Results for "Seattle"

Chuck Deardorf: Hanging On To The Groove

by Paul Rauch
January 19, 2019

Bassist Chuck Deardorf has gained a reputation for virtuosity and professionalism over a career that has thus far spanned 40 years. He has been the first call bassist in Seattle for most of his career, playing with some of the most renowned musicians in the history of jazz. For many years, despite having a prolific local ...

Randy Halberstadt

Born: May 1, 1953

Randy Halberstadt has been a major figure on the Pacific Northwest jazz scene for many years. A multi-dimensional pianist, he is equally at home playing be-bop, Latin, down-home blues, mainstream, free and eclectic jazz. He has performed with Herb Ellis, Terry Gibbs, Buddy de Franco, Matt Wilson, Pete Christlieb, Bobby Shew, Joe LaBarbera, and many others. In 1990, Randy performed at the Monterey Jazz Festival with drummer Mel Brown. Randy has performed with the Seattle Symphony and is the pianist for the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra. On the strength of his large repertoire, great sense of swing, and acute listening skills, Randy has established himself as a first-call accompanist for jazz vocalists

Jay Thomas: We Always Knew

by Paul Rauch
November 16, 2018

Legacy is a fleeting notion. It is incomprehensible in real time when a career hits high points, when certain doors open to quantitative opportunity. Jay Thomas can tell you a thing or two about that, based on his own personal experience as a jazz artist over half a century. His story includes playing on the Seattle ...

Istanbul’s İKSV: An Intensity Beyond Cool

by Arthur R George
October 17, 2018

It would be easy to get breathless, even giddy, about the range and schedule of cultural events organized by İKSV, the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (in Turkish: İstanbul Kültür Sanat Vakfı). One individual could not possibly keep up with its jazz and classical music festivals and everything else that's offered by İKSV. It brings ...

Anton Schwartz

Born: July 16, 1967

“What I require for music to really captivate me,” Anton says, “is groove and intellect working in tandem. Music that gets into your bones, into your head and into your heart.” From Louis Armstrong and Lester Young to Charlie Parker and John Coltrane, jazz’s greatest improvisers create music that carries an emotional wallop. It’s a lesson that tenor saxophonist Anton Schwartz learned well. Like the giants from whom he draws inspiration, Schwartz approaches jazz as a vehicle for reaching the heart and the head. At a time when many of his contemporaries seem to be making music more for their musical colleagues than a wider audience, Schwartz stands out as a player determined to communicate with his listeners

Vocalist And Composer Johnaye Kendrick Releases Flying On Johnygirl Records

August 18, 2018

Attending the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz in the late 2000s, vocalist and composer Johnaye Kendrick had the opportunity to learn from and work with legendary jazz masters Terence Blanchard, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Danilo Perez, Kurt Rosenwinkel and Brian Blade. While studying with Blanchard, her class was often encouraged to write original music for their ...

Nancy Erickson Lamont

Nancy Erickson Lamont, a seasoned jazz vocalist who studied with the renowned jazz instructor Frank DeMiero, has been leaving her mark on Seattle's music scene for over three decades. Her impressive vocal range, lush alto, and distinctive approach to the jazz tradition have captivated audiences and earned her a reputation as one of the city's most engaging and natural vocalists. On May 10, 2024, Nancy unveiled her fourth studio album, Through the Passages, produced by the acclaimed Grammy-winning, twice nominated vocalist and producer Johnaye Kendrick.

Featuring an array of jazz talent, including lauded pianist-composer-bandleader Josh Nelson (Natalie Cole, Sara Gazarek), Sean Jones (Jimmy Heath, Dianne Reeves), pianist Shawn Schlogel, bassists Chris Symer and Michael Glynn (Cory Weeds, Dave Grusin), and drummer Stefan Schatz (Jon Hendricks, The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra), Through the Passages is a contemplative collection of original songs exploring life’s miraculous and mysterious seasons. Nancy’s first record of originals, written in collaboration with Schlogel and pianist Darin Clendenin, Through the Passages draws its lyrics from poems Lamont has written throughout the last 10 years of life transitions.

Origin Records: Creating Opportunities and Community

by Jakob Baekgaard
July 30, 2018

Being a jazz musician sometimes seems like a life ruled by jungle law. Everyone fights for gigs and puts out music on “labels" with only one artist. However, it doesn't have to be this way. Origin Records is an example of a modern artist driven label that has grown through collaboration and community. As Matt Jorgensen, ...

Bad Luck

Over half a decade after their first performance, drummer Chris Icasiano and saxophonist Neil Welch continue to develop a unique musical voice together. Bad Luck has become a sonic outlet to be reckoned with. In the highly trodden medium of drums and saxophone, Bad Luck proves that there is much left to be said. Called “One of the best Seattle jazz recordings in years” (Earshot Jazz) Bad Luck was awarded the “Best Outside Jazz Group” of 2009 by Earshot Magazine, and a finalist for “Best Avant Group” in the 2009 Inside Out awards. Performing all original compositions, the pair use live loops and pedals to create an astounding range of sound

Christopher Icasiano

Born: January 23, 1986

Chris Icasiano is quickly establishing himself as a force in Seattle's new music and avant-garge jazz scene. He performs regularly in the co-led duo Bad Luck with long-time friend and collaborator, saxophonist Neil Welch, which was recently awarded the 2009 Alternative Jazz Group of the Year by Earshot Jazz. Bad Luck's self-titled debut album was received with much critical acclaim and has been described as, "...one of the finest Seattle Jazz recordings in years - fresh, assured, mature way beyond it's players' ages." (Peter Monaghan, Earshot Jazz). Icasiano is also a member of the progressive avant-jazz group Speak, which features many of Seattle's most forward-looking, innovative, and creative musicians, focusing predominantly on original composition and collective improvisation