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J&J Music is your atmosphere and entertainment solution. Our goal is to work with you to ensure the success of your event through the correct choice of entertainment. We have provided musical entertainment for many successful venues and functions throughout the Greater Seattle Area. Your success comes from our balanced approach to business and music.

Choose J&J Music and you are saying yes to incredible live music that will complement the unique tone of your event.

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Seattle Jazz Community Haiti Quake Fundraiser – Wednesday Night

The tragic earthquake in Haiti has hit close to home for the Seattle jazz community. David Pierre-Louis, owner of LUCID Jazz Lounge and one of the biggest supporters of jazz in Seattle, flew to Haiti on Thursday to search for his family and the family of friends. Thankfully he was able to find his mother, who was unharmed. But while there he witnessed first-hand the devastation and tragedy the quake has caused. He’s on his way back to Seattle Tuesday but has vowed to return to Haiti as soon as possible with as much aid as he can bring. Seattle’s jazz community has come together to help raise funds for David to take back with him when he returns.

This coming Wednesday, January 20, 2010, seven University District venues will host local jazz bands all in an effort to raise funds. Bands will play from 9:00pm to midnight. Each venue will be accepting cash, checks and emergency supplies to send directly to Haiti.

You can find more info at Lucid’s web site.

Here is the list of participating venues and bands:

LUCID Jazz Lounge
5241 University Way NE
(206) 402-3042
Band: Jason Parker Quartet, followed by Open Jam Session
The Jason Parker Quartet is one of Seattle’s busiest jazz bands. Earshot Magazine recently called them “The next generation of Seattle jazz.” They play a mix of original compositions and “not-so-standard standards” that honor the tradition while looking forward.

The Rat and Raven
5260 University Way NE
(206) 524-3102
Band: Coldnote
Coldnote is a high energy 7-piece ensemble featuring the vocals of NY native, Caine. The band plays a musical gumbo of jazz, rock, funk, blues and soul. Coldnote was featured at Seattle’s Hemp fest, has headlined shows at Nectar and The Highdive, was the winner of Studio 7’s Battle of the Bands ‘09, rang in the New Year performing at the Clearwater Casino, was voted top band in Kitsap County ‘09, and has played as the opening act for Sublime LBC.

The Galway Arms
5257 University Way NE
(206) 527-0404
Band: Elsa Nilsson Quartet
A culturally diverse group combining Northern European influences with jazz and rock. They play mostly original music, combined with aggressively rearranged Swedish, Ukrainian, and Brazilian folk music. Their performances create an aural journey for the listener, taking them from straight swing and heavy rock to the most far out places and back again, always with a sense of humor.

Fournos
4733 University Way NE
(206) 729-5195
Band: Leah Natale and Ambience
What Earshot Jazz is saying about Ambience Jazz Quartet: “Performing at Local Color this Saturday (April 18) is Leah Natale, who has been quietly gaining a much deserved reputation around town with her sultry voice and slick vocal styling reminiscent of early Rosemary Clooney. Her Ambience ensemble features a particularly solid group of musicians, led by the impeccable artistry of guitarist George Stone.”

Finn MacCools
4217 University Way NE
(206) 675-0885
Band: Leif Totusek Trio
Freestyle Candela is Guitarist Leif Totusek and his compositions based on Soukous guitar, Cuban Rumba and inspirations from Hendrix to Haiti. Leif has played extensively with Soukous Guitar master “Moses Fan Fan” and has been special guest with Tabu Ley Rochereau (Jazz Alley Seattle, WA) the godfathers of the Soukous form.

Taste of Chicago
5259 University Way NE
(206) 274-9999
Band: Ethan Thomas Trio
The Ethan Thomas Trio explores the outer boundaries of expectation and normality with refreshingly modern improvisation. This band blends traditional jazz concepts with various styles of modern music for a fluid mix of free and theme-based improvisation. Ethan Thomas – Saxophone, Mike Owcharuk – Piano, Mike Catts – Bass.

A Pizza Mart (*Will not be hosting live music Wednesday but will be taking donations all week with special event Friday)
5026 University Way NE
(206) 517-4000
Will be taking donations all week and hosting this Friday, January, 22, 2010 at 9:30pm, a Hip Hop group called “Half Sac” to help with the Haiti Relief Effort. Drink Special featuring Oscar Blues Brewery with all processed from 2 kegs going to the cause. They will also be donating from a raffle drawing.

New Seattle Percussion Trio at the Whole Foods Grand Opening

Drum roll please… the new Whole Foods store in Interbay had its Grand Opening last Tuesday, October 13! Featured outside was the New Seattle Percussion Trio (NSPT). The musicians arrived at the crack of dawn, coffee in hand and ready to get the crowd of employees and store investors grooving high in celebration as the doors opened to the public.

Enjoy these pictures and video clips of NSPT performing:

These drummers did a fantastic job and they delivered groovy goodness early in the AM that the crowd really enjoyed. J&J Music is proud to work with these talented and professional musicians and look forward to booking them for YOUR next event!

Neiman-Marcus Grand Opening in Bellevue

Thursday September 10, the evening before its grand opening, Neiman-Marcus of Bellevue hosted a private gala for 1,200 special guests. Live music, thoughtfully placed throughout the departments, created the perfect ambiance for the event. Matching the impeccable elegance and style of a Neiman-Marcus store, the musical selection was custom tailored for the evening by J&J Music.

Greeting the guests from the valet to door was the classical guitar melodies of Monarch Duo. Co-led by guitarist Cameron Peace and vocalist/guitarist Eli Rosenblatt, the duo played a worldly blend from Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe. These inspired fusions ushered patrons into a retail wonderland of delights and surprises.

Jazzing up the Ladies! Shoe section was Monty Banks, the featured act. Direct from Las Vegas and in full swing, Monty (also known as an acclaimed Lounge Pianist) specializes in music harkening back to the Rat Pack era. Rounding out the group was an assembly of local jazz musicians including famous drummer Ray Price and saxophonist Ronnie Pierce. These performers delighted the audience with tunes that caused the shoes to tap, souls to smile and the client to request an additional 30 minutes of play. Encore!

Traveling down the escalators, one was lured by the seductive salsa of Tumbao, an ensemble that added some Latin spice to the Intimate Apparel section. Steeped in the tradition of original son/salsa music from Cuba and Latin America, Tumbao is a local group led by sensational Latin vocalist Carlos Cascante and notable local jazz trumpeter Thomas Marriott. Carlos’ soaring vocals wrapped each number in emotion and provided a rich texture and color while the rest of the band grooved with sweet precision and passion. Salsa surrounded by satin never sounded so good!

Past the velvet rope and into the exclusive VIP area of the top floor, the elite were entertained by the classic elegance of double-bass and piano in the form of the Randy Halberstadt Duo. Notable upright bassist Larry Holloway joined Randy, jazz piano legend and prominent professor, to play sophisticated jazz standards throughout the evening. The distinguished duo, who regularly accompany world-renown jazz vocalists at Jazz Alley, charmed the privileged room full of gentlemen in tuxedos and ladies draped in couture.

It was an evening of the finest and most fashionable form and J&J Music was there every step of the way to insure a flawless event. From contracting talent to meet the client’s specifications, needs and desires, to carefully placing the ensembles within the store, it was the attentive and personal touches of Jason Parker and Josh Rawlings that ultimately shaped the musical tone of the event.

The next morning J&J Music also provided the entertainment for the public grand opening in the form of the Darrius Willrich Trio. Please enjoy this video of the performance:

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