Seattle Music Scene

Bonnie Raitt and Taj Mahal Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Bonnie Raitt has been palling around with Harlem-bred bluesman Taj Mahal since the '60s, bonding through a mutual love of roots music.

But this is the pairs first tour together; they'll be co-headlining under the name BonTaj Roulet and will donate a portion of the proceeds to a variety of charitable organizations. Mahals tunes, which fold African and Latin influences into the blues, should be a lively counterpart to Raitts sensual melodies and expressive slide guitar both will play individual sets and then come together onstage for a buoyant finale.

At 59, Raitt can still belt out her sentimental ballads (I Cant Make You Love Me) and upbeat singalongs (Something to Talk About) as beautifully as shes been doing for forty years. Its like shes often told her audiences the blues never go out of style.

Dave Matthews Band
Gorge Amphitheater
754 Silica Rd. N.W.
Quincy, WA
Date/Time:Sun., September 6, 6:00pm
Price: $48.50

Telegraph Canyon
With Friday Mile, Drew Grow & the Pastors' Wives
Tuesday, September 8
Jewelbox
2322 Second Ave
441-5823
7 p.m.

If Arcade Fire were a little more country and a little less Quebecois, it'd sound like fellow apocalyptic ensemble Telegraph Canyon. These Fort Worth, Texas, natives' banjo- and pedal steellaced compositions are velvety versions of Americana, laced together by Chris Johnson's strained voice.

On “Reels and Wires," from their debut album The Tide and the Current, long stretches of plucked banjo notes are broken by gentle guitar and piano chords. There's a sense of solitude in these songsa feat for a band that boasts seven members. Telegraph Canyon eschews foot-stomping and rabble-rousing for symphonic, dark melodiesthe kind of music that envelops you in sound and keeps you safe and away from the sadness that's all too close for comfort.

Dr. Lonnie Smith
Tuesday, September 8 and Wednesday, September 9
Dimitriou's Jazz Alley
2033 Sixth Ave.
441-9729.
7:30 p.m. $22.50. All ages

A key figure in the rise of the organ in jazz, as well as one of the architects of the soul-jazz sound, “Dr." Lonnie Smith (aka the Turbanator) is something of a jazz anomaly with his staunchly self-taught approach. Smith doesn't read music, so his playing tends to come from a highly individual headspace where personal expression and gut-level energy are favored over rote formula.

These days, thanks to younger groups that have latched onto the organ, the style that Smith helped pioneer has become familiar. But Smith remains a voice to be reckoned with. He is known for his assertive approach and colorful personality (the googly eyes, facial expressions, and turban certainly don't hurt), but he also stresses the need to hold back where appropriate.

It's not for nothing that Smith refers to the Hammond B-3 as “the monster," and his lyricism and dynamic control demonstrate why, decades after playing with the likes of George Benson, Jack McDuff, David “Fathead" Newman, and Lou Donaldson, he's still considered one of the prime ministers of his instrument.

Vocal Jam with Greta Matassa
Tula's
Mon., September 7, 7:30pm
Belltown

Emerald City Jazz Orchestra
Tula's
Tue., September 8, 7:30pm
Belltown

Pink Martini
Chateau Ste. Michelle
Sat., September 12, 7:00pm
Woodinville
Blues

Cleo Laine and John Dankworth
Dimitriou's Jazz Alley
Thu., September 3, 7:30pm
Belltown

Ronnie Pierce Jazz Ensemble
Cafe Amore
Every week Wednesday, 6:00pm
Belltown

The Djangomatics
Tutta Bella Neapolitan Pizzeria
Every week Wednesday, 6:30pm
Columbia City

The Legend Band with Clarence Acox
New Orleans Creole Restaurant
Every week Wednesday, 8:00pm
Pioneer Square

Chase, Julie Cascioppo
Martin's Off Madison Piano Bistro
Every week Saturday, 7:00pm
Capitol Hill

Daniel Davison
El Gaucho
Wed., February 25, 7:00pm
Belltown

Jim Cutler Jazz Orchestra
Tula's
Every week Sunday, 8:00pm
Belltown

Jazz Improv Night
Owl 'N Thistle
Every week Monday
Downtown

Deems Tsutakawa
El Gaucho
Mon., March 2, 6:00pm
Belltown

The New Orleans Quintet
New Orleans Creole Restaurant
Every week Monday, 6:30pm
Pioneer Square

James Knapp Orchestra
Seattle Drum School
First Monday of every month, 8:00pm
North Seattle

The Djangomatics' Gypsy Jazz Jam
Cafe Presse
Every week Monday, 9:00pm
Capitol Hill

Michael Shrieve's Spellbinder
ToST Lounge
Every week Monday, 9:00pm
Fremont

Holotradband
New Orleans Creole Restaurant
Every week Tuesday, 7:00pm
Pioneer Square

Deseo Carmin
Columbia City Theater
Every week Tuesday, 7:30pm
Columbia City

Del Rey, Craig Flory
The Pink Door
Every week Tuesday, 8:00pm
Pike Place Market

Jazz for Real Change
Agua Verde Cafe and Paddle Club
First Tuesday of every month, 8:00pm
University District

Tuesday Jazz Jam feat. Don Mock, Steve Kim
The Mix
Every week Tuesday, 8:00pm
Georgetown
Jam Sessions

Casey MacGill and the Blue Four Trio
The Pink Door
Every week Wednesday, 8:30pm
Pike Place Market

Ron Weinstein & friends
Fu Kun Wu Lounge at Thaiku
Every week Wednesday, 8:30pm
Ballard

Bob Jackson Band
New Orleans Creole Restaurant
First Thursday of every month, 7:00pm
Pioneer Square

Greg Ruby and his Musette Trio
The Pink Door
Every week Thursday, 7:30pm
Pike Place Market

Fu Kun Wu Trio
Fu Kun Wu Lounge at Thaiku
Every week Thursday, 8:30pm
Ballard

Gravity
Lo-Fi Performance Gallery
Every week Thursday, 9:00pm
Eastlake & South Lake Union

Happy Hour Jazz
Latona Pub
Every week Friday, 5:30pm
Ravenna & Wedgwood

Jazz and Sushi Fridays
Hiroshi's
Every week Friday, 7:30pm
Eastlake & South Lake Union

Lance Buller and the Monarch Band
13 Coins
Every week Friday, 9:00pm
Eastlake & South Lake Union

Jay Thomas Big Band
Tula's
Third Sunday of every month, 4:00pm
Belltown

Greta Matassa Jazz Workshop
Tula's
Last Wednesday of every month, 7:30pm
Belltown