Oct 18 Saturday
Sponsored by KNKX. BIMA is proud to partner once again with Seattle’s Earshot Jazz to as part of the most prestigious jazz festival in the Pacific Northwest. Earshot Jazz dedicates itself year-round to cultivating a vibrant, diverse jazz community—championing artistic innovation, honoring the rich history and integrity of the genre, and fostering meaningful connections between musicians and audiences through the annual Earshot Jazz Festival.
The BIMA Annual Within/Earshot Jazz Festival is more than a concert series—it’s a dynamic, living conversation where sound, story, and visual art intersect. For the entire month of October, the Frank Buxton Auditorium transforms into a creative studio, a place where jazz musicians, storytellers, and visual artists come together to explore and celebrate the many facets of jazz.
Each artist brings their own unique voice to the festival, honoring jazz’s deep roots and its ever-evolving future. Some lean into poetic, modern grooves that push boundaries and invite reflection; others revive the exuberance of speakeasy-era swing, capturing the spirit of a bygone era. The pulse of Brazilian folk traditions adds rich textures and rhythms, while fresh voices from the Northwest highlight jazz’s ongoing innovation and cultural resonance.
Whether you attend a single event or immerse yourself in the full month-long experience, you’ll discover a vibrant tapestry of music, culture, and storytelling that showcases jazz’s timeless appeal and its power to inspire across generations and communities.
Stage of Fools Written by Joy McCullough Directed by Amy Poisson
A scrappy feminist theater company is about to go under when they receive an offer they can't refuse: has-been 80s action movie star Jake Stone will endow them with more money than they've ever dreamed of, if they'll produce King Lear, with him in the titular role. Never mind that he's an entitled, egotistical blowhard. These women can survive anything for the sake of the theater they love...right?
Evening and matinee performances.
It’s almost like being in love! Dance your way back in time to one of the most romantic musicals ever written, Lerner and Loewe’s Brigadoon. Americans Tommy and Jeff are hiking the Scottish Highlands, when out of the mists they stumble upon the enchanting village of Brigadoon, which appears for only one day every 100 years. But this dreamlike place is far more than it seems—and those who fall in love there might never be the same.
From the writers of My Fair Lady and Camelot comes this soaring love story, full of glorious ballet and favorite tunes like “Come to Me, Bend to Me,” “The Heather on the Hill” and “Almost Like Being in Love.” This production features an exquisite new adaptation, which enhances all the romance and magic that makes Brigadoon a truly timeless masterpiece.
Drawing on classic Poe tales like “The Black Cat,” “The Cask of Amontillado,” and “The Tell-Tale Heart,” among others, this original story chronicles our Narrator’s dark descent into depravity.After the death of her beloved Eleanora, the Narrator finds herself visited by a conspiracy of ravens who spur her to relive acts of cruelty, revenge, and of course, murder. Driven to the edge of madness, the Narrator must confront her worst impulses and be freed from grief and guilt nevermore.
Welcomed by KNKX. Frank Vignola is one of the most extraordinary guitarists performing before the public today. His stunning virtuosity has made him the guitarist of choice for many of the world’s top musicians, including Ringo Starr, Madonna, Donald Fagen, John Lewis, Tommy Emmanuel, Lionel Hampton, the Boston Pops, the New York Pops, and guitar legend Les Paul, who named Vignola to his “Five Most Admired Guitarists List:” for the Wall Street Journal.
His dynamic genre-spanning music has brought him to 21 countries on three continents – and still growing – performing in some of the world’s most illustrious venues, including the Sydney Opera House, Carnegie Hall, The Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, New York’s Lincoln Center, The Blue Note, and the world’s oldest indoor concert hall, Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza, Italy.
Pasquale Grasso - It was the kind of endorsement most rising guitarists can only dream of, and then some. In his interview for Vintage Guitar magazine’s February 2016 cover story, Pat Metheny was asked to name some younger musicians who’d impressed him. “The best guitar player I’ve heard in maybe my entire life is floating around now, Pasquale Grasso,” said the jazz-guitar icon and NEA Jazz Master. “This guy is doing something so amazingly musical and so difficult. “Mostly what I hear now are guitar players who sound a little bit like me mixed with a little bit of [John Scofield] and a little bit of [Bill Frisell],” he continued. “What’s interesting about Pasquale is that he doesn’t sound anything like that at all. In a way, it is a little bit of a throwback, because his model—which is an incredible model to have—is Bud Powell. He has somehow captured the essence of that language from piano onto guitar in a way that almost nobody has ever addressed. He’s the most significant new guy I’ve heard in many, many years.”
Sponsored by KNKX. Stephanie Anne Johnson is that special singer that can don a cowboy hat and sing over a slide as old timers weep. They have wowed judges on the immensely popular NBC TV series, The Voice. Stephanie’s music, which is rooted in all that’s American, expresses the pain of the past, the roots of the down home and the hope that hard work will lead to proper reward. Their latest album “Live at Jazz Alley” was released Jan 2025. Sing, baby—the new studio album—will be released in October 2025 and you will get to hear it on October 18 at Tacoma Armory!
Stephanie Anne Johnson has opened for acts that include political figure Bernie Sanders, and artists such as The Indigo Girls, Macy Gray, Mavis Staples, Robert Cray, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Durand Jones, Joseph, Cedric Burnside, and Black Joe Lewis.
$45 Genera | $43 SeniorYouth FREE *ticket reservation required(adult must accompany youth 12-)
From symphony halls to rock clubs, the Portland Cello Project has built a reputation for transforming the cello into a powerhouse of unexpected sound. Known for bold collaborations and boundary-breaking performances, this group of extraordinary musicians takes audiences on a journey from classical masterworks to pop hits with equal flair. Joyful, inventive, and impossible to categorize, PCP delivers a one-of-a-kind evening that proves the cello can do it all.
Oct 19 Sunday
Grammy-winning artist Cory Henry has made a significant mark in the music industry, recently clinching the award for “Best Roots Gospel” album in 2025 for his deeply personal project, CHURCH. This album features contributions from his family, including his grandmother, reflecting the rich musical heritage that has shaped his artistry and resonated with audiences worldwide. Along with his Grammy-winning album, PBS aired a documentary on his life and the making of CHURCH, providing an intimate look at this journey and creative process.
Henry’s impressive accolades also include a Grammy win for his collaboration with the acclaimed Spanish artist Rosalia in 2023, as well as a Grammy for his contribution to Kayne West’s groundbreaking album, Donda. His versatility as a musician has led him to work with a diverse array of artists, including Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Imagine Dragons, Kayne West and more.
Originally hailing from Brooklyn, New York, Cory was a key member of the Grammy-winning group Snarky Puppy before launching his solo career in 2018 with his debut album, Art of Love. His sophomore project, Something to Say, was Grammy-nominated for best progressive R&B album in 2022, showcasing his growth as an artist. He followed up with Operation Funk/i> in 2023, and his live album, Live at the Piano, received a nomination in 2024.
Echoes of the Floating World features a striking collection of 18th, 19th and early 20th-century Japanese woodblock prints from the Tacoma Art Museum and others, displayed alongside works by contemporary Northwest artists. This exhibition honors the rich legacy of ukiyo-e while exploring its cultural impact on today’s artistic expressions.
Hours-
Monday CLOSEDTuesday CLOSEDWednesday 10 am – 5 pmThursday 10 am – 8 pmFriday 10 am – 5 pmSaturday 10 am – 5 pmSunday 10 am – 5 pm
We are protesting project 2025. TacomaRama marching band will join us for the next 4 years. We will meet each month on the Saturday closest to the 18th each month. Always 10am, always Reconciliation park. Feel loved and supported.
