July 30 · 31 & Aug 1 2010
Historic Downtown Ellensburg, WA
2010 Performers |
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Greta Matassa featuring Susan Pascal Jake Bergevin & The Javatown Swing Orchestra John Moawad's All Star Big Band John Sanders & Gypsy Reeds, Strings and Skins |
Nancy King & Steve Christofferson Nick Vigarino's Meantown Blues |
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Alma Villegas Quintet
Alma Villegas' lustful voice brings you an exquisite and passionate selection of Latin styles and flavors. From the bouncy feel of "Perfidia" and "Quizas, Quizas" to the passionate tango version of "Besame Mucho", the smooth and sultry bossa nova "Waters of March" and the salsa sound of "Mi Tierra" or "Oye Como Va", these tunes have captured hearts and entertained internationally for decades.
Villegas started her professional music career by performing with some of Seattle's most popular Latin music bands including Cambalache & Yerba Buena. This experience prompted her to create a band that offered a more diverse selection of music focusing on the traditional bolero (Latin ballad) and cha-chas, mid-tempo Latin jazz standards, a variety of Cuban rhythms and bossa novas.
The Alma Villegas Quintet features Alma Villegas on vocals, Ben Verdier on keyboard, Ricardo Guity on Congas and Bongo, Pedro Vargas on Timbales and Steve Okimoto on bass. Their first CD was released in June of 2006 and received an overwhelming response sending their audiences in an excursion of Latin soul and tradition
You can experience the passionate sound of Alma Villegas on Friday night (July 30th) from 9:30p.m. to 12:30a.m. at the Dakota Café and again the next day...Saturday afternoon (July 31st), at 3p.m. on the Main Stage at the Rotary Pavilion.
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Barney McClure
Barney McClure has been everywhere and done it all. Consider the following:
Barney McClure learned to arrange in the Army during the sixties in Europe and continued in Hollywood for many years. His performances have taken him all over Europe, Japan, Australia, Mexico, Canada and the US. You can hear Barney in the movies ~Officer and a Gentleman~, and the soundtrack of ~Mr Hollands Opus~.
His book There Is No Such Thing As A Mistake is a 'how-to' in improvisational jazz and is a popular hit with teachers who use it as a curriculum guide, and students who can use it as a self-help guide.
For a period of time Barney McClure was the Mayor of Port Townsend, Washington where he helped establish the Port Townsend Jazz Festival, and followed this with a term as State Legislator in Washington
Enjoy the artistry of Barney McClure, Saturday afternoon (July 31st) at 2p.m. on the Main Stage at the Rotary Pavilion then later that night from 9:30p.m. to 12:30 a.m. at The Dakota Café.
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(Blues Industry Giants) A TON OF FUN and TALENT
The players:
These guys are truly legends in the Seattle music scene dating back to the 60's.
You are in for a real treat when B.I.G. kicks-off the Saturday afternoon festival (July 31st) on the Main Stage at the Rotary Pavilion with an extended set from noon to 1:30p.m.
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Brent Edstom Trio
Brent Edstrom: Piano
In addition to performing, Edstrom is active as a composer and arranger. He currently works as an arranger and musical director for jazz vocalist Freda Payne and is also a freelance arranger for Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation. Highlights of publishing work include books of transcription of notable jazz piantists including Art Tatum, Bill Evans, Kenny Barron, and Oscar Peterson.
Edstrom has completed several new publications including: "Musicianship in the Digital Age", and "Latin Jazz Piano", distributed by Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation. He recently finished work on a third volumn of transcriptions of the music of Oscar Peterson.
Eugene Jablonsky: Bass
Rick Westrick: Drums
The extraordinary talents of Brent Edstrom Trio will be showcased Friday night (July 30th) from 8:30p.m. to 11:30p.m. at Rodeo City BBQ.
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David Friesen Quintet
David Friesen: Bassist
David Friesen has recorded over 65 CD's as a leader/ co-leader and appeared as a sideman or featured artist on more than 100 recordings. He has performed and/ or recorded with many of the great names and legends of jazz including: Stan Getz, Dexter Gordon, Joe Henderson, Sam Rivers, Michael Brecker, Bud Shank, Dizzy Gillespie, Woody Shaw, Freddy Hubbard, Art Farmer, Clark Terry, Joe Venuti, Mal Waldron, Jaki Byard, Kenny Drew Sr., Chick Core
"Friesen's music, which is imbued with certain ingredients of jazz, is also characterized by folk-f lavored things and classical and Jewish veins with substantial spontaneity, lyrical strength, warmth and creative discoveries in the musical wilderness." [Dr. Herb Wong/Jazz Times]
Enjoy the unique sounds of David Friesen, Saturday night (July 31st) from 9:30p.m. to 12:30 a.m. at Bailey's Bookstore
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Gail Pettis Trio
Gail inherited a passion for jazz from her family while growing up in Gary, Indiana. Now residing in Seattle, she enjoys sharing her unique talent with listeners at home and abroad. As artist-in-residence at the Amersfoort Jazz Festival in the Netherlands in 2006, her mainstage appearances included performances with the New Manhattan Big Band and Eddie C. and the Dutch Jazz Cats. Gail also travelled to Japan to perform as a guest artist at Kobe's annual Jazz Vocal Queen Competition as 2006 First Place winner of the Seattle-Kobe Female Jazz Vocalist Audition. Closer to home, Gail's smooth, engaging style garners consistent praise in the area's finest jazz establishments.
Gail's debut CD, "May I Come In ?", was released in August 2007 on the OA2 Record label to an enthusiastic national audience. In addition to national radio airplay, this recording has also been showcased on XM Satellite Radio and Music Choice television. "May I Come In?" was nominated for Earshot Golden Ear "2007 Northwest Recording of the Year".
The Gail Pettis Trio will perform Saturday night (July 31st) from 9:00p.m. to Midnight at The Clymer Museum.
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Greta Matassa featuring Susan Pascal
Matassa's rapport with an audience, lively, spontaneous and humorous one moment and touchingly introspective the next, consistently wins praise from fans and critics alike.
Seattle's Earshot Jazz organization has five times voted Greta the NW best jazz vocalist, and her musicianship has earned her the respect and admiration of many of the areas top jazz players.
As well as her work on stage, Greta is also one of the areas most familiar voices on television and radio advertising. She teaches privately and offers jazz workshops.
Susan Pascal's name is as recognizable on the Pacific Northwest jazz scene as the unique tone of the instrument she plays: the vibraphone. If you mention area vibraphonists, or listen to a CD produced by a local jazz musician and the recording includes a vibraphonist, chances are pretty good that Pascal's name appears in the conversation or on the liner notes. Her performances display energy, lyricism, and a repertoire spanning classic standards to contemporary jazz.
Pascal leads her own quartet, which includes a rotating roster of the finest jazz musicians in town: pianists Larry Fuller and Randy Halberstadt; bassists Doug Miller, Jeff Johnson and Chuck Deardorf; and drummers Mark Ivester and Portland-based Gary Hobbs. She also works regularly with guitarist Dave Peterson.
Despite its unique sound and unconventional reputation, Pascal has built an impressive music career - a career as amazing as the instrument she performs. Recent recordings include The Plymouth Trio's CD Trust, Greta Matassa's All This and Heaven Too, Orville Johnson's Slide and Joy, Edmonia Jarrett's Legal at Any Age, the Jazz Police's Butterfly, Daniel Barry's Redfish Bluefish, and motion picture sound tracks for The Wedding Planner and Office Space.
This extraordinary colaboration headlines our Sunday afternoon lineup performing August 1st, 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm. and leads into the Festival's finale performance of the Big Band.
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Jake Bergevin &The JavatowN Swing Orchestra
Jake Bergevin: vocals/trumpet
Greg Fulton: guitar
Jim Sisko: trumpet
Travis Ranney: tenor saxophone
Saul Cline: tenor saxophone
Dan Haeck: trombone
Mark Yeend: drums
Always popular at the Jazz in the Valley festival, Jake Bergevin and the Javatown Swing Orchestra will perform Saturday (July 31st) from 8:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m at the Moose Lodge in historic downtown Ellensburg.
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John Moawad's All Star Big Band Directed By Chris Bruya
This year's event is dedicated to the memory of John "Coach" Moawad who helped inspire the Jazz festival through the many talented musicians that graduated from his Jazz Program at CWU and who for the past eleven years reunited with them to produce the grand sounds of The All Star Festival Big Band that closes the festival on Sunday. "I considered the opportunity to work with former students a real kick," Moawad said. "It boiled down to these musicians digging in and producing great sounds for their listening audience. Even though it was a reunion of sorts, the bottom line was getting serious about working together and making the band a treat for all concerned."
Each year, the All-Star Big Band performance has wowed the crowd - and this year promises to be even more exciting. Chris Bruya will be directing the all star group of musicians that includes many artists that performed earlier in the festival and will stay to be part of this extraordinary experience.
Chris Bruya: Chris Bruya began teaching at Central Washington University in 2002, after spending seven years at Mt. Hood Community College (Oregon) in administrative and teaching roles. As Director of Jazz Studies at Central, he directs the Jazz Band I, which tied for first place at the 2003 Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival. He also coaches jazz combos, and teaches jazz, music theory and music education courses.
Prior to his post at MHCC he taught at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon, for four years. Mr. Bruya has taught high school in Washington State and for five years at McMinville High School (Oregon), where his jazz bands consistently placed at numerous jazz festivals throughout the Northwest, including Sweepstakes two years in a row at Clackamas Community College.   Bruya has directed the Oregon All-State Jazz Band, Salem All-City Jazz Band, the Central Oregon Honor Jazz Band, and has been Organizing Chair for the All-NW Jazz Band and Choir as well as the Oregon All State Jazz Groups. He is past director of the Jazz On The Water Instrumental Workshop. In 1997 the Mt. Hood Jazz Band performed at the Internal Association of Jazz Educators Convention in Chicago, placed first for four years straight at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, & placed first at the Reno Jazz Festival in 1998. While at MHCC, his band recorded 4 highly regarded CD's.
The Jazz in the Valley The John Moawad All-Star Big Band concert is scheduled for Sunday, (August 1st) at 2:30 p.m. on the Main Stage at the Rotary Pavilion in historic downtown Ellensburg.
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John Sanders' Gypsy Reeds, Strings and Skins
John Sanders: - accordion
The Gypsy Reeds, Strings and Skins project began with open-ended accordion and Egyptian tabla jams in my basement. George and I have a similar approach to time and groove and whenever one of us would start on something, the other could naturally jump right in. Georgie's Maksoum, Uncomfortable Friend and most of the La Partida arrangement came from these jams. I met George, by the way, through my wife's work in the Seattle Belly Dance community. (Search: Dahlia Belly Dance Seattle) Saul and I have known each other since college in the mid-90's and have talked about doing an atypical project for a long time. We've tossed around combinations of ukulele, clarinet, guitar, chromonica, melodica, mandolin! When the jams with George were starting to turn into songs, I knew Saul and the clarinet were going to be perfect for the melodies. Saul is one of the most melodic people I know.
Visit Bailey's Bookstore to hear the unique sounds of John Sanders & Gypsy Reeds, Strings and Skins, Friday night, July 30th from 9:30 p.m. - 12:30 a.m..
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Jon Hamar Trio featuring Kelly Ash
Jon Hamar is a versatile artist who's ability to find a tasteful, unique voice in any musical situation has made him a staple in the Northwest music scene. Hamar's friendly nature, sense of humor and work ethic has kept him busy as a freelance bassist in multiple genres, composer and educator.
In 2003 Jon released a "mostly" solo bass CD on Pony Boy Records featuring his own compositions as well as arrangements of songs that he grew up listening to. "I looked back to those songs that upon hearing for the first time I could not stop singing in my head." This resulted in an "amazing selection of solo upright works that captivate the imagination and free the mind. Playing melody along with supporting lines, Hamar invokes the essence of jazz, pop and Celtic moods. Joined by drums and sax on a few cuts, Hamar leads the way from the bottom (Pony Boy Review).
In addition to his role as a leader, since moving to Seattle in 2001 Hamar has been active in the role of supporting bassist. Jon has been busy as a recording artist playing on multiple cds with singer/songwriting artists including Wendy Huckins, Brian Finnell, Hans York, Eric Goetz and Bobby Krier. Recently Hamar played on Brian Owens' disc Unmei, released on the OA2 label from Origin Records and will be heard on Carl Tanner's upcoming release "Hear the Angels Sing" on Sony Classical. Jon has recently been performing with Jay Thomas, Ernestine Anderson, the Greg Williamson Quartet and the Axiom Quartet.
Jon has recently been performing with Jay Thomas, Ernestine Anderson, the Greg Williamson Quartet and the Axiom Quartet.
Kelly Ash: vocalist www.kellyash.net
You can enjoy the music of Jon Hamar and Kelley AshSaturday night (July 31st) at the Rodeo City Bar BQ from 8:30p.m. to 11:30p.m.
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Kolvane
Great songs, gritty vocals, innovative guitar, rollicking piano, and a powerful rhythm section are the hallmarks of Kolvane/ Rose City Kings. The band is infectious and youthful, and well known for its entertaining, take-no-prisoners live performances. Their legions of fans continue to grow ... through word of mouth, touring, and marketing efforts. The band has been busy since its 2002 inception and continues to grow and develop musically, consisting of top-notch players from around the country, making it an even more formidable force and tour ready.
Kolvane: Vocals/Guitar
Thom Sullivan: Drums
Curtis Christian: Bass
Steve Kerin: Piano
Get into the sounds of the Kolvane ..... Friday night (July 30th) at the Moose Lodge from 8:30p.m. to 11:30p.m.
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Lenny Price All Stars
Born in Omaha, Nebraska, he began his musical life showing great promise on clarinet and oboe before finally discovering his true love -- the saxophone. After earning his Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Naval Academy ( Annapolis MD), Lenny resumed his musical career singing and playing keyboards with bands in Baltimore MD and Washington DC. In 1986 he returned to Metro Detroit on a mission to make up for lost time in his chosen profession.
Lenny teamed up with engineer Mike Moore to record four original compositions in late 1989. The result was his debut solo recording From My Heart (Midshipman 9001). The self-produced release, which has sold thousands of units to date, features him on saxophones, keyboards, drum programming, and vocals. Building upon his solo success, Lenny established credentials as a creative and versatile sideman on recordings with a wide variety of artists including The Four Tops (Motown), Randy Crawford (Warner Bros.) and David Peaston (MCA). He has also performed as a sideman with Keith Washington, Tamia, Ortheia Barnes, Millie Scott, Jake Reichbart, and many others. So far, Lenny considers his ongoing touring and recording with Grammy-winner Earl Klugh to be the highlight of his career.
In 2001, Price took advantage of a break in his touring schedule to teach jazz studies at Washtenaw Community College (Ann Arbor, MI). In the fall that same year, he accepted the post of Instrumental Music Program Coordinator for St. Peter Lutheran Day School (Plymouth MI).
Enjoy the mellow groove of the Lenny Price All Stars at Gallery One, Friday night (July 30 th) from 9:00p.m. to Midnight. |
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Little Bill & the Blue Notes
Little Bill has performed with BB King, Albert Collins, James Cotton and more. He has gathered numerous awards including Washington Blue Society Entertainer of the Year in 1996, WBS best bass, best band and best CD in 1998, the same year he was presented with a lifetime achievement award. Engelhart's originals are sharp. ''Next Stop, Bakersfield'' could pass for a roadhouse rocker or a country boogie. The excellent "What I'm Doin' Wrong" is a swampy, apparently autobiographical song about trying to catch a break in the music business, as (in its way) is "Never Been to Mississippi" Engelhart's trenchant announcement that he doesn't intend to justify his blues.
Drummer Tom Morgan tends to get busier as beats per minute or syncopations increase, but his presence is never overpowering - he has a good handle on dynamics and brushwork. Acoustic guitarist/mandolinist Mark Riley plays open-tuned slide and rubbery single-note parts.
Though the three play hard at times, the session sounds naturally acoustic rather than merely "unplugged." The band covers a variety of music: B.B. King's slow blues "It's My Own Fault" becomes a chooglin' slide guitar tune. Engelhart effectively tackles Ray Charles' gospelized blues "Hard Times" and reworks Louis Jordan's "Early in the Morning" into a more introspective piece that features a delicate, jazzy solo from Riley.
The "Blues" doesn't get much better!....See Little Bill & the Blue Notes .....Saturday afternoon (July 31 st) at 4 p.m. on the Main Stage at the Rotary Pavilion ... and later that night at the Raw Space from 9:30p.m. to 12:30a.m. |
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Mary McPage
The Mary McPage band is a stripped down three-piece combo that delivers Blues, high energy old school R&B, and a dash of good old rock-n-roll. The band is so tight they play like Siamese triplets. These musician's groove deep into the pocket. They find the soulful dynamics that make lovers whisper and rub.
Mary McPage is
The band is smokin', but it's McPage who lights the fire. With her raw, emotionally charged vocals, she works the crowd into a frenzy. She let's 'em know they are alive and that life is good! Mary takes it from kitten to volcano and back again. She delivers the tasty tunes that audiences have come to expect from her.
In 1994, McPage sang with the original-alternative band OZMOSiS. In 1995, she found the blues, or maybe the blues found her. A blues singer was born. McPage says, "I never want to sing any other type of music." In 1999, McPage released an acoustic blues CD - In Dog Years, with the group BLUE HOO. The CD landed her an invitation to appear on the WoodSongs Old-Time Radio Hour, nationally and internationally (P.R.I.) syndicated program. Taped live and broadcast out of Lexington, KY, her humor and original songs were a hit with the live audience. Mary is now standing tall and lookin’ fine, fronting her own band. This ain’t no tired jam band. Mary & her boys fire it up and entertain all night long.
. As far as primates go, Bill Page is pretty advanced. Not only can he count to four, but he can lay a groove down so thick it's like premium shag carpeting. Solid, dynamic, and musical describe his playing. And, there's no mistaking it. This guy drives the band at warp speed and keeps it going. Wanna dance? You're going to need comfy shoes and some extra banana juice to boogie 'til closin' time.
Get blown away with the Mary McPage Band Saturday night (July 31st) at the The River @ Grand Central from 8:30p.m. to 11:30p.m. |
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Michael Powers Group
As Powers’ musicianship progressed, his interests broadened to include music theory. He enrolled at Seattle’s prestigious Cornish College of the Arts where he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Composition and Performancein 1982.
On stage, Powers has shared billings with piano giant Herbie Hancock, classic Jazz saxophonist Eddie “Clean Head” Vinson, the legendary Ray Charles, Afro-pop star King Sunny Ade, Grammy award-winning vocalist Diane Schuur, R&B greats Gladys Knight and the Pips and Atlantic Starr, contemporary Jazz artists Ronny Jordan, Tom Grant, David Benoit, the Yellowjackets, and the duo of Tuck & Patti. “It’s hard to categorize my music, although it usually ends up in the Jazz record bins,” says Michael. “If I had to put a label on it, I would call it contemporary instrumental music. It’s a sound rooted in the Jazz tradition that keeps pace stylistically with Pop, R&B, and Blues; with Blues being at the core of my inspiration.” His powerful performances have regularly commanded standing ovations.
Back by popular request, this will be Michael Powers fifth appearance at Jazz in the Valley. He will be performing selections from his new CD, which provides a good deal of Latin and Salsa inflection and steps up his very danceable groove. You can feel the energy Saturday afternoon (July 31 st) at 5 p.m. on the Main Stage at the Rotary Pavilion ... and then later that evening at Gallery One from 9 p.m. to midnight.
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Nancy King & Steve Christofferson
Nancy came to the San Francisco jazz scene of the early 1960's from Springfield, Oregon. It was at the legendary Jazz Workshop that she met Sonny King, her future mate, and joined his band. They headlined Monday nights at the Workshop for two years. Others she worked with in San Francisco included Vince Guaraldi, John Handy, Sonny Donaldson, and Flip Nunez. Another major influence was meeting and studying with Jon Hendricks.
After moving to Las Vegas and then back to Oregon to raise her sons, King recorded her first album and made some appearances in New York before starting a collaboration with pianist/composer Steve Christofferson, with whom she has performed on the west coast since the 1980s.
Nancy King released Straight Into Your Heart (Mons, 1997) with Christofferson and the Dutch Metropole Orchestra and appeared with Ray Brown on his Some Of My Best Friends Are Singers (Telarc, 1998), touring with Brown and his trio during the next year. Recent collaborations include performances with Karrin Allyson and Elvis Costello, continued recordings with Steve Christofferson, and an acclaimed MaxJazz release in 2006 featuring duets with Fred Hersch. Notes vocalist Mark Murphy, "Her singing flies between our ears with a certainty of inevitable rightness that is at least... simply thrilling."
Steve Christoff erson: piano
You have an extraordinary opportunity to hear .... Nancy King & Steve Christofferson...Friday Night, July 30th from 9 p.m. - Midnight at tht Clymer Museum of Art.....Don't miss it!!!
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Nick Vigarino's Meantown Blues
Impressed with the Northwest's clean air and unspoiled mountain vistas, Nick drifted to Seattle, where he quickly won respect for his refreshingly original songs. Encouraged by the interest in his cutting-edge approach to the blues, he formed Meantown Blues. Now, thankfully, there is an audience for Nick's clearheaded music as he finds himself rushing back and forth across the Northwest and beyond, serving up solo and ensemble music on the stages of bar rooms, concert halls, festivals, and regional television.
Vigarino has released three recordings of original material, several collaborations, has performed in 11 countries on 7 different European tours, and has garnered numerous music awards. Nick Vigarino's guitar, dobro, harmonica and vocal prowess are in demand both as a solo performer and as an accompanist. He accompanied Long John Baldry with the "Flying Blues Circus" tour, which led to an enthusiastic follow-up tour with acclaimed national recording artist Kathi McDonald. Vigarino's original music captures the expressive passion of the blues masters. He also brings his intense interpretation to covers, both obscure and classic. He is the winner of numerous Washington Blues Society awards.
Nick Vigarino's Meantown Blues, Friday night (July 30th) from 9:30p.m. to 12:30 a.m. at the Raw Space.
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Open Country Joy
Open Country Joy is Ellensburg's homegrown hometown band. Formed over ten years ago around the virtuosic guitar work of Brandon Brooks, this band has been through many musicians and phases, but the central concept of semi-structured jams that speak to both the feet and the intellect continues stronger than ever.
Locally known for seamless juxtaposing meticulous original compositions with free form improvised jamming; OCJ borrows fluidly from rock, country, reggae, soul and bluegrass. A typical OCJ show is characterized by high energy dance-oriented music that stimulates both head and feet, sending smiles out the door at the end of the night.
This marks Open Country Joy's first performance at Jazz in the Valley. Experience their vib...... Friday night (July 30th) from 8:30p.m. to 11:30 p.m. at The River @ Grand Central.
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Randy Oxford Band
The Randy Oxford Band showcases a style of blues that is as diverse as the band members themselves. Randy Oxford, award-winning trombonist and notorious wild-man plays the trombone as a lead instrument. Jada Amy is the featured vocalist with a unique velvety voice that ranges from tender to triumphant sexy and smart.
Eliud Atondo, whose six-string bass drives the rhythm section, lays down a strong bottom end, together with the amazing Asael Gutierrez on drums. Rafael T ranquilino hails from Mexico City and sings "straight ahead" blues - in Spanish! He has a reputation as one of the hottest young guitar slingers around. .Jho Blenis is a guitarist's guitarist known for his well-constructed and spirited solos.
The two guitarists compliment each other and, with Randy's killer trombone, give the band its characteristic big, rich sound. The interplay between the performers provides the audience with something entertaining to watch, as well as to hear.
The Randy Oxford Band headlines on Friday night, July 30th on the Main Stage at the Rotary Pavilion from 9 pm to Midnight.
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Ranger & the ReArrangers
Ranger and the "Re-Arrangers" evoke the spirit of a Paris cafe or a Gypsy campsite with their unique twist on "gypsy jazz." Intriguing melodies played vigorously on stringed-instruments give them an acoustic, driving sound; their hand drummer adds a world rhythm beat. The band features two outstanding jazz improvisers, Ranger on violin and Dave Stewart on mandolin. The band's repertoire includes swing standards, traditional Gypsy melodies, the music of Django & Grappelli, Brazilian choros, and unique originals. The band released a new CD in 2009, entitled "Django's Tiger", which includes a mix of Django Reinhardt compositions, Gypsy Jazz standards, and Ranger's Gypsy-tinged originals.
Ranger Sciacca - Violinist
Ranger, with his dad Michael Sciacca on rhythm guitar, formed the "Re-Arrangers" in 2005 when they recorded a debut CD with session musicians Korum and Jherek Biscoff on drums and bass. The current live performance band was formed a year later after Ranger and Michael returned from the Django Reinhardt festival in France and a musical pilgrimage to Belgium to play with Lollo Meier, one of the world's top Gypsy jazz guitarists.
Percussionist Jeffery Moose has a 30 year career in both music and fine art. His collaborations and band projects include work with Joined at the Head, Heliotroupe, Dog Superior, Stiff Kitty, The Todd Houghton Band, Atoke, Zayah=2 0Emmanuel, and Sam Andrews, founder of Big Brother and the Holding Company. Born in Mexico and raised in West Africa and Arlington, Virginia, he is currently director of Jeffrey Moose Gallery in Seattle
Rhythm Guitarist Michael Sciacca is Ranger's father, and has been backing up Ranger on guitar for over 10 years. Ranger and Michael are descended from Sicilian immigrants, who played jazz in New York at the start of the 20th century.
Involve yourself in the sounds of Ranger and the Re-Arrangers........Saturday night (July 31st) from 9.00p.m. to midnight at the Pink Catering.
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Karl Walterskirchen, banjo and leader, provides the chords and driving rhythm for the group. He formed the Sidewalk Stompers after moving to Tri-Cities from San Francisco in 1997. In California he played in several Dixieland and New Orleans style jazz bands in the Bay Area. He is an avid collector of old jazz music from the 20’s and 30’s and continues to play it and promote it.
Dave Holo is a hot lead horn player on the cornet noted for his tasty mute work. Dave hails from Spanaway where he leads three jazz bands of his own in the Seattle area. Currently he plays twice weekly at the New Orleans Restaurant in Pioneer Square having played there for the past 21 years. Dave started with the Uptown Lowdown Jazz band in the 70`s playing banjo and eventually moving to the second lead horn position.
Jim Buckman is a noted world class jazz musician and playing clarinet, alto sax, tenor sax and bass sax with some of the finest traditional jazz bands in the country and abroad. He now calls Portland his home where he originally started his jazz career with Monte Ballou of the well known Castle Jazz Band. In the early `70’s Jim became the clarinetist with the Climax Jazz Band, out of Toronto, touring the world. He still tours with the band as well at with the Titan Hot Seven. Jim is an amazing reed player and much in demand in the traditional jazz world.
Dave Loomis fills out the front line with the traditional flavor of the slide trombone. Dave is from Seattle and often plays in Dave Holo’s bands. He is a remarkably talented horn player as well as band arranger. His solos and fine ensemble harmony work give the band a depth and very full sound more than one would imagine.
Mark Vehrencamp, tuba, became enamored of the early west coast Dixieland jazz bands (Firehouse Five, Lu Watters and Turk Murphy) at an early age and quickly developed into an accomplished San Francisco style brass bassist. He migrated to Portland in the '70s working with Don Kinch's Conductors Ragtime Band, the Uptown Lowdown Jazz Band and Stumptown Jazz Band. An accomplished soloist on the tuba, Mark continues to perform with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra as well as playing jazz gigs in the Portland area.
The Sidewalk Stompers will be wandering in downtown Ellensburg during the 2010 Jazz in the Valley festival, providing sidewalk sounds to make you smile. They also will perform Friday night from 5:30-8:30 p.m. and between sets during the Saturday Afternoon's performances (July 31st) on the Main Stage at the Rotary Pavillion.
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Son Jack Jr. & Michael Wilde
.
If Son Jack Jr was a cocktail here's the recipe:
Son Jack Jr. is a blues singer, songwriter and guitarist who performs acoustic solo, duo & electric band sets. He was raised in London, England and moved to the USA in 1997 where he re-started his musical career that had been dormant for 20 years. Back in the 70's and '80's he recorded, performed and toured extensively in the UK but is now back with bang and has released two critically acclaimed blues albums since 2005. His latest album "When The Devil Calls" hit the Top 50 chart on payplay.fm in May 2008 and gets regular airplay on local, national and international radio, including XM Satellite's Channel 74, BluesVille.
His live shows have been described as "intoxicating, intense, exciting experiences" and comprise mostly original material and a heady mix of classics from a wide range of country blues greats (see cocktail recipe).
Serve yourself up a big dose of Son Jack Jr. & Michael Wilde, Friday night (July 30th) from 9.00p.m. to midnight at the Pink Catering.
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Too Slim & the Taildraggers
Tim "Too Slim" Langford, with his band the Taildraggers, have created an eclectic style of roots-rock, Americana and blues that has become a genre all its own. Too Slim's ever- evolving musical direction cannot be classified into any box or category. The eclectic nature of the band allows Too Slim and the Taildraggers to easily cross-over and appeal to audiences of various musical tastes.
Too Slim and the Taildraggers are headliners at theaters, festivals and concert stages. The band has shared the stage with the likes of Bo Diddley, Brian Setzer, The Doobie Brothers, Lucinda Williams, The Little River Band, Johnny Lang, .38 Special, Robert Cray, Otis Rush, Jeff Healey, Ted Nugent, Los Lobos, Lonnie Mack, Blue Oyster Cult, Heart, Travis Tritt, Junior Brown, Gatemouth Brown, Neil McCoy, Delbert McClinton, Blues Traveler, Steppenwolf, Johnny and Edgar Winter and Ronnie Milsap.
The band's last CD The Fortune Teller, charted as high as #9 on the Billboard magazine Top Blues Album sales chart in 2007 and 2008. The Fortune Teller was also nominated for "Best Contemporary Blues Album" at the 2008 "Blues Blast Music Awards" in Chicago. This award-winning band has been voted "Best Regional Act" 11 times by the Cascade Blues Association, the largest organization of its kind in the USA. Too Slim and the Taildraggers have received multiple awards from various North West Reader's polls and other North West blues societies for "Best Band" and "Best Album." Founding member Langford has won multiple individual awards as "Best Guitarist," "Best Slide Guitarist" and "Best Songwriter." Too Slim and the Taildraggers are also in the Hall of Fame of three North West blues societies. Their devoted fan base has grown over the years into a national and international following.
As one reviewer explained the band, "experiencing a Too Slim and the Taildraggers concert is like taking a journey through the history of American music. Too Slim's musical style ranges from down home blues, funky blues rock
Your opportunity to 'go on the journey' with Too Slim and the Taildraggers is Saturday afternoon July 31st) when they perform on the Main Stage at the Rotary Pavilion from 6pm to 7pm and then later that night from 9p.m. to midnight.
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Total Experience Gospel Choir
 Total Experience Gospel Choir was organized in September 1973 at the Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Seattle. The core group represented members of the "Black Experience Gospel Choir" of Roosevelt High School and the Franklin High School Gospel Choir of Seattle. United, the choir became known as "Total Experience Gospel Choir". When the choirs merged, the community's children were also invited to participate. And, participate - they did! The choir's numbers grew to 108 within the first two months, with the youngest person being 8 years old. Today the choir's ages range from 6 to 65. Since their inception, MUCH history has taken place. The choir has become known nationally and internationally. Their travels have taken them to 36 contiguous states as well as Hawaii and Alaska - for a total of 38 states. They have performed on 4 continents and in 22 countries.
Total Experience Gospel Choir has over 150 awards and recognitions locally, statewide, nationally and internationally. They have performed on the same billing with the late Dr. James Cleveland, founder of the 60,000 strong Gospel Music Workshop of America; Quincy Jones; Ray Charles; the Hawkins Family of "Oh Happy Day" fame; Take Six - award winning acapella group; Mormon Tabernacle Choir; Winans; Michael Bolton; Sweet Honey in the Rock; The Judds; Charlie Daniel; Pete Seeger; Steely Dan; Olympia Dukakis; Chuck Mangione; and many others.
Total Experience Gospel Choir is a regular performer of the National Anthem at many professional sports events as well as halftime activities. They have been the featured group for seven seasons of Langston Hughes' play "Black Nativity" at Seattle's Intiman Theater. Each performance is SRO for 25-30 shows per season (month of December). They are the featured voices of many local and some national commercials as well.
This extra-ordinary singing group can be experienced Sunday Morning, August 1st at 10:30 a.m. until noon on the Main Stage at the Rotary Pavilion.
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a, Milt Jackson, Slim Gaillard, John Scofield, Philly Joe Jones, Elvin Jones, Paul Motian, Jack Dejohnette, Airto Moreira, and many others. He has performed in concert as a soloist (Friesen is one of two or three bassists in the world that is able to play a solo concert and keep an audience riveted) and with his own groups throughout the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, The Netherlands, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, Turkey, Poland, Japan and South America. 
Three-time nominee and recent winner of Earshot Golden Ear Awards "Northwest Vocalist of the Year" award, Gail's rich, warm vocals and understated phrasing inspire comparison to Nancy Wilson, Sarah Vaughn and Carmen McRae, and have been described as "deliciously soulful" by Cadence Magazine. 
Seattle native 
Jim Wilke, the Seattle jazz maven and host of the syndicated "
The Javatown Swing Band is a much sought-after party band that offers up retro swing and jazz with flair. Led by jazz vocalist and professional trumpeter Jake Bergevin, the group is popular with folks who want to let their feet move. 
RJ Whitlow: bass
John Sanders - accordion
Lenny Price is a saxophonist, singer-songwriter, arranger, music educator and clinician. 
This position required him to create a band programfrom scratch and provide individualized instruction for flute, clarinet, oboe, trumpet, and percussion students. Price relocated to Ellensburg WA in 2004 to pursue a MA in Music at Central Washington University and continued to strengthen his credentials as a music educator in the Pacific Northwest by teaching private lessons, presenting workshops and clinics for students from middle school through university level. In 2005 he formed the Galileo Quartet as an advanced "student" ensemble which performed at the 2005 Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, and shortly after released their debut CD, Live at the Starlight, and evolved into one of the hottest jazz acts in the region.
A Northwest blues icon, bassist Little Bill Engelhart has been wowing music fans since the 1950s with his relaxed sound that is both soulful and raspy. Reviewers have called his voice "sugar and gravel" and his original tunes a wide range from "roadhouse rock" to "country boogie."
one of the finest female Blues Singers in the Pacific Northwest. She will blow you away! When Mary opens her mouth to sing, people do a double take. "I had to see where that voice was coming from and I still can't believe it's coming out of you!". Influenced by country, rock and torch, McPage knows how to sell a song. Be it a standard or one of her original compositions this sassy singer creates performances that range from inane to intense.
Bret Coats is Funky Constituent #1. He developed his deep groove through his love and understanding of roots music. Bret began his Blues apprenticeship at the age of 17, playing with third generation blues masters Al Garret & Robert Walker as a member of the Soul Brothers of Bakersfield. He relocated to Austin where he established his presence in the blues and R&B world by becoming a regular fixture on Antone's stage. Bret has toured heavily in Europe and the U.S. and has played on successful records by Bobby Mack, Willie Foster, the classic Return of the Funky Worm, and Seattle's own Soul Miner's Daughter. Be prepared for the real deal because Bret brings it every time.
Evon Powell's guitar will cure what ails you. He's been playing since he was seven years old, and by now he's got a lick or two! The dude does it all, blues, funk, rock. When he steps up to wail for the audience, holy crap! His playing goes from fierce to melodic, and it's always tasty. He has played with bands in New York City, London, and San Francisco. He fronted his own blues project in Seattle before McPage recruited him. When our favorite "doc" gives you a shot from his guitar, you're gonna 
want more
Michael Powers was born in New York City in 1960, but grew up in the San Francisco Bay area. His musical career began as therapy. When at the age of 15 he took up strumming the guitar to strengthen his wrist after a skateboard accident. Following his graduation from Berkeley High School when he was 15½, he moved to Seattle and frequented local jam sessions, keeping his fingers on the guitar strings and his mind on making his music reach a wider audience. Says Powers, “I learned how to play by sitting in at as many places as I could, developing eclectic tastes by playing with all types of bands: Jazz, Rock, Blues, R&B, and Top 40. I wanted to learn how to play any kind of music that featured a guitar as a solo voice.
While at Cornish, Powers studied under composers Gil Evans and Sam Rivers, bassist Gary Peacock, pianist Art Lande, and trombonist Julian Priester. His style was also influenced by a diverse group of musicians which includes Jimi Hendrix, Carlos Santana, Charlie Parker, George Benson, Stanley Jordan, Miles Davis, and Kevin Eubanks. 
Nancy King has been called everything from a "Cult figure" and an "uncompromising artist," (Earshot Jazz) to "the greatest living jazz singer," (Herb Ellis). As one of the few improvisers in vocal jazz to master the vocabulary, Nancy King has "indefatigable scat chops and a remarkably elastic range." (The Oregonian) 
Nick Vigarino had his way out of this existence before he even knew it. Nick fell into possession of a battered guitar, feebly equipped with one string. As fate would have it, he learned to play the guitar in the exact same way as hundred seminal blues musicians had two generations before him, on a homemade one-string diddley bo. With a poet's fierce commitment to birthing his own music, he continued to play on ever-improving instrumentsthe angry and mournful melodies in his head, carrying his music into the bars and roadhouses of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
Brandon Brooks: Guitars, Vocals
Bassist 
Mandolinist 
Sidewalk Stompers is a traditional jazz band, a small acoustic street band able to play anywhere without a piano or drums and small enough to move from spot to spot wherever there's a need for hot jazz. The band plays the early style of jazz like the small street groups in New Orleans in the era of Louis Armstrong and King Oliver. Their music represents the roots of all the other styles of jazz brought together for this festival. 
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For further information on tickets and lodging
Call: Ellensburg Chamber of Commerce
509-925-3137 or 888-925-2204
Send email to:
jazzinfo@jazzinthevalley.com
Write: Jazz in the Valley, P.O. Box 214, Ellensburg, WA 98926
Jazz in the Valley is a program of the
Laughing Horse Arts Foundation, Ellensburg WA.
a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization