I know what you’re thinking. You hear the phrase “jazz festival” and you immediately think of middle-aged, silver-haired intellectuals sitting in silence, bobbing their heads, sipping merlot and listening to sleepy music with an air of importance that reeks of pretense.
Well, let me be the first to tell you that the 2012 Ballard Jazz Festival is decidedly not that kind of jazz fest.
Now in its tenth year, the BJF takes over most of old Ballard each April, spilling out from the bars and concert venues to coffee shops and many of the non-music businesses on Ballard Ave and beyond. Over three days you’ll get to hear world-class jazz musicians, both national touring acts and the crème of the local crop.
The mainstage show this year features two great artists from out of town, the Bobby Broom Trio and Orrin Evans.
Broom is a killer guitarist from Chicago who’s trio has been lighting up stages and festivals all around the world. His last album was a tribute to the music of Stevie Wonder that worked on all levels, and he’s set to release his first album of all original material this spring on Seattle’s Origin Records.
Evans is a rising star on the piano out of Philadelphia who has released many small-group records as well as a great recent disc with his Captain Black Big Band. He’ll be playing with Seattle’s Matt Jorgensen and a great quartet.
Also on tap is the annual “Brotherhood of the Drum” concert on Wednesday, this year hosted by ex-Santana drummer Michael Shrieve and featuring Kobie Watkins, Eric Eagle, Todd Bishop and King Tears Bat Trip, a band with 5 drummers, sax and guitar.
Thursday brings the Guitar Summit, with the aforementioned Broom, Tim Young, John Stowell, and Dave Peterson, all playing with various killer bands.
And with a nod to Ballard’s Scandinavian heritage, the Swedish Pancake Breakfast takes place on Saturday morning with music from vocalist Jeff Baker and Cornish College’s Advanced Jazz Combo directed by bassist (and recent Earshot Jazz “Golden Ear” Seattle Jazz Hall of Fame inductee) Chuck Deardorf. You can even bring the kids to this one!
But the crown jewel of the BJF is Friday’s Jazz Walk. The festival takes over eleven different Ballard businesses and showcases 21 mostly-Seattle artists. This is the part of the festival that is different than any other you’ll experience. The crowds wander up and down the street, dropping in and out of the various venues, catching a little of this act before running off to catch the next.
Some of the venues are more subdued than others, but at places like Conor Byrne or the New York Fashion Academy, the scene is often raucous and lively, more like Lollapalooza than the Village Vanguard, more Redhook than Chateau Ste. Michelle. This year’s highlights include the Jovino Santos Neto Quarteto, Gail Pettis, Human Spirit with Thomas Marriot, Mark Taylor & Matt Jorgensen, Wayne Horvitz, and a showcase for the upstart jazz label Table & Chairs.
If you set your preconceptions aside, you’ll hear a different side of the Seattle music scene, one thriving and packed with incredible talent. Tickets and more info here. See you on The Ave (Ballard Ave, that is)!
I’ll be there representing a podcast that I host, Jazz Now! Seattle. Stop by and say hi!
