Guitarist and singer Brian Nova is a well-known figure on the jazz scene, particularly on the West Coast. He's led long-running weekly jam sessions and recorded 7 CDs. In addition to being a leader Brian is a valued sideman who's played alongside many jazz greats including his mentors, Herb Ellis and Joe Pass. The present group appears Sunday evenings at The Musicquarium lounge at The Triple Door in Seattle. Joining Brian Nova are saxophonist Jon Goforth, bassist Dan O'Brien and drummer Brian

Trombonist and trumpet player Wycliffe Gordon celebrated the music and soul of jazz great Louis Armstrong in concert at Jazz Port Townsend last July. Wycliffe Gordon is well known as a trombonist, but is also adept with trumpet and vocals in this concert including music Louis Armstrong made famous with his recordings and performances all over the world. Joining Wycliffe Gordon in this concert are the versatile swing clarinetist and saxophonist Adrian Cunningham, Bill Cunliffe on piano, Martin

This week on Jazz Northwest, an all-star jazz group playing an informal but high-energy gig in Port Townsend. Trumpeter Sean Jones and alto saxophonist Tia Fuller front the group which also includes John Hansen on piano, Jon Hamar on bass and Matt Wilson on drums, recorded live at The Old Whiskey Mill on Water Street. The musicians were all members of the jazz faculty during the week-long Jazz Workshop which precedes Centrum's Jazz Port Townsend the last weekend of July. In addition to the main

Jazz Northwest spotlights several new releases featuring northwest resident artists this week. Seattle pianist Dawn Clement is a regular part of the New York-based quartet led by soprano saxophonist Jane Ira Bloom whose new release features original music inspired by Emily Dickinson. Also on this week's show are recent releases by Bren Plummer with John Hansen on piano, trumpeter Nathan Breedlove and trumpeter Jared Hall. Next week, Sean Jones and Tia Fuller front a hard-bop quintet in a club

Pianist Justin Kauflin made his Jazz Port Townsend debut at the 43rd annual festival the last week of July. He performed in a trio concert with bassist Doug Weiss and drummer Kendrick Scott at McCurdy Pavilion at Fort Worden and also served on the faculty of the week-long jazz workshop before the weekend of public concerts. Justin Kauflin has been playing professionally since the age of 15 and studied at William Paterson College in New Jersey where he was mentored by Clark Terry. The deep

The renowned flutist Hubert Laws was featured in a special opening night concert at this year's Jazz Port Townsend Festival. Designated a Jazz Master by the National Endowment for the Arts, Hubert Laws' career spans six decades and dozens of albums. He was joined on stage at McCurdy Pavilion at Fort Worden by an all-star trio including Bill Cunliffe on piano, John Clayton on bass and Matt Wilson on drums. Centrum's Jazz Port Townsend celebrated its 43rd year the last week of July beginning with

One of the popular features of the annual Ballard Jazz Festival is the Ballard Jazz Walk. This year, 90 musicians performed in various groups in ten venues during the Jazz Walk.

This week, some performances not previously broadcast on Jazz Northwest. First, a 1999 performance by the Jessica Williams trio at Jazz Port Townsend, followed by an unusual double bass duo with guest Christian McBride and Phil Sparks with the rhythm section from the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra from a concert this past June. The balance of the program features Tia Fuller, Dee Daniels, Wycliffe Gordon, Matt Wilson and Hubert Laws. All will appear at this year's 43rd annual Jazz Port Townsend

This week on Jazz Northwest we'll sample new releases by the ten-member Full Circle Jazz Ensemble, Jovino Santos Neto, Dan Dean and Jared Hall. We'll also hear some interesting pairings of talents - Jay Thomas and Gary Smulyan, Ray Vega and Thomas Marriott and Wynton Kelly and Wes Montgomery (in Seattle in 1966!). Best bets for live jazz in the coming week are also included on the program. Love Jazz Northwest? Subscribe to our iTunes or TuneIn podcast, or wherever you listen to podcasts! Be sure

The Grammy-winning world-renown bassist Christian McBride was guest soloist with the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra in the season finale in June. The concert at Kirkland Performance Center was recorded for radio and highlights will air on Jazz Northwest on 88.5 KNKX on Sunday, July 2 at 2 p.m. Pacific, also streaming at knkx.org . Christian McBride has played with dozens of top artists including Sonny Rollins, Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, Wynton Marsalis, Diana Krall and Joshua Redman to name