Jazz and Blues

Win tickets to see jazz vocalist Sara Gazarek at The Triple Door

Brenda Goldstein-Young — Tue, 21 May 2013 19:54:12 +0000

Enter here to win!

Jazz vocalist Sara Gazarek
May 29, choose 7:30 p.m. or 9:30 p.m. show
The Triple Door, Seattle

Amongst a community teaming with startlingly gifted young singers, Sara Gazarek stands out as a particularly extravagant artist. Her first two albums introduced her singular sound and vision, steeped in the tradition of jazz but deeply informed by contemporary songwriters and performers. With Blossom & Bee, her highly anticipated debut release on the respected indie label Palmetto, Gazarek turns over an exciting, glistening new leaf.

Saxophonist Tineke Postma in concert on Jazz Northwest

Jim Wilke — Sun, 19 May 2013 22:00:00 +0000

Noted Dutch saxophonist Tineke Postma recently played in Seattle as part of the Art Of Jazz Series at The Seattle Art Museum. The concert was recorded for broadcast on Jazz Northwest and aired this Sunday, May 19 on 88.5, KPLU.

The Seattle appearance was the first for the saxophonist and composer who was on a nationwide tour that concluded with a performance at the Mary Lou Williams Jazz Festival at The Kennedy Center in Washington. For her concert at SAM she was joined by Seattle musicians Tim Kennedy, piano, Evan Flory-Barnes, bass and D'Vonne Lewis, drums.

'High Water Everywhere' and the father of Delta Blues

John Kessler — Fri, 17 May 2013 19:00:00 +0000

Charley Patton is considered by many to be the father of Delta Blues. What does that actually mean? A combination of location, timing and talent, put him at the leading edge of the new musical direction of the 1920s. He was one of, if not the first, to play what we might recognize as blues.

Ann Hampton Callaway: Singing the standards, Streisand and making it up as she goes

Justin Steyer and Abe Beeson — Thu, 16 May 2013 20:06:16 +0000

Vocalist, pianist and composer, Ann Hampton Callaway has had success in the worlds of jazz, Broadway and cabaret. She’s also one of our favorite KPLU Studio Session guests.

We invite her to perform every time she passes through Seattle because, from one visit to the next, we never know what kind of surprises she’ll treat us to.

Local Latin Jazz Forecast

Robin Lloyd — Thu, 16 May 2013 19:00:00 +0000

Two upcoming not-to-be missed performances of Latin jazz, Seattle-style:

New CD by Chris Amemiya & Jazz Coalescence debuts on Jazz Northwest, May 12

Jim Wilke — Sun, 12 May 2013 22:00:00 +0000

"In the Rain Shadow," a new release by trombonist Chris Amemiya & Jazz Coalescence is one of the features on this week's Jazz Northwest. This sextet includes several top Northwest jazz musicians, including Jay Thomas, Travis Ranney, John Hansen, Jon Hamar and Steve Korn in a live studio session at Music Works Northwest. The CD has the benefit of imaginative arrangements as well as the immediacy of a live performance and the quality of a studio recording. The individual musicians are all at the top of their game.

Three area high school jazz bands competing in prestigious festival

Martha Kang and Kirsten Kendrick — Sat, 11 May 2013 00:17:27 +0000

Three area high schools jazz bands are in New York this weekend to compete in the 18^th annual Essentially Ellington Festival, the most prestigious high school jazz band competition in the country.

Edmonds-Woodway High School, as well as bands from Seattle's Garfield and Roosevelt high schools are among the 15 national finalists from across the U.S. and Canada.

Early blues with fife & drum

John Kessler — Fri, 10 May 2013 19:00:00 +0000

In 1942, Alan Lomax discovered a community of musicians in North Mississippi, who played their own hybrid music that was unmistakably African-sounding. Called “Fife & Drum” music because of its military background, it hearkens back to post Civil War days, when this special and local tradition originated.

Although drumming is a central element of African music, drumming was generally banned during the slavery era. With restrictions easing after the War, and the availability of one-time military drums, Fife and Drum music became a key part of North Mississippi culture.

Joan Osborne and The Holmes Brothers are a recipe for soul

Justin Steyer and John Kessler — Wed, 08 May 2013 19:51:29 +0000

Want a good recipe for soul music?

Here’s what you do: Start with vocalist, Joan Osborne, who has had pop music hits, performed on The Grand Old Oprey, toured with members of The Grateful Dead and yet never strayed from her roots in rhythm ‘n blues music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZF3hIg0gFg

Now add a good, solid dose of The Holmes Brothers (Sherman Holmes, Wendell Holmes and Popsy Dixon), who have been playing their own unique blend of blues, gospel, soul and R&B since the late 1970’s.

Molly Ringwald: Rediscovering her jazz roots

Justin Steyer and Abe Beeson — Tue, 07 May 2013 21:51:14 +0000

In 2010, actress/singer, Molly Ringwald wrote her first book, Getting The Pretty Back. The "pretty" in the title is a reference to what is perhaps Molly’s most famous movie, "Pretty In Pink" (1986), directed by John Hughes.

She also worked with Hughes in "Sixteen Candles" and "The Breakfast Club." But before Molly Ringwald became one of the world’s most famous teenagers, she was a jazz singer.

KPLU School of Jazz-Volume 9 is now available

KPLU — Mon, 06 May 2013 19:45:50 +0000

Several of Western Washington’s finest high school jazz programs and jazz professionals are showcased on KPLU School of Jazz-Volume 9, the station’s latest CD release which is the culmination of this year’s mentoring project.

The Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra plays Music of the Harlem Renaissance

Jim Wilke — Mon, 06 May 2013 07:43:58 +0000

This concert, given last month at Kirkland Performance Center, was the third SRJO musical program drawn from the rich cultural period of New York’s Harlem in the Twenties and Thirties when African-American writers, visual artists and musicians were creating new and in many cases, daring works. The concert airs Sunday, May 5 at 2 PM Pacific.

Obscure origins of 'You Don't Love Me'

John Kessler — Fri, 03 May 2013 20:12:50 +0000

"You Don’t Love Me" is a classic blues song that has roots in the 50's and is still being recorded and re-invented. Willie Cobbs, an Arkansas rice farmer, made his way to Chicago in the late 1940's, playing his blues on Maxwell Street, eventually releasing "You Don't Love Me" in 1961.

Jazz Caliente salutes 2013 JJA winners

Robin Lloyd — Thu, 02 May 2013 23:55:00 +0000

The Jazz Journalists annual awards for musicians were announced yesterday, May 1.

Jazz Caliente celebrates Latin Jazz winners Luciana Souza (Best Female Vocalists), Bobby Sanabria (Best Percussionist), and Edmar Casteneda (Player of Instruments Rare in Jazz of the Year).

Jazz April Birthday #30: Percy Heath

Robin Lloyd — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 17:18:51 +0000

Best known for his work with the Modern Jazz Quartet for its entire run (1952-1974), Percy Heath had only been playing bass for about four years when he joined the band.

Heath also recorded with most of the leading musicians in modern jazz, including Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane and Ornette Coleman.