Articles by Ryan Burns

Gary Steele Blindfolded

by Ryan Burns
October 25, 2005

Listen To This! is relative to the popular “Blindfold Test of Down Beat Magazine, with the added element of a musician-to-musician interview, as inspired by Drummer Art Taylor's book Notes and Tones (Da Capo 0526). The “blindfolded featured artist is asked to identify the players and tunes they are listening to, as well as rate each performance on a scale of 1-5 stars. Gary Steele was born November 7, 1931 and has been playing music professionally since he ...

Pat Metheny Trio+1: First Stop Seattle

by Ryan Burns
October 13, 2005

Pat Metheny Trio+1 September 7, 2005 Jazz Alley Seattle, WASeptember 7-9, Jazz Alley hosted the first stop of Pat Metheny's current Trio+1 tour. Playing for the first time at Seattle's longest running jazz club (3rd internationally), Metheny performed six sold-out shows along with band members Christian McBride, Antonio Sanchez, and David Sanchez. I caught the second set of the first night of performances.SOLOThe evening started with Metheny finger-picking solo guitar to ...

Gurn Blanston Blindfolded

by Ryan Burns
July 15, 2005

Listen To This! is relative to the popular “Blindfold Test of Down Beat magazine, with the added element of a musician-to-musician interview, as inspired by Drummer Art Taylor's book Notes and Tones (Da Capo, 1982). The “blindfolded featured artist is asked to identify the players and tunes they are listening to, as well as rate each performance on a scale of 1-5 stars.

Drummer Gurn Blanston is a highly regarded underground jazz icon/teacher from the Boston area. One ...

Abdullah Ibrahim Trio at the Earshot Jazz Festival

by Ryan Burns
February 15, 2005

(One person says) “You see that man over there? He's very talented. He speaks 40 languages!'? (The other replies) “Oh yeah, Well what does he say?'? ~Abdullah Ibrahim (after being asked by an interviewer how many languages he speaks)A man of few words yet full of musical expression, South African pianist Abdullah Ibrahim recently paid a rare visit to Seattle, “speaking'? to a standing room only audience at On The Boards. Scheduled to give a question and answer discussion ...

Tom Marriott Blindfolded

by Ryan Burns
September 9, 2004

Trumpeter Thomas Marriott has established himself as one of the most exciting, sought after instrumentalists coast-to-coast over the past decade. His musicianship and creativity have gained him numerous awards and recognition throughout the music world. A Seattle native, Thomas first broke out onto the scene with The Marriott Brothers Quintet's 1997 CD release Open Season, co-lead by brother/trombonist Dave Marriott. The album won Seattle jazz radio KPLU's top pick for that year. Earshot Jazz Magazine readers voted the quintet the ...

Brad Shepik Blindfolded

by Ryan Burns
May 15, 2004

NYC-based, Seattle-raised guitarist rates tracks by Metheny/Coleman, Chris Potter, Wes Montgomery, the Mahavishnu Orchestra, and Miles Davis.“Listen To This!" is relative to the popular “Blindfold Test" of Down Beat Magazine, with the added element of a musician-to-musician interview, as inspired by Drummer Art Taylor's book Notes and Tones (Da Capo 0526). The “blindfolded" featured artist is asked to identify the players and tunes they are listening to, as well as rate each performance on a scale of 1-5 ...