The World of Jazz at Your Front Door
 |
Terence Blanchard |
The Bellevue Jazz Festival presented
by First Tech Credit Union returns to
Downtown Bellevue in its third incarnation
June 3-6, 2010. National artists,
local musicians and high school allstars
will perform in free and ticketed
venues throughout the weekend.
Shows range from concerts at the
Meydenbauer Theatre—with its ideal
acoustics and intimate setting—to
tableside sets in downtown bars and
hotels. The festival program includes a Sunday Jazz Brunch and some of
the best jazz bands from schools around the Seattle area—an area noted
for its depth of student and instructional talent.
“Nothing beats the experience of a live performance,” said Leslie Lloyd,
festival director and president of the Bellevue Downtown Association.
“We’re extremely proud to be able to bring this event to Bellevue and to
present artists who would not otherwise appear here.”
The 2010 Festival will showcase an all-star lineup of featured shows
highlighted by the Terence Blanchard Quintet. Blanchard is a GRAMMYwinning
trumpeter, bandleader, composer, arranger and Golden Globenominated
film score composer.
The Bad Plus will electrify audiences with its refreshing and aweinspiring
sounds. This progressive jazz trio consists of pianist Ethan Iverson,
bassist Reid Anderson, and drummer Dave King.
Master jazz guitarist Pat Martino and his trio will perform a matinee
set drawn from his broad artistic range.
Capping the festival is a double bill featuring piano duo Bill Charlap
and Renee Rosnes, with opening vocalist, Sachal Vasandani. Charlap,
regarded as one of the premier interpreters of the American songbook,
and wife Rosnes, a Canadian virtuoso and founding member of the SF
Jazz Collective, team up to render a superb collection of standards as well
as Rosnes’ original compositions.
The Bellevue Jazz Festival Rising Stars will kick off the festival on
Thursday night, opening for the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra. The
Rising Stars program brings together the top jazz students from the
Seattle metro area for small ensemble workshops in a professional setting
to enrich and stretch their artistic development. Students are placed in
ensembles and workshop with professional musicians prior to performing
in the Meydenbauer Theater.
Award-winning high school
jazz programs will be featured in
the festival’s Student Showcase.
Groups will perform 45–minute
sets highlighting the rich and
diverse offerings presented by
members of the local high school
jazz scene.
Dozens of free shows in various
locations will keep the music
fl owing throughout the weekend,
featuring top local and regional
artists.
