The Earshot Jazz Festival
Based in Seattle, Earshot Jazz is a non-profit music and arts organization that was formed in 1984. With an initial aim of supporting the musical genre of jazz, not only in Seattle but also surrounding areas, Earshot Jazz has definitely been succeeding, thanks to their action-packed schedule of jazz-related festivals and special events.
The 29th Annual Earshot Jazz Festival
Held this year from October to November, the highly-anticipated Earshot Jazz Festival will be in its 29th year this year. Featuring over 50 concerts and special events, held at locations all over the city, music lovers will definitely want to catch a few of these performances. The schedule for the 2017 Earshot Jazz Festival, as well as all of the other information you will need, will be released in August, so be sure to keep an eye on the company’s website, as well as their social media pages. Last year, the festival was a huge success, especially since one of the big names to perform was Freddy Cole, whose performance honored the legacy of his late brother, Nat King Cole. There was also a tribute to Charlie Parker, as well as some truly enthralling collaborators, all of which made the festival one of the best that Seattle has seen, with this year’s version expected to be even better.
Earshot Community Events
Throughout the year, Earshot Jazz host a wide range of jazz musical events, often with several different artists performing in one night. Each of these events is hosted in a different location, making it easy for jazz lovers all over the city to catch a few performances each week. The Sunday Blues Jam session is always a popular one, and this is an open blues jam hosted by The Groovetramps every Sunday, taking place at the 192 Brewing Company’s Lake Trail Taproom. Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley is another venue that frequently hosts Earshot Jazz events, with Greg Adams and East Bay Soul one of the next artists to perform. Another highlight is Paul Richardson, who has been performing every Sunday and Monday night at El Gaucho Seattle since 2009. Richardson is a self-taught musician who has played all over the world, focussing on jazz that has a slight hint of pop.
The Magazine
Earshot Jazz produces a monthly magazine that is distributed to the community around Seattle. The magazine is a great way to learn more about jazz, as well as its role within the local community. From discussions on the genre itself, to interviews with renowned artists, to listings of upcoming jazz events, this is a magazine that is always well-received by the city’s music-loving community. If you do not live in Seattle but would like to check the magazine out, previews can be found on Earshot Jazz’s website, or you can also subscribe and have it delivered to your door each month.
Earshot Jazz is dedicated to celebrating and showcasing the diversity that can be found within the genre of jazz. With over 2500 concerts presented to date, as well as over a million jazz magazines distributed to the community, Earshot Jazz are having great success in promoting the genre to the general public.