Seattle Sun Newspaper - Vol. 7, Issue 11, November 2003

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Ballard to host jazz festival

By JAMES BUSH

The streets and clubs of Ballard will throb with the sounds of jazz on Saturday, Nov. 15 as the neighborhood hosts the First Annual Ballard Jazz Festival.

Sponsored by Origin Records and the Ballard Chamber of Commerce, this day of jazz starts with afternoon jazz workshops, followed by an early evening concert, and a late night jazz walk in the clubs of historic Ballard Avenue.

The jazz clinics will be held from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Mars Hill Church, 1401 NW Leary Way, and will feature instruction by Brian Blade (rhythm section), Kurt Rosenwinkel and John Stowell (guitar), Vincent Herring (saxophone and improvisation), and Nancy King (vocal).

The evening concert will also be held at Mars Hill Church and will feature sets from the Brian Blade Fellowship, Vincent Herring with New Stories, and Nancy King & Steve Christofferson.

Louisiana-born drummer Blade was nurtured under the watchful eyes of Ellis Marsalis and New Orleans Dixie-drum masters Johnny Vidacovich and Herlin Riley. He's recorded and toured with Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris, Daniel Lanois and hero Joni Mitchell.

Born in Kentucky and raised in California, Vincent Herring moved to New York in 1983, and played with a variety of major musicians (including Lionel Hampton, David Murray, Horace Silver, and Art Blakey) before joining Nat Adderley's band from 1987-1993. Herring, who has recorded for Landmark and Music Masters, has led his own group since the early 1990s. He will perform with Seattle's award-winning New Stories trio.

Nancy King has been called everything from a "cult figure" to "the greatest living jazz singer" (by Herb Ellis). She got her start in the San Francisco jazz scene of the early 1960s, then moved to Oregon in the early '70s to raise her sons, take a break from touring, and to spend time performing with the future jazz luminaries Ralph Towner, David Friesen and Tom Grant. She's been performing worldwide with pianist/composer Steve Christofferson since 1978.

Starting at 9:30 p.m., jazz will take over the clubs of historic Ballard Avenue for a Jazz Walk featuring performances by some of the Northwest's premier artists.

Ticket prices are $10 for the clinics, $12 for the jazz walk, and $25 for all events. For more information, contact the Ballard Chamber at 784-9705.