saturday may 11, 2024
8pm to 9pm at the snowy owl
joining Russell malone
a Rhythm Section like no other
A noted pianist, composer and leading figure in the Northwest jazz scene, Marc Seales has shared stages with many of the great players of the last two decades. He has played with nearly every visiting jazz celebrity from Joe Henderson and Art Pepper to Benny Carter, Mark Murphy, and Bobby Hutcherson. With the late Don Lanphere he performed in such places as London, England; Kobe, Japan; The Hague in the Netherlands; and the North Sea Jazz Festival.
The musicians he admires most are Herbie Hancock, Charlie Parker, John Lewis, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, and Wynton Kelly, though he is quick to acknowledge that he owejkjs the basically be-bop/post be-bop sound of his playing to his mentors, Don Lanphere and Floyd Standifer.
Critics have praised Seales variously for his "meaty piano solos," and "blues inflected, Hancock-inspired modernism." Winner of numerous Earshot awards (Instrumentalist of the Year in 1999 and Acoustic Jazz Group in 2000 and 2001; Jazz Hall of Fame, 2009), Seales is today promoting jazz awareness and molding young talents as a Professor of Music at the University of Washington, where he serves as Chair of the Jazz Studies Program. He teaches an array of courses, including History of Jazz, Jazz Piano, and Beginning and Advanced Improvisation, as well as leading various workshops and ensembles.
Phil Sparks is among the leading bassists in Seattle, having performed with nearly every top jazz group in the city. He records extensively with many of the Northwest's top names, and received a special mention as a star of the Seattle scene in the Feb. 94 issue of Down Beat.
In Seattle, Phil Sparks has been a member of groups led by Julian Priester, Ernestine Anderson, Wayne Horowitz, Floyd Standifer, Hadley Caliman, E.W. Wainwright, Jay Clayton, Jim Knapp, and Ricky Kelly. He has accompanied the following artists during Northwest engagements: Gene Harris, Roland Hanna, James Moody, Bobby Shew, Mose Allison, Art Lande, Joe Henderson, Javon Jackson, Teddy Edwards, and the Seattle Symphony.
While living in Colorado from 1976 to 1983, Sparks was a member of many groups, including "Visions," led by Jerry Granelli, "The Bruno Carr Ensemble," and the "Joe Bonner Trio." He also accompanied the following artists during Colorado engagements: Cedar Walton, Eddie Harris, Randy Weston, Jimmy Hopps, and Mose Allison.
Sparks has recorded with Jerry Granelli, Barry Wedgle, Rich Halley, Francis Vanek, Jay Clayton/Jim Knapp, Juhan Lee, Randy Halberstadt, Rick Mandyck, Jay Thomas, Woody Woodhouse, Clarence Acox, Floyd Standifer, Milo Petersen, Hans Fahling, Steve Griggs, Matt Jorgenson, The Plymouth Trio, Mark Lanegan, Akbar De Preist, and Peter Ross.
Since moving back to Seattle in 2002 after 10 years in New York City, Matt Jorgensen has been active in all aspects of the Seattle jazz scene. He has recorded four CD ’s with his group Matt Jorgensen +451 for Origin Records, and has toured extensively from New York to LA and in 2003 picked up an award for “Best Acoustic Jazz Group” by Earshot Jazz.
As a sideman he is frequently called on by an impressive list of musicians including Peter Bernstein, Eric Alexander, Bill Mays, Vincent Herring, George Colligan, Reggie Workman, Tim Ries, Chuck Leavell and others.
Matt is also a founder and co-Artistic Director of the Ballard Jazz Festival and has produced jazz concerts in association with Bumbershoot and others.
Jorgensen’s new CD, Tattooed by Passion, is inspired by the paintings of his late father-in-law, the prominent abstract-impressionist artist Dale Chisman. Jorgensen has created a recording of all original works drawing influence directly from Chisman paintings, his home city of Denver, his life-long friends, and his constant reinvention as an artist. To properly reflect the power and expanse of Chisman’s pieces, Jorgensen, along with his longtime collaborators – trumpeter Thomas Marriott and saxophonist Mark Taylor – expands his own palette from previous recordings, exploring broad new textures and musical landscapes aided by Corey Christiansen’s earthy guitar work, bassist Dave Captein, and orchestrations for string quartet.
