Jazz Northwest

On this week's Jazz Northwest, we'll revisit an all-star Portland group from the '90s led by pianist-composer Gordon Lee. The great rhythm team of Leroy Vinnegar on bass and Dick Berk on drums was sparking the Portland jazz scene in those years, and alto saxophonist Warren Rand was the first call alto sax man. The quartet plays two contrafacts by Gordon Lee to begin this show. Also this week, a new release by the prolific Vancouver saxophonist Cory Weeds, joined by Eric Alexander and a New York

Saxophonist and flutist Jeff Clayton will be remembered Jan. 3 with a rebroadcast performance recorded in 2013 at Centrum's Jazz Port Townsend. Jeff Clayton passed Dec. 16 at the age of 65 at his home in Los Angeles. He had been diagnosed with kidney cancer two years earlier.

In a year when there were few highlights due to closures of entertainment venues and a paucity of jazz album releases, it's difficult to make a list of highlights for the year. We'll share a few on this week's Jazz Northwest, including two from Vancouver BC, the Tom Keenlyside Quartet and Daniel Hersog's Jazz Orchestra. We'll also hear releases from former Seattle residents who make up The Westerles brass quartet, and pianist and singer Diane Schuur. Jay Thomas plays tenor sax and trumpet on an

All seasonal concerts and performances have been canceled this year, but we have some great memories to relive from previous years. The Duke Ellington Concert of Sacred Music has been presented annually in Seattle since 1989 and was one of the reasons why the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra came into existence in 1994. Earshot Jazz took over the stewardship of the concerts in 1993 and will present this year's streamed version of highlights with some new material Dec. 26-Jan. 2.

Jazz musicians are famous for taking unconventional approaches to familiar music and the holiday season is no exception. One of our Northwest favorites is an organ group from British Columbia that's been playing together for more than 15 years. The cartoon cover of their third Christmas CD gives a good impression of the quartet's spirited approach to seasonal music.

Our favorite opener for the holiday season on Jazz Northwest is Don Lanphere's 1989 album "Year 'Round Christmas." It begins with a combination of "Joy to the World" and "Jingle Bells" expertly woven together by Don Lanphere and his Sextet. Also, on this week's show are holiday songs by Hans Teuber and Dave Peterson, and Karin Plato to provide a backdrop for decorating your tree. Portland trumpet player Charlie Porter, Seattle pianist Bill Anschell and Vancouver trumpet player lead their groups

This week's show will showcase a couple of lush arrangements for larger jazz ensembles. We'll open with Jay Thomas leading and soloing with a ten-piece group playing "Mrs. Goodnight" composed and arranged by Oliver Groenewald. The Daniel Hersog Jazz Orchestra from Vancouver BC will be heard in an extended piece by Hersog we haven't heard before on this show, "Makeshift Memorial". Also, this week, Jovino Santos Neto in a solo performance recorded for the Savassi Festival in Brazil, Steve Treseler

This week on Jazz Northwest, memories of jazz in Pioneer Square including two tunes featuring bassist Buddy Catlett, and a couple of pieces by pianist/composer Jovino Santos Neto for this month's (virtual) Savassi Festival in Brazil. Also, on this show are four gospel songs inspired by the Golden Gate Quartet, transcribed and arranged for brass quartet and played by The Westerlies. Jazz Northwest is recorded and produced by host Jim Wilke and airs Sundays at 2 p.m. Listeners may also subscribe

Ernestine Anderson's birthday was last Wednesday and although she's been gone seven years, we still enjoy the rich collection of albums featuring her inimitable voice. On this week’s show, we will hear a couple of songs from a 2011 performance at Dizzy's Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center on Columbus Circle in New York City. The Seattle Jazz icon is joined by a soulful group featuring Houston Person and Lafayette Harris Jr. Another singer originally from Seattle is Diane Schuur and we'll hear her

"Dodger Blue" is a nostalgic song by baseball fan Dave Frishberg composed in 1977 but it's time to hear it again. The LA Dodgers won the World Series last week after a drought of 33 years since the last title. This performance played and sung by Dave Frishberg was captured at The Jazz Bakery in Culver City in 2005. Also featured on this week's show is the late Overton Berry Trio playing for a full house at Jazz Alley last year, The Jay Thomas Quartet playing at The Seattle Art Museum, The Daniel