In this Issue
Springing Forward
This season also signifies the opportunity to start new developments. This month, Earshot’s Board of Directors is officially kicking off the process to start its search for the organization’s new Executive Director. Assembling the search committee, finalizing the key tenets & responsibilities of the role, and building a detailed timeline with major milestones along the way are but a few of the many pieces coming together to ensure we have a solid process that will successfully yield us our new Executive Director by the fall.
Notes
Job Announcement: Earshot Jazz (FT, PT Positions);Job Announcement: Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra – Artistic Director (FT); Westerlies Fest 2025; BumberWorks – Class of 2025 Applications Open!; Julian Priester Receives Jazz Legacies Fellowship; 2025 Artist Support Program Grantees Announced
34th Annual Golden Ear Awards
It’s been 24 years since the very first Golden Ear Awards were held in 1991, commemorating the best and brightest of the Seattle jazz community. Ever since, the event has grown into a robust celebration of that community: not just of the winners, or even of the nominees, but of every patron whose presence and support makes it all possible.
John Stowell: A Journey Measured in Miles and Mastery
Trying to compare Stowell to other jazz guitarists is an inexact science, to say the least. His genius for harmony and penchant for hearing and creating new melodies while improvising is facilitated by a historically unique approach, one that could possibly be comparable stylistically to the great Jim Hall–but not quite.
Essentially Ellington at 30: Something in the Water
The lineage of the PNW high school jazz ecosystem is deep, and backed by crew of dedicated and supportive educators who have contributed in myriad ways over the years.
The Poetry of Jazz
In honor of both Jazz Appreciation Month and National Poetry Month, we are delighted to share the works of local poets and musicians. The relationship between jazz and poetry is long, deep, and ongoing. Jazz poetry has always been a voice of racial consciousness, holding and rejoicing in Black heritage, and creative expression.
Seattle Black Film Festival
This includes Langston’s cherished Seattle Black Film Festival (SBFF), going over 20 years strong now (which also makes it the longest-running festival of its kind in the region). This year, SBFF is showcasing films by Black filmmakers and celebrating stories from the African diaspora, and feature many film styles, local to international, with over 100 independent selections to choose from.
David Keller, The Blue Note: Seattle’s Black Musicians’ Union
Jazz scholar, archivist and former booking agent David Keller has published a handsomely redesigned and somewhat updated edition of his 2013 pictorial history of Seattle Local 493, The Blue Note: Seattle’s Black Musicians’ Union.
Jazz Overhaul, Filthy
Beyond the musicianship, what makes Filthy so noteworthy is how Jazz Overhaul captures the heart and spirit of grunge in their approach while skillfully adding their own dose of jazz to the mix with a touch that harnesses the power of the originals. Their performances overflow with chemistry, and the sessions, available on their YouTube channel, are worth checking out in addition to the album itself.
Thomas Marriott, Screen Time
Screen Time is a pleasant reminder that film and television composers, like their Tin Pan Alley precursors, have a splendid ear for chordal movement. On top of that, movie tunes are functional; they’re often based around motifs. Marriott bends these repeated melodies to his will and even invents his own on the thumping original “Skip Intro,” which could slot in after Dave Brubeck’s television hit “Theme from Mr. Broadway.”
