The Bainbridge Island Museum of Art will host the second Within/Earshot Jazz Festival — a month filled to the brim with world-renowned jazz musicians, lectures, exhibitions, films and special events — in October.
Festival organizers will work with Seattle’s Earshot Jazz to curate this month-long celebration dedicated to the celebration and exploration of jazz, the uniquely American art form described by Wynton Marsalis as “America’s past and its potential, summed up and sanctified and accessible to anybody who learns to listen to, feel, and understand it,” and by Dave Brubeck as “the voice of freedom.”
Earshot Jazz is a nonprofit that works to cultivate a vibrant jazz community, connecting jazz artists to audiences through the Earshot Jazz Festival and more than a hundred concerts each year.
Within/Earshot takes place at BIMA’s Buxton Auditorium and galleries, spilling out to the plaza and downtown Winslow, delivering concerts from acclaimed jazz musicians, a four-part Jazz History lecture series, documentary screening, a special jazz-themed exhibition, free pop-up gallery performances and high school jazz ensemble performances.
“We are interested in lighting up this warm, beautiful space with the diverse and talented voices of contemporary artists who complement the richness found in our galleries,” said Sheila Hughes, BIMA executive director. “Within/Earshot is our way of providing an opportunity for arts and music-lovers to immerse themselves in this historically and emotionally rich genre — just one more way BIMA can be a resonant cultural resource for our part of the world.”
Within/Earshot Festival passes, which include all ticketed concerts, films, and lectures, are available now through Brown Paper Tickets.
Find ticket links and more information at www.biart museum.org.
2018 Within/Earshot Jazz Festival schedule
Concerts
Gail Pettis Quartet – 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7 ($25 member/$30 non-member)
Two-time winner of “Vocalist of the Year” by Earshot Jazz Society is the pre-eminent jazz vocalist Gail Pettis. Singing classic jazz standards with rich vocals in a retro air, she performs with vulnerability and a deep engagement with the audience.
Tom Collier Quartet – 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14 ($25 member/$30 non-member)
Internationally reputed in jazz, classical and pop circles is legendary master vibraphonist, marimbist and percussionist Tom Collier, who leads this top tier quartet.
This performance features Bill Anschell on piano, Dan Dean on bass and Steve Korn on drums.
McTuff feat. Skerik – 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20 ($25 member/$30 non-member)
Hammond B 3 organist Joe Doria brings together some of the best of the northwest music scene to create a powerful and jaw-dropping funk and jazz sound. This performance features Skerik, well-known saxist known for his unconventional, bold style and D’Vonne Lewis on drums.
Jenny Maybee & Ray Larsen – 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21 (free)
Jenny Maybee is a San Francisco-based pianist and vocalist who combines sensitivity and boldness for a rhythmically intense listening experience. Ray Larsen is a powerful and versatile trumpet player and composer from Seattle. Both are 2018 recipients of the Bloedel Reserve Creative Residency.
Wayne Horvitz: The Snowghost Sessions & These Hills of Glory – 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27 ($25 member/$30 non-member)
Keyboardist Wayne Horvitz, a tireless musical seeker essential to Seattle jazz, leads his Snowghost Trio (Geoff Harper, bass; Eric Eagle, drums) followed by These Hills of Glory (Horvitz’s composition for String Quartet and Improvising Soloist)
¡WEPA! – 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2 ($12 member/$15 non-member)
Malo Castro brings infectious, danceable sounds from this Latin music quartet, who move with ease through Brazilian, Salsa, Swing, Blues, Cuban and Puerto Rican rhythms.
Film screenings/lectures/special events
Jazz Combo Exhibition – 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 3-25 (free)
A month-long pop-up exhibition at BIMA featuring the imaginative, watercolor and India ink work of Puget Sound painter Mike Biskup; special collection of jazz album covers featuring stunning photography selected by Raymond Gendreaux at Backstreet Beat; and a piano-turned-art piece by Cynthia Wessling from the popular Pianos in the Park public art celebration, presented by Laird Norton Wealth Management in 2016.
First Friday Festival Preview – 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 5 (free)
Jazz with Jim – 7 p.m. Thursday, October 4, 11, 18 and 25 ($10 member/$12 non-member)
From Louis Armstrong to Robert Glasper, this series teaches what to listen for, recognizing defining stylistic characteristics, while simultaneously placing the amazing music within its social and historical context. Jim Cauter tackles this vast territory through four lenses:
Oct. 4: Notable Big Bands
Oct. 11: Notable Voices
Oct. 18: Notable Instrumentalists and Composers
Oct. 25: Jazz IS Fusion.
In-gallery performances the entire month – schedule announced Saturday, Oct. 1 (free)
Celebrate Dia de los Muertos with Malo Combo – 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27 (free)
This lively jazz threesome, led by Malo Castro, provides a beautiful backdrop to BIMA’s community celebration honoring Dia de los Muertos.
In Her Hands – 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 1 ($10 member/$12 non-member)
BIMA is proud to present a rough cut of a new jazz documentary by director Kay Ray. This 60-minute film explores the obstacles and opportunities facing American women in jazz today — fighting for auditions, serving as role models for young musicians, and pushing for change in the music world today.
