Seattle Jazz Scene

The Mayor’s Office of Film + Music if proud to present the final Happy Hour of the year at Moe Bar (925 E. Pike St.) from 5 to 7 pm on Wednesday, December 5th. Come down and celebrate the holidays, meet new people in our music and film industries and discuss current issues spanning film and music in Seattle. We have received a lot of great feedback regarding new business opportunities that have come from these events, so don’t miss out.

http://seattle.gov/filmandmusic/happyhour/

A few weeks ago, I was itching to get out and listen to some jazz. It was a Saturday night. There was plenty going on, including loads of Earshot performances on top of the usual club offerings. There were complications, however. It was my night to have my boys, ages 10 and 14. I was also a little low on dough. I couldn’t drag them out to a club. God no! On top of that, they were hungry, and it was still pretty early. After a little head scratching and rumination, I checked the trusty seattlejazzscene.com to see if there were any possible options for someone in my situation. The Third Place Commons jumped out at me.

The Third Place Commons is a large open area in the Lake Forest Park Towne Center. There are several long tables, a stage and multiple restaurant offerings around the perimeters. It’s the typical food court fare: Pizza by the slice. Cheap Chinese. Burritos. Perfect for the teen and tween palates. There’s also a Honey Bear Bakery with espresso drinks and humongous layer cakes. Adjacent to all of this is Third Place Books, a large and inviting bookstore. The whole scene is a little reminiscent the Market Stage area at Crossroads Mall in Bellevue. There were all kinds of people hanging out: Families with toddlers screaming through the room. Groups of Emo-esque teenagers. Clusters of elderly people, playing cards and laughing. It is definitely a something for everyone situation.

We got our food and found a comfortable spot in the middle of the room. The band playing that night was the Chuck Deardorf Group: Chuck with Bill Anschell, Hans Teuber and John Bishop. I kicked back in relief. It was going to be a good night. The band started playing fairly quickly after we sat down. Although the mix was a little lopsided (More sax, please!) and the room was clanky, the band sounded great. Given the team roster, how could they not?

My 14 year-old, a budding jazz musician himself, was happy to hang with the music. Predictably, my 10 year old got a little antsy. I let him go peruse the kids’ section of the bookstore and also check out the giant chess set right by the entrance. He was happy. His brother was happy. Mom was happy. We were able to hang for the first set. Overall, the mission was accomplished. The kids were fed. We didn’t spend too much cash. I got to hear some really great live jazz. Sure, driving from our place on Beacon Hill all the way up to Lake Forest Park was a bit of a hoof, but well worth the trouble.

The Third Place Commons has live music regularly on Friday and Saturday nights as well as a few other errant nights as well. (Jazz fans should check the schedule before heading out. They do a wide spectrum of programming and don’t always have jazz. If you show up with a hankering for modern jazz only to discover a hillbilly hoe down quintet, well, this could be tragic.) Aside from music, the Third Place Commons has all kinds of crazy stuff going on: A knitting club. A French conversation group. A regular Mah Jonng game. These are just a few. While this may seem like a goofy place to spend your Saturday night, for me it offered an opportunity to listen to live jazz as opposed to nothing at all. If you’re looking for a family-friendly jazz hang, Third Place Commons gets a big thumbs up. For more information take a peek at http://www.thirdplacecommons.org/

Plan an evening out to Issaquah this Saturday to enjoy the newly remodeled Bake’s Place.

Saturday November 17, 2007 – Trish, Hans & Phil
Trish, Hans & Phil have a refreshing approach – three voices, harmonies, and great jazz interpretations of pop songs. Trish, Hans and Phil are one of the most innovative and entertaining groups in the Northwest today. In addition to their unique and superb musicianship, they bring with them a joyous and exhilarating sense of showmanship to the stage. With Trish Hatley on vocals, Hans Brehmer on piano, and Phil Demaree on bass, this exciting group combines their soaring, swinging vocals for a sound that is truly their own.

Other Up-Coming Events:
Friday November 23
Karen Shivers Quintet

Saturday November 24
Greta Matassa ~ A tribute to Cole Porter

Saturday December 1
Ben Thomas Quartet ~ Special Holiday Show

Saturday December 8
Pearl Django

For more information, visit http://bakesplace.org

There will be a wake for Jack Brownlow at Canlis Restaurant on Monday, November 19th, at 1:00pm.

Canlis Restaurant
2576 Aurora Ave N. Seattle, WA 98109
(206) 283-3313

Jack Brownlow made a mark as jazz pianist
By Linda Shaw, Seattle Times staff reporter

Jack Brownlow learned to play the piano by ear at age 12. By his late teens, he was an accomplished professional. Although he never sought a national stage, he made a stir here as a musician’s musician, a quiet pianist known best for his harmonic sophistication and his encyclopedic knowledge of songs.

When he first heard Mr. Brownlow play, Paul Desmond, the alto saxophonist and lead soloist in the Dave Brubeck Quartet, reportedly remarked: “If I played piano, that’s how I’d want to play it.”

Mr. Brownlow died Saturday (Oct. 27) of kidney failure. He was 84.

{read the entire Obituary at The Seattle Times}