Tenor saxophonist Pete Christlieb will join middle and high school bands and a Shoreline all-star big band in a benefit concert for the Shoreline Arts Council’s scholarship fund. For 20 years, Christlieb was the tenor sax in Doc Severinsen’s band on Johnny Carson’s “The Tonight Show.”
Christlieb started listening to jazz at age 12; now the studio musician plays with the Bill Holman Orchestra. He’s played in the wind section on the Star Trek shows and has featured solos on CDs such as Natalie Cole’s “Unforgettable.”
He’ll be joined by former Tonight Show bandmate and Tacoma resident Bill Ramsey, who performs with alto, tenor and baritone saxes. Ramsey has performed with many of the greats.
Pat Donahue: One of the favored guitarists on NPR’s “A Prairie Home Companion,” the finger-picker is also the guitarist for the Guy’s All-Star Shoe Band, heard by millions on the radio show. He’ll solo at this show, performing music that stretches from bottleneck blues to swing and folk.
Janiva Magness: The blues vocalist’s latest CD, “Do I Move You?” debuted in the eighth spot on the September 2007 Billboard chart. The CD, which had been around much longer, was also on top of the Living Blues radio charts. Last year Magness defended her Contemporary Female Blues Artist of the Year Blues Music Award.
Jill Cohn: The Seattle-based singer-songwriter celebrates the release of “Every Street Inside of You” with a string trio and her full electric band. A full-time musician since 1996, Cohn was a national finalist in Jewel’s Soul City Cafe and she performed her song “Instead of the Innocent” before 8,000 people in Seattle’s Volunteer Park. She was a top-five finalist in a Lilith Fair talent search.
KEM: There are no gimmicks with singer and musician KEM, just emotion, a voice (think Al Jarreau) and a song selection to suit his voice’s keening edge. Adult contemporary listeners seem to appreciate his R&B-soft jazz sound. How serious was KEM about succeeding in his chosen profession? He wrote, produced and financed his first CD by singing top 40 covers at weddings and waiting tables. Now he’s out with “You Might Win,” an upbeat message about giving everything to your goal.
Type A!: The dance floor will be open for this 16-member rock, R&B and soul party band. The band’s latest CD, “Alive Again!” was recorded at the Triple Door in Seattle. Armed with the classics, a full horn section and three female singers, Type A! will provide all the energy needed to chase away the winter doldrums.
Nearly Dan: Think Steely Dan and that band’s jazz rock; picture 14 local and national musicians for that distinctive music, and add R&B, country, fusion and swing to the mix. Nearly Dan has played with Ray Charles, Diane Schuur, Huey Lewis, The Four Tops and Roberta Flack.
Marlena Shaw: The lyricist and composer been named Best Female Singer by Downbeat and Record World magazines; her range, class and swing have been compared to Sarah Vaughn and Nancy Wilson; and she’s been called a soul legend. Shaw was the first woman vocalist to sign to Blue Note Records.
Out and about: Ingrid Michaelson’s and Greg Laswell’s Monday show at the Nectar Lounge is sold out … Toumani Diabate’s Symmetric Orchestra (Thursday, Triple Door) features the versatile musician’s 24-string harp (kora) and African folk music. In 2003 he won the Tamani d’or, a prize awarded to the best kora player in the world.
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