Jazz Northwest

Scott Robinson is well known as a saxophonist playing the entire family of saxes from contrabass to sopranino. Recently it's his baritone sax with Maria Schneider Orchestra as well as Bob Brookmeyer, Toshiko Akiyoshi and others that attracted attention.

Jessica Williams was a unique artist with an evocative touch at the piano. She passed away March 12 at the age of 73. She was a restless person who was born in Baltimore, studied classical piano, and built her career as house pianist at Keystone Korner in San Francisco where she backed many different international soloists including Dexter Gordon and Stan Getz.

Jovino Santos Neto played his most recent solo piano album "Luz" in one continuous session, like a live performance. It's a very enjoyable set and it engages the listener like an actual concert.

This week on Jazz Northwest, Vancouver flutist Tom Keenlyside debuts a new CD remembering an all-night coffeehouse where he found his love for jazz.

Pianist Kenny Barron is no stranger to Seattle stages. He first appeared here in 1963 as a nineteen-year-old pianist with the Dizzy Gillespie Quintet at The Penthouse in Pioneer Square. Now an NEA Jazz Master, Kenny Barron brings his trio to play Jazz Alley next Tuesday and Wednesday and we'll hear the trio on today's episode.

This Sunday, we'll mark Valentine's Day with songs from three singers including Eugenie Jones from her new CD "Players", Jenny Davis, and Ernestine Anderson, none of whom will sing MFV.

Jim Knapp, Ralph Towner, Milt Kleeb, Tom Keenlyside ... these are some of the great composers and performers who've contributed to the regional jazz scene. We'll feature these and others, past and present on this today's episode.

We feature more music from Brazilian guitarist Bola Sete recorded live in 1966 for broadcast from The Penthouse club in Seattle on this week's Jazz Northwest.

This week's show includes music by Julian Priester, trombonist and educator who taught at Cornish College from 1979 until he retired in 2011. His professional career included touring and recording with many major jazz artists from Lionel Hampton and Duke Ellington, to John Coltrane and Sam Rivers, to Herbie Hancock, Dave Holland and many others.

It's relatively rare that musicians become proficient with both woodwinds and brass instruments. Even rarer are two with the same hometown, the late Floyd Standifer and Jay Thomas were both active in the Seattle scene. We'll open this week's show with one tune from each, but you'll have to tune in to hear which one plays which instrument on this week's episode.