EyeShotJazz | Jazz Photography

So to catch up on my festival coverage,  last night’s show  was the wonderful Eric Vloeimans as Earshot Jazz Festival 2014 rolls on. Eric Vloeimans was as wonderful as ever playing with a new group and  a delightful set of music. Always a great dresser I was most impressed with his shoes last night.

“Jazz trio instruments that come to mind typically aren’t trumpet, accordion and cello. Nor was it necessarily so for Dutch trumpet sensation Eric Vloeimans (pronounced “Flooeymans”), who concocted the present ensemble by combining an instrument he loved (cello) with one he formerly hated (accordion) and added himself. The initial gig proved electrifying for audience and performers alike and, thus, Oliver’s Cinema (the name is an anagram of the trumpeter’s name) was born. Rounding out the trio are accordionist Tuur Florizoone from Belgium and cellist Jörg Brinkmann from Germany.

Regarded as one of Europe’s best performers, Vloeimans has been active in a wide variety of ensembles. He has toured the U.S. twice with his acoustic chamber jazz group, Fugimundi Trio, whose repertoire ranges from contemporary jazz, hymns, and world music to standards. He also leads Eric Vloeimans’ Gatecrash, which has earned a reputation as one of Europe’s top cross-over bands. Vloeimans has played with an array of international artists, among them Mercer Ellington, Peter Erskine, the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, Wayne Horvitz and Joey Baron.

Jörg Brinkmann studied at the college of Arnheim, Netherlands, and is renowned for his ability to play with jazz and pop bands. Tuur Florizoone is one of the most beloved musicians from Flanders, and has performed with a wide range of contemporary artists, including Carlos Nunez, Manu Chao, Zahava Seewald, and more.

The group’s 2013 CD takes the cinema theme seriously, and includes music written for film, including themes like Rosemary’s Baby and Cinema Paradiso, music with a cinematic quality, Ennio Morricone-like soundtracks and new, original and evocative compositions for imaginary films.”

Here is a link to the 2014 Earshot Jazz Festival Schedule

On Tuesday at the Triple Door, Earshot Jazz Festival 2014 presented the Carmen Lundy Group in an amazing performance. Carmen was electric!

Carmen Lundy has been ranked with the great vocalists, though her agile vocal style is utterly distinctive. Her sextet includes pianist Patrice Rushen and rising-star drummer Jamison Ross, winner of the 2012 Thelonious Monk Jazz Competition.

Lundy began her professional career in Miami, Florida, as a jazz vocalist and composer when there were very few young, gifted and aspiring jazz vocalists on the horizon. Over four decades later, Lundy is celebrated throughout the world for her vocal artistry and is highly regarded for her jazz innovation.

Currently on the Afrasia Productions label, Lundy releases her fourteenth album, Soul to Soul, on September 23. Almost two years in the making, it consists of new original songs by Lundy, and a few very special collaborations. Lundy spent more than a year working on Soul to Soul, composing and arranging 11 of the 13 tracks, and playing and recording all the instruments in her home studio.

The album features legendary artists including Patrice Rushen, Geri Allen, Randy Brecker, Ada Rovatti, Warren Wolf, Bennie Maupin, harpist Carol Robbins, and Simphiwe Dana, a stunning South African vocalist and composer, among others.

Check for upcoming shows – Here is a link to the 2014 Earshot Jazz Festival Schedule

Monday night at the Triple Door,  Earshot presented Taylor McFerrin as the 2014 Earshot Jazz Festival continues.
The Brooklyn-based producer, composer, pianist, DJ, beatboxer and son of an iconic mentor performs “everything from soft ambient keys, moody guitar riffs and solemn choirs bellowing across shuffles, to spiraling synths arpeggiating into the unknown” (Contactmusic).
Taylor McFerrin released his first LP, Early Riser, in June 2014 on Flying Lotus’ Brainfeeder record label. Taylor’s musical style is equally influenced by the legends of 60s and 70s soul, the kings of the Modern Beat Generation, Golden Era hip-hop, free-form jazz and electronic music. By playing all of the instruments on his productions, while also relying heavily on sampling and chopping up his live takes, he has found a sound that seamlessly bridges myriad musical worlds and draws the listener into a constantly shifting audio soundscape.

Here is a link to the 2014 Earshot Jazz Festival Schedule

On Sunday night, Earshot Jazz Festival presented Tri Minh Quartet: Sounds from Hanoi at the PONCHO CONCERT HALL, CORNISH COLLEGE OF THE ARTS.

This much-traveled pianist, a masterful mentor to a wholly new musical amalgam, excelled in composition at Hanoi Conservatory of Music and then revolutionized the jazz and electronica scenes of his city and country, infusing those genres with local elements. His quartet for piano, zither, and traditional and contemporary instruments is rivetingly fresh.

In Sounds from Hanoi, Trí Minh’s Quartet uses improvisation – a vital, though differently expressed component of both Vietnamese traditional forms and jazz – to create a dialogue between instruments in ways that echo Hanoi’s experimental side, a side Trí Minh and his friends connect with the growing voice of civil society in Vietnam.

Here is a link to the 2014 Earshot Jazz Festival Schedule

Opening up at the Chapel Performance Space for John Seman’s Lil Coop Quintet last Saturday night at the 2014 Earshot Jazz Festival was Guitarist Gregg Belisle-Chi and vocalist Chelsea Crabtree who mine the intersections of composition and improvisation with dark, rich guitar work and pristine vocals.

The marriage of improvisation and composition in jazz has been tumultuous, especially in the technological age. But guitarist Belisle-Chi looks to reinvigorate this relationship. He sees improvisation and composition not as disparate entities at odds with one another, but two studies that serve each other – a view that is reflected in Belisle-Chi’s dark and rich fret-board wanderings.

Recordings from the Belisle-Chi curated Racer Session last March exist in beautiful and thought-provoking ambiguity: what seems structured is loose and free, improvisation is focused and informed. The future of Belisle-Chi’s music is one of exploration into the dark, liminal spaces between composition and improvisation, and even the earliest fruits of this adventure are thoughtful and impacting.

Here is a link to the 2014 Earshot Jazz Festival Schedule

Last Saturday I had the joy to hear John Seman’s Lil Coop Quintet at the Chapel Performance Space as the 2014 Earshot Jazz Festival continues.
Bassist, composer, archivist and advocate for improvised music John Seman explores composition and free improvisation and musical past and future – in the moment – with his Lil Coop Quintet, featuring Stephen Fandrich on piano, Robbie Beasley on trumpet, Kate Olson on soprano sax and Tom Zgonc on drums.

A fixture on the Seattle music scene for more than a decade, Seman is co-founder (with Mark Ostroski) of nonprofit new music advocacy organization Monktail Creative Music Concern. Additionally, he holds a sound preservation and recording venture, RPM Preservation, and is a co-host of Floatation Device (91.3 KBCS), a program dedicated to highlighting improvised music from the Northwest and around the world.

Here is a link to the 2014 Earshot Jazz Festival Schedule

Last Friday evening, the 2014 Earshot Jazz Festival began with a celebration of the absolutely distinctive master of jazz life, Thelonious Sphere Monk. On 10/10, which would have been Monk’s 97th birthday, Earshot took festivities to Town Hall for a colossal Thelonious Monk tribute that was all about 10. The party included one solo Monk composition each from 10 great Seattle pianists. Coming from various stylistic backgrounds, and expressing Monk’s profound influence on their own jazz continuum, this lineup of pianists would be impressive in any city in the world: Marc Seales, Dawn Clement, Dave Peck, Sumi Tonooka, Overton Berry, Marius “Butch” Nordal, Darrius Willrich, Aaron Otheim, Wayne Horvitz and Tim Kennedy.

The genesis for this creative project is the Royal Room’s Piano Starts Here series, which looks to “highlight the work of the most prolific and talented pianists to have ever tackled the instrument.” In the series, each artist selects their own piece, without regard to possible duplications, assuming that no two pieces could be the same. Tonight’s piano performances offer ten unique takes on Monk’s idiosyncratic contributions to jazz.

Balancing the stage tonight is a remarkable 10-tet assembled by Wayne Horvitz for this romp through straight transcriptions and improvisations on the landmark 1959 album The Thelonious Monk Orchestra at Town Hall, commonly known at Monk at Town Hall. Horvitz conducts an amazing 10-tet that stays true to the spirit, the title, and the unusual instrumentation of the original performance. The band of Seattle jazz luminaries includes Greg Sinibaldi, Mark Taylor, and Skerik on saxophones; Al Keith on trumpet, and Christian Pincock on trombone, along with Tom Varner on French horn, and Julio Cruz on tuba. Driving the rhythm section are bassist Evan Flory-Barnes, pianist Ryan Burns, and drummer Ted Poor.

I will try and catch up with my coverage of the festival in pictures.  Here is a link to the 2014 Earshot Jazz Festival Schedule

Industrial Revelation playing in the 2013 Earshot Jazz festival at Tulas
I am looking forward to Friday and the opening of the 2014 EARSHOT JAZZ FESTIVAL which runs from October 10 through November 11, 2014

The Earshot Jazz Festival swings into its 26th edition on October 10 and includes more than 50 distinctive concerts and events in venues all around the city through November 11.

The festival brings jazz greats from around the world into creative collaboration with area audiences and artists. Earshot celebrates Seattle’s place in the world of jazz with mainstage concerts by our award-winning student ensembles and a strong representation by our renowned resident artists.

This year, Earshot celebrates the “Masters, Monsters, and Mentors” of jazz. The festival opens October 10 at Town Hall with a very special birthday party for Thelonious Monk, whose distinctive musical direction has mentored almost every jazz musician since, and wraps up with a closing party at Triple Door’s Musicquarium. In between is a multitude of performances by international and local artists alike, celebrating this vibrant and ever-changing artform.

Tickets for the Earshot Jazz Festival go on sale September 1 through Earshot Jazz.
Schedule subject to change.
Check this web site for updates,
or call 206-547-6763.

2014 FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, TOWN HALL SEATTLE, 8PM
Opening Celebration: Monk 10/10
This festival-opening Birthday Party celebrates Thelonious Sphere Monk, the “genius of modern music” who has inspired countless artists. Tonight, 10 top Seattle pianists perform one solo Monk piece each, and Wayne Horvitz leads a 10-tet through transcriptions of the landmark 1959 “Monk at Town Hall” concert recording. And, there will be cake! (Co-presented with Town Hall Seattle. Support provided by The Boeing Company.) $24 general; $22 members & seniors; $12 students & veterans; $34 preferred seating BUY NOW

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10 & SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11,
TULA’S RESTAURANT & JAZZ CLUB, 7:30PM
Larry Fuller Trio
The superb pianist, the last with the legendary Ray Brown Trio, has been active on the New York scene and touring with ensembles of Jeff Hamilton and John Pizzarelli since leaving Seattle. He returns to his longtime hometown to perform in the refined, hard-swinging jazz trio tradition with LA bassist Katie Thiroux and drummer Matt Witek. $18 general; $16 members & seniors; $9 students & veterans RESERVATIONS AT 206-443-4221 OR RESERVATIONS@TULAS.COM

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11, CHAPEL PERFORMANCE SPACE, 8PM
John Seman’s Lil Coop Quintet
Gregg Belisle-Chi
Bass giant John Seman’s Lil Coop Quintet – Stephen Fandrich, piano; Robbie Beasley, trumpet; Kate Olson, soprano sax; Tom Zgonc, drums – explores composition and free improvisation and musical past and future, in the moment. Guitarist Belisle-Chi and vocalist Chelsea Crabtree also mine the intersections of composition and improvisation with dark, rich guitar work and pristine vocals. $14 general; $12 members & seniors; $7 students & veterans BUY NOW

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12, PONCHO CONCERT HALL, CORNISH COLLEGE OF THE ARTS, 8PM
Tri Minh Quartet: Sounds from Hanoi
A masterful mentor to a new musical scene, this pianist excelled in composition at Hanoi Conservatory and has created revolutionary Vietnamese jazz and electronica. His quartet for piano, zither, and traditional and contemporary instruments is rivetingly fresh. (This Center Stage residency is an initiative of the U.S. Dept. of State, produced by the New England Foundation for the Arts and regional arts organizations, with support from the Robert Sterling Clark Foundation, the Asian Cultural Council, and Lisa Booth Management.) $18 general; $16 members & seniors; $9 students & veteran BUY NOW

MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, TRIPLE DOOR, 7:30PM
Taylor McFerrin
The Brooklyn-based producer, pianist, DJ, and son of an iconic mentor performs “everything from soft ambient keys, moody guitar riffs and solemn choirs bellowing across shuffles, to spiraling synths arpeggiating into the unknown” (Contactmusic). Stay after the show for a DJ set in the Musicquarium Lounge from KBCS hosts Atlee & J-Justice of City Soul.
$22 general; $20 members & seniors; $11 students & veterans BUY NOW

MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, TULA’S RESTAURANT & JAZZ CLUB, 7:30PM
Oliver Groenewald Newnet
Groenewald, arranger, composer and trumpeter who works for several renowned German orchestras and ensembles, just recently moved from Germany to the region. Along with top Northwest players, he will perform his compelling neo-Third Stream in a nine-piece band setting. $12 general; $10 members & seniors; $6 students & veterans
RESERVATIONS AT 206-443-4221 OR RESERVATIONS@TULAS.COM

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, TRIPLE DOOR, 7:30PM
Carmen Lundy Group
Lundy has been ranked with the great vocalists though her agile vocal style is utterly distinctive. Her sextet includes pianist Patrice Rushen and rising star drummer Jamison Ross, winner of the 2012 Thelonious Monk Jazz Competition. $22 general; $20 members & seniors; $11 students & veterans BUY NOW

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, CHAPEL PERFORMANCE SPACE, 8PM
Eric Vloeimans: Oliver’s Cinema
The breathtaking Dutch trumpeter Eric Vloeimans has teamed with virtuosic Belgian accordionist Tuur Florizoone and German cellist Jörg Brinkmann to perform film themes like Rosemary’s Baby and Cinema Paradiso and evocative originals. (Thanks to The Netherlands-America Foundation.) $14 general; $12 members & seniors; $7 students & veterans BUY NOW

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, TRIPLE DOOR, 7PM & 9:30PM
Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba
Master of the West African ngoni, a forerunner of the guitar, Kouyate has graced the recordings of countless Malian musicians, from Ali Farka Toure to Oumou Sangare. With his band Ngoni Ba he released a power-packed masterpiece, I Speak Fula, on Seattle’s SubPop label. Expect raucous, undiluted joy. $24 general; $22 members & seniors; $12 students & veterans BUY NOW

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, PONCHO CONCERT HALL, CORNISH COLLEGE OF THE ARTS, 8PM
Johnaye Kendrick Group
The vocalist and Cornish instructor celebrates a new CD, Here, with Dawn Clement, piano; Byron Vannoy, drums; and Chris Symer, bass. Acclaimed early by DownBeat, Kendrick studied at the Thelonious Monk Institute and frequently works with New Orleans-to-New York trumpeter Nicholas Payton. (Presented by Cornish College of the Arts.) $22 general; $17 members & seniors; $10 students & veterans BUY NOW

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, ROYAL ROOM, 8PM
Amy Denio & OU
Seattle’s well-traveled multi-instrumentalist has found remarkable synergy in Rome with the sextet OU. They conjure a delightful “world jazz folk anarchy.” OU is Ersilia Prosperi: flugelhorn, ukulele; Sabrina Coda: saxophones; Martina Fadda: lead vocals; Luca Venitucci: keyboards; Claudio Mosconi: bass; Cristiano de Fabritiis: percussion. Party! $20 general; $18 members & seniors; $10 students & veterans BUY NOW

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17 & SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, TULA’S RESTAURANT & JAZZ CLUB, 7:30PM
Thomas Marriott: Urban Folklore
This rich collaboration of Seattle’s premier trumpeter with New York heavyweights Orrin Evans (piano), Eric Revis (bass), and Donald Edwards (drums) generates intense, nuanced jazz as on their recent CD. $20 general; $18 members & seniors; $10 students & veterans
RESERVATIONS AT 206-443-4221 OR RESERVATIONS@TULAS.COM

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, TOWN HALL SEATTLE, 8PM
Joe Lovano & Dave Douglas Quintet:
Sound Prints featuring Lawrence Fields, Linda Oh, & Joey Baron
This new superstar ensemble unites the master saxophonist Joe Lovano and revered trumpeter Dave Douglas with the serious firepower of Linda Oh (bass), Joey Baron (drums), and Lawrence Fields (piano) for an evening of limitless musical potential. Bring the family. This night will inspire! $26 general; $24 members & seniors; $13 students & veterans; $36 preferred seating BUY NOW

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, CHAPEL PERFORMANCE SPACE, 8PM
William O. Smith: Compositions and Improvisations
William O. (Bill) Smith advanced classical clarinet technique and at the same time mastered a deliciously swinging style in his 55-year collaboration with Dave Brubeck to become one of the world’s great clarinetists. He performs his captivating compositions with longtime friends: trombone master Stuart Dempster and clarinetist Jesse Cantebury. (Presented by Nonsequitur.) $5-15 sliding scale BUY NOW

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19, TOWN HALL SEATTLE, 8PM
Boban & Marko Markovic Orkestar
This night of Roma celebration and dancing with the world’s most revered Balkan brass juggernaut is sure to be legendary! Hailing from the south of Serbia, the 13-piece band injects driving beats, jazz riffs, and ballistic eastern-European pop — “fresh, fun, party-ready” (NPR). $30 general; $28 members & seniors; $15 students & veterans BUY NOW

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19, PONCHO CONCERT HALL, CORNISH COLLEGE OF THE ARTS, 7:30PM
Lew Tabackin Trio | Ben Flocks Trio
Tabackin, a monster saxophonist and flutist who transcends styles and cultures, is also respected as a master composer and arranger for the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra. His trio includes Boris Kozlov on bass and Mark Taylor on drums. Tabackin once mentored the Brooklyn-based rising sax star Ben Flocks, whose trio with Garret Lang (bass) and Evan Hughes (drums) opens the evening with “a jovial mix of American musical styles” (DownBeat). $18 general; $16 members & seniors; $9 students & veterans BUY NOW

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18 THROUGH TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21 – NORTHWEST FILM FORUM
Jazz @ Northwest Film Forum
Northwest Film Forum and the Earshot Jazz Festival present their 13th annual film program celebrating the history, sounds, and spirit of jazz and their intersections with cinema. Scheduled this year are: Stations of the Elevated, Sound of Redemption: The Frank Morgan Story, The Case of the Three Sided Dream, Mingus: Charles Mingus. Visit nwfilmforum.org for tickets and information.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, TRIPLE DOOR, 7PM
Garfield High School Jazz Band
One of the region’s finest school jazz programs has long figured at the top of the prestigious Essentially Ellington competition in New York and raised the bar for the whole country. Its legacy is assured under the longtime leadership of Clarence Acox, who each year makes it a swinging, polished big band. $16 general; $14 members & seniors; $8 students & veterans; free for 12 & under BUY NOW

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, PONCHO CONCERT HALL, CORNISH COLLEGE OF THE ARTS, 8PM
Jacky Terrasson Trio
The scintillating French piano star has charmed audiences on both sides of the Atlantic. Another Thelonious Monk Awardee (1993), he is renowned for his carefully controlled velocity, exquisite phrasing, and affinity to everything from the French romantics like Fauré to American pop icons like Michael Jackson. (Supported by funding from the National Endowment for the Arts through a grant to the Western Jazz Presenters Network.) Free Jacky Terrasson masterclass, noon, PONCHO. $24 general; $22 members & seniors $12 students & veterans BUY NOW

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, PONCHO CONCERT HALL, CORNISH COLLEGE OF THE ARTS, 8PM
Greg Osby Quartet
The alto saxophonist, a sure-fire innovator with 15 Blue Note albums to his credit, specializes in questing, adventurous jazz of extraordinary facility and imagination. Joining Osby are Simona Premazzi (piano), Martin Nevin (bass), and Adam Arruda (drums). (Supported by WJPN and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.) Free Greg Osby masterclass, noon, PONCHO. $24 general; $22 members & seniors; $12 students & veterans BUY NOW

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, ROYAL ROOM, 8PM
Living Daylights
Syrinx Effect
The New York saxophonist/vocalist Jessica Lurie reunites with Arne Livingston, bass, and Dale Fanning, drums, for a jazz-festival recreation of the great forward-looking power trio of the late 1990s Seattle scene. Also on the bill is Syrinx Effect, the magical duo of Kate Olson (soprano sax, electronics) and Naomi Siegel (trombone, electronics), two bright lights on the Seattle scene. Expect guest artists on the late set. $20 general; $18 members & seniors; $10 students & veterans BUY NOW

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, TULA’S RESTAURANT & JAZZ CLUB, 7:30PM
Kareem Kandi Organ Trio
The savvy south Sound saxophonist has shaped lessons from Seattle masters like Don Lanphere, Hadley Caliman, and Julian Priester into solid, hard-grooving jazz. Kandi’s fat tone, reminiscent of the great Dexter Gordon, is a perfect fit for Delvon Lamarr’s soulful B3 organ. $14 general; $12 members & seniors; $7 students & veterans RESERVATIONS AT 206-443-4221 OR RESERVATIONS@TULAS.COM

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, PONCHO CONCERT HALL, CORNISH COLLEGE OF THE ARTS, 8PM
Barry Altschul 3dom Factor
This legendary drummer was everywhere adventurous jazz went in the heady heyday of Paul Bley, Anthony Braxton, Dave Holland, and many others. His powerful new trio includes Hayes Greenfield (alto sax) and Joe Fonda (bass). As Jazz Inside said, “even if he had retired from music 40 years ago, he would have gone down in jazz history.” $18 general; $16 members & seniors; $9 students & veterans BUY NOW

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26, SEATTLE ART MUSEUM, 8PM
Daniel Barry’s Celestial Rhythm Orchestra
Renowned for distinctive arrangements and compositions that honor both time and place, Barry creates music that is “fresh and imaginative, and has a hip, tongue-in-cheek sort of style” (Audiophile Audition). Tonight’s 19-piece ensemble of amazing Seattle players performs his original work including Ancestors, The Mighty Urumbamba, Spirit World, St. Cecilia’s Day, Cry Out Loud, and the world premier of Lovely Silver Goddess. (Thanks to 4Culture and Artist Trust.) $20 general; $18 members & seniors; $10 students & veterans BUY NOW

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, EMP LEVEL 3, 7:30PM
Eric Revis Quartet
Kate Olson Sextet
The New York first-call bassist heads a riveting quartet featuring two of the most spirited and innovative saxophonists in jazz today, Darius Jones and Bill McHenry. With eclectic drummer Chad Taylor (Chicago Underground), they carry the flame of free-jazz pioneers like Albert Ayler. Opening is the new sextet of soprano saxophonist Kate Olson. Interpreting her savvy compositions with measure, imagination, and great spirit are Sam Boshnack, trumpet; Chris Credit, tenor sax; Geoff Harper, bass; Tim Kennedy, keys; Eric Eagle, drums. (Presented in cooperation with EMP.) $20 general; $18 members & seniors; $10 students & veterans BUY NOW

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, PONCHO CONCERT HALL, CORNISH COLLEGE OF THE ARTS, 8PM
Expansions: Dave Liebman Group
The NEA Jazz Master helped to define the 1970s Miles Davis period, and still inspires saxophonists around the world. He presents the lineup of his just-out Samsara: longtime collaborator, bassist Tony Marino and three emerging trailblazers: pianist Bobby Avey, reedman Matt Vashlishan, and drummer Alex Ritz. Free Dave Liebman masterclass, noon, PONCHO. $24 general; $22 members & seniors; $12 students & veterans BUY NOW

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, ROYAL ROOM, 6/8/10PM
Royal Room Halloween Party
Wayne Horvitz has continually inspired new Seattle jazz. This extraordinary three-part evening starts at 6pm with the silent film classic The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari with live incidental music conducted by Horvitz. At 8pm the Royal Room Collective Music Ensemble, a large improvisational ensemble conducted by Horvitz, celebrates its new CD. The party continues at 10pm with Electric Circus, Horvitz’s arrangements of the classic fusion and fission of Miles Davis’s Bitches Brew and other gems of the new canon. Cabinet of Dr. Caligari: $7 adults, $5 children w/ families; RRCME & Electric Circus, $18 general; full evening, $20 general BUY NOW

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, DOWNSTAIRS @ TOWN HALL SEATTLE, 8PM
Chad McCullough: Spin Quartet
The Seattle-reared trumpeter, now based in Chicago, is “a thoughtful improvisor with technique to spare” (Allaboutjazz.com). His intense quartet of Geof Bradfield (sax), Clark Sommers (bass), and Kobie Watkins (drums) creates “some truly different things in modern jazz” (Examiner.com). $16 general; $14 members & seniors; $8 students & veterans BUY NOW

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31 & SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1, TULA’S RESTAURANT & JAZZ CLUB, 7:30PM
Frank Catalano Quartet
The brawny Chicago saxophonist ranges from tempered swing to the rapid-fire energy that has won him gigs with both Santana and Ministry. On the heels of two new recordings, the rock-solid quartet lights up two evenings at Seattle’s classic jazz club. $18 general; $16 members & seniors; $9 students & veterans RESERVATIONS AT 206-443-4221 OR RESERVATIONS@TULAS.COM

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1, ROYAL ROOM, 8PM
Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey & McTuff
Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey is the acclaimed, road-sharpened trio of Brian Haas (piano/Fender Rhodes/bass Moog/synth), Chris Combs (electric guitar/lap steel guitar/synth), and Josh Raymer (drums). “It swings, it sways, but the jazz trio form in their hands has an almost primitive, inside-your-head, idiosyncratic quality” (DownBeat). McTuff, Joe Doria’s full-bore organ trio with the impeccable Andy Coe on guitar and the dazzling Tarik Abouzied on drums, is becoming a Seattle legend. $18 general; $16 members & seniors; $9 students & veterans BUY NOW

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1, CHAPEL PERFORMANCE SPACE, 8PM
Battle Trance
In a “battle trance” this genre-defying tenor saxophone quartet of Travis Laplante, Matthew Nelson, Jeremy Viner, and Patrick Breiner reveals, as on their Palace of Wind debut album, a kinship with Evan Parker’s whirling soundscapes “with the ephemeral and unquestionable logic of a dream” (AdHoc). $14 general; $12 members & seniors; $7 students & veterans BUY NOW

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1, NORDSTROM RECITAL HALL, 7:30PM
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2, KIRKLAND PERFORMANCE CENTER, 2PM
Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra
Celebrating its 20th anniversary season, the region’s all-star big band salutes Seattle’s jazz innovators with “Quincy and Ray on Jackson Street.” Directed by Michael Brockman and Clarence Acox, SRJO has become a Seattle institution featuring many of the region’s jazz standouts and, for this weekend, vocalist Reggie Goings. (Presented by Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra.) $47 general; $44 seniors; $15 under 25 BUY NOW

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2, EMP LEVEL 3, 7:30PM
Industrial Revelation
Cuong Vu & Ted Poor
With its soaring amalgam of jazz, hiphop, indie rock, punk, and soul, the rock-solid Industrial Revelation demonstrates why it was nominated for The Stranger’s 2014 Genius Awards. The Seattle Weekly calls D’Vonne Lewis (drums), Evan Flory-Barnes (bass), Josh Rawlings (keyboards), and Ahamefule J. Oluo (trumpet) “effortlessly, constantly inventive.” They share the bill with a new project from the monster trumpeter Cuong Vu and New York-to-Seattle transplant Ted Poor, a drummer capable of both refinement and torrential power. This concert to be filmed as a continuation of the polished Icons Among Us: Jazz in the Present Tense documentary. (In cooperation with EMP and Argus Fund.) $18 general; $16 members & seniors; $9 students & veterans BUY NOW

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2, TRIPLE DOOR, 7PM & 9:30PM
True Blues: Corey Harris & Alvin Youngblood Hart
Harris, a MacArthur Award-winning Delta blues guitarist and vocalist with one foot in tradition and the other in contemporary experimentation, teams with Hart, a Grammy-winning self-styled “cosmic love child of Howlin’ Wolf and Link Wray,” to seek out the DNA of the vast blues tradition. $22 general; $20 members & seniors; $11 students & veterans BUY NOW

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, BARBOZA, 8PM
Crystal Beth and the Boom Boom Band
Beth Fleenor (clarinet/bass clarinet/voice) has emerged as one of the most fearless and innovative musicians in the city and in this new combo — Tristan Gianola (guitar), Michael Owcharuk (keyboard), Paul “PK” Kemmish (bass), and Adam Kozie (drums) — she unleashes her psychoactive, euphoric, libidinous Liberation Ritual 1. $12 (restricted: 21+) CONTACT VENUE FOR TICKETS

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, PONCHO CONCERT HALL, CORNISH COLLEGE OF THE ARTS, 8PM
Hal Galper Trio w/ Jeff Johnson and John Bishop
Veteran bebop pianist Hal Galper, renowned since his collaborations with Chet Baker, Cannonball Adderley, and Phil Woods, joins the seasoned bass-and-drums pairing of Jeff Johnson and John Bishop for a night of what their 2006 Origin Records release of time-shifting originals and standards aptly called Furious Rubato. $16 general; $14 members & seniors; $8 students & veterans BUY NOW

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, TRIPLE DOOR, 7:30PM
Seattle Women’s Jazz Orchestra featuring Grace Kelly
SWOJO has been showcasing our region’s talented female jazz artists for 14 years. This evening, the ensemble welcomes special guest Grace Kelly, already a master saxophonist at 22. The concert also includes two world premiere performances from the orchestra’s second annual competition for women jazz composers. (Presented in partnership w/ SWOJO. Supported by 4Culture.) $20 general; $18 members & seniors; $10 students & veterans BUY NOW

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6 – VARIOUS TIMES, LOCATIONS, ARTISTS
Sax in the City
To celebrate the 200th birthday of the idiosyncratic Adolphe Sax, the Earshot Festival dispatches players of his extraordinarily weird and wonderful instrument, now near ubiquitous in jazz, throughout the city, throughout the day and evening. Find pop-up sax concerts all over town. FREE

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, TOWN HALL SEATTLE, 8PM
Pharoah Sanders Quartet
With his unmistakable questing, yearning tone, this legendary saxophonist has pursued a master plan through the major turns in jazz history of the last 50 years. His early classic recordings with John Coltrane, and then under his own leadership, explosively liberated jazz form and expectations, yet also embraced timeless melody and sonorities — and his intensity has never waned. His quartet includes pianist William Henderson, bassist Nat Reeves, and drummer Joe Farnsworth. $26 general; $24 members & seniors; $13 students & veterans. $36 preferred seating BUY NOW

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7 & SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8, TULA’S RESTAURANT & JAZZ CLUB, 7:30PM
Anton Schwartz Quintet
Anton Schwartz creates brainy jazz that also thrills with “upbeat vibe, strong melodies, and unflagging sense of swing” (Jazziz). No less a master than Illinois Jacquet has said of Schwartz: “You play the tenor sax like it’s meant to be played.” He performs the music of his much radio-played Flashmob with George Colligan (piano), Lorca Hart (drums), Jon Hamar (bass), and Thomas Marriott (trumpet). $16 general; $14 members & seniors; $8 students & veterans
RESERVATIONS AT 206-443-4221 OR RESERVATIONS@TULAS.COM

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8, ROOSEVELT HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM, 7:30PM
Roosevelt High School Jazz Band
Every year under the direction of Scott Brown, the Roosevelt students turn out impressively stylish and assured performances. Often finishing at or near the top of the prestigious Essentially Ellington competition in New York, Roosevelt Jazz has helped to define the excellence of Seattle jazz education and set a standard for high-school jazz orchestras nationwide. $16 general; $14 members & seniors; $8 students & veterans; free for 12 & under BUY NOW

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8, VERMILLION ART GALLERY & BAR, 8PM
Bad Luck
Scott Cutshall / John Gross Duo
In Bad Luck, Chris Icasiano (drums) and Neil Welch (sax) play “virtuosic, cutting-edge music” (AllAboutJazz). They share the bill with Portland’s Scott Cutshall (drums) and John Gross, “one of the most meaningful players” on the American scene (Saxophone Journal). $5-15 sliding scale BUY NOW

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 9, CAFÉ RACER, 8PM
Racer Sessions +
For several years, weekly curated sessions at this celebrated U District location have challenged and nurtured Seattle improvising musicians. To mark the mighty contribution of the gatherings, organizer and drummer Chris Icasiano produces this expanded jazz-festival edition. FREE

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10, PONCHO CONCERT HALL, CORNISH COLLEGE OF THE ARTS, 8PM
Miguel Zenón Quartet
The Puerto Rican alto-sax phenom, whose brilliant playing and cultural integration won him a MacArthur Fellowship, performs with his explosive quartet of Luis Perdomo, piano; Hans Glawischnig, bass; and Eric Doob, drums. Expect intricate, soulful, intense, and locked-in playing that resonates with strains from throughout the Latin and forward-moving jazz worlds. $22 general; $20 members & seniors; $11 students & veterans BUY NOW

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, MUSICQUARIUM @ TRIPLE DOOR, 7:30PM
Earshot Jazz Festival Wrap-up Party
Join everyone who put on the Earshot Jazz festival, as well as musicians and your fellow fans, at this closing party and celebration. With lots of gratitude and live jazz accompaniment. FREE