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2016 Earshot Jazz Festival

October 7 through November 11

The Earshot Jazz Festival swings into its 28th edition on October 7 and includes more than 50 distinctive concerts and events in venues all around the city. The festival brings jazz greats from around the world into creative collaboration with area audiences and artists. Earshot celebrates Seattle’s place in the world of jazz with mainstage concerts by our award-winning student ensembles and a strong representation by our renowned resident artists.

Welcome from the Director

Thanks for joining us! This edition is the most diverse, creative, inclusive, and compelling concert series we’ve ever presented. We’ve worked especially hard to match the perfect representation of the dynamic and ever-changing art form of jazz, with the exciting social and cultural dynamics of this ever-changing city.

The Earshot Jazz Festival has delivered 27 years of creative juice to this community. As JazzTimes magazine points out, “Every year, the Earshot Jazz Festival disrupts assumptions, gets in your face and finds fresh synergies.” The scope of this year’s festival is amazing. Let’s do the numbers: 56 events over 35 days, presenting nearly 300 artists (not including the entire Seattle Symphony) from 17 countries, in 20 venues around the city. But that doesn’t begin to tell the whole story.

The Earshot festival works inclusively to define paths and expand the possibilities for all artists, from emerging and lesser-known musicians, to jazz students and today’s top jazz stars. It thrives on creative contact between Seattle audiences and a brilliant array of jazz legends, international artists, and Seattle musicians and composers. It also includes educational workshops, wonderful jazz films, and lots of hometown heroes. Please check this schedule, make some plans, and, like the artists themselves, take some chances on new possibilities. You won’t be disappointed.

Enjoy the festival! Keep in touch and give us your feedback. And drop a donation in the kitty – give early and give often. Let’s keep jazz alive and thriving in Seattle!

 – John Gilbreath, Executive Director

Festival Sponsors

The 2016 Line-up

There are no upcoming events.