Friday Jazz

December 28, 2007 / / No Comments

The Christmas holiday is over so get out of the house and support live jazz!

Here is what’s happening tonight:

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Jay Thomas Sextet w/ Ben Roseth, Tatum Greenblatt, John Hansen, Paul Gabrielson

HIROSHI’S: Pony Boy Year End Party and Jam

JAZZ ALLEY: Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Peter Kenagy Ensemble, with Carmen Staaf (piano) and Jay Lepley (drums)
9pm – Captain Gravel – acoustic string band playing a mix of bluegrass, blues, ragtime and swing!
11pm – Neil Welch Trio

SERAFINA: Fred Hoadley Trio, latin jazz

BERKSHIRE GRILL: Jake Bergevin

GRAZIE: James Burnhard

And there is a nice double-bill up north in Shoreline with two venues hosting jazz tonight that are within walking distance of each other:

HOTWIRE COFFEE HOUSE: Marc Smason Trio
17221 15th NE, Shoreline

NORTH CITY BISTRO AND WINE SHOP: Cynthia Mullis (saxophone), Conlin Roser (guitar) and Chris Symer (bass)
1520 NE 177th St., Shoreline

Oscar Peterson: a true giant of jazz piano

December 27, 2007 / / No Comments

From The Seattle Times/Washington Post:

Oscar Peterson at the piano? Oscar Peterson was the piano.

His touch could be light and feathery, as ethereal as a memory. It could operate with blinding speed, releasing liquid lines that felt like a river bursting a dam. Or it could release rumbling cascades of notes, pounding out a stratagem of confidence and assurance.

Sometimes Peterson didn’t move much, his body swaying slowly on ballads, head bowed in reverie. At other times, constant piston motion — hands working the keys, arms sweeping up and down the keyboard — gave Peterson a supple bounce, as if that bench was hot. When he got into a particularly pleasing groove, or when his sidemen spurred him on with their own invention, Peterson would smile, and get just a little more fired up.

Continue Reading at The Seattle Times.com

Thursday Jazz

December 27, 2007 / / No Comments

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Tumbao featuring Thomas Marriott

JAZZ ALLEY: Ernestine Anderson

TRIPLE DOOR MUSICQUARIUM: Tarik Abouzied Quartet

THE NEW ORLEANS: The Ham Carson Quintet

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – The Coretet, with Brendan O’Donnell (guitar), Mack Grout (keyboards), Tim Carey (bass) and Adam Kessler (drums) – Classic jazz with a modern twist!

THE ASTEROID: Tim Kennedy Jam Session

Anything else happening tonight? Post a gig notice in the Comments section.

This Sunday on Jazz Northwest

December 26, 2007 / / No Comments

The all-star Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra Dektet played the December Art of Jazz Concert at The Seattle Art Museum and highlights from the concert will air Sunday 12/30 at 1 PM on Jazz Northwest. Arrangements by Marty Paich, Milt Kleeb, Oliver Nelson, Jimmy Heath and others are featured. Jazz Northwest is recorded and produced by Jim Wilke and heard every Sunday on 88-5, KPLU and kplu.org – made possible by The Boeing Company.

Jazz Northwest is also available on demand as a podcast after the broadcast at www.kplu.org

Wednesday Jazz

December 26, 2007 / / No Comments

Bring your family (or make a dash and get away from your family) and go out and hear some live jazz tonight.

JAZZ ALLEY: Ernestine Anderson

TRIPLE DOOR MAINSTAGE: The Here & Now Quintet featuring Ben Roseth and Tatum Greenblat

THE HENDRIX LOUNGE: Cynthia Mullis Trio

THE NEW ORLEANS: The Legend Band w/ Clarence Acox

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
6pm – Rochelle House
8pm – Vocal Jam hosted by Dorothy Rodes

TUTTA BELLA: Michael Gotz

THAIKU: Ron Weinstein Trio

VICTORY LOUNGE: Joe Doria Trio

Tonight: The Here and Now Quintet

December 26, 2007 / / No Comments

THE TRIPLE DOOR
Wednesday, December 26
The Triple Door Mainstage
7:30PM
$15

If you have yet to experience the Ben Roseth/Tatum Greenblatt Quintet, you are in for a treat! The new and improved group is now aptly titled, The Here and Now Quintet, as they continue to showcase the best in up and coming jazz.

Reuniting, the Here and Now Quintet presents an evening of jazz inspired by a history of collective music-making and recent experiences from all around the world. These up-and-coming musicians, all born and raised in Seattle, are forging a fresh new sound rooted in the tradition of Ellington, Coltrane and Davis, infused with influences from Israel, India, South America, and beyond.

The band includes Ben Roseth (saxophone/flute), Tatum Greenblatt (trumpet), Sean Hutchinson (drums/percussion), David Dawda (bass), and Drew Pierson (piano).

Roseth, a Garfield High grad currently studying at the New England Conservatory, recently returned from a 5-month stint in Argentina where he studied tango and folkloric music. Greenblatt also a Garfield alum, has been wracking up experience as a grad student in the prestigious Juilliard Jazz Program, which has recently taken him on tour to Japan and opened the door for recent work with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra.

Hutchinson, a Roosevelt High grad currently studying with Roseth at the New England Conservatory, arrives to the Triple Door shortly after having completed a residency at the Henry Mancini Institute, where he worked with jazz greats Mariah Schneider, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, and Christian McBride.

The group has sold out the Triple Door in their four previous performances there. This evening is sure to be a hit.

Jazz legend Oscar Peterson dies at 82

December 26, 2007 / / No Comments

from AP/Seattle Times:

TORONTO — Oscar Peterson, whose early talent, speedy fingers and musical genius made him one of the world’s best known jazz pianists, has died. He was 82.

Mr. Peterson died at his home in the Toronto suburb of Mississauga on Sunday, said Oliver Jones, a family friend and jazz musician. The cause of death was kidney failure, said Mississauga’s mayor, Hazel McCallion.

During an illustrious career spanning seven decades, Mr. Peterson played with some of the biggest names in jazz, including Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie and Dizzy Gillespie.

Continue reading …

SJS is looking for contributors

December 24, 2007 / / No Comments

Help be a part of the Seattle Jazz Scene! This website is looking for a few more contributors to help document the local jazz scene here in Seattle.

Do you frequent jazz venues around town? Ever thought of reviewing CDs? Are you a budding food critic?

Let’s talk! Send your info in an email to [email protected] and join the team.

EMP’s Jazz in January

December 24, 2007 / / 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 Quinteto, Joe Santiago Afro-Cuban Jazz Ensemble, JazzReach, the Roosevelt and Garfield High School jazz bands, jazz film historian Mark Cantor and others.

Continue reading …

Origin Records makes it onto the New York Times Top 10 Jazz CDs of 2007

December 23, 2007 / / No Comments

Organist Sam Yahel‘s new release on Seattle’s Origin Records, Truth and Beauty, was named one of the Top 10 Jazz CDs of 2007 by New York Times jazz critic Ben Ratliff.

7. SAM YAHEL TRIO: ‘TRUTH AND BEAUTY’ (Origin). Here’s Joshua Redman again, on tenor saxophone, in a sporadic, long-running jazz trio led by the organist Sam Yahel, with Brian Blade on drums. This record overcomes old organ-and-tenor jazz clichés so easily that you hardly think of them. The music is fluid, flexible, all parts running together, the groove overwhelming.

Click here to read the entire list.

Sunday Jazz

December 23, 2007 / / No Comments

Getting ready for the holiday … take Monday off from work and go hear some live music tonight!

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Fairly Honest Jazz Band (3-7pm)

JAZZ ALLEY: Ain’t Misbehavin’ featuring Dehner Franks on piano

TRIPLE DOOR MAINSTAGE: JUDITH OWEN & HARRY SHEARER’S HOLIDAY SING-A-LONG feat. THE BOBS, JULIA FORDHAM, JILL SOBULE {more info}

TRIPLE DOOR MAINSTAGE: Sunday Night Salsa with Ma-Ta-Bo

TUTTA BELLA STONE WAY: Casey MacGill and Blue 4

GRAZIE: Reuel Lubag Jam Session

SERAFINA: Tobi Stone Duo

BLUE MOON TAVERN: The Mt. Non-fiction Sessions

Attention Musicians

December 22, 2007 / / No Comments

Seattle Jazz Scene is putting together a guide to New Year’s Eve and would like to know where everyone is playing.

Please email your New Year’s gig details to [email protected] and we will include you in the listings.

Thanks!

Saturday Jazz

December 22, 2007 / / No Comments

Here are a few things happening tonight:

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Kelley Johnson Quartet

BAKE’S PLACE: Craig Baker Quartet – A Special Holiday Tribute to the wonderful singers of the late 50’s and early 60’s such as Andy Williams, Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby and many others!

JAZZ ALLEY: Ain’t Misbehavin’ featuring Dehner Franks on piano

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Jason Parker Quartet
9pm – Flora McGill

TUTTA BELLA: The Tarantellas

SERAFINA: Voodoo Trio, acoustic blues

BERKSHIRE GRILL: Black Lab Trio

GRAZIE: Michael Powers Group

MIXTURA: Fred Hoadley Trio

Friday Jazz

December 21, 2007 / / No Comments

Lots of great music happening tonight … support live music!

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Thomas Marriott Quartet

JAI THAI CAPITOL HILL: Tom Varner / Phil Sparks / Matt Jorgensen

JAZZ ALLEY: Ain’t Misbehavin’ featuring Dehner Franks on piano

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Katy Bourne and Randy Halberstadt
9pm – Elise Kloter (vocals), with Karin Kajita (piano), Steve Marx (bass) and Ed Littlefield (drums)

SERAFINA: Kiko de Freitas, Brazilian duo

GRAZIE: Dennis Hastings Quartet

CROSSROADS BELLEVUE: Michael Powers Group

HIROSHI’S JAZZ AND SUSHI: Greg Williamson Quartet with Greta Matassa

BERKSHIRE GRILL: Don Mock

Seattle Times: Ben Roseth is a study in sound

December 20, 2007 / / No Comments

From Paul de Barros’ column in The Seattle Times:

“Since I was 9, I’ve been planning my schedule,” said saxophonist Ben Roseth, as he headed into his last final exam at the New England Conservatory earlier this week. “As of Monday, I will have no plans.”

That’s a new state of flux — and relief — for Roseth, who has been artfully juggling homework with Hebrew school, music lessons, practice and performance since his days at Seattle’s Graham Hill Elementary School. He first attracted citywide attention with his jaw-dropping musicianship in the Washington Middle School jazz band.

Roseth is back in town next week, performing with musical mate Tatum Greenblatt (trumpet) in the Here and Now Quintet. The band plays at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Triple Door in Seattle ($15; 206-838-4333 or www.thetripledoor.net). The other players are Sean Hutchinson (drums/percussion), David Dawda (bass) and Drew Pierson (piano). Roseth and Greenblatt also perform with the Jay Thomas Sextet at 8:30 p.m. Dec. 28 at Tula’s ($15; 206-443-4221).

Also, make sure and read our preview of Ben’s show at the Triple Door with the Here and Now Quintet. Click here to read more.

Thursday Jazz

December 20, 2007 / / No Comments


Latin jazz group Sonando performs tonight at Tula’s

JAZZ ALLEY: Ain’t Misbehavin’ featuring Dehner Franks on piano

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Sonando

TRIPLE DOOR MUSICQUARIUM: Motel 5

THE NEW ORLEANS: The Ham Carson Quintet

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
7pm – Aspen Jordan
9pm – Moraine, a dynamic electric string quartet plus drums with Alicia Allen (violin), Ruth Davidson (cello), Jay Jaskot (drummer), Kevin Millard (bass/Warr guitar) and Dennis Rea (guitar)

THAIKU: Jon Alberts, Tad Britton and Geoff Cooke

ASTEROID CAFE: Tim Kennedy Jam Session

CD Review: The Cool Season: An Origin Holiday Collection, Vol. 2

December 19, 2007 / / No Comments

By John Barron
originally published on All About Jazz.com

With no shortage of holiday music blasting through shopping malls and restaurants this time of year, it’s easy to understand why some might want to escape the incessant bombardment of the overdone and out-of-date. If one looks hard enough, however, hope for Christmas music burnout can be found. One place to look is Origin Records’ The Cool Season: An Origin Holiday Collection, Vol. 2. With fresh and swinging vitality, trumpeter Thomas Marriott, pianist Bill Anschell, bassist Jeff Johnson and drummer John Bishop provide an invigorating alternative to the average holiday fare.

The disc’s selections range from familiar, to somewhat obscure, to brand new—Johnson contributes two original pieces. The strength of the session lies in the creative arranging of household melodies. The Vince Guaraldi classic “Christmas Time Is Here” moves along at a brisk 6/8 pulse, contrasting, yet maintaining the spirit of the original. “The Christmas Song” is re-shaped into a dark-tinged, modal frame for Marriott and Anschell to explore patiently.
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