Steve Griggs’ Panama Hotel Jazz
Seattle saxophonist Steve Griggs’ award-winning Panama Hotel Jazz series continues through the spring and summer with performances at the eponymous venue as well as on Bainbridge Island. Upcoming performances are May 14 and June 11, 2pm, at the Panama Hotel Tea Room.
Inspired by Jamie Ford’s novel Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, the actual history of Seattle’s Panama Hotel, and injustices endured by Japanese Americans during WWI, this program combines narration and music. This project was sponsored through a 4Culture Historic Site Specific Grant and won an ASCAP Chamber Music America award for Adventurous Programming. More information is at panamahoteljazz.blogspot.com.
Office of Arts & Culture Project Funding
Seattle’s Office of Arts & Culture begins accepting applications for its CityArtist Projects grant program on May 25, with a deadline of July 20. The program provides funding for Seattle-based individual artists to develop and present their work. More information available at seattle.gov/arts.
Tula’s 4th Annual Miles Davis Birthday Celebration
For the fourth year in a row, Tula’s Restaurant & Jazz Club will present a two-night musical celebration of jazz icon Miles Davis, who would be turning 90 on May 26. This year’s festivities feature a two-trumpet front line, backed by a Latin-jazz rhythm section. Trumpeters Thomas Marriott and Ray Vega will join pianist Julio Jauregui, percussionist Frank Medina Jr., bassist Jeff Norwood, and famed Cuban drummer Calixto Oviedo, who now makes his home in Los Angeles after defecting to the United States in the 1990s. The all-star ensemble will play music composed and recorded by the late Miles Davis, rhythmically reinvented for the Latin-jazz genre.
The Miles Davis Birthday Celebration takes place on Friday, May 27, and Saturday, May 28, at 7:30pm. Cover charge is $20, and reservations can be made at reservations@tulas.com or (206) 443-4221.
4th Annual Jazz Contest for Women Composers
Seattle Women’s Jazz Orchestra (SWOJO) is now seeking submissions for its fourth annual composition contest. The winner of the contest will receive a $400 honorarium, a live audio recording of her composition, and the winning piece will be published. The Honorable Mention composer will receive a $100 honorarium and a live audio recording of her composition. The winning compositions will be performed and recorded live by SWOJO with special guest Jenny Kellogg. Submission deadline is June 30. Visit swojo.org for contest details and online application.
Write Earshot Jazz
The Earshot Jazz magazine reflects and shares the many ways that jazz intersects with lives in the Northwest. Earshot Jazz is seeking submissions from writers: Please email story pitches, comments, news and announcements to editor@earshot.org.
Help the Jazz Around the Sound Calendar
Please email news and announcements about jazz gigs, concerts and community events to jazzcalendar@earshot.org.
