A Mirror and Focus for the Jazz Community December 2011 Vol. 27, No. 12 EARSHOT JAZZSeattle, Washington Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra Photo by Daniel Sheehan NOTES Nominations Wanted: 2011 Golden Washington’s newest Jazz Studies Triple Door Ear Awards faculty member, Fred Radke, who is Earshot Jazz Festival attendees will The Golden Ear Awards recognize directing the Studio Jazz Ensemble. remember Meshell Ndegeocello’s mes­ and celebrate the outstanding achieve­ Radke is a noted big band expert and merizing performance at the 2009 fes­ ments of the previous year in Se­ trumpeter, perhaps best known for tival. The endlessly inventive bassist, attle jazz. Nominations for the 2011 his work as leader and member of the composer, singer and bandleader in­ awards are currently being accepted. Harry James Big Band. On that night, corporates elements of soul, rock, jazz, Please email nominations to nomina­ The Modern Band, directed by Cuong funk and hip­hop into her music. She [email protected] by January 6, Vu, will also premiere a work titled returns to Seattle in support of her lat­ 2012. The official voting ballots for “Red Riding Hood,” a set of original est release Weather. the 2011 awards will be printed in the interrelated compositions by UW mu­ Event Listings Jan uary issue of this publication and sic students. The concerts will begin at Reminder: Please send gig listings to avail able at www.earshot.org. 7:30pm in the Meany Studio Theater. [email protected] at least eight Fred Radke to Make UW Debut On the Horizon: Meshell weeks in advance, if possible. Be sure December 7 will mark the School Ndegeocello to format your gig listings to keep with of Music debut for the University of Tuesday, January 10, 2012, 7:30PM the appearance of this issue’s. LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR Twenty Years Within Earshot December always brings opportu­ I became more involved, as volunteer Earshot Jazz newsletters, free of charge, nities to reflect on the past, express coordinator, and, eventually, a board bringing out the word on Seattle jazz appreciation to those around us, and member. When Sue Fawver left the month after month. And we’ve sup­ consider possibilities for the future. director’s post late in 1991, I applied ported jazz education here for years, But this month is especially signifi­ for the job, began as a paid employee with a variety of programs and services cant for me, because it marks the 20th (at $160 per week), left my work in nurturing generations of young artists. anniversary of my becoming the ex­ construction management, and never I am grateful to the vision and dedica­ ecutive director of Earshot Jazz. These looked back. tion of the Earshot founders: Paul and continue to be the most richly reward­ Working with this organization has Judy de Barros, for launching this orga­ ing years of my life. exposed me to some of the most ex­ nization on its well­considered course; I first volunteered as an usher for citing creative minds of our time and and Gary Bannister, who passed away an Earshot Jazz Festival concert in allowed me to forge deeply rewarding late last year, and who’s artistic vision 1990. That summer, Seattle hosted relationships with artists, arts profes­ still guides my own. Thanks, too, to all the Goodwill Games and Arts Fes­ sionals, and fellow travellers here in of the board members, volunteers, and tival, and Earshot mounted a project Seattle and around the world. It has hard­working staff members who have called the International Creative Mu­ also allowed me to channel my passion pitched in over the years. And God sic Orchestra (ICMO), including art­ for the music, need for approval, and bless Lola Pedrini! ists from Seattle, New York, and East obsessive work ethic to the benefit of As always, I invite you to join us! Get Germany (where the Berlin Wall had the community that we all love. involved, like I did, by putting your recently come down), improvising in With more than 2,000 concerts and time, creative resources, and passion a large­ensemble “conduction” under related programs produced so far, Ear­ for the music to work for your com­ Butch Morris. The spirit, inventive­ shot Jazz has nurtured the creative munity. ness, and absolutely crazy wonder spirit in jazz, and enriched the artists Thank you! of that music completely turned me and audiences of this region. We’ve John Gilbreath around. I was hooked. printed and distributed over a million Executive Director 2 • EARSHOT JAZZ • December 2011 EARSHOT JAZZ IN ONE EAR A Mirror and Focus for the Jazz Community Executive Director John Gilbreath Eastside Jazz Club at Meydenbauer Fund for Composer Jim Knapp Managing Director Karen Caropepe Center On November 2, a benefit concert was held for composer Jim Knapp at Earshot Jazz Editor Danielle Bias The Eastside Jazz Club’s annual Ex­ Assistant Editor Schraepfer Harvey travaganza presents Jackie Ryan and the Triple Door to help defray the cost the Jovino Santos Neto Quinteto at of his medical expenses related to dia­ Contributing Writers Nathan Bluford, John the Theatre at Meydenbauer Center, betes complications. Knapp helped to Ewing, Steve Griggs, Schraepfer Harvey, establish the jazz program at Cornish David Marriott, Peter Monaghan, Abi Bellevue, on December 4, 2011, at Swanson 2pm. The double bill showcases Jackie College more than 40 years ago and Ryan, Randy Halberstadt on piano, continues to teach there today. He also Calendar Editor Schraepfer Harvey Gary Hobbs on drums and Jeff John­ leads the popular Jim Knapp Orches­ Calendar Volunteer Tim Swetonic son on bass. Opening the Extrava­ tra as well as Scrape, a small string or­ Photography Daniel Sheehan Layout Karen Caropepe ganza is Jovino Santos Neto and his chestra. So far, nearly $5,000 has been Mailing Lola Pedrini Seattle­based Quinteto. Tickets avail­ raised towards a $30,000 goal. Dona­ able at www.brownpapertickets.com/ tion information is available at www. Send Calendar Information to: event/191487 or 425­828­9104. jimknappmusic.com/donate/. 3429 Fremont Place #309 Seattle, WA 98103 New Music Venue in Columbia City Sonarchy December Lineup fax / (206) 547-6286 Jazz keyboardist and composer Sonarchy is recorded live in the stu­ email / [email protected] Wayne Horvitz is set to launch the dios at Jack Straw Productions, Seattle, Board of Directors Kenneth W. Masters Royal Room in December, in col­ by producer Doug Haire. The hour­ (president), Richard Thurston (vice- laboration with Steve Freeborn and long broadcast features new music and president), Renee Staton (treasurer), Hideo Tia Matthies, the duo best known for sound art made in the Pacific North­ Makihara (secretary), Clarence Acox, Bill Broesamle, George Heidorn, Femi Lakeru, running the former OK Hotel venue west. Now in its 16th year, Sonarchy Lola Pedrini, Paul Toliver, Cuong Vu and now the Rendezvous. The Royal airs Sunday evenings at midnight at Room will be located inside the Royal 90.3 KEXP FM and on www.KEXP. Earshot Jazz is published monthly by Esquire Club at 5000 Rainier Avenue org, where it is also available in several Earshot Jazz Society of Seattle and is South and will include a bar, and a streaming audio formats for two weeks available online at www.earshot.org. restaurant that will be open for dinner following the broadcast. This month’s Subscription (with membership): $35 and weekend brunch. The venue will shows will also be available as podcasts 3429 Fremont Place #309 focus on local improvising artists of all shortly after they air. December 4, Seattle, WA 98103 genres, and will be open to all ages at Seattle­based musician, producer and phone / (206) 547-6763 certain times. Opening weekend, De­ sound designer Jason Wolford pres­ fax / (206) 547-6286 cember 16­18, includes Scrape, Zony ents solo electronics. Then on Decem­ Earshot Jazz ISSN 1077-0984 Mash, WACO, and the Samantha ber 11, Hexaphonic 3 offers freely im­ Printed by Pacific Publishing Company Boshnack Project. More info at www. provised music with Bruce Greeley on © 2011 Earshot Jazz Society of Seattle theroyalroomseattle.com/. bass clarinet, Mike Sentkewitz on bass Origin Records Featured on Seattle and Ryan Burt on drums. On Decem­ ber 18, the Christian Asplund En- Channel MISSION STATEMENT semble performs Asplund’s piece The Earshot Jazz is a non-profit arts and service The Seattle Channel’s Art Zone with Goat, No Weeds, written in tribute to organization formed in 1984 to cultivate a support Nancy Guppy recently highlighted artist Robert Rauschenberg with texts system for jazz in the community and to increase local record labels, including Origin by John Cage. The group includes Ey­ awareness of jazz. Earshot Jazz pursues its Records. The show featured a perfor­ mission through publishing a monthly newsletter, vind Kang on violin, Asplund on viola, presenting creative music, providing educational mance by Human Spirit, the group Brad Hawkins on cello, Greg Camp­ programs, identifying and filling career needs for led by Origin mainstays Thomas Mar- bell on percussion and Michael Lee, jazz artists, increasing listenership, augmenting riott, Mark Taylor and Matt Jor- narrator. Finally on, December 25, and complementing existing services and gensen. The video is available online at programs, and networking with the national and Vapor Music presents sounds for mo­ international jazz community. www.seattlechannel.org/artZone/. bile devices and long nights. December 2011 • EARSHOT JAZZ • 3 PROFILE Jazz Repertory Builds in Seattle: A Bridge from Past to Future By Steve Griggs at the Manhattan School of Music attributed to Ellington’s formidable and Yale University, and establish the legacy and Schuller’s tireless work. It’s the middle of the night in the first degree­granting jazz program Schuller remembers, “He would just early 1940s.