Jazz and blues fill the air with music this summer
When summer comes, the rest of the country may hit the road, but Northwesterners know it's the time to stay put. For jazz, blues and world music lovers, there's even more reason to hang on the home front, now that summer has turned into music nirvana. The du Maurier International Jazz Festival, WOMAD and Jazz Port Townsend festivals continue to bring in sizzling acts, as do the series at the Pier and Ste. Michelle Winery. While two popular festivals have moved their dates out of the summer glare - the veteran Dixieland bash on San Juan Island and Oregon's Jazz on the Water - the Experience Music Project is having its grand opening and a brand new jazz festival has popped up on Whidbey Island.
The new Langley Jazz Festival, June 20-24, is the brainchild of Maureen Cooke, a longtime arts activist who helped midwife the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts into existence four years ago. Having successfully presented Diane Schuur in 1996, Cooke, local jazz pianist Maureen Rorex, and South Whidbey Island High School band director Brent Purvis began planning a bona fide jazz festival in 1998.
"I booked Ernestine Anderson first," says Cooke. "Then we went to Port Townsend and decided to use their format, thinking, `If it ain't broke, don't fix it.' I got Bud Shank to come, then started filling in the blanks. We're taking baby steps."
The rest of the acts are regional and, as at Jazz PT, Langley features a festival mainstage (the 640-seat South Whidbey High School Auditorium) plus gigs in six bars and restaurants. There are also workshops and clinics.
Here's the full summer lineup:
June 11 - July 9: Seward Park Concert Series 2000, Seward Park Amphitheatre, Seattle; 206-723-7333.
Have a picnic and listen to jazz by local and touring artists. Mike Longo Trio, Jay Thomas/Becca Duran Big Band, Garfield and Franklin High School Jazz Bands, June 11; Mimi Fox Trio, Susan Pascal Quartet, July 9; Hispanic Seafair, July 23; Pista Sa Nayon (Filipino festival), July 30.
June 18 - Sept. 4: Summer Festival on the Green, Ste. Michelle Winery, Woodinville; (206) 628-0888, 425-488-3300. Web site: www.ste-michelle.com.
Once again, Ste. Michelle offers a comprehensive program on the winery lawn that includes a smooth jazz festival, a blues festival and several top shows. The Chieftains, June 18; Diana Krall, July 30; Smooth Jazz Festival (details below), Aug. 5,6; B.B. King Blues Festival (B. B. King, Buddy Guy, Tommy Castro and Susan Tedeschi), Aug. 12,13; Celtic Festival, Sept. 2; All-Star Jazz Revue (Al Jarreau, Roberta Flack, David Sanborn, Joe Sample, George Duke), Sept. 4.
June 20 - 24: Langley Jazz Festival, Langley, Whidbey Island; 360-221-8696, 800-638-7631 . E-mail: Jazzfest@whidbey.com.
Mainstage: Aaron Parks Trio, South Whidbey High School Big Band, June 22; Bud Shank, Nancy Nolan, June 23; Ernestine Anderson, June 24. In the clubs: Randy Halberstadt Trio, New Stories, Danny Ward, Jovino Santos Neto, Richard Rorex, Nancy Nolan, June 23, 24. Clinics and workshops, June 20, 22.
June 23 - 25: Grand Opening, Experience Music Project, Seattle Center; 206-628-0888.
EMP throws itself a big party with Isaac Scott, June 23; Taj Mahal and the Phantom Blues Band, Big Jay McNeely, Zony Mash, Yerba Buena, Ray Brown and Percussion From Around the World (for kids), with Airto, Zakir Hussain, Michael Shrieve, Obo Addy and Ray Holman, June 24; Bill Frisell with Joey Baron, Larry Coryell, Pearl Django, Del Rey, Pat Wright, June 25.
June 23 - Sept. 1: Jazz at the Britt Festivals, Jacksonville, Ore.; 800-882-7488. Web site: www.brittfest.org.
With its sweeping amphitheater lawn and state-of-the-art, weathered-wood stage, Britt is a pleasant spot. Highlights: It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues (musical), June 16,17; Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, June 23; Bobby McFerrin, July 1; Etta James, Corey Harris, July 13; Cassandra Wilson, Kevin Eubanks, July 15; Miriam Makeba, July 21; Jose Feliciano, July 22; Ali Farka Toure, July 30; Dave Brubeck, Aug. 21; SwingDance America (revue), Aug.25; Natalie MacMaster, Battlefield Band, Sept. 1.
June 23 - July 4: Du Maurier International Jazz Festival, Vancouver, B.C.; 888-438-5200, 604-872-5200. Web site:
www.jazzfest.mybc.com.
One of the top jazz festivals in the world, du Maurier is known for its liberal mix of European avant-garde and world music, as well as the best in straight-ahead jazz. The first and last weekends are free. Highlights: Taj Mahal, Roy Haynes/Danilo Perez/John Patitucci, Die Like a Dog Quartet (with Peter Brotzmann), June 23; Patricia Barber, Orquesta Aragon, Marilyn Crispell, June 24; Nicholas Payton, Kurt Elling, Peter Brotzmann Tentet, Georg Graewe, Joe McPhee, June 25; Keb Mo, Bobo Stenson, June 26; Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Ricki Lee Jones, June 27; Brad Mehldau, Italian Instabile Orchestra, June 28; David Sanchez, Fred Van Hove, Tristan Honsinger, June 29; Susana Baca, John Butcher, Han Bennink, June 30; Jonny Lang, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Omar Sosa, July 1; Cesaria Evora, Barbarito Torres, July 2.
June 23 - July 2: JazzFest International, Victoria, B.C.; 250-388-4423, 888-671-2112. Web site: www.vicjazz.bc.ca.
A satellite of the larger du Maurier Festival in Vancouver, JazzFest offers many of the same artists, with the added summer tourist attractions of British Columbia's capital city and rugged coastal retreats.
June 23 - July 3: Festival of Improvised Music, Seattle, various venues; 206-323-4158, 206-381-9066.
This wild and woolly festival of free jazz, free improvisation and electro-acoustic music usually has been a home-grown affair, but this year features several hot international names. Highlights: John Butcher, Gino Robair, Matthew Sperry, June 23; Fred Van Hove, Johannes Bauer, June 27; Monitor Trio (Cor Fuhler, Tristan Honsinger and Michael Moore), Bill Horist, July 3.
June 30-July 1: Port Townsend Country Blues Festival; McCurdy Pavilion, Fort Worden State Park; 360-385-5320, 800-733-3608. Web site: www.centrum.org.
Port Townsend always serves up unusual finds, such as 16-year-old wunderkind David Jacobs-Strain and the wonderful folk blues artist Nancy Stuart. Other highlights: Pat Wright, John Jackson, Orville Johnson, June 30; John Cephas and Phil Wiggins, July 1 at 1 p.m.; Howard Armstrong, July 1 at 7 p.m.
June 30 - July 2: America's Festival, Cavanaughs at Capitol Lake, 2300 Evergreen Park Dr., Olympia ; 360-943-9123, 360-943-4000.
It's the 10th anniversary for this quality Dixieland spree. Three stages of quality trad, with Desperation Jazz Band, Electric Park Jazz Band, Grand Dominion, High Sierra, Bob Schulz's Frisco Jazz Band and Uptown Lowdown Jazz Band.
July 14-16: Vancouver Folk Music Festival, Jericho Park, Vancouver, B.C.; 604-602-9798. Web site: www.thefestival.bc.ca.
The top North American folk music festival, with liberal doses of world music, features mainstage performances in the evening and thematic workshop/panel discussions during the day in spectacular Jericho Park. Highlights: La Bottine Souriante, Ensemble Tartit (Tuaregs from Africa), the Kanenhi:io Singers (First Nations and Innu women), the Mediaeval Baebes, Mary Jane Lamond (Cape Breton), Christ the King Church Choir (Uganda), the Bandjaras (India).
July 14 - 16: Winthrop Blues Festival, Winthrop ; 877-996-9283. Web site: www.nwblues.com/winthrop.
Blues, beer and motorcycles under the blue skies of the Methow Valley are the ticket at this outdoor bash. Campsites available. Highlights: The Staple Singers, Del Rey, Joe Louis Walker, D.J. Chenier, Tab Benoit, Nick Vigarino, Mark DuFresne, Seattle Women in Rhythm & Blues. Note that Etta James has canceled due to health problems.
July 18 - 22: Summer Arts Festival, University of Washington; 206-221-2327, 206-543-4880. Web site: www.summerartsfest.org.
The University of Washington debuts a multi-arts festival celebrating faculty as well as outstanding visiting artists. John Zorn, July 21; the Kronos Quartet, July 22; "Pepper's Pow Wow" (film about Jim Pepper), July 19; and Marc Seales, July 20.
July 22 - Aug. 26: Summer Nights at the Pier; Pier 62/63, Seattle; 206-628-0888, 206-281-8111. Web site: www.summernights.org.
The popular summer series offers great music, beer gardens and a view of Elliott Bay. This year's blues and jazz offerings include Robert Cray, Blind Boys of Alabama, John Hammond, July 22; Tower of Power/WAR, Aug. 4; Manhattan Transfer, Aug.20; George Benson, Aug. 26.
July 27 - 30: Centrum's Jazz Port Townsend, McCurdy Pavilion, Fort Worden State Park; 360-385-5320 , 800-733-3608. Web site: www.centrum.org.
Looking out at the trees and sky through the tall door of McCurdy Pavilion, it's hard to imagine a more quintessentially Northwest spot for jazz. Mainstage concerts are followed by gigs in 10 nightclubs. Mainstage: Ernie Watts, Mimi Fox, Don Lanphere, Barney McClure, Mel Brown, July 28; Gerald Wilson and the Festival All-Star Big Band, Michael Rabinowitz (jazz bassoonist), Alan Broadbent, July 29 (afternoon); Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Stephanie Nakasian, July 29 (evening). In the clubs: Bud Shank, Bill Ramsay, Saxophobia Quartet, Nick Brignola, New Stories, George Cables, Dave Peck.
July 28 - 30: Northwest Dixie Fest; Radisson Hotel, 17001 Pacific Highway S.; 206-542-9332, 800-348-5800.
This top-notch, three-year-old Dixieland special has moved into the coveted summer slot abandoned by the sadly deteriorated San Juan Dixieland Festival (which now takes place in October). Local and touring trad in three rooms: Ain't No Heaven Seven, CanUS, Cornucopia Concert Band, Evergreen Jazz Band, Phoenix Jazz Band, Uptown Lowdown Jazz Band, the Wild Cards, the Black Swan Classic Jazz Band, Blue Street and Michael Kaeshammer, a hot ragtime and stride pianist from Vancouver, B.C.
July 28 - 30: WOMAD (World of Music and Dance); Marymoor Park, Redmond; 206-628-0888, 281-8111. Web site: www.womadusa.org.
It's the third year for this spectacular world music festival, which originated in England in 1980. Its pastoral setting, intimate workshop stages, drum circle, children's activities and - for the first time this year - camping, make this an idyllic summer destination. If you want to keep it here, buy a ticket; low turnout could mean this is the last year. Highlights: Femi Kuti, Meshell Ndegeocello, July 28; Afel Bocoum, Ali Farka Toure, Mickey Hart, July 29; Bonnie Raitt, Jimmy Cliff, July 30. Multi-day appearances: Ensemble Tartit, Farafina, Positive Black Soul, Susana Baca, Huun-Huur Tu and Paula Cole.
July 28 - 30: Jazz in the Valley Festival, Ellensburg ; 888-925-2204, 509-925-2002. Web site: www.jazzinthevalley.com.
Community jazz event, from Dixieland to modern, at the Rotary Pavilion and at seven clubs. Highlights: Jim Sisko, Dick Powell, Nick Vigarino, Kelley Johnson.
Aug. 4 - 6: Mount Hood Jazz Festival, Gresham, Ore.; 503-219-9833, 800-992-8499. Web site: www.mthoodjazz.com.
After dabbling in pop and smooth jazz, this big-budget, three-day celebration in the football stadium of Mount Hood Community College is returning to its traditional roots. Highlights: Rosemary Clooney, Duke Ellington Orchestra, McCoy Tyner, Michael Brecker, Joe Sample, Kevin Mahogany, Regina Carter, Stefon Harris, Chucho Valdes, Carlton Jackson/Dave Mills Big Band, Denny Zeitlin, David Friesen, Terence Blanchard, Patricia Barber, Yellowjackets, John Pizzarelli, Tower of Power.
Aug. 5 - 6: 98.9 Smooth Jazz Festival, Ste. Michelle Winery, Woodinville; 206-628-0888, 425-488-3300. Web site:
www.ste-michelle.com.
After a successful move last year to Chateau Ste. Michelle, the smoothies have found their groove. Lineup: David Benoit, Rick Braun, Jonathan Butler, Boney James, Aug. 5; Roger Smith, Eric Marienthal, the Rippingtons, Ottmar Liebert, Aug. 6.
Sept. 1 - 4: Bumbershoot, Seattle Center; 206-281-8111, 206-628-0888; Web site:
www.bumbershoot.org.
Acts booked so far include Abdullah Ibrahim, Zap Mama, Urban Bushwomen, Compay Segundo, Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Nathan and the Zydeco Cha-Chas. Regional jazz in the Charlotte Martin Theatre.