I was very sad to hear about the sudden and untimely death of Gaye Anderson, owner and soul-proprietor of The New Orleans Creole Restaurant in Seattle’s Pioneer Square. I played my first paid gig at the New Orleans when I was 14 years old, subbing for trumpeter / saxophonist Jay Thomas (I think I got paid $20). As a teenager I was a Wednesday night regular at Floyd Standifer’s long standing gig at the New Orleans. For the past two (plus) years my band Flexicon has been the regular Friday night band there.
Always present at the club was Gaye Anderson, one of the biggest supporters of music there ever was. On slow nights Gaye would pay the band and forgo her own pay. She never failed to step up to the plate to host a benefit, memorial, going away party or any other community related event. She never asked “What’s in it for me?” If she could do something to help out the musicians in Seattle, she would.
With Gaye’s passing, it’s hard to know what will become of the New Orleans. We’ll still be there on Fridays until things change, which inevitably they will. In the mean time, do yourself a favor and see what a labor of love looks like until it goes away. They have great music every night of the week and can use your support.
Gaye – thank you for your generous spirit and commitment to music. You will be missed!
Here are some of our upcoming performances, hope to see you there:
August 17th – Seattle – Cedarbrook Lodge with special guest George Colligan,
August 18th – Seattle – Eagan’s Ballard Jam House with special guest George Colligan
October 5th – Chicago – Andy’s Jazz Club
October 6th – Chicago – Andy’s Jazz Club
October 15th – Tacoma – Highline Community College
October 16th – Seattle – Earshot Jazz Festival
October 17th – Seattle – Earshot Jazz Festival
October 18th – Bellingham – Blue Horse Gallery
October 19th – Vancouver, BC – The Cellar
October 20th – Vancouver, BC, – The Cellar
November 14th – Philadelphia – Chris’ Jazz Club
November 15th – New York, NY – Small’s Jazz Club
Last October we had the great pleasure of recording Human Spirit live at the Earshot Jazz Festival over two nights at Tula’s Restaurant and Nightclub. Featuring special guests Orrin Evans and Essiet Essiet, both sold-out nights were recorded and edited down for release on Origin Records. The new album “Dialogue: Live At The Earshot Jazz Festival” was just released to almost immediate critical acclaim. Be the first one on your block to have the new Human Spirit album! Get yours HERE!
Over the years I’ve made quite a few trips to play at The Cellar in Vancouver B.C. and the upcoming shows on May 11 and 12 are destined to be a lot of fun. Human Spirit will be joined by bassist Adam Thomas and the multi-instrumentalist Brad Turner on piano. The Cellar is a great place to hear live music, a real joint! If you are going to be in the area, come by and see us.
On May 4th, 2012 my quartet “Flexicon” will be celebrating the two-year anniversary of our weekly gig at Seattle’s New Orleans Creole Restaurant in historic Pioneer Square. We have to thank the Seattle Times for erroneously writing that the gig we had two years ago was the kick-off to a regular Friday gig. It wasn’t – until the folks showed up and the club decided to go with the flow! We’ve now been there long enough to throw out the old material – twice. If you haven’t been in a while, stop in a see what we’ve been up to on Friday nights. The personnel has remained consistent since the beginning – Rick Mandyck (piano), Phil Sparks (bass), Matt Jorgensen (drums) and yours truly. We appreciate all of the guests who have sat in with us and all of the patrons who have kept it going in all of the lean times. Musicians of all stripes are always welcome and our talented listeners regularly show us their good taste. Thank you for your support!
Human Spirit takes the stage at the 2012 Ballard Jazz Walk with our friend Orrin Evans from New York. Orrin joined us at the Earshot Jazz Festival where we recorded our new album “Dialogue” which is due out next month. Come see us play live at Connor Byrne Pub on Old Ballard Avenue at 8:00 P.M. For more information and tickets, click HERE.
This Friday, April 13th, I am delighted to be playing Tula’s Restaurant and Jazz Club with some of my favorite musicians. Joining me are Marc Seales on piano, bassist Jeff Johnson and D’Vonne Lewis on drums. We’ll be playing music composed by myself, Marc and Jeff and are really looking forward to a fun night. Hope you can make it out. Make your reservation today by calling 206-443-4221. For more information, visit the Tula’s website HERE.
On Sunday the 15th (after I do my taxes!) I’ll be playing an all-ages jazz brunch at the New Orleans Creole Restaurant with vocalist Elnah Jordan from 3:00 to 7:00 pm in Seattle’s historic Pioneer Square. Cheap eats, strong drink and great music make this a not-to-miss show.
Also on Sunday night is the monthly performance of the Washington Composer’s Orchestra (WACO) at the Royal Room in Columbia City. WACO features some of Seattle’s finest musicians playing the music of Robin Holcomb, Wayne Horvitz and Tom Varner, original members of the New York Composer’s Orchestra and Seattle transplants.
I am also delighted to be a special guest at the Owl N’ Thistle jam session the next two Tuesday nights (April 10th & 17th). This weekly gathering of the local jazz community is the longest-running organized jam session in the Seattle area. The house band plays a set beginning at 10:00PM and is free and open to the public. The session starts shortly thereafter and may culminate in the infamous “scat-competition” – if we are lucky enough!
In just two short weeks Human Spirit will be playing at the Ballard Jazz Festival with our frequent collaborator Orrin Evans. SAVE THE DATE! April 20th at Connor Byrne in Ballard!
The current edition of the Blessing Brass e-newsletter features an article I was asked to write about touring and life on the road. I have been playing the wonderful trumpets made by the new E. K. Blessing company since early 2010 and really love what they are doing there in Elkhart, Indiana, where all of their instruments are made. Read the article here!
Alan Jones is a tremendous drummer and composer who resides in Portland, OR. I am delighted to be joining Alan’s Sextet at the Brasserie Montmartre on Friday, February 24th. Alan’s band is made up of Portland’s finest, including: Tom Wakeling (bass), Randy Porter (piano), John Gross (tenor) and Warren Rand (alto). The music is rigorous and exciting and the band is a home for several very unique voices. Not to miss if you live in the PDX!
Human Spirit will be joined by pianist George Colligan and bassist Phil Sparks for our set at the Blue Monk as part of the Portland Jazz Festival on Sunday, February 26th. Our album, recorded last fall at the Earshot Jazz Festival, is just about finished and due to be released this spring. The band is sounding great and we are excited to be back at the Blue Monk. Hope we see YOU there.
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