Archive of posts with category 'Live Review'
Well, RIP to the Beaver sessions. Bummed to see it go, Sunday night jazz in the hockey bar. A nine year run, started and hosted by the awesome Max Holmberg....
Seattle fans were in attendance to worship at the church of virtuosic shred. Big sound from all three, guitarist Greg Howe, bassist Stu Hamm (Steve Vai, Joe Satriani) and drummer...
Opening set was Ambrose Akinmusire with Sam Harris, Linda Oh, Tim Angulo.
Dylan Hayes Organ Trio (feat. Martin Budde & Xavier Lecouturier) soundin real good at The Beaver Sessions. First tune by Hayes, dedicated to Stevie Wonder, super cool head and funky,...
The Mommyheads first record, Acorn, came out in 1989 and reconfigured the world slightly. And The Mommyheads are back on tour with a new record. Dope! Been a fan a...
October in Seattle? Must be time for jazz, Ear Shot that is, the noodliest, best you can get.
Drumlin now has live music, both inside and out, up in Shoreline. Great spot! On Saturday, caught the last set of Due North, a jazz quartet with trumpet, piano, stand...
Hit the reincarnated Monday jam session at the Royal Room hosted by Thomas Marriott. Full house at the club and the players were on the main stage, unlike the old...
Fun show at Egan's with Jazz Abbey. Tight heads, cool set list. Tunes like Joe Sample's "Mystery Child", "Small Fortune" by Ray Obiedo, "Alan Weight Speaking" by Jim Culter, and...
Caught Marc Seales at Tula's closing weekend, loss of an institution with the demise of Tula's. Seales was great as usual, flipping between electric piano and the grand piano on...
Stoked to have Miles Okazaki play in Seattle. Amazing composer and monster shredder with psycho technique. Moments were Frippian, Crimsonian, but even farther out. Crazy time signatures, crazy lines that...
Sold out show, played for two hours, with four encores. Rachel Flotard from Visqueen on backing vocals. They did 10 of the 12 tracks from the new album Hell On,...
Stellar show to a packed, appreciative house, celebrating Ray Brown. Lots of tunes, lots of stories as each player had a go with the mic to tell stories about Brown...
Cool set, all town names from Pennsylvania. Bass led, held it down so that the other players could go where they sought. Really innovative bass solo near the end. Drummer...
Full house at the show, packed, both upstairs and down. But when you are on the cover of Downbeat and playing the Village Vanguard for a week straight upcoming, like...
Played all country, signature Scofield style. Such a distinct voice. Nobody sounds like him. The way he plays a head, his attack, his articulation. And so many ideas. Was playing...
Awesome show, full house, standing ovation at the end. Chemistry was there between the players and the pieces flowed. Pulse always there, music flowing around it. Loved the drummer, Henry...
The classic trio set up with organ, guitar and drums sounding so right. Organ old school from the 60s, defining warm. Not sure the names of the other players; they...
It was the usual cast of characters last night at the Angry Beaver – the Seattle jazz scene -- with one notable exception: Kamasi Washington was in the house. In...
Never thought Field Music would come to Seattle, but they did and a crowd of devoted fans were on hand. So good live. Wasn’t sure how their sound would translate...
Caught Mark Elf at Boxleys. He was backed by the house band. Did some originals and some standards, including “Caravan” by Ellington. Did this cool harmonic number where he played...
Hugh Masekela consummate entertainer, half the show anecdotes, the other half tunes. His tone is so gorgeous. Just piano and trumpet, plus his singing and cowbell playing too. Set list...
Love shows like this: where amazing players unite for a unique moment, a configuration never been heard before and perhaps never will again. Ed Reed was awesome, had a Bay...
Living legends doing what they do to a packed audience. Was thinking 70 is the new 40 as these guys put on a show of melodic virtuosity. Their collaboration defies...
Great show. Seales accompanied by guys that he’s been playing with for years: Chuck Dearborn on bass, Mark Eisler on drums. Caught the first two sets, missed the last one....
Packed show at the Sci-Fi museum theater. Opening trio of professor jazz masters great to see. The three building these emotive soundscapes, evocative and poignant. Vu’s got the coolest tone...
Cool set up on Wednesday nights at The Ship Canal (good fish tacos btw) playing straight ahead bop. First set was The Cantaloupes although Jay Thomas was off at Port...
No column inches for Robyn in The Stranger or The Seattle Weekly, but he didn’t need it as the theater was packed with a big crowd, all of them over...
Everything you’d expect from a GBV show: cooler of beer on stage, Pollard doing high kicks, Pollard ranting between songs, guitarist & bassist chain smoking through entire show, long set,...
Had always seen the name but never seen the act, so busted up to the “North Country” in Shoreline for Crack Sabbath. Great show. Loud. Skerik shredded on the sax...
Great show with organ, guitar and drums, no bass. D’Vonne Lewis amazing, playing around and against the beat, adding so much texture while others soloed. The organ, played by Delvan...
Was a big Enon fan back in the day, so had to go check out John Schmersal’s latest incarnation at the Croc. Very Enon-like really, although even less of a...
Fun show to a full house. He’s been coming to Jazz Alley since 1975. Damn. Perennial favorite indeed. Lots of great players in the current configuration of 8 guys on...
They play @jazz_alley every year. Lucky Seattle. Rightfully dubbed all stars. Consider the folks they’ve collectively played with: Blood, Sweat and Tears, Miles Davis, Jaco Pastorius, Billy Cobham, James Taylor,...
Stoked that Hardcoretet has a three show residency at the Seamonster – familiar spot for drummer Tarik Abouzied, whose there every Tuesday with McTuff. They are playing this coming Sunday,...
Ended up at Blues and Biscuits in San Francisco, cool spot right in the heart of SF tourist land. Stage is down in the basement, circular tables, candles, low ceiling....
Was billed as one of the greatest drummers and didn’t disappoint: school was in session fer sure. Really a monster player. Crazy kit, including two snare drums, a synth pad,...
Moon Hooch is #acousticEDM. Lotza energy, lotza fun. Two saxophones holding it down. Novel sound, fresh, not like anything you’ve quite heard. Drums big, almost always with that signature EDM...
The Triple Door Musicquarium always good for a chill time on a Tuesday evening. They’ve got a tasty specialty beer on tap (the dark ale) and a fine limited wine...
Steve Lehman Trio lived up to expectation as “affirmed in the jazz vanguard” -- shit they killed it to a packed house standing room only at The Royal Room. It...
That time of year again when ear bending music gets played as part of the Earshot Festival. Bye bye 4/4; adios major pentatonic; goodnight minor pentatonic; we bid you adieu...
Caught the second set on Friday night, pretty sparse crowd, but enough there to make it feel intimate. Set was straight up bebop, head, solos, trading eights, head. Drummer swung...
Ended up at the Owl & Thistle and ate Guinness beef stew. Caught Gravity who played a killer set on a Tuesday night. Great sound, great vibe. All originals except...
Random night at the Royal Room (which is what makes that place great: a rad venue where worthy folks can get a gig). First up, speaking of worthy, the most...
Wasn’t sure what to expect with this gig. Thought it was gonna sound like Flying Burrito Bros/Gram Parsons/late Byrds but sounded more like 1985. So 30 years old instead of...
After going classical at Town Hall with the Puget Sound Symphony Orchestra who performed Second Essay for Orchestra, Op. 17 (1942) by Samuel Barber, The Garden of Fand (1913) by...
Professorial night at Tulas with UW maestros Marc Seales (piano), Bill Smith (clarinet), Tom Collier (vibes). Didn’t catch the the drummer’s and bassist’s names—think one of them was faculty too....
Caught the last set of Dave Peck Dave Peck Trio with Chuck Deardorf on bass and Eric Eagle on drums. So tasteful, super melodic playing on the keys, straight up...
Dr. John did his Dr. John thing last night to a packed house at Jazz Alley. Not sure if he’s sold out for the weekend or not; if it isn’t,...
Gold standard on a Tuesday, can’t go wrong with McTuff. Started with an xmas carol, Good King Wenceslas God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. At some point the guitarist Andy Coe...
Got hip to Garfunkel and Oates 3 years ago (here’s the proof). Saw that they were playing at the Snoqualmie Casino (!) and figured it’d be worth the trip. It...
October = Earshot Jazz Festival = mind altering jazz in unlikely venues. From NYC, two trios who lived up to their reputations at SAM. First Trio X (reedman Joe McPhee,...
Bettye Lavette mesmerizing last night, living up to her billing as “emotionally charged soul maven.” At 66, she commanded the stage with such warmth, wit and verve, not to mention...
Caught Thomas Marriott at Tula's. Exquisite set with top notch players. Marc Searles on the keys was golden. Had a killer sound with delay and sustain, provided this deep layer...
Kelly Hogan fantastic at The Triple Door. Something so likeable about Hogan, find yrself rootin for her. She’s got this endearing combo of sweet and sassy. Her new record (out...
Caught Kathryn Calder at The Mix in Georgetown on the last stop of her tour. Hearing these songs live, you are reminded how catchy her songs are. She write pop...
Another Earshot Jazz Festival 2011 mind melter and they’re playin again tonight. Matt Slocum Trio is Slocum on drums, Danny Grissett on piano and Darek Oles on bass. Once again,...
Well, it’s that time of year again in which mind blowing musical experiences await you in abundance: yes, Earshot Jazz Festival kicked off. Caught the opening night performance by Endangered...
Go see James Farm tonight/tomrrow ‘cause they were off the hook last night, just like last year: super hero players, rock star musicians, jazz virtuosos tearin it up. Good sized...
Raucous night at The Comet (as are most nights at The Comet) starting with Kled – http://reverbnation.com/kled, but only caught the last song and a half, which involved chanting USA,...
Super group of players at Jazz Alley right now in a rare configuration that may not be seen again. Known as Spectrum Road, Jack Bruce, John Medeski, Vernon Reid and...
Did bear witness to Badly Drawn Boy. The squib on the bill at The Triple Door dubbed him a “narcoleptic slacker.” He exceeded expectations. Don’t know if he was having...
Pearl Django with Martin Taylor was a sound feast. Their two hour set was at once captivating and entertaining, laid back yet complex and nuanced, with lots of interaction between...
Caught The Parson Red Heads again last night at The High Dive. Much smaller crowd on hand then at the sold out Head and Heart show a couple weeks ago....
Eux Autres from San Francisco was at The Sunset. They are indierock-arific.
Here's some pics by Adam Forslund from the show:
Mishka was in town last week. Here's some pics by Adam Forslund:
It was the night of 3 part harmony at Neumos -- both The Parson Red Heads and The Head and The Heart belting out big vocal prettiness that filled the...
Caught most of Ask The Ages set at Cafe Racer. Great players. Interesting to see the instruments enhanced by effects: both trumpet (Matt Reid) and vibes (Steven Bell) pumped the...
Big crowd for DJ Shadow. In-your-face push of the DJ Shadow iPhone app before the show started. “Download me! Download me!” Like if you didn’t have the app you weren’t...
The Migrant from Denmark was in town last week. Folky, moody, indie: made sense in the NW. Maybe it's the weather. Here's some pics by Adam Forslund: ...
Was in SF and randomly ended up at Amnesia (how I got there I can't remember) with Toshio Hirano on stage plucking old time tunes like Hank Williams and Jimmie...
Caught J. Roddy Walston and The Business at Chop Suey last Monday. Long hairs from Baltimore. Piano sounding good, honky tonk. Definite Jerry Lee Lewis invocation (not imitation) -- don't...
Walked in as Cataldo had just started their set. Superb and solid song writing with a clear sense of melody. Songs were wistful but not cloying. Occasionally they started to...
Caught a cool show at The Josephine. Place was almost completely dark as a cat and dog wandered through the space. I walked in on Wally Shoup/Dave Abramson -- Wally...
Completely mind blowing. Where is the beat? What is the beat? Melody upon melody upon idea upon idea folding in and around with such complete and total command. At the...
The Grates were great -- ah gee that's a cop out of a line. Pop punk extraordinaire. Ribbon dance! Charisma! Aussie song banter! Professional! Or not! Then Those Darlins. "Take...
Off the hook jazz. Drummer was amazing. Jazz drummers are from another planet. Soulful compositions.
Manos De Plata at the High Dive. Dynamic sound as songs crescendo'd with bravado. Drummer with nice moments and syncopation. Songs down tempo to start and redemptive to end. Song...
Loved Micachu and The Shapes -- a sunny Friday afternoon on the Vera Project stage under hot Seattle sun. Super inventive, wack compositions. Singin & snarlin w/ serious British accent....
Caught Yak Ballz and Cage at Nectar. Bummed cause missed the two home town openers, Rudy & the Rhetoric and Sadistik, because they started right at nine on the dime....
Caught Hidden Number at Nectar as final act of a comedy show called Magical Heroine and Secrets of the Blue Moon which had some pretty off the hook comedians --...