A Mirror and Focus for the Jazz Community April 2018 Vol. 34, No. 04 EARSHOT JAZZSeattle, Washington Marina Albero Photo by Daniel Sheehan LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR EARSHOT JAZZ A Mirror and Focus for the Jazz Community Executive Director John Gilbreath Turn It Up! Managing Director Karen Caropepe Earshot Jazz Editor Caitlin Peterkin Contributing Writers Halynn Blanchard, As the weather warms up around the re- Peter Monaghan, Paul Rauch gion, things are definitely heating up around Earshot Jazz. We’ve got some great concert Calendar Editors Jane Emerson, Michael events coming up, announcements on sig- McPherson & Caitlin Peterkin nificant national and regional organiza- Photography Daniel Sheehan tional awards, and our annual celebration Layout Karen Caropepe of Seattle’s incredible jazz community in a Distribution Karen Caropepe & Earshot Jazz volunteers hard-swinging Golden Ear Awards Party. You’ll find us with some regularity this Send Calendar Information to: month at Columbia City’s always-bustling Royal Room. We especially in- 3429 Fremont Place N, #309 vite you to join us on Monday, April 2, for the annual Golden Ear and Seattle, WA 98103 Seattle Jazz Hall of Fame Awards Party. We’re emphasizing the “party” email / [email protected] aspect this year with music in a deep groove by Delvon Lamarr Organ Board of Directors Danielle Leigh Trio. Delvon has recently signed with one of the largest booking agencies (President), John W. Comerford (Vice in America, and already has dates lined up around the country, including a President), Sue Coliton (Secretary), Viren slot in the prestigious Monterey Jazz Festival. Catch them locally while you Kamdar (Treasurer), Sheila Hughes, Chris still can, while you help us honor a brand-new slate of award winners. And Icasiano, Ruby Smith Love, Jon Perrino, speaking of award winners, we are delighted that our own Karen Caropepe Diane Wah has been selected as Seattle’s “Jazz Hero” this year, by the national Jazz Journalists Association. That award is very well deserved! Emeritus Board Members Clarence Acox, Check this issue for previews of upcoming Earshot concerts for this Hideo Makihara, Kenneth W. Masters, Lola Pedrini, Paul Toliver, Cuong Vu month, most of which will be hosted at the Royal Room. We’re proud to welcome old and new friends, and reprise some of our favorite recent Founded in 1984 by Paul de Barros, concert presentations, as we continue to showcase the increasingly diverse Gary Bannister, and Allen Youngblood. world of jazz. We are also proud to be involved in a very special event on Earshot Jazz is published monthly by the Triple Door mainstage on April 24, which kicks off a week of events Earshot Jazz Society of Seattle and is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Seattle’s Black Panther Party. Tickets available online at www.earshot.org. for that are available through the Triple Door, with more information on Subscription (with membership): $35 our site. These April concerts are also a warm up for an incredible line up 3429 Fremont Place #309 of June events. Stay tuned. Seattle, WA 98103 Three years ago, the National Endowment for the Arts profiled the Ear- phone / (206) 547-6763 shot organization in their 50th anniversary magazine, The NEA at 50. Un- Earshot Jazz ISSN 1077-0984 der the headline, “Improvising with the Community,” the magazine rec- Printed by Pacific Publishing Company ognized our commitment to thinking globally while acting locally, saying, © 2018 Earshot Jazz Society of Seattle “Despite its international reputation, Earshot has remained a true com- munity organization.” That national recognition continues. We’re honored that the Earshot Jazz organization has recently been selected for special MISSION STATEMENT awards from two significant national foundations. We’ll have details on To ensure the legacy and progression those, and more, in an announcement in next month’s issue. of the art form, Earshot Jazz cultivates Please join us in support of jazz in this incredible, expanding community! a vibrant jazz community by engaging –John Gilbreath, Executive Director audiences, celebrating artists, and supporting arts education. 2 • EARSHOT JAZZ • April 2018 NOTES U CALL FOR ARTISTS Buell Neidlinger: 1936–2018 and membership database. She can be Prolific bassist, cellist, and educator found at every Earshot Jazz event run- Buell Neidlinger passed away March ning the front-of-house and backstage 16 in his Whidbey Island home. hospitality. She is devoted to the com- Jazz: The Neidlinger was best known for his munity she serves, and is one of the Second Century early collaboration with iconic pianist hardest-working advocates of the art form—a true Jazz Hero. Cecil Taylor in the ‘50s and ‘60s. He Deadline May 30 made a career working within a wide From the Earshot Jazz editorial team, spectrum of musical styles, including a heartfelt congratulations to Karen Earshot Jazz seeks submissions jazz, classical, pop, and rock, perform- Caropepe! Please join us in honoring from Seattle-area individual art- ing alongside artists including The- Karen, who will be presented with the ists and ensembles for the 2018 lonious Monk, Charlie Haden, Tony award by JJA’s and KNKX’s Robin Jazz: The Second Century series. Bennett, Chuck Berry, Frank Sinatra, Lloyd, and the greater Seattle jazz The series brings the progression Roy Orbison, Barbra Streisand, and community at the annual Golden Ear of jazz into creative motion on many more. Awards ceremony on Monday, April 2, the concert stage. Projects that Performing in the Boston Symphony at The Royal Room. question and expand the conven- tions of the jazz form are wel- Orchestra, he became a founding in- Racer Sessions Return to Café come. structor in the jazz department at the Racer New England Conservatory; he then Seattle-area individual artists The beloved Café Racer has reopened moved to Los Angeles to teach at the or groups, in any instrument its doors, ushering in a new era of California Institute of Arts, and be- combination, are eligible. Sub- weekly improvised and experimental came principal bassist of the Los An- missions must include a recorded music. On March 4, Racer Sessions geles Chamber Orchestra. While in sample of a project that can be co-founders Neil Welch and Chris L.A., he was an active session player, performed in a concert setting. Icasiano performed as duo Bad Luck performing on hit records including We encourage applicants to in- to inaugurate the series on the stage Dolly Parton’s Parton’s “Coat of Many clude a letter that speaks to their where it all began more than eight Colors,” the Eagles’ “Desperado” and musical interpretation of the years ago. “Hotel California,” and the Village meaning of jazz and of the next Commemorating the return to Café People’s “Y.M.C.A.” stage of jazz music. Racer, Welch and Icasiano wrote on In 2000, Neidlinger and his wife re- Individual artists or ensembles their website: “The Racer Sessions has located to Whidbey Island, where he are selected by a blind-jury pro- always represented a weekly, artistic continued to perform regionally on cess. Second Century artists and respite out there on the Sunday hori- the cello, and occasionally on records ensembles perform during July zon. The session became a place where on the K2B2 label. This giant of jazz 2018, and are paid a competitive people of different ages and genders will be missed. fee for the performance. could take their chosen instrument Please send submissions elec- Karen Caropepe Named JJA Hero into a communal space to create with- tronically to 2ndcentury@ear- Karen Caropepe, Managing Direc- out fear. Cafe Racer itself was a natu- shot.org or by mail to Earshot tor of Earshot Jazz, has been named ral fit. Racer is the spot we chose to Jazz, 3429 Fremont Place N, the region’s 2018 Jazz Hero by the Jazz gather and socialize as musicians and #309, Seattle, WA 98103. Dead- Journalists Association. people. The Racer Sessions has hosted line to apply is May 30. You Since starting at Earshot in 2005, performers from across the country, can direct questions and com- Caropepe has managed the organi- and time after time we at the session ments to Earshot Jazz at (206) zation’s bookkeeping, grants admin- have received messages expressing 547-6763 or [email protected]. A istrating, marketing/PR, ticketing, gratitude for the creative and welcom- list of past Jazz: The Second Cen- desktop publishing, and much more. ing environment of our session partici- tury artists and ensembles can be In 2015, she oversaw the exhaustive pants and of Cafe Racer itself.” viewed online at earshot.org. implementations of the new website April 2018 • EARSHOT JAZZ • 3 In 2017, original owner Kurt Geissel performed and recorded live by the Se- and wraps up on November 10 with announced he would be selling Café attle Women’s Jazz Orchestra with a Kevin Woods’ Tribute to Miles Davis. Racer, causing a stir in the community special guest during the 2018 Earshot Sudden Valley Jazz performances it served. Now under new ownership, Jazz Festival in Seattle. Submission take place at 3pm in the Sudden Val- the café celebrated its grand reopen- deadline is June 30. See swojo.org for ley Dance Barn in Bellingham. Seat- ing early in March. As the community details and online application. ing is limited, and drinks are available has welcomed back the café with open The contest was created to encourage for purchase at the concert. Both series arms, so too has the establishment the composition and performance of tickets ($70) and single concert tickets welcomed the artists and musicians the highest quality jazz ensemble liter- are available at fswl.org. who had found a home there.