Pianist Overton Berry played all over the world but he always called Seattle home, and Seattle jazz fans were proud to call him one of our own. When he passed at the age of 84 last Monday, he was one of the last of popular Seattle jazz artists from "The Jackson Street Era" that included Quincy Jones, Ernestine Anderson, Floyd Standifer, Buddy Catlett, Jabo Ward and others. His career developed around the time of the Seattle World's Fair, when he played at The House of Entertainment, Dave's Fifth

This week on Jazz Northwest we'll debut the latest release from singer Janis Mann and pianist Kenny Werner. Janis performed regularly around Seattle before moving to L.A. where she's been active as well as touring on the West Coast and singing in New York City. Her musical partnership with pianist Kenny Werner has been striking and fruitful. Their second album "Dreams of Flying" illustrates their intuitive blend, particularly on "When October Goes". Also on this week's show are Earshot Jazz

John Gilbreath, Executive Director of Earshot Jazz, joins host Jim Wilke for a preview of the 32nd Annual Earshot Jazz Festival on this week's episode of Jazz Northwest. The Festival runs four weekends from October 16 through November 8 and will be an all-digital festival this year with live concerts delivered directly to the audience because of the pandemic. John Gilbreath talks about the special challenges of producing concerts for an unseen audience online. Music by Ravi Coltrane, Jovino

We hear new music from Portland-based composer Ezra Weiss on today’s episode of Jazz Northwest . Vancouver BC tenor saxophonist is joined by a great New York rhythm section in his latest recording, while Karin Plato sings one of her original songs. Jack Wilson's Quartet with Roy Ayers will be heard in an excerpt from a 1966 radio broadcast from The Penthouse in Seattle, and the venerable saxophonist Don Lanphere will be heard in music from his last CD. Jazz Northwest is recorded and produced by

Pianist and singer Diane Schuur began her career as a pre-teen in the Seattle-Tacoma area and was soon performing at a Holiday Inn. She became a regular at jam sessions in the area and attended the University of Puget Sound. Discovered and encouraged by Doc Severinson, Stan Getz, Don Grusin and others she was soon appearing at major festivals and recording regularly for GRP for whom she made 11 albums plus two collections. She has also recorded with Ray Charles, Maynard Ferguson and the Count

World-renowned bassist Gary Peacock passed September 4 at his home in upstate New York. He made his mark playing with Albert Ayler, Paul Bley and Bill Evans, but is best remembered for his work with Keith Jarrett's Standards Trio. In the late 70s and early 80s he lived in Seattle while teaching at Cornish School of the Arts and giving private lessons and exerting a profound influence on the Seattle jazz scene. On this week's Jazz Northwest, we'll hear Gary Peacock playing with guitarist Ralph

CDs by the Dave Robbins Sextet from Vancouver BC and Jay Thomas are featured on this week's episode of Jazz Northwest. Drummer Dave Robbins leads a sextet playing his original music with Brad Turner, trumpet and Mike Allen, tenor sax. The album "Joan of Art" is dedicated to Joan Mariacher, an active booster and benefactor of the Vancouver jazz scene. Seattle trumpet and sax player Jay Thomas is featured on two recent releases on this week's show. "High Crimes and Misdemeanors" pairs him with

Jazz from Vancouver BC and Spokane as well as Seattle is on this week’s Jazz Northwest. Vancouver is represented by trumpet player-composer Brad Turner whose quartet is joined by New York-based tenor saxophonist Seamus Blake, who grew up in Vancouver. From Spokane comes The Whitworth Jazz Ensemble directed by Dan Keberle, playing music by the multi-award-winning composer-arranger Maria Schneider. Seattle groups on this week’s show feature Jay Thomas, Thomas Marriott, Kelley Johnson, Bill

In an ordinary year we would be broadcasting highlights from this Summer's Jazz Port Townsend this month on Jazz Northwest . But like all performance activities the festival was cancelled this Summer. This week we're presenting some location recordings from our archives including a couple of tunes played by Tamir Hendelman, Martin Wind and Matt Wilson making up an all-star trio in the cozy confines of The Upstage in Port Townsend. The enthusiastic audience surrounds the band in an exciting

Pianist Jessica Williams' musical career was mostly on the West Coast, San Francisco in the 70s and 80s, and the Pacific Northwest thereafter, though she toured widely as a soloist and with trio. Her years in the Northwest brought several albums recorded in Portland, including two with the great bass player Leroy Vinnegar and drummer Mel Brown. On this week's Jazz Northwest we'll hear this trio in a joyfully swinging rendition of "Berkshire Blues" recorded in 1994 at Atwater's, a posh Portland