MEDIA ADVISORY
For Immediate Release
July 11, 2016
Contact: John Gilbreath, Earshot Jazz, (206) 547-6763 or jazz@earshot.org
Press photos available upon request.
Seattle Gets Ready for the 2016 Earshot Jazz Festival Coming October 7 Through November 11
The Earshot Jazz Festival, now in its 28th year as “Seattle’s most important annual jazz event” (DownBeat), engages more than 15,000 audience members with 60 one-of-a-kind concerts and events over five weeks this fall. Respected for celebrating the leading edges of the art form while honoring its deep cultural heritage, Earshot brings international jazz masters and important emerging artists into direct contact with Seattle’s renowned creative community.
As one of America’s fastest-growing cities, Seattle embodies the inventive spirit of jazz. The Earshot Jazz Festival reflects the rapidly changing technical and cultural environments of its community, bringing the creative progression of jazz into harmony with its rich tradition. The festival features refined masters, fiery journeymen, and bold emerging artists from many cultures, creating and performing in venues all around the city, from small clubs and community centers all the way to the beautiful Paramount Theatre and Benaroya Hall.
Some of the artists scheduled to appear this fall are:
Rudresh Mahanthappa Bird Calls – The multi-award-winning saxophonist and his blazing quintet celebrate the jazz great Charlie Parker
Bill Frisell When You Wish Upon a Star – The internationally acclaimed Seattle resident shares his charming new hit project, presented by Seattle Theatre Group (STG) at the Moore Theatre
Dave Douglas and The Westerlies – The acclaimed trumpeter is a mentor and collaborator with the brilliant brass quartet born in Seattle’s Garfield and Roosevelt jazz programs
Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis – STG hosts the legendary jazz ensemble at Seattle’s Paramount Theatre
Vijay Iyer & Wadada Leo Smith – The landmark piano/trumpet collaboration that has created the critically praised new ECM recording
Seattle Symphony Orchestra with Cuong Vu & Grace Love – In tribute to Quincy Jones and Ernestine Anderson, the top of the pantheon of Seattle jazz greats
Steve Lehman Trio – The astounding alto saxophonist continually redefines the complex potential for the heart and mind of jazz, with bassist Ben Street and drummer Damion Reed
Kris Davis & Craig Taborn – A creative two-piano collaboration by a pair of the most highly acclaimed jazz improvisers
Maceo Parker & The Jones Family Singers – A soulful and funky double bill presented by STG at the Moore Theatre
Manuel Valera Trio – The Cuban pianist debuts his New York ensemble with bassist Hans Glawischnig and drummer E.J. Strickland
Takuya Kuroda & Kris Bowers – The young Blue Note trumpeter and recent Monk piano competition winner meld jazz tradition and urban funk in two distinctive concerts
Jaimeo Brown Transcendence – Along with Jaleel Shaw & Chris Sholar, the drummer/bandleader presents deeply compelling multimedia studies of jazz as expressions of the Black church and the human struggle
Matthew Stevens – One of the busiest young guitarists in jazz (and centerpiece of Esperanza Spalding’s new group) brings his new trio to Seattle
Soul Space – An innovative new jazz festival collaboration curated by Seattle artist SassyBlack at the new V2 space on Capitol Hill, featuring Seattle artists Darrius Willrich, Tendai “Baba” Maraire, DJ Riz, and many others
D’Vonne Lewis – This year’s Resident Artist curates concerts with his Special Edition, Industrial Revelation, and special jazz festival collaborators
Plus, special projects from Seattle artists Naomi Siegel, Josh Rawlings, Bill Anschell, Samantha Boshnack, Thomas Marriott, Anton Schwartz, and many, many more!
The full schedule for the Earshot Jazz Festival will be available August 25. Tickets for the 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.
Festival information is available at www.earshot.org and 206-547-6763.
Support for the 28th 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, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, and individual donors.
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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