With Earshot's festival shows and much more, I've been delighted to see so many friendly faces at jazz concerts recently. The audience's job is so important. Thanks for coming out!
It's been a busy time in a lot of jazz clubs for yours truly, and I'm off next week for a much needed vacation. I'll bring you a fantastic New Cool show Saturday afternoon before I get out of town, and encourage you to catch some cool shows I won't be around to see next week.
The Earshot Jazz festival rolls on through the next week with a number of highlights. You'll find vibes player Joel Ross leading his "Good Vibes" band at the Seattle Art Museum Saturday night at 8. He was in fine form with trumpeter Marquis Hill's Blacktet this Summer, and his piano work was featured in an exclusive KNKX studio session. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ax2Ee58OB2k
Sunday night brings together red hot Seattle DJ OC Notes and the firey local jazz rock quintet Smacktalk. The band is just back from their first tour down the West Coast, and will be hitting hard on all cylinders. The Timbre Room is where it's going down, beginning at 9 p.m.
New Orleans hits the Crocodile Cafe (there's a gumbo joke in there somewhere) with a visit from the Hot 8 Brass Band Tuesday night. Tragedies of lost band members to violence and illness as well as Hurricane Katrina have not dampened the spirits of this group, and they generously pass on the love.
The Italian maverick multi-instrumentalist Tommaso Cappellato plays The Royal Room Wednesday, Oct. 24. It's a collaboration with Seattle saxophonists Carlos Overall and his quartet, working along the experimental edges of jazz improvisation and hip-hop production. Cappellato's new Butterflying album of delicately layered, atmospheric beat landscapes was released this week.
For those seeking top talent for minimum charge, don't miss the free quartet-sized Happy Orchestra show at the Triple Door's Musicquarium Friday, Oct. 26. Tarik Abouzied will play bass, and leads R.L. Heyer (guitar), Tim Kennedy (keys), and Brad Boal (drums) through songs from his wonderfully groovy band.
If you're stuck inside with the first wave of seasonal sniffles, don't miss the just-posted studio session double header from last week with a pair of New Cool favorites. Trio Subtonic and Kneebody were fantastic previewing their show at Nectar Lounge that night, and we have exclusive content right here!
The New Cool airs Saturdays from 3 to 5 p.m., hosted by Abe Beeson and produced by KNKX Public Radio in Seattle, Wash.
