A Mirror and Focus for the Jazz Community April 2011 Vol. 27, No. 4 EARSHOT JAZZSeattle, Washington Golden Ear Award Recipients Andrew Swanson, Andrew Oliver, Kane Mathis, Chad McCullough, Chuck Deardorf Wayne Horvitz, Bill Anschell, Chris Icasiano, Gail Pettis, Thomas Marriott Photo by Daniel Sheehan NOTES EARSHOT JAZZ A Mirror and Focus for the Jazz Community Jazz for Japan legacies of jazz women, and their advo- Executive Director John Gilbreath Pony Boy Records and Jake Bergevin cates, who helped transform race, gen- Managing Director Karen Caropepe Music are combining to put on Jazz der, and social relations in the United for Japan in support of the people of States in the quest to build a more just Earshot Jazz Editor Danielle Bias Assistant Editor Schraepfer Harvey Japan and the relief efforts for the re- and equitable nation. This issue ofEar - cent disaster. Artists will include Jay shot Jazz previews dozens of concerts Contributing Writers Andrew Bartlett, Bill Thomas’s Usual Suspects Big Band happening this month throughout the Barton, Nathan Bluford, Jessica Davis, John (Thomas will also be performing in Seattle area, providing each and every Ewing, Steve Griggs, Schraepfer Harvey, Japan this April), Greg Williamson one of us with ample opportunities to David Marriott, Peter Monaghan, Greg Pincus, Eliot Winder Quartet, Jake Bergevin, and other vo- appreciate jazz! Calendar Editor Schraepfer Harvey calists and artists from the Pony Boy Earshot Open Board Meeting roster who have performed in Japan. Calendar Volunteer Tim Swetonic Earshot Jazz will hold an open board Photography Daniel Sheehan In addition to ticket sales, there will be meeting and general community fo- Layout Karen Caropepe opportunities for donation and com- rum on Thursday, April 21, 5-6:30pm Mailing Lola Pedrini munity support for the people and at Tula’s Jazz Club, 2214 2nd Ave in culture of Japan. Performance details Send Calendar Information to: Seattle’s Belltown neighborhood. Ev- 3429 Fremont Place #309 have not been completely confirmed eryone is invited and encouraged to Seattle, WA 98103 at press time, but will be available at bring their questions, ideas, and sug- fax / (206) 547-6286 www.ponyboyrecords.com by April 1, gestions for the Earshot organization. email / [email protected] 2011. There will be a sign-up sheet for public Board of Directors Paul Toliver (president), April is Jazz Appreciation Month! comment, and Earshot staff and board Cuong Vu (vice-president), Lola Pedrini This year marks the 10th year that members will be available to answer (treasurer), Hideo Makihara (secretary), the Smithsonian’s National Museum questions and receive suggestions. Clarence Acox, George Heidorn, Kenneth W. Masters, Renee Staton, Richard Thurston of American History has organized High School Big Bands events during the month of April to Earshot Jazz is published monthly by Seattle-area high school jazz musi- celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month Earshot Jazz Society of Seattle and is cians feature around town in April: available online at www.earshot.org. (JAM), aimed at paying tribute to jazz Garfield, Roosevelt, Edmonds-Wood- both as a historic and living Ameri- Subscription (with membership): $35 can art form. JAM 2011 examines the 3429 Fremont Place #309 CONTINUED ON PAGE 22 Seattle, WA 98103 phone / (206) 547-6763 fax / (206) 547-6286 Earshot Jazz ISSN 1077-0984 Printed by Pacific Publishing Company © 2011 Earshot Jazz Society of Seattle MISSION STATEMENT Earshot Jazz is a non-profit arts and service organization formed in 1984 to cultivate a support system for jazz in the community and to increase awareness of jazz. Earshot Jazz pursues its mission through publishing a monthly newsletter, presenting creative music, providing educational programs, identifying and filling career needs for jazz artists, increasing listenership, augmenting and complementing existing services and programs, and networking with the national and international jazz community. 2 • EARSHOT JAZZ • April 2011 IN ONE EAR Space for Music at Mars Bar/ Sonarchy Radio Program ing provided by Jack Straw Produc- Café Venus Announces April lineup tions. For more about this non-profit One thing this city needs – other Sound wiz Doug Haire is the pro- organization with a mission to support than roads that get you through it, or ducer and mixer of Sonarchy, recorded the sonic arts, go to http://www.jack- under it – is a place where we can listen live in the studios at Jack Straw Pro- straw.org. Sonarchy is also supported to music that isn’t only modern jazz, or ductions in Seattle. This hour-long in part by a grant from the Foundation only progressive rock, or only unclas- broadcast features new music and for Contemporary Arts. sifiable, but something of all three. sound art by Pacific Northwest art- This month of April, you can hear It’s in that lush zone that much of ists. Now into its 16th year of air- live performances by these stellar what is most interesting is taking ing on KEXP 90.3 FM, Sonarchy is Northwest artists. April 3, Orkestar place, thanks to musicians like gui- broadcast every Sunday evening at tarists Dennis Rea, Rik Wright, and midnight. Sonarchy would not be Jason Goessl. Those three curate a possible without the efforts and fund- CONTINUED ON PAGE 22 series that is scheduled to run at least through this year, on the third Thurs- day of each month at Eastlake venue Mars Bar/Café Venus. The series, Zero-G, spotlights mu- sicians like those: adventurous in- strumentalists, mostly exploratory, electric, and instrumental, from the veteran to the latest head-turners – a welcome prospect. Each evening, Rea says, spotlights three varied but com- plementary acts from diverse regional scenes. Participating so far is Ask the Ages, Batholith, Diminished Men, Fun- damental Forces, Vance Galloway, Hound Dog Taylor’s Hand, Iron Kim Style, Joie Tet, Luna Moth, Moraine, Rik Wright Quintet, The Schwa, Special OPS, Tempered Steel, Tom Baker Quartet, TRIM- TAB, Wah Wah Exit Wound, and Zen Tornado. Rea says, “It’s the latest attempt to build bridges between the Balkanized camps of creative musicians in this burg.” Always a noble undertaking and a good idea! Stay tuned for more details. The Mars Bar/Café Venus is located at 609 East- lake Avenue East in Seattle. For more information, call (206) 624-4516, send an email to info@zerogconcerts. com, or visit www.zerogconcerts.com. April 2011 • EARSHOT JAZZ • 3 U CALL FOR ARTISTS Jazz: The Second Century Submission deadline May 4 In the summer of 2006, Earshot Jazz began a project entitled Jazz: The Sec- ond Century, an initiative addressing jazz’s progressive transition into the future. The goal of the series is to pres- ent music performances that question and expand the conventional bound- aries and parameters of the jazz form. As such, this concert series brings that discussion into creative motion where it matters most – on the stage, with an attentive audience. Earshot Jazz seeks submissions from Seattle-area artists and ensembles for inclusion in the 2011 series. Any use of instruments or creative expression will be considered, as will any interpretation of the meaning of Artists and ensembles are selected by Seattle, WA 98103-8650. Submis- jazz. Submissions should include a a blind-jury process. Selected artists sion deadline is May 4. Direct ques- recorded sample of a project that can and ensembles perform during July tions and comments to Earshot Jazz at be performed in a concert setting. 2011. Artists will be paid a competitive (206) 547-6763 or [email protected]. A We encourage applicants to include fee for the performance. Please send list of past Jazz: The Second Century any words or sentiments that speak to submissions electronically to jazz@ artists and ensembles can be viewed at their musical interpretation of the next earshot.org; or by mail to Earshot earshot.org/Events/2nd_Century stage of jazz music. Jazz, 3429 Fremont Place N., #309, .html. Presented in collaboration with Earshot Jazz ArT OF JAZZ Barney McClure Trio The refined jazz piano trio of a Northwest master Thursday, April 14, 5:30-7:30 pm SeATTle ArT MuSeuM DOWNTOWN 1st Avenue & union Street All ages Art of Jazz Seating is limited and available Sponsors: on a first-come, first-served basis. seattleartmuseum.org 4 • EARSHOT JAZZ • April 2011 GOLDEN EAR AWARDS Golden Ear Awards Presentation CHUCK DEARDORF: SEATTLE JAZZ HALL OF FAME GAIL PETTIS: NW VOCALIST OF THE YEAR BILL ANSCHELL: NW INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR PHOTO BY DANIEL SHEEHAN PHOTO BY DANIEL SHEEHAN PHOTO BY DANIEL SHEEHAN Inducted into the Seattle Jazz Hall of Fame: By Danielle Bias, with additional reporting by Schraepfer Chuck Deardorf & Wayne Horvitz Harvey NW Recording of the Year: The 2010 Golden Ear Awards, recognizing and cel- The Kora Band, Cascades (OA2 Records) ebrating contributions and achievements in Seattle-ar- ea jazz, were presented at a festive ceremony at Tula’s NW Acoustic Jazz Ensemble of the Year: Restaurant and Jazz Club on Sunday, March 20. Each Thomas Marriott’s Flexicon year, the awards give Pacific Northwest jazz fans an NW Alternative Jazz Group of the Year: opportunity to vote for the musicians and other com- Speak munity members who they believe have had a particu- larly outstanding year in jazz performance, recording, NW Concert of the Year: and service. The 2010 awards are the first Golden Ears Speak, CD release at the Chapel Performance Space to include an open nomination period, at the start of NW Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year: 2011. Then, figures that receive the most nominations Bill Anschell, piano are put on a public ballot, distributed via the Earshot Jazz website and in the Earshot Jazz newsletter. This NW Emerging Artist of the Year: year, Earshot Jazz received more ballots than in any Paul Kikuchi previous edition of the awards’ twenty-year history.