The most important annual jazz event in the state starts Sunday.
Familiar names and not-as-well-known players gather in the Seattle area to celebrate their music during the Earshot Jazz Festival through Nov. 7, with more than 50 concerts, lectures, films and outreach programs.
Opening night of the festival’s 16th year features the familiar: alto sax great Bud Shank and pianist Bill Mays, and the Bill Ramsay/Milt Kleeb Band.
But Earshot is also a time to stretch musical experiences and cross the oceans without a passport as organizers provide an international flavor.
Jazz pianist Yosuke Yamashita is a Japanese treasure. He’ll perform Wednesday with two legends, bassman Cecil McBee and drummer Pharoan ak’Laff; and kabuki masters, Japanese flute player Meisho Tosha and Japanese percussion player Kiyohiko Semba.
On Thursday, West Africa’s Rokia Traore performs two shows with her eight-piece band, using traditional song forms, a superb voice and Mali instruments.
Later in the festival, the line-up includes Nicholas Trace’s new project, Sonic Trance, using electric jazz, reggae, hip-hop, ragtime and other forms; Randy Weston’s African Rhythms Trio; drummer T.S. Monk, carrying into the 21st century the work of his father; Abdullah Ibrahim Trio; and the Gonzalo Rubalcaba Trio.
Tula’s Jazz Club is home to 16 acts that will please jazz-goers who appreciate a smaller venue and good music.
Matt Jorgensen +451, one of the up-and-coming local jazz combos, performs Wednesday. The group was awarded the 2003 Golden Ear Award for Northwest Acoustic Jazz Group of the Year by the critics for and readers of Earshot Jazz magazine.
Their 2002 release, “Quiet Silence,” did well on the JazzWeek airplay chart and received several best-of accolades.
Here’s the main-stage line-up for the first five days:
8 p.m. Sunday: Bud Shank and Bill Mays Duo, Bill Ramsay and Milt Kleeb Band at On the Boards; $18, $20.
8 p.m. Monday: Pianist Randy Halberstadt Trio, Triple Door; $15.
8 p.m. Tuesday: Legendary saxophonist Peter Brotzman, Consolidated Works; $14, $16.
8 p.m. Wednesday: Yosuke Yamashita: Pacific Crossings, Consolidated Works; $24.
8 p.m. Thursday: Pianist Vijay Iyer and alto saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa, Triple Door; $10, $12.
7 and 9:30 p.m. Thursday: Rokia Traore, Triple Door; $26.
Peter Brotzmann
Rokia Traore
Earshot Jazz Festival
Tickets through Earshot Jazz, all TicketMaster locations (or 206-628-0888) and various Seattle jazz spots.
Complete concert information is available at www.earshotjazz.org and at 206-547-9787.
Jazz films: The Earshot Jazz Festival and Northwest Film Forum present a week of new, classic and rare jazz documents beginning Nov. 5. All films are shown at the Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave., Seattle, between Pike and Pine. Admission: $7.50, $5.50 children and seniors. 206-267-5380.
Jazz photos: Eyeshot Jazz, an exhibition of jazz photographs by Daniel Sheehan, is at Victrola Coffee &Art (411 15th Ave. E., Seattle) Mondaythrough late November.
Earshot Jazz Festival
Tickets through Earshot Jazz, all Ticketmaster locations (or 206-628-0888) and various Seattle jazz spots.
Complete concert information is available at www.earshotjazz.org and at 206-547-9787.
Jazz films: The Earshot Jazz Festival and Northwest Film Forum present a week of new, classic and rare jazz documents beginning Nov. 5. All films are shown at the Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave., Seattle, between Pike and Pine. Admission: $7.50, $5.50 children and seniors. 206-267-5380.
Jazz photos: Eyeshot Jazz, an exhibition of jazz photographs by Daniel Sheehan, is at Victrola Coffee &Art (411 15th Ave. E., Seattle) Mondaythrough late November.
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