EMP’s Jazz In January Starts Thursday

January 16, 2008 / / No Comments

EMP|SFM, in collaboration with Earshot Jazz, proudly present Jazz in January 2008, Jan. 17 through Jan. 20, 2008 at EMP|SFM. Performances will include some of the biggest names in local and national contemporary jazz including: Jerry Gonzalez and the Fort Apache Band, Esperanza Spalding, Michael Shrieve, the Jovino Santos Neto Quarteto, Joe Santiago Afro-Cuban Jazz Ensemble, JazzReach, the Roosevelt and Garfield High School jazz bands, jazz film historian Mark Cantor and others.

The artists represented at Jazz in January 2008 are at the forefront of the jazz evolution, whether they’re just beginning their careers, seasoned performers educating the next generation of music lovers, or are music legends who have experienced a myriad of musical transformations over the decades.

Click here for more information.

It’s Wednesday!

January 16, 2008 / / No Comments

Tonight we have a CD release party and plenty of other live music.

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: JON HAMAR CD RELEASE PARTY
Bassist Jon Hamar is joined by Dawn Clement on piano and Byron Vannoy on drums for a night of music to celebrate the release of Jon’s new CD, Hereafter. The 2007 Golden Ear nominated bassist will perform original music from the new CD and a collection of his arrangements. The music starts at 8:00pm it is All Ages for the first set. {click here to buy the CD}

JON HAMAR CD RELEASE PARTY
TULA’S JAZZ CLUB
2214 2nd Ave, Seattle, 8:00pm, $10

JAZZ ALLEY: Joey DeFrancesco Trio

TRIPLE DOOR MUSICQUARIUM: Leif Totusek (5:30pm)

NEW ORLEANS: The Legend Band with Clarence Acox

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
6pm – Helen Chance
8pm – Vocal Jam with Carrie Wicks

THAIKU: Ron Weinstein Trio

VICTORY LOUNGE: Joe Doria Trio

WHISKEY BAR: Eric Verlinde & Friends

Up-Coming: The Amber Tone at Seattle Drum School

January 14, 2008 / / No Comments

Thursday, January 17 – The Amber Tone
The Seattle Drum School
12510 15th Ave NE
Seattle, WA

8:00pm
$10 at the door; students and seniors, $5

Comprised of Cornish College of the Arts professor, Dawn Clement (piano), Jon Hamar (bass), Cornish College of the Arts students, Brad Gibson (drums), Clark Gibson (alto sax) and Eli Clark (trombone), The Amber Tone, celebrating a recently-released EP, is a contemporary-minded quintet that takes inspiration from the history and tradition of bebop, while placing focus on original composition.

The Jazz Hang: Verrazano’s

January 12, 2008 / / No Comments

By Katy Bourne

VENUE PREVIEW: VERRAZANO’S

For south end jazz fans looking for somewhere to hear live music and enjoy a wonderful dinner, Verrazano’s is the place to be.

Tucked away on a stretch of Pacific Highway South in Federal Way, this Italian restaurant is a hidden gem. Although some might consider the location nondescript, Verrazano’s couldn’t be lovelier with its lush interiors, popping fireplace and wonderful view of Puget Sound.

Every Wednesday night, Verrazano’s has live jazz from 7-10pm. Music is in the lounge, which is large and comfortable. The bands set up on the far end of the room and enjoy a spacious playing area. On Wednesday nights, the bar is fairly busy with diners, friends meeting for drinks and jazz fans there to listen to music. Some purists may be annoyed by the televisions in the bar, which are on throughout the evening and are usually tuned to some kind of sporting event. However, the volume is always muted, and the televisions do not distract from the music at all.

Verrazano’s has an ample wine list, and the food is delicious. The staff couldn’t be friendlier, and the scene is very jazz positive. For south enders with a hankering for some hump day jazz, Verrazano’s is the place to be. For Seattleites, the drive to Federal Way is well worth it.

Verrazano’s is located at 28835 Pacific Highway South, Federal Way, WA 98003. The phone is 253-946-4122. For the live music schedule, visit the website at www.verrazanos.com.

Up-Coming Monday: The Willie Nelson Project and Matt Jorgensen +451

January 12, 2008 / / No Comments

This Monday, The Sunset Tavern hosts an exciting double-bill with some of Seattle’s most creative jazz musicians.

MONDAY, JANUARY 14 – 9:00PM – $10

THOMAS MARRIOTT’S WILLIE NELSON PROJECT
Thomas Marriott – trumpet
Mark Taylor – saxophones
Ryan Burns – keyboards
Goeff Harper – bass
Matt Jorgensen – drums

MATT JORGENSEN +451
Mark Taylor – saxophone
Ryan Burns – keyboards
Phil Sparks – bass
Matt Jorgensen – drums

Both groups will be performing music from their new CDs which are being released on Origin Records.

THE SUNSET TAVERN
5433 Ballard Avenue NW
Seattle, WA 98107
9:00pm, 21+

Going to IAJE

January 7, 2008 / / No Comments

The International Association of Jazz Educators conference starts this Wednesday in Toronto. Seattle Jazz Scene will be in attendance and blogging daily about the goings-on. Are there any readers out there planning on attending? Post a Comment or send an email to [email protected]. And check the site daily for updates and interviews with attendees.

See you at IAJE!

The Jazz Hang: 2008 – What I Want

January 7, 2008 / / No Comments

THE JAZZ HANG with Katy Bourne

It’s January again. It’s the time of year when we take down the Christmas decorations, go on diets and give some thought to our hopes and goals for the year ahead. As a jazz fan and working vocalist, I’m wishing hard and thinking big. What I want for 2008 is nothing short of a complete jazz renaissance in Seattle.

On any given night in any Seattle neighborhood, I want live jazz to be coming out of the windows of every club and restaurant. I want to be able to hear it as I walk down the sidewalk. I want to see droves of jazz fans coming out to hear live music and to support their favorite bands and musicians. If I am playing at one club, I want to be able to walk down the street to the next club or restaurant on my break and listen to other groups playing. I want Seattle jazz fans to be constantly overwhelmed by too many great choices.

I want the scene to be all encompassing and inclusive. I want there to be room and support for all kinds of jazz from original modern and hard bop to Dixieland jazz and vocal standards. For the musicians, I want things to be easier. I want plenty of work for everyone, with fair and livable wages. I want us to hold up and encourage each other in any way we can. I want us to remember that we’re all on the same page.

For the club and restaurant owners who treat musicians well and value live music, I want their businesses to boom. I want them to have long lines out their doors, deep with patrons willing to spend money in their establishments. For the less than enlightened club owner, I want them to gain heart and vision. I want them to see that live music adds not only to the ambiance of their business but that it also gives life and energy to the very fiber of our culture. I want them to understand that live music is more than an expenditure on a ledger sheet and to act accordingly.

I want for local jazz festivals to be even more successful in ’08. I want to see them draw bigger and bigger crowds and to enjoy broader and deeper fiscal support. I would like heavy hitting corporations and small businesses to throw their money behind local music festivals. I want the powers that be to understand how jazz builds community. I want to see the birth of more jazz festivals across the city. I want festivals that give both local favorites and visiting artists a chance to play. I want every single festival to be a wild jazz party.

I want for music education to be available to each and every child in Seattle. I want our outstanding school jazz programs to continue to get the support they need to do the important work that they do: Teaching kids about jazz and providing them with hands-on playing experience. I want for every child who is interested, to have the chance to learn to play the instrument of his or her choice. Call me crazy, but I want every student to be just as familiar with Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Billie Holiday as they are with Nintendo, Britney Spears and 50 Cent.

I want to hear jazz in elevators, at the dentist’s office and anytime I’m “on hold”. I want the knuckleheads at Nordstrom’s to get a clue. I want every piano at every Nordstrom’s throughout the region to have a jazz pianist sitting at it. I want to hear live jazz when I shop for shoes or lingerie.

Finally, I want for all the people who work so hard on behalf of the Seattle jazz scene to be successful in 2008. I want for their dreams to be realized and for their efforts to pay off. I want for all of us to dive in and help. There are so many ways to lend some muscle to the cause: volunteering at a jazz walk, sending emails to neighborhood restaurants that have live jazz to thank them for doing so, buying CD’s from local artists and most of all, going out to see the shows. I want jazz to be everywhere. I want us all to take that giant leap together and to make it happen.

This is what I want for 2008. Nothing less will do.

Editor note: What do you want for 2008? Let’s get a discussion going by posting your ideas and comments in the Comments section.

Jim Wilke’s Top 10 NW CDs of 2007

January 7, 2008 / / No Comments

Jazz Northwest and Jazz After Hours host Jim Wikle has posted his Top 10 of 2007 …

Thomas Marriott, Both Sides of The Fence, Origin
Seattle Women’s Jazz Orchestra, Meeting of the Waters, OA 2
Stan Bock Ensemble, Your Check’s In the Mail, OA2
Various HS Bands, KPLU School of Jazz, KPLU
Ian McDougall Big Band, No Passport Required, Barbarian
Greg Williamson, Pony Boy Large Ensemble – Jazz Traditions, Pony Boy
Vern Sielert Dektet, From There to Here, Pony Boy
Dee Daniels, Jazzinit, Origin
Greta Matassa, The Smiling Hour, Origin
Gail Pettis, May I Come In?, OA 2
PJ Perry / Campbell Ryga, Joined at The Hip, Cellar Live
Brent Jensen, One More Mile, Origin
Thomas Marriott, The Cool Season, Origin
Jon Hamar, Hereafter
Tony Grasso, saxophone? Quartet!

Two Up-Coming Shows for the Jim Knapp Orchestra

January 4, 2008 / / No Comments

The Jim Knapp Orchestra has two up-coming shows … make sure and catch this Earshot Golden Ear nominated group.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 5
Third Place Commons
17171 Bothell Way NE.
Lake Forest Park, WA
7:00 – 9:45pm
Free

MONDAY, JANUARY 7
The Seattle Drum School
12510 15th Ave. NE
Seattle, WA
8:00pm
$10

CD Release Party: Richard Cole’s ‘Shade’

January 2, 2008 / / No Comments

This Friday, January 4th, saxophonist Richard Cole celebrates the release of his new CD, Shade, at Tula’s Jazz Club. Joining Rich will be Bill Anschell (piano), Chuck Deardorf (bass), Gary Hobbs (drums) and Thomas Marriott (trumpet). John Hansen, Dr. Ronald Cole and John Bishop will be sitting in as well. It should be good!

This new release showcases the versatile saxophonist in like-minded and stellar company. With trumpeter Randy Brecker again making an appearance, Shade is instantly compelling. Both rollicking and serene, Shade varies the program, from the fusion-informed “Red Hat” to the modern impressions of “Beautiful Love” and “I Could Write a Book” while showcasing several dynamic originals including the opening track “A Shade for Joe,” a nod to the great Joe Henderson. Shade also features pianists Randy Porter, Marc Seales and John Hansen, bassists Chuck Deardorf, Jeff Johnson, and Chuck Bergeron, drummers Gary Hobbs and John Bishop, among others.

(Click here to listen to sound clips from Shade and also purchase the CD from Origin Records)

SJS: What is the story on putting this recording together?
Richard Cole: Actually the songs were recorded over a period of about seven years! We had one left over from the The Forgotten recording sessions from 2000. That song was “A Shade of Joe.” The next session was in May of 2005. We did a few then with the intention of finishing up soon. Unfortunately I had to table the project because of the death of my parents, and then the opening of an art gallery (Cole Gallery in Edmonds, WA) with my wife, Denise. I was able to get back to it May of 2007. Whew!

How did you decide on this collection of musicians?
The songs themselves recommend certain musical personalities. It’s kind of a deliberate but organic decision making process for me.

Read More

Wednesday: Night of the Trumpets

January 2, 2008 / / No Comments

Trumpeters Chad McCullough (Seattle) and Nathan Eklund (New York) join with an all-star rhythm section to bring you a great night of music in downtown Ballard.

featuring:
Nathan Eklund – trumpet
Chad McCullough – trumpet
Dan Kramlich – piano
Jon Hamar – bass
Matt Jorgensen – drums

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2; 8:00pm
RESOLUTION AUDIO & VIDEO
5459 Leary Ave NW
Seattle, WA 98107 {map it}
Free Admission

For more information, call 206-784-4434

Wednesday jazz

January 2, 2008 / / No Comments

Lots of great local jazz happening tonight …

JAZZ ALLEY: Pearl Django with Special Guest Andreas Öberg
from Earshot Jazz: The ‘gypsy jazz’ favorites, Pearl Django, appear with special guest Andreas Öberg, for 5 nights at Jazz Alley; cover $21.50. Pearl Django is comprised of Neil Andersson and Ryan Hoffman on guitars, Rick Leppanen on bass, Michael Gray on violin, and David Lange on accordion. Joining them as they perform in the style made famous before WWII by guitarist Django Reinhardt and violinist Stephane Grappelli is Swedish guitarist Öberg. A versatile musician, he plays mainstream jazz, modern jazz and gypsy swing. Öberg recently won the Audience Prize at the Gibson International Guitar Competition in Montreux 2006. Set times Wednesday and Thursday are at 7:30pm; Friday and Saturday 7:30pm & 9:30pm; Sunday 7:30pm.

RESOLUTION AUDIO: Night of the Trumpets featuring Nathan Eklund (New York) and Chad McCullough (Seattle)
5459 Leary Ave NW, Seattle, 8:00pm, Free

TRIPLE DOOR MAINSTAGE: Tor Dietrichson Blues Machine Live Recording with special guests The Neil Welch Group

NEW ORLEANS: The Legend Band w/ Clarence Acox

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: BCC Jazz Orchestra w/ Hal Sherman

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
6pm – Mike Gullo and Friends, with Mike Gullo (vocals), Scotty Bemis (piano), Colleen Gilligan (bass)and Brian Greggs (drums)
8pm – Vocal Jam with Carrie Wicks

VICTORY LOUNGE: Joe Doria Trio

TUTTA BELLA: Michael Gotz

SERAFINA: Passarim, bossa nova

WHISKEY BAR: Eric Verlinde & Friends (10pm)

Up-Coming: Pearl Django at Jazz Alley

January 1, 2008 / / No Comments

JANUARY 2-6, 2008
JAZZ ALLEY
(Jan 5 SOLD OUT)
Call for reservations: 206-441-9729

KBCS 91.3FM and the Pacific Jazz Institute at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley present Pearl Django with special guest Andreas Öberg to ring in the first week of 2008! Band members include Neil Andersson, and Ryan Hoffman (guitars), Rick Leppanen (bass) Michael Gray (violin), David Lange (accordion) and very special guest Andreas Öberg (guitar). Set times on Tuesday – Thursday are at 7:30pm. Set times on Friday at 7:30 and 9:30 and Sunday at 7:30pm. Both sets on Saturday are sold out.

Born in Stockholm, by the age of 18 Andreas Öberg made a name for himself on the vibrant Swedish scene performing with many of Swedens top jazz artists while also attending the Royal Music Academy in Stockholm. He has performed with a wide array of artists including Les Paul, Larry Coreyll, Barbara Hendricks, John Pisano, Frank Vignola, Bucky Pizzarelli, Howard Alden, Dorado Schmitt and Angelo Debarre just to name a few. A versatile guitarist, Andreas Öberg plays mainstream jazz, modern jazz and gypsy swing. Most recently Öberg was the winner of the Audience Prize at the Gibson International Guitar Competition in Montreux 2006.

The music pioneered by Gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt and his partner in swing, violinist Stephane Grappelli, is still utter bliss in the esteemed hands of Pearl Django, now celebrating their fourteenth year of performing and recording. With a continuously fresh and entrancing sound, bands like Pearl Django rejuvenate a love and talent for “Gypsy swing,” a style that was once the height of sophistication. With urbanity, romance, and a sense of urgency, the music of Pearl Django reaches out to the sophisticates of a new millennium as something joyful and timeless. Gypsy jazz and “hot club” music has been enjoying a major resurgence across the United States and Pearl Django continues to be one of the busiest proponents of that style. Pearl Django’s followers include Reinhardt and Grappelli fans, guitarists and guitar enthusiasts who relish nimble and intricate picking, world music fans drawn to French and Gypsy accents, plus jazz buffs and aficionados of the swing scene.

By inviting Andreas Öberg to join them this year, Pearl Django is continuing their January tradition of having the best of Gypsy and mainstream jazz artists to begin the year. Prior guest artists have included Howard Alden, Robin Nolan, Frank Vignola, Patrick Saussois and Ken Peplowski.

Bake’s Place Launches Visiting Singer Series

January 1, 2008 / / No Comments

Grammy Award nominee Nancy King, Downbeat readers’ poll winner Nancy Kelly and world-renowned Rebecca Parris are among several jazz vocalists who will perform at Issaquah’s Bake’s Place as part of the club’s Visiting Songbirds series that launches in January and runs through summer.

Portland’s King will perform Jan. 19 and May 24, New York’s Kelly will perform May 9-10 and Boston-based Parris will have a return engagement Feb. 14-16.

Other singers in the series include pianist/vocalist Jennifer Scott and saxophonist Kirsten Strom (Crossing Borders) from Canada/San Francisco (Jan. 25); “Singers’ singer” Madeline Eastman (Jan. 26), Latin songbird Kat Parra (March 28), and rising star Jackie Ryan (April 11-12), all from San Francisco; versatile Linda Ciofalo from New York, (April 18-19); Karin Plato from Vancouver, Canada; (March 29, June 14), Bassist/vocalist Belinda Underwood and Master Pianist Benny Green from Portland/New York (May 3); Jeni Fleming from Montana (July 5); and Amandah Jantzen (August 23) and Denise Perrier, both from San Francisco (TBD).

“We’re thrilled to be able to bring in these wonderful singers.” says Craig Baker, who owns and operates Bake’s Place. “For some of them, it will be their first time performing in the Seattle area.”

Baker and his wife Laura recently completed extensive remodeling of the club — located near to Interstate 90 in Issaquah – by expanding the stage and increasing seating capacity to 74. New leather chairs and upgraded lighting and sound systems have transformed Bake’s into the Seattle area’s premier spot for an intimate evening of dining and some of the best jazz in the nation.

Longtime Seattle Times jazz critic Paul de Barros has called Bake’s “a sweet little Issaquah supper club” and Bake’s was included in DownBeat’s list of 100 Best Jazz Clubs.

“We wanted to live up to our listing in DownBeat,” explains Baker with a smile, “and now we can accommodate out of town artists who need this size audience to make it financially worthwhile to play here.”

Thanks to an 180-degree view of the mountains and Lake Sammamish, gourmet food and excellent wines, a living-room atmosphere and thrilling music like the Visiting Songbird series, Bake’s will soon lose its reputation as the “best kept secret” of music venues.

“I’ve performed all over the world,” says esteemed pianist Benny Green, “and Bake’s Place is by far one of my favorite places.” This sentiment is echoed by other international artists who’ve played at Bake’s, such as pianist/singer Freddy Cole and Parris, among others.

Earshot Presents: Concert of Sacred Music by SRJO

December 29, 2007 / / No Comments

Saturday, December 29, 2007
Concert of Sacred Music
by Duke Ellington

The Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra
w/ guest vocalist Dee Daniels and James Caddell and the Northwest Chamber Chorus

First Presbyterian Church of Bellevue, 7:30 pm
1717 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue WA (directions)

Buy Tickets online or call (206) 547-6763

Ellington’s wonderful “Sacred Music” is both serious and swinging. It is a reverent and hip body of jazz composition, written late in his career, for jazz big band, vocal and instrumental soloists, gospel choir, and tap dancers.

For the past 18 years Earshot Jazz has presented an annual concert of Ellington’s Sacred Music. The concert features the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra, co-directed by Michael Brockman and Clarence Acox. Many of Seattle’s favorite jazz artists are featured on this special concert as well as vocalists James Caddell & Dee Daniels.

Saturday Jazz

December 29, 2007 / / No Comments

EARSHOT JAZZ PRESENTS: Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra with Dee Daniels and James Caddell
First Presbyterian Church of Bellevue (1717 Bellevue Way NE, just off of Highway 520)

JAZZ ALLEY: Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Milo Petersen and the Jazz Disciples

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Carrie Wicks‘ birthday celebration, with John Hansen on piano
9pm – Don Berman Quartet

TUTTA BELLA: Isabella du Graf

SORRENTO HOTEL: Gail Pettis

SERAFINA: Jose Gonzales Trio, latin jazz

TRIPLE DOOR MUSICQUARIUM: The Cosmonauts

New House Concert Series Starting January 5

December 28, 2007 / / No Comments

Nich Anderson is opening up his condo to 30 guests each night for a house concert series that starts January 5 with a performance by MaxxJazz recording artist John Proulx.

The Northwest has a fine tradition of house concerts, from the original Bake’s Place which was located in the basement of Craig Baker’s home to the Our House series in the Woodland Park neighborhood, and the JazzVox series promises not to disappoint.

Says Nich Anderson:

January 5, 2008 – (Federal Way Location Only)
MAXJAZZ Recording Artist John Proulx
with Seattle’s own fantastic bassist Chuck Kistler
I heard John last year for the first time and was amazed by his many talents – an equally great pianist and vocalist, a wonderful scatter, and a great writer of tunes (featured on albums by Nancy Wilson and Mary Stallings). I’m thrilled that John will be the artist to kick-off the series! Check out his debut album “Moon and Sand” on his website (http://www.johnproulx.com) and visit his myspace page (http://www.myspace.com/johnmproulx).

For more information and to reserve tickets, visit http://jazzvox.com.