It’s the best jazz bargain in Seattle: The Ballard Jazz Walk concentrates venerable masters, stalwart locals, cult favorites, and
musicians on the rise all within a six-block radius.
The lineup boasts a slew of Seattle
favorites, including
the phenomenal singer Greta Matassa, the buoyant Latin jazz of
Soñando, and Hadley Caliman, a disciple and friend of the
legendary Dexter Gordon. Make sure to check out the impressive Chicago
guitarist John McLean and the Upper Left Trio, who rock out amid
dizzying chord changes.
You won’t hear every group, but serendipitous discovery is part of
the event. When I chatted with drummer and co-organizer Matt Jorgensen
a couple years ago, he summarized it perfectly: “Instead of staying for
a whole set, you can wander in and out of a bunch of venues. You
get a feel for who’s doing what and maybe discover a group you haven’t
heard before.”
The Jazz Walk also commemorates the 10th anniversary of Origin
Records. Founded by drummer John Bishop, Origin is not only
Seattle’s premier jazz label, it has attracted a national following due
to an insistence on quality. Origin releases almost always avoid slick
production and stick with natural, live sound. The label has cultivated
a distinct look with smart typography and sly, aloof photos reminiscent
of classic jazz LPs.
Recently, I asked Jorgensen whether CDs remain relevant in an age of
MP3 downloads. He explained, “We’re going back to the 1800s model of
commerce, selling CDs directly on the road and off the website. It’s
similar to a wagon rolling through an old Western town selling jams and
jellies. People come hear the music and make that one-on-one connection
with us.” 
Catch the Ballard Jazz Walk on Fri Nov 30 (Various venues, for
details see www.ballardjazzfestival.com),
8:30 pm–1 am, $15 adv/$20 DOS.
Fri 11/30
COMPOSERS WORKSHOP
UW student composers showcase their works. On the docket: Wyatt
Fletcher’s “Meminisse exquis” for cello and live electronics, Brandon
Pettit’s Audiostereogram 2, “Little Hill Song,” which composer
Doug Niemela describes as “Bluegrass fiddle meets crafty FM synthesis,”
and more. As a bonus, the fourthpiece of Tod Dockstader’s Eight
Electronic Pieces from 1960 concludes the evening. Brechemin
Auditorium in the Music Building, UW campus, 685-8384, 7:30 pm,
$5.
SEATTLE COMPOSERS’ SALON
A monthly, informal presentation of new music by Seattle composers,
the salon features finished works, previews, and works-in-progress. MC
Tom Baker has corralled fellow composers Brad Anderson, Robert Blatt,
Jay Hamilton, and John Teskse along with the Wally Shoup Trio.
Fourth floor Chapel Performance Space, Good Shepherd Center, 4649
Sunnyside Ave N, 8 pm, $5—$15 sliding scale donation.
TRIO MEDIAEVAL
Vocally, these three Norwegian sopranos share a clean, almost
vibrato-free blend, the sonic equivalent to gazing into a plate of
flawless, bone-white porcelain. Here, they sing a cappella medieval
carols from France and England and also a contemporary piece or two.
I’m hoping for Gavin Bryars’s beautiful “Venite a laudare” from the
trio’s 2004 disc Soir, dit-elle (ECM). Percussionist Birger
Mistereggen joins the trio for a set of Norwegian folk songs. Town
Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave, 325-7066, 8 pm, $25—$40.
Sun 12/2
ORCHESTRA SEATTLE
If you want to hear Handel’s Messiah, you can’t go wrong
with conductor George Shangrow and the band. Blessed with an ear for
picking fine soloists, Shangrow has a sure, unfussy sense of the
Baroque idiom. First Free Methodist Church, 3200 Third Ave W,
800-838-3006, 3 pm, $10—$20.
Wed 12/5
LASER OPERA
In my youth, you could affix the word “laser” to the heaviest rock
icon (as in “Laser Hendrix,” “Laser Floyd,” or “Laser Zeppelin”) and
your fellow stoners knew what was in store: an evening of smuggled
booze and ample, though miraculously discreet, clouds of weed. Abetted
in darkness by loud music and a rainbow of ricocheting lasers, the
lucky ones might get a hickey or three. Decades later, amid the
selfsame darkness, loud music, and lasers, Seattle Opera’s Bravo club
unleashes “a special program of dramatic and lyrical opera arias
designed to blow your mind!” RSVP by phone before Mon Dec 3.
Pacific Science Center Laser Dome, 200 Second Ave N, 676-5547, 7
pm, $5.
THE AMBER TONE
Fronted by saxophonists Clark Gibson and Brian Bermudez, this
straight-ahead quintet’s easygoing tunes and the presence of the
wondrous pianist Dawn Clement make this a group to watch. Gallery
1412, 1412 18th Ave, 322-1533, 8 pm, free, but donations
accepted.
ALISON KNOWLES
The poet, sound artist, and key member of the Fluxus movement makes
her first Seattle appearance. Knowles collaborates with her daughter
Jessica Higgins and Joshua Selman on North Water Song, a 75th
birthday tribute to her friend John Cage (1912—1992). Fourth
floor Chapel Performance Space, Good Shepherd Center, 4649 Sunnyside
Ave N, 8 pm, $5—$15 sliding scale donation.
