John Gilbreath smiling in front of jazz art poster

John Gilbreath photo by Bill Uznay

Now that spring is pretty well established, and we have some talented new help in the office, we’ve taken some of Earshot’s long-delayed “housecleaning” projects beyond theoretical into active reality. In going through the boxes of archived files and materials, I was amazed by the remarkable legacy they revealed, both of this organization, and the past 30 years of Seattle jazz history. 

Earshot Jazz was originally formed late in 1984, and “officially” incorporated in 1986 as The Earshot Jazz Society of Seattle. As years pass, and the art and practice of jazz continue to evolve, the notion of the “jazz society” seems almost charmingly archaic.  But the essence of a jazz society’s activity – to support, promote, preserve, and encourage jazz – remains our own essence. 

Looking at the numbers, it is clear that Earshot serves primarily as a concert presenter, but Earshot’s first and most enduring program, and that which most closely aligns with traditional role of a jazz society, is this very monthly newsletter. Over the past 30 years, more than one million copies of Earshot Jazz have been distributed free of charge around the city. And, having compiled 30 years of previews, profiles, photographs, reviews, and event calendars, Earshot Jazz emerges as a comprehensive documentation of what is widely regarded as one of the most vibrant jazz scenes in America. Seattle’s jazz scene.

As a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization, Earshot relies on donated income to support nearly half of its annual budget. This newsletter itself covers 45% of its annual expense through subscriptions and ad sales. But it is important. Based on the strength of our programs, Earshot Jazz has been selected to participate in the most significant national jazz initiatives of the of the past 20 years, through the Lila Wallace Funds, the National Endowment for the Arts, and Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, with whom Earshot established the JazzNet endowment, which will support Seattle jazz in perpetuity. 

Please remember us on May 6th, GiveBIG Day, and well beyond. Help us as we continue to document and advocate for the music that we all love. 

We appreciate your support!!

John Gilbreath,

Executive Director