A Mirror and Focus for the Jazz Community May 2019 Vol. 35, No. 05 EARSHOT JAZZSeattle, Washington Seattle JazzED Girls Ellington Project Front Row: Ava Lim, Brooke Lambert, Kelly Clingan, Faye Alesse, Marcela Bonet, Emma Usui-Villareal Back Row: Flora Eagan, Shayla Felix, Parker Crotty, Sylvie Kromer, Celeste Gould, Alli Beaulieu, Jahnvi Madan, Grace Kaste, Lilia Sanders Photo by Michael Craft LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR EARSHOT JAZZ A Mirror and Focus for the Jazz Community History Doesn’t Stop Executive Director John Gilbreath Managing Director Karen Caropepe Programs Manager Tara Peters Marketing & Development Associate Lucienne I’ve often wondered about histo- Aggarwal ry’s memory. Clearly, a major event that impacts our solid cultural Earshot Jazz Editors Lucienne Aggarwal & Tara Peters icons, like the recent fire at Notre Dame, will stop us in our tracks Contributing Writers Whitney Bashaw, and remind us that we don’t often Halynn Blanchard, Haley Freedlund, Rayna get to witness historical events in a Mathis, Peter Monaghan, Carlos Snaider way that allows us to draw our own Calendar Editors Casey Adams, Jane conclusions. But history accumu- Emerson, & Tara Peters lates on all levels at all times. That’s Photography Michael Craft the good news and the bad news. Layout Tara Peters Distribution Karen Caropepe, Dan Dubie & In one of Walter Mosely’s recent Earshot Jazz volunteers books, entitled John Woman, the protagonist is a Black professor of Send Calendar Information to: [email protected] “Deconstructivist History,” who calls into question just about every- Board of Directors Danielle Leigh thing we think we “know.” I hate to admit to the epiphany I had realizing, (President), John W. Comerford (Vice President), Jon Perrino (Secretary), Sheila for instance, that literally all of the learned history I’ve had was compiled Hughes, Chris Icasiano, Maurice James, and “created” through a lens of privileged white culture. And, because it Chris Nutter, Gail Pettis, Ruby Smith Love, overtly excluded Black and Indigenous presence from our collective experi- Diane Wah ence, it was, at best, a series of half-truths. The core of jazz history (thank God) belongs to Black America without Emeritus Board Members Clarence Acox, Taina Honkalehto, Hideo Makihara, Peter question, though it still faces challenges from racial bias. The good news Monaghan, Kenneth W. Masters, Lola about history not stopping is in the permission and possibility to change Pedrini, Paul Toliver, Cuong Vu every day, to essentially recalculate our own history. Still, I’ve wondered why history remembers certain moments in jazz, and forgets others. Founded in 1984 by Paul de Barros, Gary Since you’re reading this issue, we can assume that we each have our Bannister, and Allen Youngblood. Earshot Jazz is published monthly and is available history with jazz. We go through life, and some things stick to us while online at earshot.org. other things slide right off. I could not tell you why I fell in love with jazz at the age of 10 or 12, but I just did, and it stuck. And over my (many) Subscription (with membership): $35 years, through the accumulation of experience and the blizzard of outside 3429 Fremont Place #309 stimuli, the love remained. Now it’s clear to me that, even when life was Seattle, WA 98103 taking me in completely different directions, I was always pointed toward phone / (206) 547-6763 this organization and work I’ve done over the past 30 years in service to the Earshot Jazz ISSN 1077-0984 music in this great city. Printed by Pacific Publishing Company It’s a joy to see the young people in this month’s cover feature, working © 2019 Earshot Jazz Society of Seattle the cultural continuum of Billy Strayhorn and Duke Ellington. History doesn’t stop. And this magazine takes very seriously its role as a document MISSION STATEMENT of the history of one of the most vibrant jazz scenes in the country. As al- To ensure the legacy and progression ways, we invite you to join us in support of Seattle jazz. of the art form, Earshot Jazz cultivates Thank you. a vibrant jazz community by engaging –John Gilbreath audiences, celebrating artists, and supporting arts education. 2 • EARSHOT JAZZ • May 2019 NOTES U KNKX Seeks Part-Time Jazz Host awards will be presented on May 31 at CALL FOR ARTISTS KNKX 88.5 Radio seeks a part-time 8:30pm at the Nordic Heritage Muse- Jazz Host at their Tacoma office. The um as part of the Ballard Jazz Festival. Jazz: The Second Century On behalf of all of us at Earshot Jazz, Jazz Host is responsible for hosting a Deadline May 31 weekday jazz program, and other pro- congratulations to John and Matt, and grams as needed including Jazz24. In- thank you for all that you do for our Earshot Jazz seeks submissions terested candidates should have basic community! for the 2019 edition of the Jazz: The Second Century concert se- radio operation skills, demonstrated Jazz in the Methow Weekend knowledge of jazz and blues, and a ries. The juried series brings the The annual mini-festival takes commitment to the KNKX mission. progression of Seattle jazz into place Memorial Day weekend in the For more information and to apply, creative motion on the concert Methow Valley. The festival includes a visit knkx.org. stage. One-hundred years into swing dance with Jacob Zimmerman, the art-form, what sonic shapes Waldo King, Founding Father classes and workshops with The West- does jazz take in its second cen- of Seattle High School Jazz erlies and Nancy Zahn, a jam session, tury? Projects that probe this Programs, Passes Away and a culminating performance by question to expand the conven- The renowned high school jazz The Westerlies. For further schedule tions of the jazz form are invited band programs in Seattle have Waldo information, visit cascadiamusic.org. for consideration. King to thank for their ongoing suc- Seattle Women’s Jazz Orchestra Seattle-area individual artists or cess. He founded the first student Composition Contest groups are eligible to apply. Sub- jazz band program at Garfield High missions must include a recorded SWOJO’s 7th Annual Jazz Composi- School in 1960, then Franklin High sample of a project that can be tion Contest for women composers is School, then Roosevelt High School, performed in a concert setting. now open. The contest encourages the where he stayed for over a decade be- We encourage applicants to in- composition and performance of high fore retiring in 1983. Paul de Barros, clude a statement that speaks to quality original jazz ensemble litera- contributing writer to Earshot Jazz, their musical interpretation of ture by women. Winning and honor- recounts Mr. King’s life and legacy in the meaning of jazz and the pro- able mention compositions will be per- an obituary for the Seattle Times. Visit gression of the art form. formed and recorded live by SWOJO seattletimes.com for the full report. The submissions are evaluated and a guest artist as part of the Earshot through a blind-jury process. Jazz Journalists Association Jazz Festival. The project is supported Jury members reflect the diverse Names John Bishop and Matt by 4Culture and the Seattle Office of Seattle jazz community and in- Jorgensen 2019 Jazz Heroes Arts & Cultural Affairs. The deadline clude past Second Century art- John Bishop and Matt Jorgensen for submissions is June 30, 2019. Rules ists. A list of past Jazz: The Sec- have received JJA Jazz Hero awards in and application instructions can be ond Century artists and ensem- recognition of their dedication to the found at swojo.org. bles can be viewed at earshot.org. Seattle Jazz community through Ori- The New Cool stage at Northwest 2019 Second Century artists gin Records, founded in 1997, and the Folklife Festival and ensembles perform across Ballard Jazz Festival, founded in 2003. KNKX once again presents The New four Thursdays in July and are Bishop and Jorgensen are also re- Cool stage at Northwest Folklife on paid a competitive fee for the spected drummers in their own right, May 25. performance. making their contributions to the jazz Three Seattle jazz acts are showcased Please send submissions community multi-fold. with each ensemble performing a by May 31 electronically to Jazz Hero awards are given annually 30-minute set. This year’s performers [email protected] or by based on nominations from commu- are DX-Tet featuring Dylan Hayes (pi- mail to Earshot Jazz, 3429 Fre- nity members and are presented by ano) and Xavier Lecoutureir (drums); mont Place N, #309, Seattle, WA their local fans and friends. John Bish- SmackTalk, a majority-female group 98103. op’s and Matt Jorgensen’s Jazz Hero May 2019 • EARSHOT JAZZ • 3 that includes Kelsey Mines (bass) and are encouraged to apply for Grants for ment in their efforts to provide music Sidney Hauser (alto sax) among others; Artist Projects. Artist Trust awards 50 access and education to all students. A and the headliner ensemble, Freudian grants in the amount of $1,500 each. consistently active and high-achieving Slurp featuring Ian Hughes (guitar), Applicants must be 18 years of age participant in the music scene, Bal- Dylan Hughes (bass), Adam Robb and a Washington State resident. The lard High School has received local, (trumpet), and Tyler Graves (drums). application opens on May 20 and the national and international acclaim for The New Cool Stage is hosted on deadline is June 24. Apply online at their stellar Performing Arts Program the Fountain Lawn Stage begin- artisttrust.org which includes more than ten music ning at 12:30pm. This year’s North- Ballard High School Awarded a ensembles, including two jazz bands west Folklife Festival runs from May National Association of Music and a jazz choir.