Edmonds, Lynnwood get jazzed

A new community partnership brings three days of jazz music to the Edmonds Center for the Arts March 1 through 3 for a weekend of performances by jazz legends and rising stars.

The Friends of Frank DeMiero Jazz Festival merges with Edmonds Community College’s long running jazz celebration in a shared vision of providing educational and musical opportunities for student musicians.

Daytime performances from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the EdCC campus will feature 45 high school and junior high/middle school jazz choirs and bands. The student musicians come together in a non-competitive setting to share their music, learn from each other ‘s performances, participate in a music clinic and have the opportunity to see, hear and learn from professional jazz performers and educators. Student performances are free and open to the public.

Ticketed evening performances at the newly renovated Edmonds Center for the Arts feature veteran musicians including the John Pizzarrelli Quartet, Curtis Stigers Quartet, Carmen Bradford, Sherrie Maricle and the DIVA Jazz Orchestra, John Proulx and Kathleen Grace.

Pizzarelli, son of renowned guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli and nephew of two virtuoso banjo-playing uncles, headlines the festival’s opening night at the ECA. The composer, guitarist and vocalist has recorded more than 20 albums since his first release in 1990.

DIVA Jazz Orchestra, based in New York City, plays contemporary, mainstream big band jazz composed and arranged by band members and renowned writers including Tommy Newsom, Ellen Rowe, Rich Shemaria, and Scott Whitfield. DIVA’s most recent CD, “TNT – A Tommy Newsom Tribute” follows up its previous releases “Live in Concert,” “I Believe in You,” “Leave it to DIVA” and “Something’s Coming.”

Kathleen Grace released her critically acclaimed debut CD “Sunrise” in 2005. For her new project Grace has now embarked on an innovative collaborative ensemble The Kathleen Grace Band.

Curtis Stigers is at the forefront of a new generation of jazz singers. Stigers’s latest release, “I Think It’s Going to Rain Today,” is a new collection of songs by some of the most influential songwriters of our time including Sting, Randy Newman, Mose Allison, Willie Nelson and Tom Waits, as well as two new Stigers originals.

John Proulx is a sought-after pianist, vocalist, recording artist, and composer in the Los Angeles area. Proulx can be seen performing at top LA venues including Spazio, Vibrato, and Charlie O’s. His debut CD, with legendary musicians Chuck Berghofer and Joe LaBarbera, was recently released on the Max Jazz label in 2006. He has performed with many others including Anita O’Day, Mark Murphy, and Marian McPartland.

Carmen Bradford was the featured vocalist in the legendary Count Basie Orchestra for nine years. The Los Angeles based singer performed on two Grammy Award winning albums with the Basie band in the 1980s. Bradford’s solo career took off with her critically acclaimed debut album “Finally Yours” and a follow-up solo release, “With Respect.”

Dee Daniels returns to the festival with her distinctive four-octave range. Daniels recently performed with the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra as a guest vocalist in their 18th annual Sacred Music of Duke Ellington Concert, her fifth appearance with the group.

Edmonds Community College’s own Soundsation Vocal Jazz Choir features 14 vocalists, piano, guitar, bass, drums and sound technician. Founded by Frank DeMiero and now under the direction of Kirk Marcey, Soundsation graduates have gone on to become leaders in vocal jazz education and professional performance, including in groups such as the Four Freshmen, the Ritz, the Glenn Miller Orchestra and others.

The Seattle Jazz Singers were brought together by Soundsation founder and former director, Frank DeMiero. Since their first appearance at a benefit concert, they have been in great demand, performing at jazz clubs in the greater Puget Sound region, at the American Choral Directors’ Association and as guest artist with the Everett and Vancouver Symphony Orchestras.