Northwest Jazz Festivals Make It Easy To Celebrate Summer

There's nothing quite like jazz on a summer afternoon, especially after a soggy Northwest spring. Tents rise on expansive lawns, the smell of coconut oil fills the air, music wafts through outdoor speakers - it's jazz festival season.

From the du Maurier festival in Vancouver, B.C., which has one of the best lineups of mainstream artists in years, to the Whidbey Island Dixieland Festival, one of several family-oriented trad-jazz events, there is a jazz celebration almost every weekend of the summer.

But the big jazz story this season is the new Smooth Jazz Festival, Aug. 1 and 2 at the Snoqualmie Valley Amphitheater, which features artists cherry-picked from Oregon's Mount Hood Jazz Festival. The idea originated with Carol Handley, program director at KWJZ-FM (98.9).

"At Mount Hood last year," explained artistic director Bill Royston, "Carol introduced herself. She said she wanted to talk to me about doing a festival in Seattle the same weekend as Mount Hood. I thought, `This is the smartest radio person I've ever met.' "

The cost-effectiveness of booking some of the same acts on alternate days, in relatively separate markets - Mount Hood draws only a small percentage of its audience from Seattle - seemed like a natural, particularly in light of the stunning success of smooth-jazz radio here. In exploring possible sites, Handley and Royston hit upon the Snoqualmie Amphitheater, developed eight years ago by a now-bankrupt winery.

With its incredible view of Mount Si behind the stage, Snoqualmie is a spectacular setting. However, it also was the site of one of the worst financial disasters in local concert production history, an eclectic 1990 concert series that forced its producer into personal bankruptcy.

"I think the audience that responds to this kind of music is mobile," said Royston, who seemed unfazed by past failures. "It's only 30 minutes out of the city, and it's the perfect smooth-jazz site - the mountains, the ambience, it all fits. They've also done a lot of work there, leveling roads, expanding the parking area and increasing the capacity of the bowl, to make it a more comfortable site."

The fact that the WOMAD world music festival (in Redmond's Marymoor Park) happens on the same weekend doesn't seem to bother Royston, who says his festival is already almost 50 percent sold.

"I don't think events like this compete with each other," he said. "Besides, we're in this for the long haul. If we break even this year, we'll be happy."

Whether the Smooth Jazz Festival flies or dies, it's a fan's market this summer. Here's the rundown:

Summer Festival On the Green, Chateau Ste. Michelle, Woodinville; 206-628-0888, 425-488-3300; through Aug. 30.

Jazz lite, but the setting on the winery lawn, under the big oak tree, is a winner. Al Jarreau, Aug. 7; Earl Klugh and Spyro Gyra, Aug. 16; Harry Belafonte, Aug. 30.

Du Maurier International Jazz Festival, Vancouver, B.C.; 888-438-5200, 206-628-0888; June 19-28.

The best jazz festival in the world, du Maurier is known for its liberal doses of European avant-garde, world music and blues. The action takes place at 16 venues around the city; bookend weekends, at Gastown and Concord Pacific Place, are free. Highlights: the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Butch Morris, June 19; Toots Thielemans, Shirley Eikhard, Gerry Hemingway, June 20; Diana Krall, Geoff Keezer Trio, Terence Blanchard, Willem Breuker Kollektief, Dave Douglas Tiny Bell Trio, June 21; Cubanismo, with Jesus Alemany, Andy Summers, June 22; Kenny Wheeler, Mark Murphy, Brad Mehldau Trio, June 23; Jane Bunnett and the Spirits of Havana, June 24; John Scofield, Egberto Gismonti, Steve Lacy, Available Jelly, June 26; Jack DeJohnette's Oneness, David Sanchez, June 27, Colin James, Leon Parker, June 28.

JazzFest International, Victoria, B.C.: 250-388-4423, 888-671-2112; June 19-28.

A satellite of the larger du Maurier Festival in Vancouver, JazzFest offers many of the same artists.

Jazz at the Britt Festivals, Jacksonville, Ore.; 800-882-7488; June 20-Sept. 5.

With its sweeping amphitheater lawn and state-of-the-art outdoor stage, Britt is a pleasant spot to take in a show. Highlights: Michael Brecker, Kevin Eubanks, June 20; Los Van Van, June 21; Dr. John, Koko Taylor, Aug. 1; Stanley Clarke, John Scofield, Aug. 2, Edgar Meyer, Aug. 14; Squirrel Nut Zippers, Sept. 4; Sweet Honey in the Rock, Aug. 5.

Port Townsend Country Blues Workshop & Festival, McCurdy Pavilion, Fort Worden State Park; 360-385-5320, 800-733-3608; June 26-27.

Jazz has its roots in blues, and Port Townsend always serves up some unusual finds. Larry Johnson, Ann Rabson, Alvin Youngblood Hart, June 26; Del Rey, Gary Primich, John Jackson, John Cephas & Phil Wiggins, June 27 at 2 p.m.; Steve James, Carl Rutherford, Sam Davis, John Dee Holeman, June 27 at 7 p.m.

All That Jazz Festival, Sequim, Carrie Blake Park, Olympic Cellars Winery, and other venues; 800-737-8462; June 26-28.

Some fine swing and Dixieland musicians live on the Olympic Peninsula, including Seattle's veteran band leader Gaylord Jones, who plays with Opus One. Also check out Big Tiny Little (formerly of the Lawrence Welk TV show), Dukes of Dabob, Stumptown Jazz, Dixieland Express, Lance Buller and the Monarchs, Charlie May's Bourbon Street Band, Chicago Six, and Rise and Shine.

PCC Summer Jazz Cruises, Argosy Spirit of Seattle, Pier 55/56; 800-677-5758; July 12-Oct. 4.

Cruise Puget Sound, graze on brunch and listen to great local jazz. Don Lanphere, July 12; Little Bill & the Blue Notes, July 26; Susan Pascal Quartet, Aug. 16; Dave Peck, Aug. 30; Pearl Django, Sept 13; Katie King Quartet, Sept. 27; Lance Buller & the Monarchs, Oct 4.

Jazz Port Townsend, Fort Worden State Park; 360-385-5320, (800) 733-3608; July 23-26.

Staring out at the trees and sky through the tall door of McCurdy Pavilion last year, as Pete Christlieb played a monumentally beautiful solo on tenor saxophone, I found it hard to imagine a more pleasant place to be. The action starts Thursday night in the clubs, then continues with the Bill Ramsay/Milt Kleeb Band, Christlieb, Benny Green/Christian McBride Quartet, July 24; Carl Fontana/Jiggs Whigham Quintet, George Cables, Chuck Deardorf, Joe LaBarbera, Holly Hoffmann/Bill Cunliffe Duo, Maria Schneider and the Festival All-Star Big Band, July 25 at 2 p.m.; Bobby Shew, New Stories, Freddy Cole, July 25 at 7:30 pm.

San Juan Island Classic Jazz Festival, Friday Harbor, San Juan Island; 360-378-5509; July 23-26.

The oldest local Dixieland event features a street dance, promenade, "pianorama," gospel services and great traditional jazz groups from all over the U.S., as well a little blues and boogie-woogie. Bill Allred's Classic, Beale Street Corner, Larry Channave and High Society, Electric Park, Igor's Cowboy, Big Tiny Little, Uptown Lowdown, Gator Beat, Savoy Swing, Natural Gas, Desperation.

Sokol Blosser Winery, Hwy. 99 W., Dundee, Ore.; 503-864-2282, 206-628-0888; July 26-29.

Also booked by the Mount Hood folks, these concerts are presented in a natural, 3,000-seat outdoor amphitheater surrounded by pinot noir vineyards. Highlights: Pat Metheny, July 26; Al Jarreau, the Bobs, Aug. 8; Spyro Gyra, Tuck & Patti, Aug. 15; Michael Feinstein, Aug. 29.

WOMAD, Marymoor Park, Redmond; 206-628-0888, 206-281-8111; July 31-Aug. 2.

This is mostly a world music affair, but jazz, improvising, African and blues acts on the three-day extravaganza include Abdullah Ibrahim, Baaba Maal, Bela Fleck, Hukwe Zawose, Justin Vali, King Sunny Ade, Thomas Mapfumo and Tuatara.

Mount Hood Jazz Festival, Mount Hood Community College, Gresham, Ore.; 206-628-0888; July 31-Aug. 2.

A big-budget, two-day, noon-to-midnight affair in an outdoor football stadium with a magnificent view of the Cascades, Mount Hood presents a "supermarket" range of artists. Koko Taylor, John Mayall, John Lee Hooker, July 31; Vital Information, Joe Henderson, John Scofield, Dave Holland, Kenny Barron, Conrad Herwig, Stefon Harris, Bill Stewart, Dianne Reeves, David Benoit, Richard Elliot, Jonathan Butler, Kirk Whalum, Kurt Elling, Joe Lovano, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Charlie Hunter, Aug. 1; Dave Holland, Chick Corea & Origin, Michael Franks, Bela Fleck, Fourplay, Joyce Cooling Everette Harp, Chris Botti and Peter White, Aug. 2.

Smooth Jazz Festival, Snoqualmie Valley Amphitheater; 206-628-0888, 206-441-6001; Aug. 1-2.

Two full days, 1 p.m. until dark: FourPlay (Bob James, Larry Carlton, Harvey Mason, Nathan East), Peter White, Michael Franks, Rick Braun, Joyce Cooling, Chris Botti, Aug. 1; Richard Elliott, Jonathan Butler, Kirk Whalum, Boney James, David Benoit, Dianne Reeves, Avenue Blue, Nelson Rangell, Aug. 2.

Whidbey Island Dixieland Jazz Festival, Oak Harbor; 800-678-5519; Aug. 14-16.

Bathtub Gin Party, Blue Street, CanUS Quartet, Desperation Jazz Band, Evergreen Classic, Red Beans and Rice, Rise and Shine, Sea Notes Big Band, Uptown Lowdown, Whidbey Island Jazz Band.

Summer Nights at the Pier, Pier 62/63; 206-628-0888, 206-281-8111; June 24-Aug. 26.

Some great jazz and blues acts this year: Bobby Blue Bland, Duffy Bishop, Johnnie Bassett, July 4; Robert Cray Band, John Lee Hooker, July 11; Pat Metheny Group, July 25; David Grisman Quintet, Doc Watson, Aug. 15; Nina Simone, Art Ensemble of Chicago, Aug. 21; Manhattan Transfer, Aug. 22; Johnny Lang, Buddy Guy, Aug. 25-26.

Jazz on the Water Festival, Newport Marina, Newport, Ore.; 541-265-4074, 206-628-0888; Aug. 28-30.

A 2 1/2-hour drive from Portland, this mom-and-pop festival on the Newport waterfront has grown into a major event. In the 2,200 capacity tent are Mel Brown, New York Voices, Aug. 28; Brad Mehldau, Jeanie Bryson, Arturo Sandoval, Aug. 29 at 11 a.m.; Bobby Hutcherson, Ernie Watts, Lee Ritenour, Aug. 29 at 8:00 p.m.; Dan Faehnle, Terence Blanchard, Diana Krall, Aug. 30.

Bumbershoot, Seattle Center; 206-628-0888; 206-281-8111; Sept. 4-7.

The B-Shoot roster is top secret until July, but in the last few years a full-service lineup of regional jazz has appeared.