In addition, the band is also releasing their new album “Live At The Triple Door at the show tonight, which was recorded at the very same venue back in January. Click the link to listen to a sample track from the CD.

The band has played sold-out shows at this beautiful venue before so make your reservation now at (206) 838-4333. Hope to see you there!

The Inside/Out Jazz Awards brought the Seattle Jazz community together at Benaroya Hall on May 31st to celebrate all that is good about our scene. The night was a huge success all around, with 13 amazing performances of music, dance and spoken word, and awards handed out in 13 categories (see below for photos and a list of the winners).

Sponsored by LUCID Jazz Lounge, the I/O Awards sprang from the same idea as LUCID – that the Seattle jazz community needs to build itself from the inside out. The mission statement is:

A call for individuals to share their personal authenticity with the life around them. This is a call to not be afraid of sharing and giving the gifts inside oneself for the pleasure and betterment of those on the outside. When these gifts are released, like a permission slip, the receiver can do the same, thus fostering a community that promotes creativity and nurtures a positive quality of life.

The IO Jazz Awards will honor those individuals, groups and organizations in the Seattle jazz community and beyond who exemplify this quality of sharing what is on the INSIDE, OUT.

J&J Music’s own Jason Parker was the host of the event, and both he and Josh Rawlings were nominated for awards. Josh’s band The Teaching took Band of the Year Honors!

Nominations and voting took place during April and May on LUCID’s website, and the winners were announced at the Awards show. Here is the complete list:

Outstanding Vocalist: Flora McGill
Outstanding Lyricist: Darrius Willrich
Latin Jazz Album: Manghis Khan
Mixed Genre Album: Gravity – “Grimy”
Outstanding Stage Presence: Owuor Arunga
Outstanding Instrumentalist: Eric Verlinde
Free Jazz Band of the Year: Speak
Band of the Year: The Teaching
Straight Ahead Album of the Year: Hadley Caliman – “Straight Ahead”
Most Dynamic Concert: Evan Flory-Barnes’ “Acknowledgment of a Celebration”
Composition of the Year: Evan Flory-Barnes’ “Acknowledgment of a Celebration”
Contribution to the Community: Clarence Acox
Rising Star: Brendan O’Donnell

100% of the Proceeds from the event went to Strength Through Unity, a non-profit organization started by LUCID owner David Pierre-Louis to help rebuild neighborhoods in his native Haiti. Please follow the link for more information on how you can help.

J&J Music was thrilled to help present this spectacular event, and all involved look forward to the 2nd Annual Inside/Out Awards in 2011! Planning has already begun, and we anticipate an even more impressive event next year. If you’d like to be involved in any way, please contact us and let us know.

Some Seattle press wrote previews of the event:

Seattle Times Article
Seattle Weekly Article

Here’s a few photos from the evening:

David Pierre-Louis, owner of LUCID

Clarence Acox accepting his award from Earshot's John Gilbreath

Farah Ebrahim, Co-Producer

Mount Zion Liturgical Dancers

Evan Flory-Barnes, Acknowledgment of a Celebration

Ahamefule Oluo, Acknowledgment of a Celebration

Nominees & Performers

Mark Sampson

Richelle Gay & Katrina Kope

Emily McIntosh

The beautiful award

Josh Rawlings & Jason Parker

The beautiful program

Photos by JW Photography Studio, Robert Wade Photography and T. Ling Photo.

Special thanks to all of the sponsors of the event.

Seattle vocalists Kelly Ash and Mikaela Romero present their second weekly Vocal Performance Workshop at LUCID Jazz Lounge. Aspiring and working singers of all levels, experience and styles are welcome to participate in this six-week workshop beginning June 22^nd and meeting weekly every Tuesday through July 27^th.

Each two-hour class will cover different exercises and objectives including: developing vocal technique, creating an unique sound and style, improvisation, writing songs, lyrical development and arranging with a live band.  Students will receive personal attention and assignments with each instructor as well as ample time working and performing with professional musicians.

Participants are encouraged to bring in covers, jazz standards, original songs or the instructors will offer suggestions of songs perfect for each voice.  The workshop series will culminate in a final performance at a jazz club for friends and family.

The first workshop, which just wrapped up, was a huge success, with 10 singers all performing in front of a live band at LUCID. Here are some quotes from participants:

“Great class!! A good balance of theory, exercises, playing with the band, and finally performing at the showcase!”

“I learned exactly what I need to know in order to sing with a band! I am very glad I took this class with Kelly and Mikaela, and met everyone that I did.”

“I like that Kelly and Mikaela encouraged everyone consistently, regardless of their level. Everybody progressed so much! Including me!”

Ash and Romero are Cornish College of the Arts graduates in Vocal Jazz Performance and Latin Music Performance and are known for their diverse vocal styles as professional performers and instructors.

Tuition is $300/person for the six-week course. Class size is limited.  Registration ends Friday, June 18, 2010.

The Vocal Workshop will take place on Tuesdays, 6:00pm-8:00pm starting June 22^th at LUCID Jazz Lounge, 5241 University Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105.

For more information contact Kelly or Mikaela.

Starting at 12 p.m. and continuing through 3:00 p.m., the Josh Rawlings Trio huddled together under a tent hoping for the best with the cold and windy rain taunting them. After the very first tune however, the clouds literally parted! And amazingly enough, the clouds and rain did not return until they finished their last song! We’re not saying that the Josh Rawlings Trio has special super-hero powers over the weather, but their music may have somehow appeased the rain Gods. With the rain clouds gone, the event became a very joyous and fun afternoon for everyone and even the kids came out and enjoyed a little music.

All in all, the day was a lot of fun and the band even serenaded the Tutta Bella crew enough that each member got a pizza at the end of the day…not bad for a good afternoon’s work! Right after the Trio, May Palmer: The Queen of Ivory Soul, got up and brought the evening to a close with her sultry and soulful singing. It was certainly a fun day of music at 2200 Westlake and J&J Music looks forward to working with Pan Pacific Hotel to organize more live music in the coming summer months…and preferably when we don’t need to appease the rain Gods!

On Monday, May 31st, Lucid Jazz Lounge presents the first “Inside/Out Jazz Awards” at Benaroya Hall’s Mark Tapper Auditorium.

The I/O Awards night will honor musicians for being influential in the jazz community with hand-scultpted bronze awards. Awards will range from the more common ‘Outstanding Instrumentals’ and ‘Outstanding Album’ to categories that are more unique and personalized.

100% of this year’s show proceeds will be used toward the rebuilding work in Haiti supportinghttp://www.strengththroughunity.org/

The event will also include numerous performances from Seattle musicians and performing artists. Such performances as a reprise of Evan Flory-Barnes’ Earshot Award winning “Acknowledgment of a Celebration”, a Miles Davis Tribute, LUCID Live Records’ first recording group the Reservoir Cats, Seattle jazz legends and upcoming artists alike. This eclectic, energetic night gaurantees a sold out night.

Additionally, a very special ‘Hang’ jam session will be hosted by The Teaching in the lobby of Benaroya after the Awards Show. The Teaching has become LUCID’s house band every Thursday night for the past year bringing the community together for The Hang. The Teaching also happens to be the rhythm section of The Reservoir Cats featured on stage that evening.

CONTACT http://www.lucidseattle.com/ FOR DETAILED LINE UP AND TICKET PURCHASE INFORMATION.

Tickets can also be purchased from the Benaroya Hall Box Office in person or online: http://www.seattlesymphony.org/

Read previews of the show by The Seattle Times and Seattle Weekly.

The Zubatto Syndicate is a new 12-piece ensemble under the direction of composer and guitarist Andrew Boscardin. This exciting new group features a unique synthesis of reed instruments and electric sounds, brass and stand up bass. Zubatto targets the musical place where Maria Schneider meets the Mahavishnu Orchestra, and the Roots meet Radiohead by way of Mingus. The music combines detailed arrangements and inventive harmonic ideas with rhythmic settings and idioms atypical of the jazz
orchestra, as realized by the some of the top improvising musicians in Seattle. Band members including Byron Vannoy (drums), Chris Stover (trombone), Greg Sinibaldi (bass clarinet and tenor saxophone), Francine Peterson (bassoon), Chad McCullough (trumpet), Taina Karr (oboe and English horn), Jon Hamar (bass), Mack Grout (keys), Clark Gibson (alto saxophone), Jim DeJoie (baritone saxophone),
Jesse Canterbury (clarinet) and Boscardin (guitar).

Owcharuk 5 plays a mix of Ukrainian folk music, jazz, and punk rock that runs the gamut between tightly orchestrated and freely improvised. The group has been together for 2 years and has developed a fresh, original sound based on Owcharuk’s concept of the music of his ancestors and the unique musical vision of the band members. Band includes Beth Fleenor (clarinet), Jim Knodle (trumpet), Nate Omdal (bass), and Cody Rahn (drums), and Owcharuk (accordion and piano).

Water Babies play what they call Spontaneous Funk. Each show is brand new and fully improvised. Magical interaction and tight coherence ensue as they develop new musical ideas in every moment. Drawing inspiration from each other, from the audience, from the atmosphere of the room, and from their musical forefathers, groups like Herbie Hancock’s Headhunters, Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew band, Maceo
Parker, and Medeski, Martin & Wood. Featuring Jason Parker (trumpet), Mack Grout (keys), Aaron Kassover (bass) and Brad Gibson (drums).

The concert will take place April 15, 2010 at The Crocodile Cafe in downtown Seattle. Showtime is 8:00pm. Cover charge is $8.00.

“VOCAL PERFORMANCE / SONGWRITING WORKSHOP”

Seattle vocalists Kelly Ash and Mikaela Romero present an exciting new weekly Vocal Performance Workshop at LUCID Jazz Lounge. Aspiring and working singers of all levels, experience and styles are welcome to participate in this six-week workshop beginning April 27 and meeting weekly every Tuesday through June 1, 2010.

Ash and Romero are Cornish graduates in Vocal Jazz Performance and Latin Music Performance and are known for their diverse vocal styles as professional performers and instructors. Each two-hour segment will cover different exercises and objectives including developing vocal technique, creating an unique sound and style, improvisation, writing songs, lyrical development and arranging with a live band. Students will receive personal attention and assignments with each instruction as well as ample time working and performing with six professional musicians.

Participants are encouraged to bring in covers, jazz standards, original songs or the instructors will offer suggestions of songs perfect for each voice. The workshop series will culminate in a final performance at a jazz club for friends and family.

Tuition: $300/person for the entire six-week course. Class size is limited. Registration ends Friday, April 23, 2010.

The Vocal Workshop will take place on Tuesdays (once a week), 5:00pm-7:00pm starting April 27th and June 1st at LUCID Jazz Lounge at 5241 University Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105.

# # #

For more information contact kellyashmusic@gmail.com or mikaelaromero@gmail.com.

Although you’ll have to attend Voila! next year to sample the cake and catering, we feel bad that you missed such a stellar event and would like to treat you to a sampling of some tunes we compiled. Featuring artists on our roster, simply click here to listen…no napkin required!
http://jandjmusic.bandcamp.com/album/j-j-music-artist-sampler

Overall, the day was a huge success.  We look forward to connecting with some of our new friends who stopped by J&J’s table table and hopefully provide them with the absolute best live music for their special day. Thanks again to BreeAnn Gale & Diana Hunt for organizing the whole event.

Woodmark Hotel, Yacht Club & Spa
1200 Carillon Point
Kirkland, WA 98033
http://www.thewoodmark.com/
p: 800.822.3700
For directions click HERE

This is the way wedding planning should be. You make your way to a lovely, convenient venue at a reasonable hour. You wander manageable rooms, which have been transformed into spring, summer, autumn, and winter and are filled with harmonized tabletops, floral designs and decorating ideas. You nibble on savory morsels, sip signature drinks, and sample seasonal sweets. You have a question or two answered by professional planners, get acquainted with some of the area’s finest wedding professionals (a reasonable amount, the crème de la crème), and see goods and services geared to grooms and with kids in mind. You finish your day energized and excited, loaded with ideas and resources to help check off your to-do list. It’s easy, it’s fun and it’s done. Voila!

Visit J&J Music in the summer inspired room and listen to some of our favorite musicians as they provide live entertainment throughout the day. After all, as Gershwin would suggest, summertime and the livin’ is easy… so should planning your wedding!

For more information please visit: http://www.pinkblossomevents.com/Voila/

As the second concert of the Seattle Jazz Composers Ensemble, Jazz Impressions of Ennio Morricone unites musicians from all corners of Seattle’s vibrant music community. It brings together artists who play in symphonies and jazz bands, even a few that perform pop music. There are only so many words that can describe the electrifying result of this collaboration, so to fully understand, come join us in the celebration and listen for your self.

Details? Here is what you need to know: Friday, February 19th, 2010 at University Prep Founders’ Hall. The show is all ages and starts at 7pm. $15 for adults and $8 for students and seniors.

You can find more information at Seattle Jazz Composers Ensemble.com.

You can also find an interview about the show with SJCE co-founder Michael Owcharuk at KUOW.org.