By February of next year, Ballard's Origin Records will have released 200 jazz recordings, More than half of them from local artists. Friday night, to celebrate the label's 10th anniversary, Ballard will swing with the sounds of 16 groups pouring out of 11 different venues.
With acts ranging from the Seattle Arts Trio -- a new group coming out of the University of Washington Jazz Studies program -- to a quintet led by retired Cornish College of the Arts Professor Hadley Caliman, the Ballard Jazz Walk offers a diverse array of musicians with one thing in common: They all have releases out on the Origin label.
The walk began five years ago, when Earshot invited Origin founder John Bishop to put together an event for the jazz festival. The Ballard Chamber of Commerce became involved the following year, but eventually dropped out, leaving Bishop and Origin partner Matt Jorgensen on their own to keep the walk alive.
“When we started," Bishop remembers, “ Matt and I would be stressing out on whether we could get 25 people to show up. Last year, between 700 and 900 people attended. Now we are at the point where I hope we don't kill it by having it become too popular, with people just standing outside the clubs waiting to get in."
Bishop fears the growing wealth of the region is creating a business climate in which promoters look for iconic things to make Seattle a world-class city, instead of trusting the artistic sense that has developed here over the years.
“So far, we have been left alone, so we can do what we want and take in whatever influences we choose," Bishop says about the ability of Seattle musicians to sidestep trends and create a music unique to the area.
With acts ranging from the Seattle Arts Trio -- a new group coming out of the University of Washington Jazz Studies program -- to a quintet led by retired Cornish College of the Arts Professor Hadley Caliman, the Ballard Jazz Walk offers a diverse array of musicians with one thing in common: They all have releases out on the Origin label.
The walk began five years ago, when Earshot invited Origin founder John Bishop to put together an event for the jazz festival. The Ballard Chamber of Commerce became involved the following year, but eventually dropped out, leaving Bishop and Origin partner Matt Jorgensen on their own to keep the walk alive.
“When we started," Bishop remembers, “ Matt and I would be stressing out on whether we could get 25 people to show up. Last year, between 700 and 900 people attended. Now we are at the point where I hope we don't kill it by having it become too popular, with people just standing outside the clubs waiting to get in."
Bishop fears the growing wealth of the region is creating a business climate in which promoters look for iconic things to make Seattle a world-class city, instead of trusting the artistic sense that has developed here over the years.
“So far, we have been left alone, so we can do what we want and take in whatever influences we choose," Bishop says about the ability of Seattle musicians to sidestep trends and create a music unique to the area.
For more information contact All About Jazz.
