From the Mar 25 – Mar 31, 2004 issue

Music

Classical, Jazz, & Avant

Ballard Jazz Walk/OMW

by Christopher DeLaurenti

I heard a passel of excellent music at last year's Ballard Jazz Walk. Rather than ricochet all over downtown to visit more than four jazz clubs, I'm glad this annual festival concentrates so much fine local jazz within a three-block radius.

This year I'm planning to start with the Greta Matassa Quartet (Conor Byrne, 5140 Ballard Ave NW). Matassa, a sassy vocalist with a commanding set of pipes, draws from a wide-ranging repertory of tunes. Drummer Matt Jorgensen's side project, Conversations, finds him in an intimate trio with bassist Phil Sparks and sax man Saul Cline (Hattie's Hat, 5231 Ballard Ave NW). Trumpeter and jazz institution Jay Thomas holds forth at the Lock & Keel (5144 Ballard Ave NW) while the Tractor Tavern (5213 Ballard Ave NW) hosts the Origin Über Band, an all-star aggregation of musicians from the Origin Records label.

OMW showcases various groups fermenting within the Open Music Workshop, an energetic Seattle-based collective of avant improvisers, composers, and sound artists. Don't miss the Wally Shoup Trio and noise-barrage trio BNSF (Fri March 26). Propelled by the ferocious drumming of Matt Crane, BNSF kicked my ass at the recent Improv Fest. Humph, a Thelonious Monk tribute trio, and the electroacoustic sextet Switch (Sat March 27) offer obliquely dissected tunes, minimal shards of sound, and other unclassifiable aural exploration. Eveline's Klang Quintet and the enchanting Ficus Trio (Sun March 28), featuring the amazing alto saxophonist Gregory Reynolds, conclude the festival. CHRISTOPHER DeLAURENTI

Catch the Ballard Jazz Walk Thurs March 25 (various venues in Ballard, 781-2589), 8 pm, $12 joint cover. The OMW festival runs Fri-Sun March 26-28 (CoCA, 410 Dexter Ave N, 728-1980), 8 pm, $7 per night or $15 for a festival pass.

chris@delaurenti.net

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