EyeShotJazz | Jazz Photography

The Bellevue Jazz Festival presented a special treat Friday night with the  Kendrick Scott Oracle, featuring Seattle’s Aaron Parks on keyboards. An interesting, complex and very moving performance. They are Kendrick Scott on Drums, Joe Sanders on Bass, Aaron Parks on Piano, Matt Stevens on Guitar, and John Ellis on Sax.

Kendrick Scott is highly regarded as one of the premier drummers of his generation as shown by the New York Times naming him one of “Five Drummers Whose Time Is Now.” His band,  Kendick Scott’s Oracle (KSO) released its second recording,  Conviction on Concord Records in January 2013. Conviction showcases Scott’s incredible subtlety and intensity and highlights his strengths as a drummer,  composer and a leader. This personal narrative album is a snapshot of the band in its full emotive,  unique and magnetic sound. The work focuses on what it takes to live,  act and love with Conviction. Scott penned half of the album and the other compositions are by Herbie Hancock,  Broadcast,  Sufjan Stevens and more., Scott is a longtime member of the Terence Blanchard Band and is a rising star in his generation alongside Robert Glasper,  Gretchen Parlato and Lionel Loueke. Sought after my may,  Kendrick has shared the stage with a diverse and amazing list of artists including Herbie Hancock,  Dianne Reeves,  and currently backs fellow Concord Artist,  Kurt Elling.

The Earshot Jazz 2013 Spring Series continues and last night presented the Refuge Trio. John Hollenbeck, above, played at the Chapel Performance Space  with Theo Bleckmann on voice and Gary Versace on piano & keyboard in an amazing performance of various originals and covers.

Refuge Trio takes its name from the Joni Mitchell song “Refuge of the Roads”. The collaborative trio was formed to play at the 2002 Wall-to-Wall Joni Mitchell Marathon Concert at Symphony Space in NYC. Since then, they have continued to explore delicate and playful music with mystery and exuberance. Their unique voices also play an essential role in the ensembles of Laurie Anderson, Meredith Monk, Bob Brookmeyer, John Scofield and Maria Schneider. As the Refuge trio, they fashion a transformative experience for the audience with their music and spirit.

Bobby Previte leads his Voodoo Orchestra West Monday night at The Triple Door as R=Earshot Jazz Festival rolls on.

Click on the schedule here 2012 Earshot Jazz Festival  continues.
New York-based drummer Bobby Previte first brought his transcriptions of Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew-era psychedelia to NYC’s Knitting Factory with the weekly Voodoo Orchestra 15 years ago. Now Davis’ seductively brooding electric music is resurrected with a cast of seasoned Seattle pros:
Saxophones Neil Welch, Kate Olson, bass clarinet Beth Fleenor, French horn Tom Varner, electric bass Keith Lowe, string bass Geoff Harper, Fender Rhodes Ryan Burns, keys Wayne Horvitz, B-3 organ Joe Doria, electric guitar Tim Young and percussion Jeff Busch.

Under Previte’s direction from the drums, the pieces often progress at differently than what Davis devotees are accustomed to. His Voodoo Orchestra West conjures the source material’s spirit and atmosphere; they play as themselves in Davis’ court, rather than simply emulating the sidemen on the original records. That allows a freedom to uncover their own starts, stops and melodies.

Drummer Brian Blade brought his Fellowship Band to the EMP for an Earshot Jazz Festival concert. The Fellowship Band is guitarist Jeff Parker, keyboardist Jon Cowherd, bassist Chris Thomas, and is front-lined by the twin-horns of Myron Walden (alto saxophone, bass clarinet) and Melvin Butler (tenor saxophone), bassist Chris Thomas.

The Fellowship Band’s beautiful blend of guitar, keyboards and horns is a transcendent sound presenting a unique flow of melody and improvisation. Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, percussionist Brian Blade moved to New Orleans to study at Loyola University in 1988. At Loyola Blade was able to study with many of the city’s great educators, including John Vidacovich, Ellis Marsalis, Steve Masakowski, and John Mahoney.  It was at Loyola that Blade also befriended pianist Jon Cowherd and bassist Chris Thomas, with whom he later moved to New York City.
This trio formed the core of Blade’s Fellowship, which soon expanded to feature two reeds, electric guitar, and pedal steel guitar. With Fellowship, Blade released the eclectic Brian Blade Fellowship (1998) and Perceptual (2000) for Blue Note, and though the albums were critically acclaimed, they were not great commercial successes.

Blade’s star continued to rise, however, first in high-profile gigs with Joshua Redman and Kenny Garrett, and later with Wayne Shorter in his new quartet with John Patitucci and Danilo Perez. Blade has also gone to conquer some seemingly unlikely gigs with Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, and Seal, while winning numerous award from major jazz and percussion publications along the way.

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Click here for the complete schedule for the rest of the upcoming shows at the 2010 Earshot Jazz Festival