John Gilbreath photo by Bill Uznay
Despite a longer, chillier transition, the good news is we’ve got the sunshine! And, overall, summer in Seattle is glorious and worth the interminably rainy price of admission.
The jazz community also keeps marching on. Jazz has always been in motion, self-renewing in a way that can challenge the very conventions it worked hard to create. But as jazz expands, it can also intersect with fresh audiences, coming in from the new edges of the art form.
You’ll find fresh faces and old friends in this issue, along with plenty of opportunities to engage with jazz in the region. Meanwhile, the hard-working team at Earshot Jazz is moving forward with several programs:
Jazz: The Second Century
The call is out for submissions for our re-imagined approach to the Jazz: The Second Century program, which itself is an offshoot of Earshot’s longest-running series, supporting original work by Seattle artists. This year, we’re offering young artists a stage for their work by opening participation to those born in this century, so those 23 years and under. Submissions will be accepted through July 31, and those selected by a peer jury will be presented on a night in the upcoming Earshot Jazz Festival. Find the Call For Artists in this issue, and put together a project that captures your vision for the future of jazz.
Commissions
Greatly expanding on the original spirit of the Second Century series, we’ve also opened up the process of our new commissioning program, to offer a wider engagement with the creative potential of Seattle musicians, with accessibility and inclusion at the forefront. We will present the premiere performances of the three selected artists in main-stage events at the upcoming Earshot Jazz Festival.
Earshot Jazz Festival, 35th Edition
As mentioned last month, this year’s edition builds on direct suggestions from the community. Calls for stronger gender equity, more intersections with hip-hop culture, deeper Latin connections, dance-friendly concert environments, youth-focused programming, and the inclusion of more under-served and emerging artists are informing this year’s lineup. As always, we’re open to further suggestions at jazz@earshot.org. With your help, we want to create a festival that reflects the diverse community we serve. Some tickets will be available later this month. As always, Earshot Jazz members get first-ticket opportunities to major events. Details coming soon.
Meanwhile, a special thanks to all of you who made donations in our spring fundraising initiative. It’s so gratifying to receive the tangible endorsements of so many supporters. Thank you!
–JOHN GILBREATH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
