April 2021
LaVon Hardison Group
LaVon Hardison photo by Lisa Hagen Glynn. Friday April 16 7:30pm PDT Livestream—Royal Room, Seattle Free YouTube Concert Link Vocalist and songwriter LaVon Hardison infuses jazz and pop standards, and her own original pieces with an irresistible warmth and power to draw her audience in. “She’s a multi-talented entertainer who simply lights up a room, raising the roof and bringing down the house” (Andrew Luthringer). Joining Hardison are local stalwarts—pianist Eric Verlinde, bassist Osama Afifi, and percussionist Jeff Busch. This…
Find out more »Duende Libre Trio
Duende Libre photo courtesy of the artists. Friday April 23 7:30pm PDT Livestream—Royal Room Free YouTube Concert Link “Duende Libre” translates roughly as “free spirit,” and the dynamic Seattle trio’s music expresses that notion well. Golden Ear Award-winner for their brilliant new recording, The Dance She Spoke, they build on the jazz tradition, and weave in music from the Americas, Europe, and Africa to create a unique sound. The Duende Libre Trio includes the energizing talent of pianist Alex Chadsey…
Find out more »Wayne Horvitz, Ayesha Brooks, and Ha-Yang Kim
Photo of Wayne Horvitz by Daniel Sheehan; Ayesha Brooks and Ha-Yang photos courtesy of the artists. Saturday April 24 7:30pm PDT Livestream—Town Hall, Seattle $0-$15 Buy Tickets World-renowned composer, pianist, and master of electronics, Wayne Horvitz takes the stage with guitarist and vocalist Ayesha Brooks, and cellist Ha-Yang Kim. Brooks, a contestant on The Voice, draws from varied inspiration from gospel and jazz, to hip-hop and rock. Kim draws from numerous traditions including Western classical, avant-improv, and East Asian music.…
Find out more »Ahamefule J. Oluo Quartet Live plus a reprise of “The Music From Susan”
Ahamefule J. Oluo photo by Daniel Sheehan. Friday April 30 7:30pm PDT Livestream—Royal Room, Seattle Free YouTube Concert Link Help us celebrate International Jazz Day, with two events steered by the highly acclaimed musician, composer, and writer Ahamefule J.Oluo. First up is a live set featuring the Ahamefule J. Oluo Quartet (ensemble TBA). Following the live set enjoy the reprise of the “Music From Susan,” concert which aired as part of our 2020 Earshot Jazz Festival and recently won the…
Find out more »May 2021
Josh Hou Quartet
Josh Hou photo by Rosanna Sze. Friday May 7 7:30pm PDT Livestream—Royal Room, Seattle Free YouTube Concert Link Josh Hou is an accordionist, keyboardist, and composer who explores multiple musical genres including Chinese jazz, swing, and funk. A recent Golden Ear Award-winner as founder and co-host of the podcast series Jazztalk Seattle, Hou is adamant about amplifying the voices of fellow-local jazz artists. Joining Hou are talented musicians—bassist Kelsey Mines, trumpeter Ray Larsen, and drummer Tai Taitano—who accompanied him on…
Find out more »Kelley Johnson
Kelley Johnson photo by Ziggy Spiz. Friday May 14 7:30pm PDT Livestream—Royal Room, Seattle Free YouTube Concert Link Known for her lithe, velvety voice and her dynamic arrangements, Kelly Johnson is a sought after-vocalist both here and abroad. Keen to pass on her skills, Johnson served as a professor at Cornish College, and now teaches privately. An award-winning vocalist, Johnson will be joined by these stellar artists—pianist John Hansen, bassist Michael Glynn, and drummer Xavier Lecouturier. This event will be…
Find out more »June 2021
Drew Gonsalves
Drew Gonsalves pictures with his ensemble Kobo Band. Photo courtesy of Near North Music. Saturday June 5 7:30pm PDT Livestream—Town Hall, Seattle $0-$25 Buy Tickets In 2004, émigré Trinidadian-Canadian songwriter Drew Gonsalves founded the roots-rock calypso group Kobo Town. His music for the band has been variously described as “an intoxicating blend of lilting calypsonian wit, dancehall reggae and trombone-heavy brass” (Guardian) and a “unique, transnational composite of rhythm, poetry and activist journalism,”(Exclaim!). Based in Toronto, the JUNO Award winning…
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