From the Nov 4 – Nov 10, 2004 issue

Music

CLASSICAL, JAZZ, & AVANT

Earshot Jazz

by Christopher DeLaurenti

Every autumn the Earshot Jazz Festival makes me wish I was Triplicate Girl, a little-known superhero whose sole superpower is the ability to split into two additional copies of herself. While there's too much of the Earshot's ever-expanding annual festival for any lone listener to follow, here's a partial rundown of the remaining concerts.

If you can't catch powerhouse Cuban pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba (Thurs Nov 4, On the Boards) try local first-call pianist Larry Fuller and his trio at Tula's or the Paul Rucker Group at ConWorks, all on the same night. Rucker has assembled a veritable orchestra of local avant all-stars including Wally Shoup, Gregory Reynolds, and Tari Nelson-Zagar to sally through compositions for large ensemble.

Two venerable masters make festival appearances. Jim Hall, one of greatest living jazz guitarists (Fri Nov 5, On the Boards), and saxophonist Benny Golson. Golson, who gigged with Dizzy Gillespie, Lionel Hampton, Art Blakey, and many other greats, has a two-night stand with the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra (Sat Nov 6, Recital Hall at Benaroya and Sun Nov 7, Kirkland Performance Center). The festival closes with a tribute concert to local bass legend Buddy Catlett (Sun Nov 7, On the Boards).

Earshot Jazz has also collaborated with the Northwest Film Forum on a series of films featuring jazz musicians John Zorn, Denis Charles, Nina Simone, and others. See www.nwfilm- www.nwfilm-forum.org/jazz for details. Of special note is the return of the rare Simone film Love Sorceress (Tues-Thus Nov 9-11), an unforgettable document of a 1976 concert by the willful, erratic, seductive, petulant, erotic, inventive singer. Highly recommended. CHRISTOPHER DeLAURENTI

The Earshot Jazz Festival continues at various venues through Sun Nov 7. Visit www.earshot.org or call the festival hotline at 547-9787 for additional information.

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