John Gilbreath photo by Bill Uznay
Earshot 25 came to a close on Sunday evening, November 17, with the sanctified notes of Charles Lloyd’s gorgeous version of “Somewhere” hanging almost visibly in a packed and breathless Town Hall. “Somewhere,” of course, is also the name of the newest recording by Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock, and Jack DeJohnette, who opened the festival on October 1 at Benaroya Hall. The magic of this festival’s opening and closing moments sharing this same soulful and virtuosic aesthetic proved to be no mere coincidence. This festival was full of magic – astounding and spirited day after day, from open to close – with unforgettable events, sold out venues, and a vibrant, fresh optimism in the music that will serve us all for months to come.
We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to everyone and everything that came together to make Earshot 25 an astounding success. Thank you to a record number of brilliant artists who shared their incredible skills and passions; to record audiences who enthusiastically filled clubs and concert halls around the city; to collaborating institutions who worked with us so effectively in serving new artists and audiences; to radio, print and media partners who helped to spread the word; to donors and funding institutions who helped us present important lesser-known and emerging artists, and provide low-cost and no-cost tickets to students; to the students themselves for embracing the history and future of the music, and coming out to festival events in record numbers; to the supporting businesses who helped with lodging, transportation, meals, equipment, media, ticketing, and everything else; to the many dedicated and hard-working volunteers who pitched in on all aspects of show production. We could not have done this without you.
We’re already looking forward to next year’s festival, and so, apparently, is the National Endowment for the Arts, from whom we just received notice of funding for Earshot Jazz 2014. Please join us! There is still room for you to support our 25 for 25 campaign, honoring the incredible vitality of jazz in Seattle, past, present, and future!!
John Gilbreath, Executive Director
