For Immediate Release
August 10, 2015
MEDIA ADVISORY
Contact: John Gilbreath, Earshot Jazz, (206) 547-6763 or jazz@earshot.org
Press Photos available at https://www.earshot.org/Press/fest_photos_15.html
The 2015 Earshot Jazz Festival runs from October 9 through November 18
Seattle’s Earshot Jazz Festival swings into its 27th edition on October 9, engaging this fast-growing creative community with more than 50 distinctive events in clubs and concert halls all around the city.
Respected for artistic integrity and depth of programming, the festival brings jazz greats from around the world into creative collaboration with area audiences and artists. As always, Earshot celebrates Seattle’s jazz legacy with mainstage concerts by a wealth of resident artists and award-winning student ensembles.
“The dynamics of jazz are a perfect parallel for these exciting times in Seattle,” says John Gilbreath, executive director. “Jazz honors its history without being bound by it. Jazz thrives on change, and is quick to apply its creative resources to response and innovation. Jazz is right at home in this city!”
This year’s Earshot festival welcomes two of the absolute titans of jazz — saxophonists Wayne Shorter and Charles Lloyd — each leading his own renowned quartet. The Wayne Shorter Quartet, with Brian Blade (drums), Danilo Pérez (piano), and John Patitucci (bass), performs at Benaroya Hall on October 11, while the Charles Lloyd Quartet, with Gerald Clayton (piano), Joe Sanders (bass), and Kendrick Scott (drums), takes Town Hall Seattle on October 17.
Seattle’s own Wayne Horvitz is the focus of this year’s special Resident Artist Residency. “Horvitz@60” looks forward, rather than back, in honoring the enormous impact of his relentless creativity. The festival includes the dawning of three new ensembles; the premiere of a prestigious new commission, to be performed by the entire Seattle Symphony Orchestra with Bill Frisell as guest soloist; and the Seattle debut of a major new conceptual work inspired by the poetry of Richard Hugo.
“This new music, through its connection to the poetry of Richard Hugo, has brought me to a deeper appreciation of my 25 years in the Pacific Northwest,” says Horvitz. “The Seattle music scene is incredible.”
Other headliners include the Brad Mehldau Trio at Town Hall on November 13 and the great South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela in a two-night run at the Triple Door on November 17 & 18.
Also appearing are multi-award-winning jazz mainstays including the Chris Potter Trio, Anat Cohen Quartet, Myra Melford’s Snowy Egret, and the Scott Amendola Band with Nels Cline and Jenny Scheinman.
Exciting innovators are always on tap within Earshot. This year, look for the vocalist Somi, the Kris Davis Trio, harpist Edmar Castañeda, Cuban percussionist Pedrito Martinez, and Chicagoans Tomeka Reid with Nicole Mitchell and Mike Reed.
The festival’s roots in its own community are demonstrated in concerts by the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra, chamber jazz quartet The Westerlies, Thomas Marriott with McTuff, Seattle Women’s Jazz Orchestra with guitarist Mimi Fox, an 80th-birthday celebration of trombonist Julian Priester, and returning concerts by Jay Clayton, Art Lande, and others.
The full schedule for the Earshot Jazz Festival will be available August 24. Tickets for the Earshot Jazz Festival go on sale September 1. In addition to concert performances, the festival includes educational programs and panels, a film series, and several other outreach events.
Evolving festival information is available at www.earshot.org and 206-547-6763.
Support for the 27th Annual Earshot Jazz Festival is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, Seattle Office of Arts & Culture, 4Culture of King County, Washington State Arts Commission, ArtsFund, Chamber Music America, and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.
About Earshot Jazz
Founded in 1984, Earshot Jazz is Seattle’s non-profit, jazz-support and presentation organization. In addition to concert presentation, which includes Seattle’s premiere annual jazz festival, Earshot provides jazz education programs and publishes the monthly Earshot Jazz magazine. More information is available at www.earshot.org or by calling (206) 547-6763.
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