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The Earshot Jazz Festival -- "Seattle's Most Important Annual Jazz Event" -- Runs October 14 to November 6, 2011

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Seattle's annual Earshot Jazz Festival presents more than 50 one-of-a-kind events in concert halls, clubs, and venues all around the city beginning October 14th and continuing through November 6th.

Known for “adventurous, spot-on programming" and praised as “one of the best festivals in America" the Earshot Jazz Festival brings jazz greats from around the world into creative collaboration with area artists and audiences. Earshot also celebrates Seattle's place in the world of jazz, from our award-winning high-school jazz programs to our renowned resident jazz musicians.

The schedule for the 23rd Earshot Jazz Festival is below. In addition to concert performances, the festival includes educational programs and panels, a film series, and other outreach events yet to be announced.

2011 Earshot Jazz Festival Schedule

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14, TOWN HALL SEATTLE, 7PM
Roosevelt & Mountlake Terrace High School Jazz Bands
Two of the top three bands in this year's Essentially Ellington competition at New York's Jazz at Lincoln Center assure Seattle's jazz future. (Ticket stub good for admission to following show.) $15 general, $13 members/seniors, $7 students

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14, TOWN HALL SEATTLE (DOWNSTAIRS), 9PM
Endangered Blood
Since meeting in Seattle high schools in the late 80s, Chris Speed (sax) and Jim Black (drums) have deeply affected jazz. Joined here by Oscar Noriega (bass clarinet) and Trevor Dunn (bass), they play “entwining lines, laying bebop over clanky grooves"—NY Times. $14 general, $12 members/seniors, $7 students

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14, RAINIER VALLEY CULTURAL CENTER, 7:30PM
Elspeth Savani
Correo Aereo
The sparkling vocalist Elspeth Savani, skilled in just about every vocal tradition, heads her Latin-inspired jazz-pop band. Plus: from Venezuela, Mexico, and Argentina comes Correo Aereo. Free (Presented by SEEDArts)

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14 & SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15, TULA'S, 8PM
Human Spirit
With 14 albums as leaders, longtime collaborators Thomas Marriott (trumpet), Mark Taylor (sax), and Matt Jorgensen (drums) have been a “three-headed monster" defining the “New West Coast Jazz" of Seattle's Origin Records. With them are two East Coast stars, pianist Orrin Evans, and bassist Essiet Essiet. $15 general, $13 members/seniors, $7 students

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15, SEATTLE ASIAN ART MUSEUM, 8PM
Trio BraamDeJoodeVatcher
One of the great New Dutch Swing outfits, as creatively unpredictable as they are stunning musicians: Michiel Braam (piano), Wilbert de Joode (bass) and American-in-Amsterdam Michael Vatcher (drums). $18 general, $16 members/seniors, $10 students (Support provided by the Consulate General of The Netherlands)

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15, UW BRECHEMIN AUDITORIUM, 8PM
Craig Taborn & Gust Burns
Pianist Craig Taborn, a valued sideman of Roscoe Mitchell, Chris Potter, and other modernists, has an acclaimed new ECM release, Avenging Angel. Here he shares the stage with Seattle's out-piano gem, Gust Burns in a fascinating two-piano performance. Free (Co-presented with Nonsequitur)

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, SEATTLE ART MUSEUM, 8PM
Eric Vloeimans' Gatecrash
The stellar Dutch trumpeter's Gatecrash chain-links lazy lounge, hard-core beats, spaced-out moods, and Zappaesque meters, with soundscapist Jeroen van Vliet, Gulli Gudmundsson on bass and effects, and emerging drum star Jasper van Hulten. $18 general, $16 members/seniors, $10 students (Support provided by the Consulate General of The Netherlands)

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, TULA'S, 7:30PM
Emi Meyer's Japan Trio
The Kyoto-born, Seattle-raised pianist and vocalist, who won the Seattle-Kobe Jazz Vocalist Competition in 2007 and has topped Japanese jazz charts, appears with Motoki Yamaguchi (drums) and Masanori Hattori (bass). $12 general, $10 members/seniors, $6 students

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, CHAPEL PERFORMANCE SPACE, 8PM
Rich Halley Trio + 1
The Portland sax master returns with his Tap Rack Bang Trio—Vancouver bass stalwart Clyde Reed, and Oregon drummer Carson Halley, plus acclaimed trombonist Michael Vlatkovich, all four veterans of progressive jazz. $12 general, $10 members/seniors, $5 students

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18 & WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, TULA'S, 7:30PM
Matt Slocum Trio
The award-winning New York drummer and the expansive Danny Grissett (piano) and Massimo Biolcati (bass) appear in support of After the Storm, an inspired disc of originals, standards, and an arrangement of Ravel's “Miroirs." $12 general, $10 members/seniors, $5 students

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, CHAPEL PERFORMANCE SPACE, 8PM
Avram Fefer Trio featuring Chad Taylor & Michael Bisio
Three formidable New Yorkers guarantee raw power: The saxophonist (Burnt Sugar collective), with drummer Chad Taylor (Chicago Underground) and former Seattle bassist Michael Bisio (Matthew Shipp Trio). $15 general, $13 members/seniors, $7 students

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, KIRKLAND PERFORMANCE CENTER, 7:30PM
Tommy Dorsey Orchestra
One of the great big bands performs masterworks of “The Sentimental Gentleman of Swing"—warm, sentimental, and moody—led by bandleader wiz, Nick Hilscher. $32-35

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, TULA'S, 7:30PM
Beat Kaestli Group
The “likably suave jazz singer" (NY Times), a Swiss New Yorker, has forged jazz, R&B, gospel, musical theater, and Latin jazz into a personal style based in European song. $14 general, $12 members/seniors, $7 students

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, TULA'S, 7:30PM
Johnaye Kendrick Quartet
The vocalist and Cornish instructor was acclaimed early by DownBeat, studied at the prestigious Thelonious Monk Institute, and works often with trumpeter Nicholas Payton who has lavished her with praise. With Dawn Clement (piano), Chris Symer (bass), and Byron Vannoy (drums). $14 general, $12 members/seniors, $7 students

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, ILLSLEY BALL NORDSTROM RECITAL HALL AT BENAROYA HALL, 8PM
Brad Mehldau
One of the most astounding of instrumentalists performing today—lyrical, intimate, complex—this giant among pianists is at his most expansive and riveting when playing solo. He has forged a distinctive amalgam of jazz exploration, classical romanticism, and pop appeal, to vast critical acclaim. He is “universally admired as one of the most adventurous pianists" (LA Times) on the jazz scene today. $32 general, $30 members/seniors, $16 students (Welcomed by KPLU 88.5FM NPR)

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, TOWN HALL SEATTLE, 8PM
Celebrating Coltrane & Mingus:
We Four (Javon Jackson, Mulgrew Miller, Nat Reeves, & Jimmy Cobb) Sonando
Among tributes to John Coltrane, We Four ranks as the most soulful and masterful: joining the tenor-sax hard bopper, Jackson, are piano master Miller, peerless bassist Reeves, and—here's the clincher—NEA Jazz Master and Kind of Blue drum vet Jimmy Cobb. Opening: Fred Hoadley's expanded Sonando nonet with guests Thomas Marriott (trumpet) and Mark Taylor (sax), bring a Latin slant to the restless genius of Charles Mingus. $22 general, $20 members/seniors, $10 students (Welcomed by KPLU 88.5FM NPR and Co-presented with the Central District Forum for Arts & Ideas)

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, KIRKLAND PERFORMANCE CENTER, 8PM
Evan Flory-Barnes Acknowledgement of a Celebration: Inheritance, Authenticity, & Healing A reprise of the 2009 Earshot Golden Ear performance of the year. The bassist brings back his Earshot- and Meet the Composer-commissioned work for large-ensemble fusion of jazz, hip-hop, and classical music with dancers and break-dancers. $22-$25 (Commissioned as part of a national series of works from Meet the Composer's Commissioning Music/USA program)

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22 & SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23, TULA'S, 8PM
Jay Thomas / Shunzo Ohno Group
Seattle's multihorn great collaborates with searing, stylish, New York-based, Japanese trumpet bebopper Shunzo Ohno, a veteran of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, with a fine Seattle lineup. $15 general, $13 members/seniors, $7 students

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23, TRIPLE DOOR, 7:30PM
The Campbell Brothers: Sacred Steel
Pedal-steel guitar ace Chuck Campbell, his lap-steel playing brother Darick, and their sizzling band deliver devoutly rocking Holiness-Pentecostal repertoire with growling, wailing, swinging steel. The group includes another Campbell brother, Phil (electric guitar) and his son Carlton (drums), as well as Katie Jackson's soul-curing vocals. $22 general, $20 members/seniors, $12 students (Co-presented with the Central District Forum for Arts & Ideas)

MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, TRIPLE DOOR, 7:30PM
Thomas Mapfumo & Blacks Unlimited
The “Lion of Zimbabwe," Thomas Mapfumo, presents music that he calls “influenced by the people who are struggling at home. Their voices have been silenced. Someone has got to talk." His chimurenga—music of struggle—has merged Shona traditions and the West. $20 advance, $23 day of show

MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, CHAPEL PERFORMANCE SPACE, 7:30PM
Nelda Swiggett's Stringtet
A Seattle gem, pianist Nelda Swiggett creates what All About Jazz called “refined and confident, open and inviting" music with “a bright palette, a sinewy execution, and a powerful, assertive command." With Chris Symer (bass), Byron Vannoy (drums), Rachel Swerdlow (viola), and Walter Gray (cello). $15 general, $13 members/seniors, $7 students

MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, TULA'S, 7:30PM
Wessell Anderson Quartet
A special Monday night jazz lesson from soulful, searing alto saxophonist Wessell “Warm Daddy" Anderson, with a group of top Seattle sidemen. $14 general, $12 members/seniors, $7 students

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, TRIPLE DOOR, 7PM
Garfield High School with Wessell Anderson
The always exciting Garfield jazz band, nationally acclaimed, performs with special guest, alto saxophonist Wessell Anderson, a veteran of the bands of Wynton Marsalis and a respected leader in his own right. $18 general, $16 members/seniors, $7 students

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25 & WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, TULA'S, 7:30PM
Cory Weeds Group
The Vancouver BC saxophonist has played with B3 master Dr Lonnie Smith, The Night Crawlers, and mellow vocalist Paul Anka while also excelling as a leader. His The Many Deeds of Cory Weeds (2010) featured organist Joey DeFrancesco, and remained in the JazzWeek charts for 10 weeks. $12 general, $10 members/seniors, $6 students

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, PONCHO CONCERT HALL, CORNISH COLLEGE, 8PM
Julian Waterfall Pollack Trio
This rising piano star appears with Noah Garabedian (bass) and Evan Hughes (drums). Still in his early 20s, and adept in jazz and classical modes, the New Yorker plays with dynamic maturity and technical ferocity. $18 general, $16 members/seniors, $10 students

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, PONCHO CONCERT HALL, CORNISH COLLEGE, 8PM
Allison Miller's Boom Tic Boom
When not accompanying Peter Gabriel, Ani DiFranco, or Brandi Carlisle, Allison Miller is a stellar jazz drummer. She brings to Seattle piano individualist Myra Melford, violinist Jenny Scheinman, and bassist Todd Sickafoose. The project's performances, said the LA Times, are “as unpredictable as they are approachable." $22 general, $20 members/seniors, $10 students

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, TULA'S, 7:30PM
Hardcoretet
This energetic Seattle quartet performs originals drawn from jazz, rock, soul, and improvised music, inspired by fusion supergroups as well as modern jazz outfits like Chris Potter's Underground and Kneebody. It features Art Brown (alto sax), Aaron Otheim (keys), Tim Carey (bass), and Tarik Abouzied (drums). $12 general, $10 members/seniors, $6 students

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, PONCHO CONCERT HALL, CORNISH COLLEGE, 8PM
Scrape with Jay Clayton
Cornish College trumpeter/composer Jim Knapp and his one-time student, viola player Eyvind Kang, lead a 16-piece string orchestra, joined by the incomparable vocalist Jay Clayton, who returns from New York to Cornish, where she taught for many years, to mark her 70th birthday. $18 general, $16 members/seniors, $10 students

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28 & SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29 TULA'S, 8PM
Travis Shook Trio
The pianist—a former Seattleite who was Earshot Golden Ear Award winner for best emerging jazz artist in 1992 and 1993—gained early notoriety with drum legend Tony Williams, vocalist Betty Carter, and his own brilliant trio releases. Here, he appears with Matt Jorgensen (drums) and Essiet Essiet (bass). $14 general, $12 members/seniors, $7 students

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, TOWN HALL SEATTLE, 8PM
The Bad Plus
Das Kapital play Hans Eisler
Acclaimed, controversial, always brilliant, The Bad Plus—bassist Reid Anderson, pianist Ethan Iverson, drummer David King—have broken down the walls of jazz convention. Also on a stellar bill: the pan-European Das Kapital—saxophonist Daniel Erdmann, guitarist Hasse Poulsen, drummer Edward Perraud—treat worker's songs with a similarly fine musicianship. $24 general, $22 members/seniors, $12 students

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, PONCHO CONCERT HALL, CORNISH COLLEGE, 8PM
Jay Clayton Group
Jerry Granelli Trio
A night of Cornish alums. Vaunted vocalist Jay Clayton's quartet includes pianist Dawn Clement. Drummer Jerry Granelli, whom Jazz Times called “one of those uncategorizable veteran percussionists who's done it all," appears with his longtime trio of Danny Oore (sax) and Simon Fisk (bass/cello). $18 general, $16 members/seniors, $10 students

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, EDMONDS CENTER FOR THE ARTS, 7:30PM
Bill Charlap & Renee Rosnes
The husband/wife team perform impassioned, electrifying, and sinuous piano duets. In 2010, when the couple released Double Portrait, on Blue Note, DownBeat exclaimed: “The counterpoint and compatibilities are so perfectly balanced." $30-$35, $15 youth (Presented by Edmonds Center for the Arts)

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, ILLSLEY BALL NORDSTROM RECITAL HALL AT BENAROYA HALL, 7PM
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, KIRKLAND PERFORMANCE CENTER, 3PM
Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra—"An Evening with Ol' Blue Eyes: The Music of Frank Sinatra" The Seattle region's all-star jazz aggregation tributes everyone's favorite blue-eyed songster with the big band jazz of Quincy Jones, Count Basie, and Nelson Riddle, accompanied by guest vocalists. $15-$39 (Presented by Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra)

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, TULA'S, 7:30PM
Jerry Granelli Trio
(see listing at October 29, above) $15 general, $13 members/seniors, $7 students

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, BENAROYA HALL S. MARK TAPER FOUNDATION AUDITORIUM, 8PM
Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock, Jack DeJohnette
The superb jazz trio, the most revered of modern times, with three consummate masters of their instruments and the trio format: pianist Keith Jarrett returns with bassist Gary Peacock and drummer Jack DeJohnette. As transporting as it gets. Book early. $25-$88.50 (Welcomed by KPLU 88.5FM NPR)

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, SEATTLE ART MUSEUM, 8PM
SWOJO Plays the Music of Robin Holcomb
Daniel Barry conducts the Seattle Women's Jazz Orchestra, SWOJO, in performances of compositions by Seattle-based composer, pianist, and vocalist Robin Holcomb, and of other remarkable women of jazz. $22 general, $20 members/seniors, $11 students

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2 & THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, TULA'S, 7:30PM
Grace Kelly Quintet
A 19-year-old jazz wonder, saxophonist/vocalist Grace Kelly “plays with intelligence, wit, and feeling," says one of her many fans, Wynton Marsalis. Lately acclaimed for her recordings of “gospel jazz," she is joined by Jason Palmer (trumpet), Doug Johnson (piano), Evan Gregor (bass), and Jordan Perlson (drums). $18 general, $16 members/seniors, $10 students

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, TRIPLE DOOR, 7:30PM
Tribute to Jim Knapp
Cornish College and the Seattle jazz community come together to celebrate Jim Knapp, the trumpeter, composer, and band leader who founded the college's jazz program 40 years ago. With the Jim Knapp Orchestra, the Cornish big band, and surprise musical guests. $24 general, $22 members/seniors, $12 students

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, SEATTLE ASIAN ART MUSEUM, 7:30PM
Robin Holcomb & Talking Pictures
Kate Olson/Gary Prince Duo
The outstanding pianist/vocalist Robin Holcomb with the lineup from her entrancing recent CD Presenting the Point of It All: Wayne Horvitz (keyboards), Dylan van der Schyff (drums), Peggy Lee (cello), and Bill Clark (trumpet). Opening: Kate Olson, a recent immigrant to Seattle and instantly one of its most outstanding saxophonists, nuanced and highly expressive, with Washington DC guitarist Gary Prince. $16 general, $14 members/seniors, $8 students

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4—SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, SEVERAL UNIVERSITY DISTRICT VENUES
University District Jazz Walk
For the third year, Lucid Jazz Lounge has organized this showcase of jazz, jazz, and more jazz at U District venues, all for one admission price. See http://udistrictjazzwalk.com/ for details. (Presented by Lucid)

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4 & SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, TULA'S, 8PM
Chad McCullough/Bram Weijters Group
Seattle trumpeter Chad McCullough and Antwerp-based pianist Bram Weijters memorably recorded lyrical, subtle, often driving jazz last year on Imaginary Sketches (Origin), with Piet Verbist on bass and Matt Jorgensen on drums. $14 general, $12 members/seniors, $7 students

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, SEATTLE ART MUSEUM, 8PM
Burn List
Operation ID
Burn List is a quartet of forward-thinking Seattle-based jazzers, Greg Sinibaldi (tenor sax), Aaron Otheim (keyboards), Chris Icasiano (drums), and UW jazz prof and world-renowned trumpeter, Cuong Vu. Operation ID's improvisation-laden, free-influenced jazz merges with progressive rock, thought-rock, synth-pop... with Ivan Arteaga (sax/clarinet), Jared Borkowski (guitar), Evan Woodle (drums), Rob Hanlon (keys), and David Balatero (bass). $16 general, $14 members/seniors, $8 students

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, CHAPEL PERFORMANCE SPACE, 8PM
Malcolm Goldstein
The new-music living legend returns to Seattle to present his improvisational “soundings," acclaimed for extending the violin's tonal and textural possibilities. Active in New York since the early 1960s, Goldstein will play solo and with a Seattle ensemble. $5-15 sliding scale (Presented by Nonsequitur)

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, KIRKLAND PERFORMANCE CENTER, 3PM
Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra—"An Evening with Ol' Blue Eyes: The Music of Frank Sinatra" (see listing at October 29, above)

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, TULA'S, 7:30PM
Bill Anschell Trio
Join us for a festival close-out celebration with a standards trio for Seattle—pianist Bill Anschell, bassist Chris Symer, and drummer Jose Martinez—along with food, drink, gratitude, and good cheer. Admission by donation

Schedule subject to change. More information available at www.earshot.org and 206-547-9787.

FILMS:

Northwest Film Forum and Earshot Jazz present jazz films at Northwest Film Forum. $9 general, $6.50 students/seniors, $6 NWFF & Earshot members

FRIDAY OCT. 28, SATURDAY OCT. 29, AND SUNDAY OCT. 30, AT 7PM EACH DAY And I Ride, And I Ride (Frank Vialle, France, 2009)
A freewheeling improvisation on virtuoso guitarist Rodolphe Burger.

FRIDAY OCT. 28 THROUGH THURSDAY NOV. 3, 7PM & 9PM EACH DAY Ne Change Rien (Pedro Costa, 2009, Portugal/France)
Seattle premiere of a meditation on entrancing French chanteuse Jeanne Balibar.

TUESDAY NOV 1, 7PM & 9PM
In My Mind (Gary Hawkins, USA, 2010)
Seattle premiere of a portrait of Jason Moran's 2009 tribute to Thelonious Monk, with Eugene Smith's just-unearthed photographs and recordings of Monk rehearsals.

WEDNESDAY NOV 2, 7PM & 8:30PM
Black February (Vipal Monga, 2010, USA)
Seattle premiere, with director in attendance, about legendary avant-gardist Butch Morris's 2005 series celebrating 20 years of his revolutionary “conductions."

TICKETS and Information: Contact Earshot Jazz 206-547-6763.

About the 2011 Earshot Jazz Festival

The 23rd edition of the Earshot Jazz Festival runs October 14 to November 6, 2011, with more than 50 distinctive concert events in venues all around the city. Featured artists include the Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock, and Jack DeJohnette, Brad Mehldau, The Bad Plus, Grace Kelly, and We Four.

About Earshot Jazz

Earshot Jazz is a non-profit jazz-support and presenting organization. In addition to its concert presenting activities, which includes Seattle's major annual jazz festival, Earshot Jazz provides educational programs in jazz and publishes the monthly Earshot Jazz news magazine.

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