Dianne Reeves and Kurt Elling
May 23rd, 2009
The Bellevue Jazz Festival opened last night to two of the best jazz vocalists in the world today. Dianne Reeves and Kurt Elling.
Dianne Reeves performed last night in the Meydenbauer Center with her Strings Attached ensemble featuring guitarists Russell Malone and Romero Lubambo. Reeves is a giant among jazz divas and the only singer ever to earn the “Best Jazz Vocal Performance†Grammy Award for three consecutive albums. In 2006 she was bestowed with a fourth Grammy for her fantastic spin on standards for the Good Night, and Good Luck film soundtrack. It was an an evening of great  jazz artistry and a delightful perforamance by one of the genre’s finest vocalists.
Kurt Elling the preeminent young male jazz singer today, performed Friday night as the first of the two jazz vocalists opening the main venue  of the 2009 Bellevue Jazz Festival at the Theatre at Meydenbauer Center
With Laurence Hobgood on piano,Harish Raghavan on bass, and Ulysses Owens Jr on drums, the trio created a great sound backing Kurt as he gave a wonderful performance. The packed house loved it.
Saturday the Bellevue Jazz Festival continues at 2 PM with Danilo Perez, the extraordinary Panamanian pianist and composer.
Danilo Perez is among the most influential and dynamic musicians of our time. Performing at 2 PM in the Theatre at Meydenbauer Center.
The rest of the festival schedule is:
Shorewood High School Jazz Combo
Bellevue Arts Museum [ FREE ]
Student Showcase – Jazz Combo
4:30 PM
Greta Matassa Quartet
Sherman Clay Pianos [ FREE ]
Jazz vocalist
4:45 PM
Ingraham High School Jazz Combo
Bellevue Arts Museum [ FREE ]
Student Showcase – Jazz Combo
5:30 PM
Bill Anschell Trio
Bellevue Grille [ FREE ]
Jazz pianist
7:00 PM
Trish Hatley Trio
El Gaucho Bellevue [ FREE ]
Jazz vocalist
7:00 PM
Patricia Barber
Theatre at Meydenbauer Center [ Buy tickets ]
Patricia Barber
The singular singer & pianist Patricia Barber last put her distinct stamp on a collection of standards with her acclaimed 2000 release Nightclub. Now Barber returns with The Cole Porter Mix (2008) … [ more ]
8:00 PM
Thomas Marriott Trio
Cypress Lounge and Wine Bar at The Westin Bellevue [ FREE ]
Trumpet artist
9:00 PM
Mingus Big Band
Meydenbauer Center (Center Hall) [ Buy tickets ]
Mingus Big Band
The Mingus Big Band celebrates the music of the composer and bassist, Charles Mingus. … [ more ]
10:30 PM
Origin Records Jam Session
Courtyard by Marriott-Downtown Bellevue [ FREE ]
Jam with Origin Records artists: Bill Anschell on piano, Paul Gabrielson on bass and John Bishop on drums
Sunday, May 24
11:00 AM
Primo Kim Trio
Z’Tejas Southwestern Grill [ FREE ]
Jazz pianist and vocalist
2:00 PM
Mose Allison Trio
Theatre at Meydenbauer Center [ Buy tickets ]
Mose Allison Trio
Mose John Allison Jr. was born in 1927 in Tippo, Mississippi, a cotton town in the Mississippi delta. By the time Mose was in grade school he was already composing boogie woogie tunes on the piano. … [ more ]
4:00 PM
Dave Peterson Trio
Rock Bottom Brewery & Restaurant [ FREE ]
Guitarist
7:00 PM
Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra Plus The Festival’s Rising Stars
Theatre at Meydenbauer Center [ Buy tickets ]
Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra Plus The Festival’s Rising Stars
The Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra (SRJO) is the Northwest’s premier big band jazz ensemble. Founded in 1995, the 17-piece big band is made up of the most prominent jazz soloists and band leaders in the greater Seattle area. … [ more ]
10:00 PM
Hadley Caliman Trio
Twisted Cork Wine Bar [ FREE ]
Jazz saxophonist
For more information go over to: http://bellevuejazz.com
Daniel Sheehan is a Seattle photographer.
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