Community Calendar

Ottmar Liebert’s global success can be attributed to a myriad of things - his creative vision, his determination, and a strong sense of melody. Born in Cologne, Germany, he began playing guitar at 11. Before the age of 19, Liebert had intended to stay in Germany and pursue a career as a designer and photographer. However, while journeying extensively through Asia and playing with other travelers and local musicians, he realised that he could not escape a life of music. After pursuing his dreams of playing rock music in Boston, he settled in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Santa Fe was a fresh start for Liebert in many ways and in addition to returning to the acoustic guitar, he remained open to letting the place define the music he made. It was this openness to the local landscape that defined what was to become his musical style, a mix of Spanish, Mexican and World elements, strong melodies tinged with a shade of melancholy, balanced with upbeat rhythms.

Liebert founded the first incarnation of his band, Luna Negra, in 1989. His debut album began as a self-produced release called Marita: Shadows and Storms, copies of which local Native American artist, Frank Howell, distributed in his art galleries. After the record made its way to radio stations, it began generating a buzz among programmers and received unprecedented response among listeners. Higher Octave Music picked it up and released a fully remastered version, Nouveau Flamenco. Recorded for less than $3,000 on an old analog machine in a shack beside a gravel pit, this CD became an international sensation, establishing Liebert's unique border-style flamenco, and becoming the best-selling instrumental acoustic guitar album of all time.

Marco de Carvalho and Friends Marco has been a performance guitarist, composer and arranger for thirty years. He plays an extensive repertoire of music from Rio de Janeiro as well as his own compositions. Marco has played with many musicians in Brazil and the USA. He has recorded on numerous CDs and sound tracks also producing and arranging. Marco is often joined by renowned Seattle musicians including Hans Teuber and Jeff Busch. https://marcodecarvalho.com/about/

American Jazz Vocalist, Stephanie Porter was first heard nationally on the radio in the mid-nineties, reaching the top 100 Gavin National Jazz Radio Chart. A world class vocalist with a rare contralto range. Porter has been on a total of 14-album releases, including her latest, Radio Theatre where she penned seven original tracks. An album featuring multi-platinum trumpeter, Steve Madaio.   Stephanie has shared stages with performers including, Ernestine Anderson, Michael McDonald and Chaka Khan.  She has performed with The Steve Miller Band in concert, and was an early member of Hit Explosion during the 90's, a popular dance band, booked regularly at Portland's, Crystal Ballroom, The Seattle ShowBox, Fenix Underground, Kingdome and Key Arena.    A long-gigging jazz singer, Porter has toured and performed across the US and Europe, preferring to remain an independent recording artist, based in Seattle.  Singing in just about every club, festival, arena and theater in the PNW.   She has notably been selected as a IndieMusic.com's "Top 25 Best and Brightest Musical Artists", with recordings charting at #2 and #9, recognized by the International Association of Independent Recording Artists. 

Ottmar Liebert’s global success can be attributed to a myriad of things - his creative vision, his determination, and a strong sense of melody. Born in Cologne, Germany, he began playing guitar at 11. Before the age of 19, Liebert had intended to stay in Germany and pursue a career as a designer and photographer. However, while journeying extensively through Asia and playing with other travelers and local musicians, he realised that he could not escape a life of music. After pursuing his dreams of playing rock music in Boston, he settled in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Santa Fe was a fresh start for Liebert in many ways and in addition to returning to the acoustic guitar, he remained open to letting the place define the music he made. It was this openness to the local landscape that defined what was to become his musical style, a mix of Spanish, Mexican and World elements, strong melodies tinged with a shade of melancholy, balanced with upbeat rhythms.

Liebert founded the first incarnation of his band, Luna Negra, in 1989. His debut album began as a self-produced release called Marita: Shadows and Storms, copies of which local Native American artist, Frank Howell, distributed in his art galleries. After the record made its way to radio stations, it began generating a buzz among programmers and received unprecedented response among listeners. Higher Octave Music picked it up and released a fully remastered version, Nouveau Flamenco. Recorded for less than $3,000 on an old analog machine in a shack beside a gravel pit, this CD became an international sensation, establishing Liebert's unique border-style flamenco, and becoming the best-selling instrumental acoustic guitar album of all time.

Curt Berg Sextet - Almost every week some of Seattle’s foremost musicians descend on Curt Berg’s basement in Bellevue, WA to play his compositions and sextet arrangements. This band has not appeared in public since the early 1990’s, but thanks to Jazz Clubs Northwest and Danny Kolke, it will perform at Boxley’s in North Bend, WA on Saturday, May 28th; 7:30 PM start. Berg’s compositions will be featured along with his arrangements of music by Moacir Santos, A. C. Jobim, Mario Adnet, Tom Garvin, Josh Nelson, Jay Thomas and others. None of these arrangements and original tunes has yet been performed in public. After 3 years with the NORAD Command Band in Colorado Springs, Berg moved to the Los Angeles area. He played trombone with bands lead by Woody Herman, Harry James, Don Ellis and Louis Bellson. He has written for cartoons, ice shows, commercials and singers as well as his own bands (big band, little big band, trombone band, sextet and quintet). He also had a long career in music preparation both in L.A. and Seattle. Performing will be Jay Thomas (trumpet & flugelhorn), Pete Gallio (tenor & soprano sax), John Hansen (piano), Phil Sparks (bass), Milo Peterson (drums), and Curt Berg (trombone). Also streaming live, online at: www.jazzclubsnw.org/youtube www.jazzclubsnw.org/live www.facebook.com/jazzclubsnw

Ottmar Liebert’s global success can be attributed to a myriad of things - his creative vision, his determination, and a strong sense of melody. Born in Cologne, Germany, he began playing guitar at 11. Before the age of 19, Liebert had intended to stay in Germany and pursue a career as a designer and photographer. However, while journeying extensively through Asia and playing with other travelers and local musicians, he realised that he could not escape a life of music. After pursuing his dreams of playing rock music in Boston, he settled in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Santa Fe was a fresh start for Liebert in many ways and in addition to returning to the acoustic guitar, he remained open to letting the place define the music he made. It was this openness to the local landscape that defined what was to become his musical style, a mix of Spanish, Mexican and World elements, strong melodies tinged with a shade of melancholy, balanced with upbeat rhythms.

Liebert founded the first incarnation of his band, Luna Negra, in 1989. His debut album began as a self-produced release called Marita: Shadows and Storms, copies of which local Native American artist, Frank Howell, distributed in his art galleries. After the record made its way to radio stations, it began generating a buzz among programmers and received unprecedented response among listeners. Higher Octave Music picked it up and released a fully remastered version, Nouveau Flamenco. Recorded for less than $3,000 on an old analog machine in a shack beside a gravel pit, this CD became an international sensation, establishing Liebert's unique border-style flamenco, and becoming the best-selling instrumental acoustic guitar album of all time.

The Beaver Session has been running every Sunday since October of 2014 (with a slight pause for covid). It is hosted by drummer Max Holmberg and features an opening set by a rotating group of musicians followed by an open jam session. The music tends to lean toward the straight ahead side of jazz.

The Royal Room Collective Music Ensemble (RRCME) is a 12-15 piece band featuring Seattle's finest and most innovative improvisers under the direction of composer Wayne Horvitz. The RRCME performs Mr. Horvitz's compositions in a loosely constructed format which uses a combination of on-the-spot (re)arranging and various other techniques, some of which have come to be known as "conduction".
Featuring: James Falzone; Kate Olson; Hans Teuber; Stuart MacDonald; Neil Welch; Al Keith; Samantha Boshnack; Ray Larsen; Christian Pincock; Haley Freedlund; David Marriott; Ryan Burns; Eric Eagle; Geoff Harper; Wayne Horvitz - Conduction

Led by Jazz trumpeter, composer, and producer Thomas Marriott and his quartet, we will host a weekly Jazz Jam Session on Monday nights.Thomas Marriott is a veteran of the national jazz scene who’s earned seven Golden Ear awards, produced 13 albums as a leader for Origin Records, and toured with greats like Maynard Ferguson and Roy McCurdy, as well as contemporary jazz artists Orrin Evans and Joe Locke.
Featuring: Thomas Marriott- trumpet; D'Vonne Lewis- drums; Kelsey Mines - bass; Eric Verlinde - piano.

We'll be hosting our weekly jazz jam session at Joeseppi's in Tacoma WA. 8:00pm to 10pm, all ages welcome, no cover charge.