Results for "Seattle Jazz Scene"

Jeffrey Michael Smith

Jeffrey Smith has performed in each of the lower 48 States and in 13 countries: as far west as Thailand and as far east as Turkey as a trumpet player for a variety of groups including The Temptations, The Glenn Miller Orchestra, Don Menza Big Band, Showboat, Jiggs Whigham, Bobby Shew, Kenny Rogers, Heart, Donna Summer, Yakima Symphony, New World Brass Quintet, Las Vegas Philharmonic, and many others. Performance credits also include showbands in Las Vegas including the Imperial Palace, Light at The Bellagio, the Flamingo, and many hours of studio recording for television, radio, and album productions.

Stephanie Porter

Born: June 1, 1974

American Jazz Vocalist, Stephanie Porter was first heard nationally in the mid-nineties, reaching the top 100 Gavin National Jazz Radio Chart.  A world class vocalist with a rare contralto range, Porter has been on a total of 14-album releases, including her latest, “Radio Theatre”, where she penned seven original tracks. An album featuring multi-platinum trumpeter, Steve Madaio.  

Stephanie has shared stages with original jazz greats Ernestine Anderson, Buddy Catlet, Bob Hammer, Jack Percival and Red Kelly, to name a few.  She has also opened for contemporary artists, including Michael McDonald, Chaka Khan, Cameo, Kansas and more. As a special guest, Porter has worked with The Tacoma Symphony under the direction of both Harvey Felder and Sarah Ionnides, The Harry James Orchestra, The Radio Rhythm Orchestra,  The Full Circle Jazz Orchestra, SRJO and Roadside Attraction.  As a background vocalist, she has performed with The Steve Miller Band in concert. Stephanie also toured with Hit Explosion during the 1990's, a very popular dance band, booked regularly at Portland's Crystal Ballroom, The Seattle ShowBox, Fenix Underground, Kingdome and Key Arena.   

Darius Jones Shrek

Born: July 7, 1997

Max Walker

Born: December 29, 1993

Steve Messick

Born: 1970

Steve Messick is a bassist, composer, producer, and bandleader based in Seattle, Washington.

Steve is the founder and bandleader of the Endemic Ensemble, which has been performing original modern mainstream jazz at clubs in the Seattle area since 2010. The Endemic Ensemble’s debut album, Lunar, made Lucid Culture's "The 20 Best Jazz Albums of 2012." Steve also co-founded the Random Access Quartet in 2013 and the New Bop Brigade in 2002.

Steve has been co-principal double bass for Orchestra Seattle / Seattle Chamber Singers since 2011, and has been a member of the bass section since 1999. Steve has also performed with the Lake Union Civic Orchestra, Seattle Chinese Orchestra, Cascade Symphony, Northwest Mahler Festival, and Seattle Gilbert & Sullivan Society.

Endemic Ensemble

Active since: 2010

In 2010, Seattle bassist Steve Messick started a new jazz project with the goals of writing forms and melodies in the styles of post-bop and big band, but also pulling inspiration from neoclassical works. This project became the Endemic Ensemble, and the jazz quintet debuted in the spring of 2010 with Messick on double bass, Travis Ranney on tenor and soprano saxophones, Matso Limtiaco on baritone saxophone and bass clarinet, David Franklin on piano, and Ken French on drums.

In 2012, the Endemic Ensemble released their first full-length album, Lunar, which made Lucid Culture's “The 20 Best Jazz Albums of 2012.” Drummer Christian Krehbiel joined the band in 2014, and in 2016 the Endemic Ensemble released their second full-length album, Tangled.

Random Access Quartet

The Random Access Quartet is not your typical jazz quartet: this quartet's repertoire includes the pens of rock and pop artists, such as Radiohead, Blondie, and Led Zeppelin, alongside jazz artists Wayne Shorter and John Coltrane, to name a few. The Seattle-based quartet features Alexey Nikolaev on tenor sax, Chris Morton on piano, Steve Messick on double bass, and Christian Krehbiel on drums.

Francesco Crosara

Born: September 13, 1960

Francesco Crosara is a Seattle based Italian jazz pianist, composer and educator, typically performing in a range of formats, from solo, duet, trio, quartet, or more.  Originally from Milan, Italy, Crosara’s music melds an impressive mix of jazz improvisation, a romantic vein from his classical training, along with Latin influences.  His major piano influences are Chick Corea, Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett, and Herbie Hancock.

Crosara stands among the European-bred jazz greats, performing over the years with the likes of Lionel Hampton, Freddie Hubbard, Roy Hargrove, Richie Cole, Von Freeman, Bobby Shew, Ira Sullivan, Bruce Forman, Barbara Morrison, Don Menza,  Lilian Terry, and more. His recordings have featured a multicultural and international array of musicians.

Mercedes Nicole

Soft –spoken Mercedes Nicole has an intimate and electric stage presence that reaches beyond the limits of time and space.  Whether it’s the Blues or Jazz, music is in her blood!  She has that kind of voice that demands attention, not because of volume, but because it touches the heart and interrupts one’s thoughts.  Her voice wraps itself like a comforter around the human experience, encouraging uplift, seeking not only triumph but healing. Mercedes is that exquisite mix of a mezzo soprano and contralto that permeates and interrupts one's thoughts, often with uncanny control...she lingers.

Jennifer Derrick Adams

Born: January 2

For the love of it is my first studio album. As a little girl I would tell anyone who would listen, “when I grow up i’m going to be a singer”. Here I am grown up, having been for quite sometime now and this debut is the realization of this life-long dream. Over the years I would step into the Seattle Jazz scene, scratch the itch, then step back out to manage my day gig, be a mother and deal with the crushing self doubt that can accompany standing on a stage and singing in front of strangers. I exchanged my passion for pragmatism. Singing in private, showing up at open mic nights, attending workshops and it occurred to me that it was time to put it on record, for the love of the music; the love for my son, may everything he does, and you do, be for the love of it.