LATONA PUB: Phil Sparks Trio

Bassist Ron Carter, who is playing with his Golden Striker Trio (guitarist Russell Malone and pianist Mulgrew Miller) at Jazz Alley May 27-30, is going to hold an informal clinic and performance at the University of Washington Friday, May 28, from 1:30 to 3:30 in the Brechemin Auditorium. The clinic is free and open to the public. Brechemin, upstairs in the Music Building, seats about 200 people.

With the passing of Ray Brown, Carter can safely be called the greatest living jazz bassist. A part of jazz history, he was a member of the Miles Davis Quintet with Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and Tony Williams.

The UW jazz department has hosted several jazz greats for workshops lately, including Bill Frisell and Pat Metheny. Frisell jammed with faculty members Marc Seales and Cuong Vu; Metheny just answered questions. Carter is expected to play, although it’s unclear if he’s going to play with anyone.

His visit was arranged by faculty member and instructor Barry Lieberman, who teaches bass and is a member of the Seattle Symphony.

“We had a lot of great jazz people come through here with hardly any notice,” said Joanne De Pue, with the UW School of Music. “This one’s going to be great. When we had Pat Metheny, a lot of fans and superfans showed up. We love it when the public comes.”

Just wanted to post a quick comment about our disappointment in KPLU. On Monday, May 17, we posted a link to the New York Times article on the passing of legendary pianist Hank Jones.

How did KPLU choose to honor a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master (1989), National Medal of Arts winner (2008) and Grammy Lifetime Achievement recipient (2009)? KPLU played a total of 2 tracks from Hank Jones. By comparison, that same day they played 3 cuts by Diana Krall.

Dear KPLU,
We deserve better!

Sincerely,
The Seattle Jazz Community

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Sonando

JAZZ ALLEY: Bob James and Earl Klugh

TRIPLE DOOR: Skerik’s Syncopated Taint & Charlie Hunter Trio

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Jon Sheckler Group with Jon Sheckler (drums), Nate Parker (bass), Mack Grout (piano) and Eli Meisner (guitar)
9pm – Judd Wasserman and The Elderly, acoustic duo William Ransom and Whitney Lyman

BARCA: Clark Gibson Trio

HI-FIDELITY LOUNGE: Ray Ohls Trio
2711 6th St, Bremerton, 8:30pm

NEW ORLEANS: Ham Carson Quintet

SORRENTO HOTEL: Overton Berry

THAIKU: Jon Alberts, Jeff Johnson & Tad Britton

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Corey Christiansen Quartet CD Release for Outlaw Tractor

NEW ORLEANS: Legacy Quartet w/Clarence Acox

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – The Hooky Band with Brian Kent (tenor sax), Mark Bullis (bass), Gregg Robinson (piano) and Lionel Cramer (drums)
9pm – “Ahmad Jamal the Music of”, with Geoff Harper (bass), Ryan Burns (keys) and John Wicks (drums)

THAIKU: Ron Weinstein Trio

LUCID JAZZ LOUNGE: Jon Sheckler Acoustolectric Trio

The Jason Parker Quartet returns from their west coast tour with a performance at Lucid Jazz Lounge on Friday, May 21.

FRIDAY, MAY 21 – LUCID JAZZ LOUNGE
5241 University Way NE
Seattle
9:30pm, No cover

JASON PARKER QUARTET
featuring:
Jason Parker – trumpet
Josh Rawlings – piano
Evan Flory-Barnes – bass
D’Vonne Lewis – drums

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Roadside Attraction

JAZZ ALLEY: Pinetop Perkins with Willie Big Eyes Smith

NEW ORLEANS: Holotradband

DULCES LATIN BISTRO: Eric Verlinde

THE MIX: Don Mock

OWL ‘N THISTLE: Jam w/ Eric Verlinde & Jose Martinez

from The New York Times:

Hank Jones, whose self-effacing nature belied his stature as one of the most respected jazz pianists of the postwar era, died Sunday at a hospice in Manhattan. He was 91.

Wendy Oxenhorn, executive director of the Jazz Foundation of America, confirmed Mr. Jones’s death.

Mr. Jones spent much of his career in the background. For three and a half decades he was primarily a sideman, most notably with Ella Fitzgerald; for much of that time he also worked as a studio musician on radio and television.

His fellow musicians admired his imagination, his versatility and his distinctive style, which blended the urbanity and rhythmic drive of the Harlem stride pianists, the dexterity of Art Tatum and the harmonic daring of bebop. (The pianist, composer and conductor André Previn once called Mr. Jones his favorite pianist, “regardless of idiom.”)

But unlike his younger brothers Thad, who played trumpet with Count Basie and was later a co-leader of a celebrated big band, and Elvin, an influential drummer who formed a successful combo after six years with John Coltrane’s innovative quartet, Mr. Jones seemed content to keep a low profile.

Continue reading at The New York Times.

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Jazz Jam w/ Darin Clendenin Trio

NEW ORLEANS: New Orleans Quintet

AMORE: Ronnie Pierce Jazz Ensemble

POGGIE TAVERN: Better World w/ Marc Smason & Joanne Klein

TOST: Michael Shrieve’s Spellbinder

Guitarist Corey Christiansen returns to Seattle after his performance at The Ballard Jazz Festival to celebrate the release of his new CD, Outlaw Tractor, at Tula’s Jazz Club on Wednesday, May 19 at 7:30pm.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 19
TULA’S JAZZ CLUB
2214 2nd Ave, Seattle
7:30pm, All Ages

Reservations: 206-443-4221
http://www.tulas.com

Corey Christiansen – guitar
Mark Taylor – saxophone
Chuck Deardorf – bass
Matt Jorgensen – drums

ABOUT COREY CHRISTIANSEN:
Following up on 2008’s Roll With It, Corey Christiansen’s critically acclaimed Origin debut, the dynamic guitarist returns with a vengeance on Outlaw Tractor, another grooving, soul-jazz offering featuring his working band, including New York organist Pat Bianchi, saxophonist David Halliday and drummer Matt Jorgensen. Moving easily from the funky “When You Want” and “Outlaw Tractor” to the driving “Big Kids” and “Starstepper,” Christiansen’s soulful compositions and precise yet earthy guitar talents define an album that’s destined to become a classic. One listen to Outlaw Tractor and you’ll understand why All About Jazz called Christiansen’s Origin debut, “one of the most satisfying soul-jazz recordings of the year.”

Catching up on the big stories this week:

Lena Horne Dead: Singer Dies At 92

Garfield High jazz band takes first place at Essentially Ellington

Review: Carrie Wicks, I’ll Get Around to It

Corey Christiansen at Tula’s May 19

Vote for the I/O Jazz Awards

Once an orthodontist, Gail Pettis now evokes smiles with music

from The Seattle Times:

Call it a midlife crisis or call it an epiphany. Either way, Gail Pettis got bit by the jazz bug and reinvented herself as one of the most sensuously swinging new singers on the American scene.

One day she’s tuning up smiles at her successful orthodontic practice in Issaquah, and the next she’s spreading grins from the bandstand, where she’s forged deep creative ties with some of Seattle’s deepest players.

“I enjoyed the patients, but I was looking for a change,” Pettis says. “At the time I wouldn’t have said, ‘I’m leaving my practice to pursue music,’ but it turns out that’s what happened.”

For jazz fans outside the Seattle area, Pettis seemed to emerge out of nowhere in 2007 with the release of her luminous debut CD “May I Come In?” on OA2 Records. She confirmed her status as an exceptional interpreter of the American Songbook with the January release of “Here In the Moment.” Soulful and understated, her voice caresses each melody, transforming even the most familiar standards into highly personal narratives.

Continue reading at The Seattle Times.

The nominees for the I/O Jazz Awards have been posted for voting on the Lucid website. Make sure and go online and vote. The I/O Jazz Awards will be held Monday, May 31 at Benaroya Hall’s S. Mark Taper Foundation Auditorium.

Outstanding Vocalist: Alisha Roney, Greta Matassa, Emily McIntosh, Flora McGill, Bridgid Roney

Outstanding Instrumentalist: Eric Verlinde, Evan Flory-Barnes, Alexey Nikolaev, Randy Halberstadt, Scott Morning

Rising Star (16-25): Jon Sheckler, Andy Clausen, Brendan O’Donnel

Contribution to The Community: Faire Gallery Cafe, Clarence Acox, Ev Stern

Free-Jazz Band of The Year: Speak, Bad Luck Band, Operation ID

Straight Ahead Album of the Year: Straight Ahead by Hadley Caliman, Unreal Reality by Industrial Revelation, Spectre by Mark Taylor

Latin Jazz Album of the Year: Manghis Khan (Live at Sonarchy), Live at Caramoor (Jovino Santos), Sambatuque – Brazilian Songbird

Mixed Genre Album of the Year: Hardcoretet – experiments in vibe, Guardian Ear, Gravity – Grimy

Band of the Year: The Fabulous Party Boys, The Teaching, McTuff

Most Dynamic Concert: Acknowledgment of a Celebration, Soul Kata at the Triple Door, Lucid Anniversary w/ the Teaching

Outstanding Stage Presence: Jason Parker, Mark Sampson, Owuor Arunga

Composition of the Year: Con Miki (Tim Carey), Acknowledgement of a celebration (Evan Flory Barnes), Beautiful Brooklyn (The Teaching)

Outstanding Lyricist: Katrina Kope, Darrius Willrich, Michele Khazak