KNKX records and produces exclusive Studio Sessions every month with world-class jazz and blues musicians from around the world and the Northwest. We also like to use Studio Sessions as an opportunity to showcase the talented local students participating in our award-winning School of Jazz program.
Studio Sessions typically last around an hour, but the exact program will depend on the artist. You can usually expect about 15-45 minutes of sound check and mingling, followed by 20-30 minutes of recorded studio session time. This consists of 2 to 3 songs followed by an interview from one of our hosts.
We'd love for you to join us for a session in our new Seattle studios next to Pike Place Market. Below you will find more information about each upcoming Studio Session along with a link to register.
Studio Sessions are very popular and are free to attend.
Please register for only one per three months so others can enjoy the show!
Jovino Santos Neto Quinteto
Monday, October 13, 1 p.m.
Hosted by Abe Beeson
Three-time Latin Grammy nominee Jovino Santos Neto, a master pianist, composer and arranger, is one of the most important Brazilian musicians working today. Currently based in Seattle, Washington, he has throughout his career been closely affiliated with the Brazilian master Hermeto Pascoal. He was an integral part of Pascoal's group from 1977 to1992, where he fine-tuned his artistry, performing around the world and co-producing several legendary records. Jovino’s personal style is a creative blend of energetic grooves, deep harmonies, telepathic improvisation, lyrical melodies and great ensemble playing, always inspired and informed by the colorful richness of Brazilian music. His compositions include samba, choro, baião, xote, forró, marcha and many more styles, rooted in centuries-old musical tradition while pointing to new and adventurous harmonic languages. Currently, Jovino leads his Seattle-based Quinteto and Trio. He taught piano and composition at Cornish College of the Arts for 26 years.
SOLD OUT
Bilal
Wednesday, October 15, 12:30 p.m.
Hosted by Terae Stefon
The Grammy-nominated neo-soul icon Bilal is renowned for his intense performances, stunning vocal range, and cosmic jazz-funk fusion. The Philadelphia-born vocalist, songwriter, and producer has built a steady following of fans who appreciate the artist’s extensive vocal range, explosively addictive live shows, and his wondrous ability to shape-shift between genres without missing a beat. 2024 was a stellar year for Bilal, featuring renowned performances and the release of two albums. Bilal: Live at Glasshaus is a mid-career retrospective featuring Questlove, Common, Robert Glasper, and Burniss Travis. It is a powerful reminder of Bilal’s dynamic vocal abilities and songwriting mastery. That offering was followed by his first album of new music in eight years—Adjust Brightness, which marked a new chapter for Bilal. The album featured 11 brand-new tracks which take listeners on his most daring musical journey yet, blending his deep love of soul, funk, and jazz with futuristic, electronic, and abstract elements.
Bilal performs on October 14 at the Tractor Tavern as part of this year's Earshot Jazz Festival.
Alune Wade
Friday, October 24, 1:45 p.m.
Hosted by Abe Beeson
Senegalese bassist Alune Wade makes his Seattle debut at this year's Earshot Jazz Festival when he opens for Kassa Overall on October 25 at Hidden Hall. Alune's bass-driven Afro-jazz offers deep roots and worldly grooves. He blends jazz and Afrobeat, tracing the deep connections between West African rhythms, Lagos grooves, and the bold brass sounds of New Orleans. Alune was personally selected by Marcus Miller in 2015 to contribute to Miller's album "Afrodeezia" - a testament to his exceptional talent. However, his path to success began earlier when he was discovered by Ismaël Lô at the age of 18. Since then, he has collaborated with an impressive array of contemporary music legends and performed alongside artists such as Salif Keita, Oumou Sangaré, Bobby McFerrin, Joe Zawinul, Fatoumata Diawara, Paco Sery, Bela Fleck, Cheick Tidiane Seck, Deep Forest, and Gregory Porter. Apart from Alune's distinctive and vibrant electric bass playing, it is his voice that, much like the West African griots, tells stories with deep emotion and touching falsetto/tonality.
SOLD OUT
Kate Olson
Thursday, November 13, 1 p.m.
Hosted by Abe Beeson
Since moving to Seattle in 2010, improvising saxophonist and music educator Kate Olson has done her best to infiltrate the local, regional and international improvised music scenes. She can be heard performing with her own projects KO SOLO and KO ENSEMBLE, and as a collaborator with the Royal Room Collective Music Ensemble and Electric Circus (led by Wayne Horvitz), Birch Pereira and the Gin Joints, Battlestar Kalakala (formerly West Seattle Soul/the Pulsations), and with such Seattle staples as cabaret producers Can Can Presents and Verlaine & McCann. Kate has a BA in Music (Jazz Emphasis) from the University of Wyoming and an MM in Improvisation from the University of Michigan, and is currently on the jazz faculty at Pacific Lutheran University and University of Puget Sound. Kate was nominated in 2011 and 2013 for the Earshot Golden Ear Award in the Emerging Artist category, and in 2014, 2016, and 2024, she was nominated for the Best NW Instrumentalist Category, and in 2016 her band KO Ensemble was also nominated as best NW Alternative Group. In 2020 the KO Ensemble won the Golden Ear Award for best NW Instrumental Group and in 2022, KO Electric was nominated for Best Alternative Group.
SOLD OUT
School of Jazz with Edmonds-Woodway High School All-Stars and mentor Conner Eisenmenger
Monday, November 17, 1 p.m.
Hosted by Abe Beeson
The Edmonds-Woodway High School Jazz Band has received national recognition and been a finalist multiple times at the prestigious Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition. Edmonds-Woodway's jazz ensembles regularly perform at various venues in the community including Hot Java Cool Jazz at the Paramount Theatre, and internationally at the Montreux Jazz Festival and North Sea Jazz Festival. They also participate in regional competitions like the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival. The band program has been helmed by long-time band director and department chair Jake Bergevin.
Louisville, Kentucky native and trombonist Conner Eisenmenger received the ASCAP Foundation Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award in 2022, and received a master of music from the University of North Texas before moving out west. These days, Conner can be found playing with Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra, as well as Louis Prima, Jr. and Tito Puente, Jr. His various session work includes Nintendo Live's Super Mario Super Big Band. Conner will also be in KNKX's studios with Kate Olson's group on November 13.
https://www.xobrass.com/us/artists/conner-eisenmenger
https://ewhsmusic.com/band/about/
