Seattle Jazz Scene

photos by Jim Levitt

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JAZZ ALLEY: Irma Thomas – The Soul Queen of New Orleans
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30 & 10:00pm

BARCA: Phil Sparks / Adam Kessler Trio
1510 11th Avenue, Seattle, (206) 325-8263, 9:00pm

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 with The Teaching
5241 University Ave NE, 206-402-3042, 9:00pm

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE: 7PM: Dina Blade vocal student recital; 9PM: Fabian Zone Trio featuring Jason Marsalis
1707 NW Market St, 206-789-1621, 7:00pm

BOXLEY’S: Alexey Nikolaev & Chris Symer
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, WA, 425-292-9307, 7:00pm

JAZZ ALLEY: Spencer Day
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 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: Zachary Kellogg Quartet
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, WA, 425-292-9307, 7:00pm

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE: 7:00pm: Vocal Jam hosted by Cara Francis; 9:00pm: Vocal Showcase featuring Kim Rushing
1707 NW Market St, 206-789-1621

LUCID: Vocalize-It w/ Jennifer Hopkins, Jennifer Lovena
5241 University Ave NE, Seattle, (206) 402-3042, 8:30pm

JAZZ ALLEY: Spencer Day
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

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

from The Seattle Times:

The Triple Door, where the volcanic saxophonist James Carter performed with his Heaven on Earth quintet Friday, is a room with a unique gravity.

The subterranean music club is both airy and intimate and secures an emotional commitment from the audience — whether pushed to the walls, as it was during Carter’s two standing-room-only sets, or huddled at the front of the stage, as it was for singer Gretchen Parlato’s late set Sunday.

Both performed as part of the 2010 Earshot Jazz Festival, which is nearing its midpoint. The most comprehensive jazz festival in the Seattle area, Earshot continues through Nov. 7 with shows at various venues, from the Crocodile to Benaroya Hall, but the Triple Door is the festival’s primary stage.

Drummer Matt Jorgensen’s quintet, backed by a string quartet, performs there Tuesday, playing music inspired by Jorgensen’s late father-in-law, the Denver painter Dale Chisman; New York vocalist Lincoln Briney; and local singers Ben Black and Valerie Joyce team up for a tribute to Chet Baker on Wednesday; and Memphis/Chicago blues harmonica legend Charlie Musselwhite plays the room Thursday.

Continue reading at The Seattle Times:

Pianist Dave Peck will be presenting a free improvisation clinic at The Seattle Drum School this Wednesday, October 27 at 7:30pm.

The clinic will include discussions of the use of musical vocabulary in jazz improvisation, visualization as a learning technique for acquiring vocabulary and muscle memory, and theme and development in improvisation.

Players of all melodic instruments are welcome.

Peck will also be performing solo on Friday at The Chapel Performance Space.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27
SEATTLE DRUM SCHOOL L.A.B., 7:30pm
Improvisation Clinic with Dave Peck
Seattle Drum School L.A.B., 12510 15th Ave NE, Seattle, WA
Free and open to the public

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29
CHAPEL PERFORMANCE SPACE, 8PM
Dave Peck, solo
$12 general, $10 members/seniors, $6 students

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB: Steve Griggs Ensemble
2214 2nd Ave, 206-443-4221, 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

TOST: Michael Shrieve’s Spellbinder
513 N 36th St, 206-547-0240, 9:00pm

POGGIE TAVERN: Better World w/ Marc Smason & Joanne Klein
4717 California Ave SW, 206-973-2165, 8:30pm

THE CHAPEL: Christopher Heeman
Good Shepherd Center, 4649 Sunnyside Ave N

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

JAZZ ALLEY: Manhattan Transfer
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30 & 10:00pm

TULA’S JAZZ CLUB
4pm – Easy Street
8pm – Jim Cutler Jazz Orchestra
2214 2nd Ave, 206-443-4221

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

BAKE’S PLACE:
10am – Sunday Breakfast w/ Michael Gotz
4135 Providence Point Dr. SE Issaquah, (425) 391-3335, 7:30pm

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

TOST: Washington Composer’s Orchestra
513 N. 36th St, Fremont, 8:30pm

From The Seattle Times:

Gary Bannister, a dynamic catalyst on the Seattle jazz and world music scene for more than 30 years, has died.

Co-founder of the nonprofit organization Earshot Jazz and talent booker for Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley for 20 years, Mr. Bannister was a central figure in Seattle’s two major jazz institutions.

“He was a person who knew as much about the music as anyone I ever met,” said John Dimitriou, owner of Jazz Alley. “He will be missed by everyone.”

Mr. Bannister died Monday of myelodysplasia, a bone-marrow disorder. He was 61.

During his 36 years in Seattle, Mr. Bannister produced concerts, hosted a radio show, founded a record label, taught jazz history, promoted bands, wrote reviews and ran a jazz loft. But he was known first and foremost as a passionate advocate of avant-garde and world music and of local musicians.

An obsessive autodidact and collector, he owned 5,000 LPs and as many CDs, many rare and obscure. His entire basement was filled with carefully cataloged wine. He also wrote about race cars, was a gourmet cook and collected Mexican folk art, particularly from his favorite Mexican city, Oaxaca.

Continue reading at The Seattle Times:

JAZZ ALLEY: Manhattan Transfer
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30 & 10:00pm

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE:
4pm – SWOJO Girls Jam! free jam session hosted by SWOJO especially for junior and high school jazz students
7pm – Venus d’Bop, Kim Rushing, Aria Prame, Carrie Wicks w/Hans Brehmer (piano), Nate Parker (bass), Robert Rushing (drums)
1707 NW Market St, 206-789-1621

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

BAKE’S PLACE: Dave Frishberg

TRIPLE DOOR MUSICQUARIUM: Santos Ensemble

LUCID: New Seattle Percussion Trio
5241 University Ave NE, Seattle, (206) 402-3042, 9:00pm

SERAFINA: Tim Kennedy Trio
2043 Eastlake Ave E, 323-0807, 9pm

GRAZIE: Blues Union
23207 Bothell-Everett Hwy, Bothell, 425-402-9600, 7:00pm

LAKESIDE BISTRO: Sam Chambliss
11425 Rainier Ave S, 7:00pm

from The Oregonian:

Michael York, one of the Portland jazz scene’s most accomplished saxophonists who spent a decade as a featured member in the Mel Brown Sextet, died Monday morning, less than two weeks after being diagnosed with cancer.

Dusty York, the musician’s son and a prominent Portland saxophonist himself, said that his father had been feeling ill and thought he might have a gallstone, but doctors instead found cancer that had originated in his lungs and spread to his liver. “He didn’t know until a week and a half ago, and it was beyond the point where even a liver transplant would have helped. They immediately put him on hospice care. We thought he had a few weeks, but it happened very quickly.”

York had just turned 55, his son said.

A spirited player, the older York was part of Portland’s Mel Brown Sextet when it won the national Hennessey Jazz Search competition in 1989, earning a spot on the bill at the Playboy Jazz Festival in Los Angeles. He played with the group from about 1986-91, then again the mid-1990s. He worked occasionally as a leader and in recent years performed and recorded alongside his son.

Continue reading at The Oregonian:

Jazz Now! Seattle has posted their fourth episode.

Episode 4 continues Jazz Now Seattle’s preview of the Earshot Jazz Festival with 8 great tunes from Seattle artists who are appearing this week. Just like the festival itself, this episode is quite diverse, offering everything from bop to vocals to big band to freer stuff, and even a string quartet! We hope you’ll get out to see some of these great musicians live this week.

Click here to listen to Episode 4.

JAZZ ALLEY: Manhattan Transfer
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+

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE: 9pm: Don Berman Quartet
1707 NW Market St, 206-789-1621

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

BOXLEY’S: Dave Anderson “Trio Real”
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, WA, 425-292-9307, 7:00pm

LUCID: Tom Collier Trio
5241 University Ave NE, Seattle, (206) 402-3042, 9:00pm

HIROSHI’S: Jay Thomas Quartet
2501 Eastlake Ave E, 726-4966

SERAFINA: Fred Hoadley Trio
2043 Eastlake Ave E, 323-0807, 9pm

GRAZIE: Dennis Hastings Quartet
23207 Bothell-Everett Hwy, Bothell, 425-402-9600, 7:00pm

LAKESIDE BISTRO: Ryan Shea Smith
11425 Rainier Ave S, 7:00pm

ROCKFISH GRILL: Gail Pettis Quartet
320 Commercial Ave, Anacortes, 9:00pm

Hats off to Google for putting Dizzy Gillespie on their homepage today.

JAZZ ALLEY: Manhattan Transfer
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 7:30 & 10:00pm

BARCA: Phil Sparks / Adam Kessler Trio
1510 11th Avenue, Seattle, (206) 325-8263, 9:00pm

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 with The Teaching
5241 University Ave NE, 206-402-3042, 9:00pm

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE: 7pm: Clave Gringa
1707 NW Market St, 206-789-1621

BOXLEY’S: Bruce Phares & Overton Berry
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, WA, 425-292-9307, 7:00pm

JAZZ ALLEY: Melissa Morgan Quartet
2033 6th Ave, 206-441-9729, 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: Tony Foster
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, WA, 425-292-9307, 7:00pm

EGAN’S BALLARD JAM HOUSE: Vocal Jam with Chris Morton, Jeff Busch and Dan O’Brien
1707 NW Market St, 206-789-1621

LUCID: Deseo Carmin
5241 University Ave NE, Seattle, (206) 402-3042, 8:30pm

We’ve received multiple reports that Gary Bannister passed away this morning in Seattle. More details will follow.

Most people will know Gary as the talent buyer for Jazz Alley, but it should be noted that as Earshot Jazz celebrates it’s 25th anniversary, and in the midst of their 22nd Earshot Jazz Festival, Gary was one of the original founders of Earshot.

We dug up this 1995 Seattle Times story on Earshot:
“Earshot was founded in 1984 around a dining room table by three jazz enthusiasts, who contributed to the music in different ways: Paul de Barros, a writer and frequent Seattle Times contributor; Alan Youngblood, a musician; and Gary Bannister, an educator.

Their blueprint soon formed the basis for a nonprofit jazz support group, particularly for avant-garde, original artists living in the Northwest or others stretching the music’s style. A monthly newsletter appeared that the group is still best known for, but still following the writing-musician-educator groove.”

Hadley Caliman’s performance from the 2010 Ballard Jazz Festival will be broadcast on an up-coming episode of Front Row on The Seattle Channel.

Upcoming Broadcast Times:
Thursday, October 21, 2010 – 11:00 p.m.
Friday, October 22, 2010 – 10:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 23, 2010 – 9:00 p.m.

The Seattle Channel airs on channel 21 on most cable systems or you can watch online at http://www.seattlechannel.org/.