Vancouver Wine & Jazz Festival photo courtesy of the festival
BY NADYA BARGHOUTY
JAZZ PORT TOWNSEND
JULY 22-28 (PORT TOWNSEND, WA)
Led by artistic director John Clayton, Jazz Port Townsend is a week-long workshop filled with master classes and performances. Instrumentalists and singers high school aged and above can learn from over 30 world renowned musicians. Jazz Port Townsend is a great opportunity for young people to connect with each other and masters in their field. Approximately half of Jazz Port Townsend participants are under the age of 20 and come from across the country. The group of over 160 musicians come together for a series of opt-in concerts at the end of the program. The 2024 staff include Matt Brewer, George Cables, Gerald Clayton, Dawn Clement, Tanya Darby, Chuck Easton, Michael Glynn, Wycliffe Gordon, Randy Halberstadt, Jon Hamar, Jeff Hamilton, and several more. While the drum category is full, the vocal track and instrumentalist category is still open for applications with scholarships available for students as well. centrum.org/program/jazz.
ELLENSBURG MUSIC FESTIVAL
JULY 26-27 (ELLENSBURG, WA)
Just under two hours outside of Seattle, Central Washinginton’s Ellensburg Music Festival (formerly known as Jazz in the Valley) boasts a jazz-heavy lineup. In addition to jazz, the festival also features country, blues, and rock music. Seattle musicians like Grammy Award nominee Beserat Tafesse, performing on Friday, and jazz guitarist Michael Powers, strumming twice on Saturday, are making their way east to Ellensburg. Ellensburg Music Festival not only boasts a powerful lineup, but a late hang for the night owls out there, ending at midnight on both days. Central Washington also has must-see jazz acts like the Ellensburg Big Band and legendary saxophonist Lenny Price. The Ellensburg Music Festival is sure to be a weekend full of singing and dancing for all attendees. ellensburgmusicfestival.com.
BELLHAVEN JAZZ FESTIVAL
AUGUST 17 (EVERSON, WA)
Bellhaven Jazz Festival is a special, intimate evening of jazz at the beautiful Samson Estates Winery nestled in Northern Washington. Enjoy a small but powerful musical lineup while taking in the scenery of the almost 500 acres of fruit farm. Although Everson is a little over two hours out of the city, the schedule features prominent Seattle-based musicians like saxophonist Steve Treseler and acclaimed pianist John Hansen. Treseler will be performing in a quintet with fellow saxophonist Josh Cook. Hansen will be performing with his trio and special guest Kelley Johnson. Other groups include Duende Libre and Dmitri Matheny Quintet. It’s important to note that this festival is free to members of The Jazz Project. For non-members, tickets can be purchased in bulk at a discount. The Bellhaven Jazz Festival will be a day of beautiful music and a chance to take home some specially crafted wine! jazzproject.org.
VANCOUVER WINE & JAZZ FESTIVAL
AUGUST 23-25 (VANCOUVER, WA)
Since 1998, the Vancouver Wine & Jazz Festival has been a community labor of love. Not to be confused with Vancouver, B.C., Vancouver, WA is the fourth largest city in the state and features a plethora of activities. Despite a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the festival is ready to make its comeback! While the lineup is still in progress, attendees can expect a wide array of talent ranging from regional performers to cross-country acts. In addition to jazz groups, the festival also features world-class art, food, and wine. Vendors from across the country come to share their craft with the community. Vancouver is often referred to as one of Washington state’s “best kept secrets” and the Vancouver Wine & Jazz festival is no exception. vancouverwinejazz.com.
MONTAVILLA JAZZ FESTIVAL
AUGUST 30-SEPTEMBER 1 (PORTLAND, OR)
The Montavilla Jazz Festival aims to highlight Portland’s local jazz scene as well as those with ties to the Emerald City. The festival enters its second decade this year with over 30 concerts across a whopping 12 venues around Portland. Each year, the Montavilla Jazz Festival aims to improve and this year is no exception. With over double the number of performances, Portland is welcoming dozens of exceptional musicians. Locally-raised Nicole Glover, a New York-based saxophonist who has been dubbed as a rising star in the scene, will be making her hometown debut at the festival. Another special feature of this year’s festival is the artist-driven curation process. Montavilla Jazz Festival’s Executive Director Neil Mattson said, “This year, we’re excited to invest in even more artist-centered programming that represents a wide breadth of jazz’s creative spirit. It’s a great way to usher in Montavilla Jazz’s second decade.” montavillajazz.org.
