Valerie Joyce Pony Boy's Day Out Festival Preview ... - Earshot Jazz

Anacortes: Jazz Festival by the Sound
Friday, Sept 15 – Sunday, Sept 17
Anacortes, WA
Whether or not you’ve frittered away
your summer working, when the ethos
and climate of the Northwest dictate
that you gather your outdoor experiences
while ye may, there remains one excellent
opportunity to get out and about the
region, this month – the Anacortes Jazz
Festival, a most pleasant gathering in a
most scenic spot.
That’s the Curtis Wharf at Anacortes,
overlooking Guemes Channel, on Fidalgo
Island. For the third year, the city’s
Dena DeRose; photo by Jimmy Mack
chamber of commerce has organized a
classy jazz gathering with much local
talent and a dash of the best on the national
scene.
This year, the latter category includes
bass/vocals sensation Richard Bona and
sax legend Sonny Fortune.
Among the stars of Puget Sound jazz
who will appear, meanwhile, are Thomas
Marriott, Geoffrey Harper, and Kelley
Johnson.
The event will feature two stages, and
a heap o’ jazz from Friday evening until
Sunday afternoon. There are stage events
as well as Friday and Saturday-night “jazz
walks” that present acts in eight local
pubs, for one flat entry fee.
Also on site are booths vending fine
wines, as well as seafood and other
snacks.
Friday, September 15
Opening Gala
Port Warehouse; 6pm
Opening gala dinner and concert
featuring the Dena DeRose Trio. The
pianist/vocalist, acclaimed by fans and
critics, and awarded artist and album of
the year honors by All About Jazz and
Cadence magazines, began her career as
a gifted pianist. With her trio (New York
drummer, Matt Wilson, and Seattle bassist
Doug Miller), her repertoire ranges
from the Beatles “Imagine” to favorite
Ellington standards.
Saturday, September 16
Garfield HS Jazz Combo
Wine Garden Stage, 11:30am
A select few of the current stars of the
phenomenal Seattle high-school jazz
hotbed.
Clarence Acox Quintet with
Bernie Jacobs
Tesoro Stage, 12:30pm
The acclaimed director of the Garfield
High jazz program is an ace drummer
and bandleader, as well. He presents a
brand new quintet, featuring another
Seattle treasure, flutist/vocalist Bernie
Jacobs. Also on board are Acox’s Seattle
Repertory Jazz Orchestra co-director,
saxophonist Michael Brockman, pianist
Reuel Lubag, and ever-solid bassist, Phil
Sparks.
Dillinger’s Clambake
Wine Garden Stage, 1:45pm
The crowd-pleasing, highly danceable
“new era” little big band blends funk,
boogie-woogie, swing, and American
dance hall music, with Dean Brittain
(guitar/vocals), John Savage (keyboard/
vocals), Vince Fejeran (trombone), Jeff
Hume (trumpet), and Michael Springer
(bass/vocals).
Phil Kelly Big Band
Tesoro Stage, 2:30pm
Phil Kelly has composed and arranged
to symphony pops, film, TV, and com-
mercials for more than 40 years. He has
drummed for jazz greats Red Garland
and Terry Gibbs. His swinging, welloiled
band includes many of the region’s
best, including Jay Thomas, David and
Thomas Marriott, Bill Ramsay, Mark
Taylor, and Larry Halloway.
Trish, Hans & Phil
Wine Garden Stage, 3:45pm
Three swinging interpreters, harmonies,
and great jazz interpretations of
pop songs: Trish Hatley (vocals), Hans
Brehmer (piano), Phil Demaree (bass).
Sonny Fortune & New Stories
Tesoro Stage, 4:30pm
Soulful sax legend Sonny Fortune is
equally praised for his own Blue Note
albums as for his classic recordings with
the likes of John Coltrane, Dizzy Gillespie,
Charlie Parker, and Sonny Rollins.
The ace, polished, Seattle-based New
Stories Trio of pianist Marc Seales, bassist
Doug Miller, and drummer John Bishop
has been nominated for a Grammy for
their collaboration with vocalist Mark
Murphy.
Thomas Marriott’s
Willie Nelson Project
Wine Garden Stage, 5:45pm
The award-winning trumpeter reworks
the country-western great’s songbook to
provide ample room for improvisation
by his power-packed, four-piece electric
jazz group: drummer Matt Jorgensen,
bassist Geoff Harper, and keyboardist
Ryan Burns.
Dena DeRose Trio
Tesoro Stage, 6:30pm
See Opening Gala for description.
Sunday, September 17
Gospel Brunch: Debbie Cavitt
Port Warehouse, 9:30am
A popular tradition continues: the
highly popular vocalist Debbie Cavitt
joins veteran choir director Kent Stevenson
and band in contemporary gospel,
with buffet and coffee, to boot.
September 2006 • Earshot Jazz • 13