Taking the chill off the Pacific Northwest's cold spring is the 2011 Ballard Jazz Festival, April 20-23. Now in its ninth season, the jazz fest has become a major player in the Northwest. And Old Town Ballard provides the perfect backdrop, with a variety of venues ranging from clubs and bars to storefronts and a museum.
Two themed events at the Conor Byrne Pub kick off the festival on Wednesday and Thursday. Brotherhood of the Drum features bands led by internationally acclaimed drummers who live in Seattle, and Guitar Summit is a creative blend of Northwest guitarists and their groups.
I'm looking forward to the Ballard Jazz Walk on Friday evening, featuring 20 bands in 13 venues along Ballard Avenue. The next morning, get back to your Scandinavian roots with a Swedish Pancake Jazz Brunch at the Nordic Heritage Museum. Accompanying the pancakes will be a jazz quartet and a classic auto show. On Saturday evening, the Mainstage Concert features the Mitchel Forman Group from Los Angeles and the East-West Trumpet Summit, a project of New York trumpeter Ray Vega and Seattle's Thomas Marriott.
- Wednesday, April 20 - Brotherhood of the Drum - 8 PM. Conor Byrne Pub, 5140 Ballard Avenue NW. Headliners Michael Shrieve, Kobie Watkins, Gregg Keplinger, Evan Woodle. 21 and over.
- Thursday, April 21 - Guitar Summit - 8 PM. Conor Byrne Pub, 5140 Ballard Avenue NW. Dan Balmer, Don Mock, John Stowell, Dave Peterson. 21 and over.
- Friday, April 22 - Ballard Jazz Walk - Music starts between 7-9 PM. One ticket for 20 groups at 13 venues. Performers include Thomas Marriott, Wayne Horvitz, Brent Jensen, The Kora Band, Greta Matassa, Cory Weeds, John Stowell, Ben Thomas, Jovino Santos-Neto, Burn List with Cuong Vu, Ray Vega and Upper Left Trio.
- Saturday, April 23 - Swedish Pancake Jazz Brunch - 10:30 AM and 12 Noon. Nordic Heritage Museum, 3014 NW 67th Street. Accompanying the pancakes will be a quartet composed of vocalist Gail Pettis, Belgian pianist Bram Weitjers, and Chicagoans Kobie Watkins and Clark Sommers on drums and bass. Washington's vintage Volvo/Saab Sports Club will present a classic auto show.
- Saturday, April 23 - Mainstage Concert - 7:30 PM. Nordic Heritage Museum, 3014 NW 67th Street. Hosted by KPLU's Jim Wilke, the double bill includes the Mitchel Forman Quartet and Ray Vega & Thomas Marriott's East-West Trumpet Summit. Pianist Mitchel Forman's LA-based band of all stars includes guitarist Chuck Loeb (his former partner from their Stan Getz days), drummer Marvin 'Smitty' Smith (The Tonight Show) and bassist Kevin Axt (Tierney Sutton). And an energized East-West Trumpet Summit, a project of New York trumpeter Ray Vega and Seattle's Thomas Marriott, will include music from their recent release. East-West Trumpet Summit was #10 on the charts for 2010. Playing with the duo are Northwest luminaries Matt Jorgensen, Bill Anschell and Jeff Johnson.
Tickets are $15-$55 and available at Sonic Boom Records, the festival website, or by calling the festival ticket office at 206.219.3649.
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