Free online jazz festival this month

The fourth annual Within/Earshot Jazz Festival dedicated to the traditions and future of jazz will take place Oct. 9-30.

This year’s festival moves online and is mostly free thanks to festival sponsors.

The festival features four concerts from acclaimed jazz musicians filmed among Bainbridge Island Museum of Art’s current exhibitions, presentations and conversations with regional jazz experts, and a workshop exploring the use of improvisation in art-making. Special playlists, stories, interviews and more will be sprinkled on BIMA’s website and social media channels throughout the festival.

“Bringing the Within/Earshot to the digital realm gives BIMA an incredible opportunity to reimagine viewer experience and more easily expand our reach beyond the shores of Bainbridge Island,” said Jesse Ziebart, BIMA’s Cultural Programs manager. “We can explore programming in new spaces like the museum’s galleries but also travel to spaces most significant to Seattle’s jazz music scene—like Jazz Alley and Washington Hall—without asking viewers to leave home.”

All of the programs will happen online and links to each event can be found on BIMA’s website: www.biartmuseum.org. For details visit www.biartmuseum.org/within-earshot-2020/

*Oct. 9, 7:30 p.m., Jacqueline Tabor Jazz Band concert. Two-time winner of the Earshot Jazz award for Northwest Vocalist of the Year, Tabor is one of Seattle’s most sought-after performers. Tabor’s polished interpretations of jazz standards are in high demand.

*Oct. 15, 7 p.m., Presentation: A Conversation with Jazz Alley’s Rob Perry. Ziebart will visit legendary club Jazz Alley for a livestream conversation with long-time general manager Perry. He will share anecdotes, unforgettable moments and favorite performances spanning his 34-year career managing the iconic Seattle jazz venue.

*Oct. 16, 7:30 p.m., En Canto concert. Anchored in Brazilian classics and contemporaries of their genre, En Canto brings the Northwest a rare link to Brazil. A multi-ethnic female-led group, En Canto is Seattle’s Forró band, and showcases the upbeat and colorful talents and expertise of musicians from Brazil.

*Oct. 20, 7 p.m., Presentation: “The Future of Jazz” panel discussion. Washington Hall is home to Seattle’s first reported jazz concert, and this historic venue will host BIMA’s live-streamed conversation. “The Future of Jazz” will be moderated by Brian Kirk (Seattle Central College professor of jazz), with panelists John Bishop (founder of Origin Records), Carol Handley (music director, KNKX), and more.

*Oct. 23, 7:30 p.m., Jean Chaumont Group concert. French guitarist Chaumont’s music is intentional, candid and filled with layers of beautiful complexity. His acclaimed 2018 release The Beauty of Differences was named one of Downbeat Magazine’s Best Albums of 2018 .

*Oct. 27, 7 p.m., Presentation: “Swing Years: Unboxed” with Amanda Wilde. KUOW’s Swing Years & Beyond was Seattle’s longest running radio show and just short of 50-years-old when it was packed away in 2017. Swing Years host Wilde arranges for you to come with her to take a peek inside the boxes that house the Swing Years archives.

*Oct. 30, 7:30 p.m., Evan Flory-Barnes concert. Flory-Barnes merges his breadth of musical experiences to create an elegant, honest, approachable and magical sound. Flory-Barnes’ Avant-Soul Pop Music features a deep love of classic soul and experimental pop, featuring talents as a bassist, composer/arranger and singer-songwriter.