Jovino Santos Neto photo by Daniel Sheehan.
Saturday, September 7, 1pm
Samson Estates Winery, Everson
Free & open to the public
There’s one more thing to do before we can officially check summer 2019 off of our list, and that’s to attend the highly anticipated Bellhaven Jazz Festival on September 7. An annual production by drummer and founder of the The Jazz Project, Jud Sherwood, the festival returns for its 9th anniversary at its new location—Samson Estates Winery in Everson, Washington from 1-7pm.
Festivities begin with the food trucks, beer and wine garden opening at noon, followed by a thoughtfully curated bill of jazz, blues, and Latin sounds serenading into the night. Seating is provided at the pavilion, or guests can bring their picnic blankets or lawn chairs to sprawl out onto the winery grounds. Dancing is highly encouraged. Always free. Always all ages and family friendly. Always a good time.
The Ed Dunsavage/Dmitri Matheny Quartet kicks off the festival at 1pm with Matheny on the flugelhorn, Dunsavage on guitar, accompanied by Jeff Johnson (bass) and The Jazz Project’s own Jud Sherwood (drums). This ensemble is comprised of some of the richest talent and community driven forces in the jazz scene. Dunsavage is the Artistic and Education Director for the Siskiyou Music Project, and Sherwood the founder of the Jazz Project—both nonprofits dedicated to supporting new and upcoming musicians.
Following their act at 2:30pm is the Mark Lewis Quartet. A celebrated jazz saxophonist and flutist, with accolades from Jazz Station Awards, Lewis has traveled from San Francisco to Rotterdam to Paris, only to return to his beloved Seattle. Joining Lewis are Bill Anschell (piano), Jeff Johnson (bass), and Sherwood (drums).
Blues Union returns to its annual 4pm slot with bandleader, keyboardist, and vocalist John Carswell, Josh Cook (tenor saxophone), Brian Cunningham (guitar), and Sherwood (drums). Carswell has shared the stage with the royalty of R&B and blues, including Aretha Franklin, B.B. King, Tower of Power, Ray Charles, and more. He and Sherwood have spent the last two decades creating and vibing their way across the Northwest.
The Bellhaven Jazz Festival adds another page to a history of entrancing sounds and powerful artists coming out from the Pacific Northwest. To close out the night, the Seattle based Jovino Santos Neto Quinteto takes the stage from 5:30-7pm. Led by Brazilian master of the piano, flute, compositions, and three-time Latin Grammy nominee, Santos Neto earned his place in the Seattle Jazz Hall of Fame in 2012. The quinteto, comprised of Chuck Deardorf (bass), Mark Ivester (drums), Jeff Busch (percussion), and Ben Thomas (vibraphone), was named the Best Northwest Acoustic Group in the Earshot Jazz Golden Ear Awards in 2011, 2012, 2015, and 2018.
The 2019 Bellhaven Jazz Festival is made possible with the support of generous donors and sponsors. A complete list of sponsors is available on jazzproject.org.
–Rayna Mathis
Visit jazzproject.org or call 360-650- 1066 for more information.
