John Gilbreath photo by Bill Uznay
Welcome to the 35th annual Earshot Jazz Festival. Thank you for joining us as we celebrate this golden moment in the ongoing history of jazz, America’s greatest gift to world culture. We love this music and this community, and we’re excited to offer you 40+ brand new, singular events, over four weeks, in venues all around the city.
The Earshot Jazz Festival has a rich history of honoring the creative masters and introducing important new talent through thousands of one-of-a-kind events over its 35 years.
With your enduring support, we work to engage Seattle audiences with events that explore the history, evolution, and progressive spirit of jazz as it exists around the world and right here at home.
We’re honored that the national DownBeat magazine has praised this festival as, “Seattle’s most important annual jazz event.” But we’re also conscious of the privilege and responsibility of that honor. We’ve worked with great intention to ensure an inclusive marquee of performers, with special attention to gender and racial equity. This festival eagerly shines the stage lights on a diversity of Seattle artists, paying special attention to our featured resident artist and three festival commissions, and working, as always, to advance emerging and lesser-known artists.
In addition to the hundreds of artists on this festival, we also welcome new paid interns and production assistants this year. Thanks, as always, to Production Manager, Halynn Blanchard, for her caring and quick work in setting these wheels in motion, and for making sure all of the other wheels turn on time. In fact, thanks to the entire Earshot team, and all of the volunteers who make this all possible.
Taking the long view in advancing jazz in Seattle, Earshot Jazz works hard to maintain an organic fit within Seattle’s vibrant cultural community. Even in the best of times, a festival like this generates ticket sales income that covers only half of its expenses. We need your help. In addition to our promotional partners and foundation and public-sector funders, we count on our individual community members like you to support this festival. We thank our presenting sponsors, SEED IP Law Group and BECU, and ask you to join them. Please make a donation right now using the QR code in this program. Your donation of any amount makes a huge difference.
Thank you all. Enjoy the festival!
—JOHN GILBREATH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
