Seattle Jazz Vespers

Seattle Jazz Vespers, now in our 22nd season, is a secular concert of professional jazz music, for those who love jazz, with an inspirational message.

 

Join us for our monthly concert hosted in the beautiful historic gothic sanctuary of Seattle First Baptist on First Hill at the corner of Harvard Ave. and Seneca street.

These concerts are an opportunity for jazz lovers throughout the city to hear Seattle’s best groups in a concert setting.

Seattle Jazz Vespers is free and open to the public on the first Sunday night of each month (October through June) at 6:00 p.m. No tickets or reservations are needed. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Free parking at the lot located on the south-east corner of Boylston Ave and Spring street or on the street around the church, family friendly. Come early for best seating and parking.

The artists will perform one set and during their break a “free-will” offering will be taken to support the musicians, followed by a short non-sectarian inspirational message. The performers’ second set will conclude the two-hour vespers concert.

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2023-2024 Season – Our Twenty-Second

Upcoming Artist

Mark Lewis Quartet
April 7, 2024

Saxophonist, Flutist, Composer, Educator Seattle area native Mark Lewis is a well-traveled saxophonist and flutist who has created a large body of jazz music over the past four decades. He’s been a part of jazz scenes from Seattle and San Francisco to Rotterdam and Paris. His latest album, Naked Animals, was recorded in 1990 with his Quartet from the Netherlands. It’s an important historical recording of a working neo-bop Quartet that had an enthusiastic following for more than a decade. His 2017 release The New York Session features piano legend George Cables, veteran bassist Essiet Essiet and drummer Victor Lewis. Mark was rated number two for alto saxophone (after Richie Cole) and number three for flute (after Charles Lloyd and Hubert Laws) in the 39th Annual Jazz Station Awards for his work on this album.

Recent awards include Cadence Magazine Top Ten Critics Poll for 2021 for his album Naked Animals, and #2 on alto sax (after Richie Cole) and #3 on flute (after Charles Lloyd and Hubert Laws) in the 39th Annual Jazz Station Awards for his album The New York Session, a collaboration with piano legend George Cables, bassist Essiet Essiet, and drummer Victor Lewis.

Music writer Ted Gioia, known as a leading global guide to music past, present and future, says of Mark Lewis: “You listen to the guys with the primo recording contracts on the very top labels, and in my opinion, they’re not in Mark’s league.”

Jaqueline Tabor Quintet
May 5, 2024

One of our all-time returning favorites at Seattle Jazz Vespers is our friend Jacqueline Tabor, also known as the “Seattle Chanteuse.” Jacqueline is an accomplished jazz, blues, and swing vocalist who enchants audiences with her powerful tones, style, and dynamic stage presence. This 4-time Earshot Jazz Vocalist of the Year and Seattle-Kobe Sister City Association Award Winner continues expanding her talents to entertain every audience. Tabor’s unique bluesy style and charismatic personality have made her one of the most beloved jazz vocalists and storytellers in the Pacific Northwest. Some call it the “Tabor Sound,” which is drenched in the natural rhythm of everyday life. She brings herself to every performance that encapsulates an authentic feeling of humanity. Tabor combines excitement and professionalism to everything music with a unique ensemble of Seattle’s most talented jazz musicians or local artists when on tour to create a community-centered experience.

Through the struggle of the pandemic, Jacqueline found a new and strong voice that now appears in the form of poetry, original compositions, percussion, and swing dance. She collaborated with the multifaceted, award-winning, and outstanding musician Marina Albero during this time. This dynamic duo created a production called Don’t Explain: A Musical Conversation Between Billie Holiday and Nina Simone which was a part of the 2022 Earshot Jazz Festival and was awarded Concert of the Year by Earshot Jazz and the Seattle Community. This friendship transcended Tabor from singer to musician and created an outlet for the pain and triumphs of this dark period of history.

In February 2020, Tabor performed a powerful tribute to Billie Holiday with multiple standing ovations and accolades and was nominated for Concert of the Year by Earshot Jazz. Since 2019 Jacqueline has been a guest artist for the prestigious Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra (SRJO). This beautiful partnership will continue for years to come.

Jacqueline Tabor is in the middle of a creative thunderstorm, — empowered, strong, and full of love; this is a moment you do not want to miss. She always leaves an audience with a memorable and spiritual moment, yearning for more.

Danny Quintero
with the Critical Mass Big Band
June 2, 2024

Danny Quintero – vocals, and Critical Mass Big Band (5 saxophones, 4 trombones, 5 trumpets, piano, bass, guitar, and drums)

A returning Seattle Jazz Vespers artist, Seattle native Danny Quintero has had the opportunity to share the stage with many high profile Seattle musicians such as: Clarence Acox, Overton Berry, Randy Halberstadt, James Caddell, Bill Ramsay, Bill Anschell, Stephanie Porter, Lance Bullar and many more!

Danny’s keen ear for subtle nuances of the Sinatra school of ‘Bel Canto’ singing-articulation, phrasing, dynamics, and breath control have brought a fresh and likeable, personalized approach to the Great American Song book. He has and continues to, make appearances on Seattle radio stations, at various Seattle Jazz clubs, and more notably Danny performs weekly at the prominent 13 Coins “Night Owl Lounge”, one of Seattle’s most respected venues. In addition, Danny has performed with the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra in their tribute to “Ol’ Blue Eyes, the Music of Frank Sinatra” at Benaroya Hall & the Kirkland Performance Center in addition to the four time winner of the Essentially Ellington Jazz Band competition, the Garfield High School Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Mr. Clarence Acox on a tour in Italy as well as in Seattle, WA.

Danny was nominated for Northwest Vocalist of the Year in 2011 and continues to bring a modern, yet traditional performance to the stage.

“There are many ‘so-called’ singers that make an attempt to do the music of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, etc. Most of these attempts come off with varying degrees of success and as a musician; it sometimes becomes a chore to share their stage. This is NOT the case with Danny Quintero. His sense of phrasing and attention to detail and pitch are impeccable. He studies the music of the greats that have come before him and understands the lineage, beauty and importance of the Great American Songbook. I have watched him grow over the last few years and it is a joy to have him on stage with the band. The young man can flat out sing.” –Clarence Acox, Seattle Jazz legend

During the interlude, Seattle Jazz Vespers will be awarding the “Shirley Cline Memorial Young Jazz Artist Scholarship.”

Past Artists


Eugenie Jones Quartet
March 3, 2024

Eugenie Jones – vocal, Peter Adams – piano, Jonathan Green – bass, Brian Smith – drums

A returning Seattle Jazz Vesper favorite, Singer/Songwriter Eugenie Jones is an exceptional vocalist and cleverly gifted lyricist who has released highly-praised, primarily original, vocal projects.

Her current release – Players – was a Best Jazz Vocal Album Grammy® contender and internationally ranked #7 on Jazz Week’s top 50 charts. Jones is additionally an Earshot Jazz Vocalist of the Year award recipient and the first vocal recording artist to receive Earshot’s Recording of the Year Golden Ear award.

A warm, engaging entertainer, she’s described by critics as an artist that “can make you feel jazz,” and she and her recordings have received favorable coverage in every major jazz publication, including DownBeat, JazzTimes, JazzIz, The Gazette/NY, and many others. Described as a “deft vocalist,” Jones has also proven to be a skillful songwriter, releasing 29 originals on her recordings.

Previous performances include The Jazz Forum/NY, PianoForte/Chicago, Town Hall Seattle/WA,
The Scat Jazz Lounge/TX, Blue Llama Club/MI, The Cloakroom/NY, Baur’s Listening Lounge/CO, Twins Jazz/DC, Atlanta Jazz Festival, San Jose Jazz Festival/CA, Earshot Jazz Festival/WA, The Harlem Late Night Jazz Series, The Royal Room/WA, Seattle Jazz Vespers/WA, and many other notable venues.

In addition to being a singer/songwriter/recording-performing artist, Jones is actively engaged in her community. She serves as the founding Board President of the Music Discover Center, a nonprofit that provides disadvantaged youth access to music instruction. For the last four years, she has also served as the Executive Producer of the Jackson Street Jazz Walk. This annual block-party community event commemorates Seattle’s historic African American music history and artists, such as Quincy Jones and Ray Charles, while raising funds for local nonprofits that feed the hungry and serve the needs of seniors.

Tobi Stone Jazz Quartet
February 4, 2024

Tobi Stone – tenor sax and clarinet, Heather Chriscaden – bass, Nelda Swigget – piano, and Steve Korn – drums.

Tobi Stone, a familiar face in the Seattle Jazz Community presents her jazz quartet. Playing original music and standards, this mostly female iteration takes an interactive, listening approach to the music they play.

The Seattle-based saxophonist has performed, recorded, and toured with several groups in the last 25 years, most notably as a member of Reptet, The Tiptons Saxophone Quartet & Drums, Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra, Seattle Women’s Jazz Orchestra and The Jefferson Rose Band. Tobi appeared in last year’s Earshot Jazz Festival with Alex Dugdale’s Big Band, and she has played with featured artists Anat Cohen, Branford Marsalis, Dave Brubeck and Kristen Chenoweth.

Alex Dugdale Fade Jazz Quintet
January 7, 2024

Alex Dugdale – sax, Cole Schuster – guitar, John Hanson – piano, Greg Feingold, bass, and Max Holmberg, drums

Alex Dugdale was adopted from Cali, Colombia and raised in Seattle WA. After graduating from Roosevelt High School in 2008, Alex studied saxophone performance at the Eastman school of music in Rochester NY. He returned to Seattle in 2013, forming his own jazz quintet and becoming a first call performer with many of Seattle’s finest bands including the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra and The Seattle Symphony. In past years, he performed with such bands as The Temptations, The Pointer Sisters and Four Tops as well as with John Legend, Dianne Walker, Chester Whitmore, Wynton Marsalis, David Meder, Najee and others.

Alex is also a passionate educator teaching both tap dance and music as a full time teacher and guest educator for the last decade. He currently teaches elementary band and orchestra for Seattle Public Schools and Tap Dance courses for the University of Washington dance department.

Alex is an Earshot Jazz Golden Ear Award as Emerging Artist of the Year winner in 2019.

Jake Bergevin Quintet
for the Holiday Season
December 3, 2023

Jake Bergevin – trumpet and vocals, Milo Petersen – guitar, Dan Kramlich – piano, Michael Glynn – string bass, Matt Jorgensen – drums

Singer/trumpeter/bandleader and educator Jake Bergevin has recorded two albums as leader and has been a featured artist with diverse groups such as the Tacoma Symphony, the Spokane Jazz Orchestra, Seattle Women’s Jazz Orchestra, and many more.

He leads his own groups including the Javatown Swing Orchestra and the Jake Bergevin Quintet and can also be heard playing with many other notable northwest bands and musicians.

His first recording as a leader, My Name is Jake, is a combination of sensitive jazz vocals and romping party/dance music. Conceived as a partial tribute to his heroes Frank Sinatra and Ray Charles, Jake puts his own stamp on some classic tunes and demonstrates his crooning, blues shouting, scat-singing, and trumpet solo skills in fine fashion.

Duende Libre
November 5, 2023

Frank Anderson – vocals and sangban, Chava Mirel – vocals, Alex Chadsey – piano, Farko Dosumov – electric bass, and Jeff Busch – drums and percussion

Duende Libre is an award-winning jazz group whose original music combines jazz virtuosity with roots rhythms from Cuba, Brazil, and West Africa into a “strikingly authentic blend.” Each having apprenticed with direct descendants and master musicians of these traditions, they consider themselves disciples of their teachers. The result: A euphoric new jazz that honors its historical roots, pushing open the boundaries of genre to invoke a powerful sonic freedom.

“Each member’s experiences are vital as they filter West African traditional rhythms through their own hands, voices, minds, bodies, each song as much choreography as a composition,” PopMatters wrote. “Hopeful in sound as well as in ideological foundation, [the band creates music] full of heart and historical multitudes.”

Pop Matters calls it “globally-inspired jazz with dimension.” You will encounter sizzling rhythms and grooving basslines, experimental meters and irresistible melodic hooks, all aglow with the technical virtuosity earned by decades of devotion to their craft.

The trio is joined by the award-winning chanteuse Chava Mirel and inimitable tenor Frank Anderson. Formed by deep connections to Jewish and West African styles, the singers’ ebullient and masterful vocal techniques enrich Duende Libre’s live performance with even greater vibrancy. “To see the band live is to get a sense of the deep respect they have for each other, and the joy they take in connecting with each other and the audience” one critic wrote for Earshot.

The band effectively—and uniquely—calls attention to the space between contemporary jazz traditions and broader musical influences from around the globe. Informed by a cumulative century of devoted study, they answer to this with emphatic (and euphoric) sonic interpretations that effectively enrich the collective language of jazz itself.

LaVon Hardison Quintet
October 1, 2023

LaVon Hardison – vocals, Osama Afifi – bass, Cliff Colon – sax, D’vonne Lewis – drums, and Eugene Bien – piano

Singer LaVon Hardison is known in the business – by musicians, venues, and audiences – as a mesmerizing performer, a reliable collaborator, and an ambassador of joy.
It’s true: listeners love LaVon. She has glowing vocals and an effortless command of the stage. She offers fresh interpretations of classics and has an authentic, true-love relationship with the audience.

One of the most refreshing things about LaVon is that she knows she’s not in it alone. A longtime collaborator with a stable of the region’s most highly regarded instrumentalists, she approaches her shows by working closely with others to create irresistible arrangements for shows that are a really good time.
She rolls out dozens of them each year: Polished, accessible jazz and jazzed-up pop and classical performances in Seattle and across the Pacific Northwest (and beyond).

LaVon’s first love is jazz. But it wasn’t the sound she first knew. Growing up in a Baptist congregation in Boston, LaVon was saturated with gospel music. As a young adult, she trained in opera and musical theater and went on to perform with the Boston Lyric Opera and many other dramatic and musical theaters across the country.

Today, LaVon sings the songs that tell stories, from the worlds of soul, R&B, classical, sacred, and pop – and gives them new life and energy from a jazz perspective. And she is more frequently mixing in her own evocative original compositions.

Audiences come back to hear her again and again. LaVon’s glossy, warm tone and infectious stage presence make her a surefire booking for concert series and festivals.

LaVon was a featured performer at the 2009 Festival of World Sacred Music in New Delhi, India. In 2016, she won the Seattle-Kobe Sister City Jazz Vocalist Audition at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, which took her on three-city performance tour of Japan. And she was the Earshot Jazz 2017 Vocalist of the Year.

Jovino Santos Neto Quinteto
and

Awarding of the Shirley Cline Memorial

SJV “Young Jazz Artist Scholarship”

June 4, 2022

Jovino Santos Neto – piano, flute, melodica; Ben Thomas – vibraphone, bandoneon; Tim Carey – bass; Mark Ivester – drums; Jeff Busch – percussion

3-time Latin Grammy nominee Jovino Santos Neto is a master pianist, flutist, composer, arranger and conductor from Rio de Janeiro. After 15 years as a member of the legendary Hermeto Pascoal Group, he moved to Seattle in 1993. Since then, Jovino has established himself as a fascinating performer, whether playing solo piano, leading his award-winning Quinteto, or in guest appearances with ensembles and orchestras worldwide. He has shared the stage and the studio with some of the most creative musicians of our times.

Jovino’s compositions have been performed by the Seattle Symphony, NDR Big Band in Hamburg and by numerous jazz and chamber music groups. Jovino gives lectures, clinics and master classes worldwide on a variety of musical topics.

Jovino has received commissions by the Cheswatyr Foundation, IAJE, ASCAP, CMA/Doris Duke Foundation, Jack Straw Foundation, the City of Seattle, 4Culture, Artist Trust and Meet the Composer. He has been artist in residence at some of the most prestigious music schools in the world. In 2012 he was inducted into the Seattle Jazz Hall of Fame and in 2011, 2012, 2015 and 2018 the Jovino Santos Neto Quinteto won as Best Northwest Acoustic Group in the Golden Ear Awards by Earshot Jazz. He also was awarded an Artist Trust Fellowship in Music in 2012.

Come early for parking and best seating. We expect this concert to be a full house. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

Also, we will be awarding our Shirley Cline Memorial “Young Jazz Artist Scholarship” during the interlude between sets.

Dina Blade Quintet

May 7, 2022

Dina Blade – vocal and guitar, Hans Brehmer – piano, Osama Afifi – bass, Darian Asplund – sax/clarinet/flute, and Jamael Nance – drums

Dina Blade is a singer with a deeply relaxed sense of time and swing who spent her early childhood watching old cartoons with jazz soundtracks and has been enthralled with the music ever since. She has graced stages in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Cuba and Brazil, singing at festivals, jazz clubs.

An effervescent performer with a devotion to the timeless songs from the 1930s and 40s Great American Songbook, Dina has created several thematic shows preserving the work of the master composers and lyricists from that era. For this concert she will be playing classic and romantic songs from Brazil and the Great American Songbook. For this reason she is a recipient of the American Masters Performance Initiative from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Francesco Crosara Quartet

April 2, 2022

Francesco Crosara – piano, Milo Petersen – drums, Phil Sparks – bass, and Jay Thomas – trumpet, sax, flute


Originally from Milan, Italy, Francesco Crosara’s music melds an impressive mix of jazz improvisation, a romantic vein from his classical training, along with Latin influences. Francesco stands among the European-bred jazz greats, performing over the years with the likes of Lionel Hampton, Freddie Hubbard, Roy Hargrove, Richie Cole, Lilian Terry, and more. His recordings have featured a multicultural and international array of musicians.

“Since 2017, the Northwest can claim his talents, too, as he’s demonstrated an eagerness to contribute to the local scene. Francesco was selected to perform at the 2021 Earshot Jazz Festival in Seattle and has been featured two years in a row in the trend-setting Earshot Jazz.

“A pianist who originally hails from Italy, Crosara is well-versed in bop lore, and his delicate flow might indicate a debt to Bill Evans.” – Down Beat Magazine

“Crosaras compositions are considerate of their audience, providing a source of joy, comfort, escape, and healing. Crosara believes jazz is a collective experience and a living language that distills a multitude of identities, backgrounds, and personalities.”

Nelda Swiggett in Megabopolis

March 5, 2022

Travis Ranney – tenor saxophone, Michael Van Bebber – trumpet, Clif Swiggett -trombone/bongos, Nelda Swiggett – piano/vocal, Max Wood – drums, and Michael Glynn – bass

Swingin’, well-crafted arrangements and tight ensemble work produce a rich “big band” sound from this jazz sextet’s three-horn front line. Megabopolis is led by OA2 recording artist and award-winning composer Nelda Swiggett, and performs many of her original compositions and arrangements.

Megabopolis features some of Seattle’s finest jazz musicians, passionate about their craft, who have collectively performed at many top clubs and festivals throughout the Northwest and beyond, including the Earshot Jazz Festival, the Port Townsend Jazz Festival, Bumbershoot, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, the North Sea Jazz Festival, the Montreux Jazz Festival, and the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., to name a few.

Larry Green and his Band

February 5, 2022

Larry Green – vocal, LaRoi Carter – guitar, Dale Cartlett – drums, Michael Stubblefield – bass, Jim Cochran – keyboards, and Keith Carter – tenor and alto sax

Singer, songwriter, and musician Larry Green serves up a broad range of musical styles with his original compositions and vocal performances.

Influenced by Al Jarreau, Aretha Franklin, James Taylor and Maurice White, Larry identifies as a musician in the broader sense, unconstrained by genre or label.
As a songwriter, he delights in the pairing of funk rhythms and four-part gospel harmonies infused with rock guitar lead licks. Believing that music is the universal language, he also sees music as a uniting expression of invitation. Larry led and directed a gospel choir while an undergraduate earning his pharmacy degree.

He formed and toured with a funk band while on active duty and living in Italy, and recorded two solo albums showcasing his unique, blended style of artistic expression.

Larry has performed with his band Groove Deluxe at clubs and events in the Northwest, including the Bite of Seattle as well as the Taste of Tacoma.

Darrius Willrich Quartet
(note date change)

January 8, 2022

An internationally acclaimed soul singer, trained jazz pianist and intelligent songwriter, Darrius Willrich delivers feel good music drawn from a wide skill spectrum. His uplifting messages encouraging love of life and his sweetly lyrical, harmonically rich sound have made him a much sought after performer.

Initially influenced by the genius of Stevie Wonder and Prince, Darrius has crafted an original style all his own, capitalizing on his innate musical ability to combine diverse genres of music, from jazz to hip hop, to electronica, soul and R&B.

A cornerstone of Seattle’s live music scene, Willrich collaborates regularly with a number of Seattle Artists, and to date, has composed scores for four feature films.

Devoting his life to music since the age of twelve, Darrius taught himself to play by ear, and later went on to graduate Summa Cum Laude from Cornish College of the Arts with a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Piano.

 

BlueStreet Voices

December 4, 2022

BlueStreet Voices presents their own musical stamp on the season with snazzy, jazzy holiday tunes and standards directed by nationally renowned, Dave Barduhn and accompanied by the talented and accomplished jazz pianist and band leader Nick Moore.

BlueStreet Voices is an 18-mixed voice, vocal jazz ensemble based out of Seattle, WA that performs tunes with a professional trio. At our Seattle Jazz Vespers show, you may hear everything from swinging jazz standards to creatively arranged contemporary pop hits, including Latin, blues, gospel, and rich ballads.

Scott Lindenmuth Group

November 6, 2022

Scott Lindenmuth – guitar, David Pascal – bass, Chris Munroe – drums, Dwight Beckmeyer – keyboards

Scott Lindenmuth is a guitarist with few boundaries. He has been described as “One of the Pacific Northwest’s greatest instrumentalists” and a “Genre-crossing virtuoso”.

Performing with his contemporary instrumental group the Scott Lindenmuth Group, they will be playing jazz standards, Latin, funk, fusion and originals.

Lindenmuth is expanding his reputation as a cutting edge composer, creative and intuitive improviser, and master technician. A master of many styles he is one of the few guitarists in the world today that can easily transition from jazz to electric blues, classical to rock, funk, and fusion displaying fluid technique and virtuosic ability in all genres. His list of influences range from Jimi Hendrix to Wes Montgomery, Andres Segovia to Pat Metheny.

As a composer he has released four albums of original compositions with his group which received rave reviews in major publications including Down Beat, Guitar Player, Guitar World and Jazziz. They have been featured on radio stations throughout the U.S., with sales in countries around the world. He has also composed many compositions for solo guitar.

Scott Lindenmuth is regular performer on the Pacific Northwest music scene and has appeared at the region’s top venues for live music.

Greta Matassa Quintet in Concert

October 2, 2022

Greta Matassa – vocals, Brian Monroney – guitar, Clipper Anderson – bass , Mark Ivester – drums, and Alexey Nikolaev – sax

In the Pacific Northwest, where she built her career, Greta Matassa wins wide acclaim; 8 times, the readers of Earshot, the Seattle jazz magazine, have voted her the best jazz vocalist in the Northwest including another award 2021.

She was inducted into the Seattle Jazz Hall of Fame in 2014. Jim Wilke, the Seattle jazz maven and host of the syndicated “Jazz After Hours” radio program, praises her versatility. “She has a fearlessness in approaching material,” Wilke says, “that makes her like an instrumentalist in a jam session.”

Her 40 year career has been a whirlwind of exciting opportunities and experiences. Over the last 20 years she has become established as one of the greatest jazz singers of her time. Working with top jazz musicians in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York. In 2016 she was featured with bassist John Clayton’s group in a centennial tribute to Ella Fitzgerald.

“One of the best jazz vocalists we have to boast about these days.” —John Clayton

“Worldly, gentle, bold, dynamic, Favorites from a Long Walk is a gift for the heart. Greta Matassa is one of America’s finest singers, and stands firmly among the best in today’s jazz.” —Jazz Review

“Greta Matassa moves from triumph to triumph.” —Christopher Loudon, Jazz Times

” She can give Ms. Streisand a run for it! —Seattle Times

“Matassa is a Seattle treasure.” —Seattle Times

“Her scatting is as confident, nimble an energetic as Ella’s and her phrasing is hip like Nancy Wilson’s” —Earshot Jazz

Dmitri Matheny Quintet
and

Awarding of the SJV “Young Jazz Artist Scholarship”

June 5, 2022

Dmitri Matheny – flugelhorn; Bill Anschell – piano; Milo Petersen – guitar; Phil Sparks – bass; Mark Ivester – drums

During the interlude, we will be awarding the SJV Young Jazz Artist Scholarship. Also, there will be a short tribute to Shirley Cline, our longtime SJV co-chair and booking agent who passed away earlier this year. At the conclusion of the concert, all past SJV performers are invited to join us in a special finale of “Route 66,” Shirley’s favorite song, to wrap-up our 20th season.

“Dmitri Matheny is a jazz treasure. The lyrical Matheny has impressive chops, but it’s his warmth and soulfulness that win you over.”—All Music Guide

Acclaimed for his warm tone, soaring lyricism and masterful technique, American flugelhornist Dmitri Matheny has been lauded as “one of the most emotionally expressive improvisers of his generation” (International Review of Music). An honors graduate of the Berkley College of Music, Dmitri Matheny vaulted onto the jazz scene in the 1990s as the protégé of jazz legend Art Farmer. Since then he has garnered critical acclaim and a loyal international following, touring extensively throughout the United States, Europe and Asia, traveling to 19 countries. With over 100 recordings to his credit, Dmitri Matheny has released 11 albums as a leader. His latest is Jazz Noir, a fresh spin on crime jazz, film noir movie themes and timeless classics. The San Francisco Chronicle calls Matheny “one of the jazz world’s most talented horn players.”

 Sidney Hauser, Marina Albero and Kelsey Mines

May 1, 2022

Marina Albero: Pianist, composer, and educator Marina Albero is a captivating performer born in Barcelona, Spain and based in Seattle since 2015. Albero’s piano playing is an absolute celebration of life, her spirited performances are intelligent, uplifting, and delightfully engrossing.

 

Albero deftly draws on a lifetime of music tradition, from her native Barcelona in classical and early music as well as flamenco, to Cuba and Son Cubano, to American jazz. Her celebrated triple album “A life soundtrack” contains an all improvised volume called “Agua” of solo and duos with Hans Teuber as well as originals and jazz standards. Albero is a multi award winning artist and has become a favorite of Seattle’s audiences and critics.

 

Sidney Hauser: Sidney Hauser is a member of the next generation of Northwest Jazz musicians. She graduated from South Whidbey High School and the University of Washington, where she received a BA in Painting and a minor in Music Performance. Sidney has studied with saxophonist Neil Welch, Mark Taylor, and Michael Brockman, and has played alongside musicians such as Joshua Redman, Maria Schneider, Christian Mcbride, and more recently Tia Fuller. In addition to her position as second alto with the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra, Sidney has also played with the Seattle Women’s Jazz Orchestra and the Jazz Police among other ensembles, including leading her own fusion group, SmackTalk. She has been twice nominated through Earshot for the emerging artist award, and continues to write music for her own personal projects.

Kelsey Mines: Kelsey Mines is a performer, composer, and bass instructor native to Seattle. She holds a masters degree in Double Bass Performance from Arizona State University and was awarded the Holland Scholarship in 2016, sending her to study at Prince Claus Conservatoire in Groningen, the Netherlands. Upon returning to Seattle, Kelsey has established herself as an important voice in the Northwest, freelancing across the greater Seattle area in a number of styles ranging from jazz to classical to pop. Kelsey maintains an active private studio, is the double bass instructor at Bellevue College, and teaches classes at Seattle JazzEd . As a bandleader and composer, Kelsey has been featured at the Earshot Jazz Festival, Ballard Jazz Festival, Wayward Music Series, and with The Sound Ensemble. She performs regularly with the Yakima Symphony Orchestra, Wayne Horvitz’ Electric Circus, Eléré, and many others. She was awarded an Earshot Golden Ear award for Emerging Artist of the Year in 2019.

 

Together Sidney, Marina and Kelsey will be playing a series of original compositions and arrangements that highlight a variety of influences and genres. From ballads in six, to funk and dark rock they combine their musical backgrounds into one to create something truly unique.
Duende Libre Quintet

April 3, 2022

Alex Chadsey – piano; Farko Dosumov – electric bass; Jeff “Bongo” Busch – drums; Frank Anderson – vocals and percussion; Chava Mirel – vocals, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist

 

Duende Libre utilizes the American jazz tradition as a point of departure for daring explorations of rhythm & influences from the Americas, Europe and Africa yielding catchy melodies, lush harmonies, and wholehearted groove.

Duende Libre translates roughly as “free spirit” and Chadsey has certainly felt it within the trio, putting out three albums in swift succession. Formed in 2016, they released their self-titled debut album in 2017, an album rooted in American jazz painted warmly by thick brush strokes of Latin elements. Their second album, Drift, was released in the spring of 2018. It increased their musical palette—touching on the folk traditions of Europe, Africa, and beyond. Jazziz mentioned, “a strikingly authentic blend.”

Their new album adds yet more color to the band’s work. It was largely in­spired by the addition of two musicians to the lineup—Frank Anderson (vocals and percussion) and Chava Mirel (vocals). Adding them added to the chemistry of the group as a whole. Anderson has been performing in and around Seattle since 1986 as a R&B singer, percussionist, and dancer. Chava Mirel is a singer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist and is a major voice in Seattle’s Jewish music community. Chava Mirel’s own quartet premiered at Seattle Jazz Vespers in November of 2019.

 

They will be joined by Frank Anderson, a dynamic and engaging vocalist, drummer and dancer and Chava Mirel, electrifying singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.
Ranger and the “Re-Arrangers”

March 6, 2022

Ranger Sciacca – violin; Dave Stewart – guitar, mandolin and vocals; Mick Nicholson – bass; Jeffrey Moose – percussion; Mike Sciacca – guitar

Ranger and the “Re-Arrangers” evoke the spirit of a Paris cafe and the raucous energy of a Gypsy campsite with their version of Gypsy jazz. “At the heart of their sound is Ranger Sciacca’s sweet violin playing… his sense of melody and daring improvisations” (World Rhythm). The band’s repertoire includes swing standards, traditional Gypsy melodies, the music of Django Reinhardt, and Ranger’s unique originals.

THE GENRE “Gypsy jazz,” is named in honor of Django Reinhardt, Europe’s acclaimed composer and guitarist. In the 1930’s, Django and violinist Stephane Grappelli blended their own musical legacies with the new American art form of jazz, Soon their recordings brought international fame to the genre. Gypsy jazz is characterized by upbeat, high energy swing on acoustic instruments, especially guitar, violin, bass, clarinet, and accordion.

THE BAND Ranger and his father Michael formed the band in 2006, after a pilgrimage to the world’s foremost Gypsy Jazz event, the Django Reinhardt festival in Samois Sur Seine, France. The band has now released 4 CDs and performs over 100 times each year at music festivals, concerts in the park, swing dances, weddings and events of all sorts.


Miranda Kitchpanich Band

February 6, 2022

Miranda Kitchpanich is an energetic and dynamic 20 year old vocalist, guitarist, bassist, and songwriter hailing from the rainy city of Seattle, WA. She grew up in a musically rich environment and her skills as a vocalist were developed at an early age. Her earliest influences consist of Classic Rock and Blues, but she expanded to Jazz, Funk, and Soul both vocally and instrumentally. Some of her favorite artists include Led Zeppelin, Queen, Heart, Soundgarden, Beth Hart, Etta James, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and Elmore James. Joining Miranda are Andrew Cloutier – drums, Robin Moxie – guitar, Kenny Prior – bass.

 Miranda has been representing the Washington Blues Society and the South Sound Blues Association at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee at their Youth Showcase Act for 5 years. She has been on 5 national All-stars tours with the School of Rock, giving her the opportunity to play on stages such as the Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Lollapalooza, Gathering of the Vibes, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Summerfest in Milwaukee, and many others all across the country. She was nominated as best blues female vocalist in the 2020 Washington Blues Society Awards.

 For the last concert of our 2019-2020 SJV season (just before Covid,) Miranda showcased as a guitarist and lead vocalist with the Randy Oxford Band. Just recently, she performed on the season premiere of American Idol, February 14, 2021.


Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra – Quintet

January 2, 2022

Seattle Jazz Vespers is proud to present The SRJO Quintet as we continue the New Year Celebration on Sunday, January 2, 2022.

This group is made up of members of the award-winning Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra. Throughout the years, various small groups from the 17-piece orchestra have formed to do outreach and concerts in between performances of the regular concert season.

Joining us for the evening concert are Milo Petersen, guitar; Phil Sparks, bass; D’vonne Lewis, drums; SRJO Co-Artistic Director Michael Brockman, saxophone; and Jay Thomas, trumpet/saxophone.

With a combined 150+ years of playing experience, the quintet will play a selection of their favorite standards and Jazz standards for their inaugural concert at Seattle Jazz Vespers. There may even be some dancing in the aisles.

Colin Pulkrabek Quintet

December 5, 2021

Seattle Jazz Vespers is proud to present The SRJO Quintet as we continue the New Year Celebration on Sunday, January 2, 2022.

This group is made up of members of the award-winning Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra. Throughout the years, various small groups from the 17-piece orchestra have formed to do outreach and concerts in between performances of the regular concert season.

Joining us for the evening concert are Milo Petersen, guitar; Phil Sparks, bass; D’vonne Lewis, drums; SRJO Co-Artistic Director Michael Brockman, saxophone; and Jay Thomas, trumpet/saxophone.

With a combined 150+ years of playing experience, the quintet will play a selection of their favorite standards and Jazz standards for their inaugural concert at Seattle Jazz Vespers. There may even be some dancing in the aisles.

Max Hatt – guitar; Edda Glass – vocals, Clipper Anderson – bass

November 7, 2021

Everyone will be required to provide proof of full vaccination or a negative test for COVID-19 upon entry to the venue.

Max Hatt and Edda Glass have “an incomparable spook” and a “unique sound” (Nashville Scene and NPR’s Larry Groce) that’s taken them across the county from NPR and PBS to NYC’s Lincoln Center, DC’s Kennedy Center, and the Sundance Film Festival. Praised for her “impeccable vocal command” (PopMatters) and compared to a gamut of singers from Astrud Gilberto to Billie Holliday, Glass’s voice is ultimately “one of a kind…you cannot confuse her with another artist” (New York Theatre Guide). Max and Edda will be joined by Clipper Anderson on bass.

Their award-winning original music and mesmerizing reinventions of the Great American Songbook and Brazilian classics create a swoon-inducing soundscape of voice and guitar that is both epic and intimate, encapsulating “the confusing sentiment of feeling both lost and found, all at once” (New York Theater Guide). If we live in uneasy times, this music is both a reflection and antidote, an escape that is really a healing-in-place.
Jacqueline Tabor’s Tribute to Nancy Wilson

October 3, 2021

A returning SJV favorite, Jacqueline Tabor, the Seattle Chanteuse’s signature bluesy style has set her apart as a legendary performer in the Pacific Northwest. She combines relaxed energy with tremendous range and masterful improvisation, defining herself as a unique and dynamic presence in the contemporary jazz world. Tabor’s stunning vocals have thrice earned her the Earshot Jazz Vocalist of the Year Award, as well as the Seattle-Kobe Sister City Association Female Jazz Vocalist Award. Backed by a hand-picked ensemble of Seattle’s most talented jazz musicians, Tabor always brings you a breathtaking performance that stands as a testament to her place as one of the PNW’s most beloved jazz voices.

On Sunday, October 3rd, she will pay tribute to the late and great stylist Nancy Wilson.

Tabor’s first introduction to jazz was delivered by a cassette tape of Nancy Wilson singing “Guest who I saw Today” the story telling component of the song planted a seed that grew into this production. Tunes like “Never will I Marry”,”Save Your Love for Me” and the “Nearness of You” will be portrayed by Tabor’s unique and distinctive sound.

Jazz singer Nancy Wilson, a three-time Grammy Award-winner, was born on February 20, 1937, in Chillicothe, Ohio to iron-worker Olden Wilson and the former Lillian Ryan, who worked as a domestic servant. Nancy was the first of six children. Her father’s love of music and the records he played at home were a huge influence on Nancy as a young girl. She already knew she would be a singer by the time she was four years old and developed her talent by singing in the church choir.

Nancy Wilson won her first Grammy in 1964, for best R&B recording for her LP “How Glad I Am.” Nancy continued recording into the 21st Century, winning Best Jazz Vocal Grammy Awards for her albums “R.S.V.P. (Rare Songs, Very Personal)” (2005) and “Turned to Blue” (2007). She retired from live performance in 2011.


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