Showing posts with label jazz walk. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jazz walk. Show all posts

North City Jazz Walk: The Back Story

Friday, July 20, 2012


North City Jazz Walk celebrates its fifth anniversary – August 14, 2007 to August 14, 2012
By Robin McClelland

Some years ago Keith McClelland attended the Centrum Jazz Camp at Ft. Worden and the Port Townsend Jazz Festival.  In the evenings, streets were alive with jazz lovers strolling in and out of downtown clubs.  Keith thought the scene was magical.

He held the idea, imagining a similar event in Shoreline with live jazz in venues along a neighborhood street.  The redeveloped 15th Avenue NE in North City presented the opportunity as a compact commercial area with restaurants, sidewalks, and plentiful parking. 

Doug Reid
Photo courtesy SCC
He talked it over with Doug Reid, music professor at Shoreline Community College and another Port Townsend participant, who offered valuable suggestions. Keith then approached Gary East and Steve Cook, leaders of the North City Business Association (NCBA), to promote the concept to promote business in North City and to support jazz, America’s original art form. Gary and Steve embraced the idea and launched the North City Jazz Walk. Gary and Steve immediately brought in NCBA Secretary Ellen Sullivan to round out the Jazz Walk steering committee.

The first North City Jazz Walk was scheduled for Tuesday, August 14, 2007. Doug Reid was assigned the North City Bistro.  Keith put Shear Jazz in the Hot Wire Café (now Laughing Ladies Café) and the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council presented a free performance by the Summer Jazz Camp students and faculty on the Showmobile.

Many folks in the community pitched in to get ready. A few days before the event, Keith ran into Parks Director Dick Deal who wondered aloud, “How do you think it will go?”  Keith said 250 people would be good; 300 a success; 350 a smash.  “What are you talking about?” Dick replied. “You’re going to have 500 people!” 

Last year at Brown's Coffee Shop
Dick Deal was right. Five hundred people turned out the first year.  On a splendid evening the venues were jammed from start to finish.  Folks strolled along the streets of North City chatting about venues and food. An election year, 2007 saw candidates making use of the evening to meet and greet. The musicians loved short sets and quick breaks. The musicians’ “after party” at the Bistro buzzed for hours. The first North City Jazz Walk was a hit!

Now in its sixth year, the North City Jazz Walk is an anticipated annual event. Partners, sponsors, and civic groups continue to provide invaluable support, in-kind services, and goods. It is a community effort that depends on a corps of volunteers thanks to Ellen Sullivan, Vicki Carnahan, Charlotte Haines, Scott Keeny, Gary Batch, and Sharon Knight.  

For variety, the 2012 line up boasts the fabulous salsa dance band Tumbao, Northwest jazz icon Greta Matassa, and Hook Me Up (discovered last year at Celebrate Shoreline). The complete line up and ticket information may be found at the website. The street closes to vehicles at 6pm for Jazz Bites, a new feature this year offering good, quick food as you stroll.


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Doug "the perfesser" Reid returns to North City Lounge for Jazz Walk

Friday, July 13, 2012

Plan to spend the evening of August 14th at the popular North City Jazz Walk. Returning for the 6th year, this annual event is a must do for Shoreline jazz lovers. Stroll along 15th Avenue NE to enjoy great live jazz at one great venue after another between 7 – 10 pm. This year, come early and enjoy “Jazz Bites” delicious food items specifically provided for the event.

The 2012 line-up of 10 eclectic groups offers a close-up experience with some of the area’s best jazz players:

Doug "the perfesser" Reid
will play at Jazz Walk
Photo courtesy SCC
Shoreline’s favorite sax player, Doug “the perfesser” Reid, returns to the North City Lounge with his gritty roadhouse sound. This group is a must for fans of straight ahead jazz and “roadhouse” bebop. Doug says to expect the unexpected, join in “name-that-tune,” and listen for random acts of expression. Check out the infamous Andy Roben’s hard driving, funky organ style reminiscent of Hammond B-3 masters. Dr. Tim Norton, local chiropractor and music lover sponsors the North City Lounge stage.

Advanced tickets for $12 are on sale now. Capacity at indoor venues is limited so buy tickets early at designated locations or online. Tickets will be available at the event for $15. Parking is plentiful and free. Here is a map of the venues, artist profiles, and Jazz Bite offerings.

The North City Jazz Walk is produced by the North City Business Association (NCBA) in partnership with the City of Shoreline, the Shoreline/Lake Forest Park Arts Council and by generous in-kind contributions from the Journal Magazine and CleanScapes.

This year the NCBA added a feature that lets everyone help promote the event. Become a North City Jazz Walk friend by purchasing a cling-on sticker. The sticker comes with two tickets. More information here.

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North City Jazz Walk August 14 features jazz vocalist Greta Matassa

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Greta Matassa on the St Mark stage
Plan to spend the evening of August 14th at the popular North City Jazz Walk. Returning for the 6th year, this annual event is a must do for Shoreline jazz lovers. 

Stroll along 15th Avenue NE to enjoy great live jazz at one great venue after another between 7 – 10 pm. This year, come early and enjoy “Jazz Bites” delicious food items specifically provided for the event. 


The 2012 line-up of 10 eclectic groups offers a close-up experience with some of the area’s best jazz players.

Iconic jazz vocalist Greta Matassa headlines the North City Jazz Walk with the dynamic Critical Mass Big Band at St. Mark Church.

Voted four times the best jazz vocalist in the Northwest by Earshot Jazz, Greta’s remarkable range and interpretation of the American Song Book reveal a deep understanding of vocal jazz. Anderson House, a North City icon in its own right, is the proud sponsor of the St. Mark stage.

Advanced tickets for $12 are on sale now. Capacity at indoor venues is limited so buy tickets early at designated locations or online. Tickets will be available at the event for $15. Parking is plentiful and free. Here is a map of the venues, artist profiles, parking, and Jazz Bite offerings. 

The North City Jazz Walk is produced by the North City Business Association (NCBA) in partnership with the City of Shoreline, the Shoreline/Lake Forest Park Arts Council and by generous in-kind contributions from the Journal Magazine and CleanScapes.

The Jazz Walk is staged on 15th NE in North City, between NE 175th and NE 180th.



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Jazz Camp for middle and high school students - sign up now for August

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

2011 students perform at the North City Jazz Walk
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

The Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council is now accepting students for their 2012 Shoreline Jazz Camp to be held August 6 – 10, 13, 14, from 9 am - 1 pm.

2012 Shoreline Jazz Camp is for middle and high school students. The mission of the Shoreline Jazz Camp is to provide young musicians the opportunity to learn and play with some of the region’s most accomplished teachers and performers. The program creates a safe and structured learning environment, in which students of varying skill levels are able to share in the joy of playing Jazz. The camp includes instruction in large and small ensembles, and a series of master classes that are designed to refine the individual’s skills and understanding of Jazz.

The jazz camp is at Shorewood High School for students currently in grades 7-12. The cost is $315 and some scholarships are available.

Classes include:
  • Jazz Combo/Improv
  • Big Band
  • Jazz Theory and Harmony
  • Sight-Reading
  • The Art of Solo Transcription
  • Ear Training
  • And many more…..

The camp will showcase the students’ hard work in two performances on August 14. The first will be an 11 am lunch concert at Shorewood High School, and the second will be at 7 pm at the Shoreline North City Jazz Walk, 17739 15th Ave NE.

Applications are available online now. For more information, including scholarships and deadlines, contact the Arts Council at 206-417-4645.



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Street scenes at 2011 Jazz Walk in North City

Friday, August 19, 2011

It was the kind of evening where people would stop and talk.
Photo by Jerry Pickard.


Street vendors sold food and goods along the street.
Photo by Jerry Pickard.

Dance instruction from Salsa Hot Latin Dance while the band Tumbao played.
Photo by Steven H. Robinson.
Were any of the new salsa dancers in this group?  Tumbao plays.
Photo by Steven H. Robinson.
It was warm enough to sit outside comfortably to listen to Sonado Latin Jazz.
Photo by Jerry Pickard.
Or you could sit inside and listen to Pearl Django.
Photo by Steven H. Robinson.

The Janette West Quartet played in the intimate setting of the North City Bistro.
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

If you missed Jazz Walk this year, put it on your calendar for August 2012.  It just keeps getting bigger and better every year.  

But one piece of Jazz Walk is left to admire, the living street decorations - the baskets of flowers hanging on the street lights.


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Jazz Camp is a crowd-pleaser at the North City Jazz Walk

Photo by Steven H. Robinson

Faculty and students of the Jazz Camp (see previous story) were real crowd-pleasers at the 2011 Jazz Walk on Tuesday evening, August 16.  Jazz Camp was sponsored by the Shoreline - Lake Forest Park Arts Council.

Photo by Jerry Pickard.

The audience gathered early and stayed strong into the night.

Photo by Steven H. Robinson
Photo by Jerry Pickard

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Evening traffic detoured around Jazz Walk venue Tuesday evening

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Looking north on 15th NE in North City.  Photo by Jerry Pickard.

The "road to be closed" signs were up the day before, but the road closure on 15th NE for the Jazz Walk on Tuesday, August 16, still came as a surprise to evening commuters.

Traffic was backed up toward Seattle on 15th NE, with cars waiting through at least one light cycle before turning left onto NE 175th to be routed onto 10th NE, then back up to 15th via NE 180th.

Southbound traffic on 10th NE had a slow crawl to get to 15th NE.
A surprising number of cars were headed southbound on 10th NE, apparently coming from SR 99 to get on 15th NE southbound. They moved at a slow crawl through the intersection at NE 175th.

Listening to Jazz Camp performers.  Photo by Jerry Pickard.

People already on the street for Jazz Walk were doing just fine on a warm summer evening.



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Jazz Walk Tuesday Evening

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

North City Jazz Walk on Tuesday, August 16 at 7 pm


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2011 North City Jazz Walk will have you dancing in the street

Sunday, August 14, 2011


It's the best live jazz you’ll hear anywhere, especially on a hot August night. And it's the best ticket bargain in town: 10 venues along one street for just $12.

Greta Matassa
The annual North City Jazz Walk will spice up your Tuesday evening on August 16 with extraordinary music from professional artists Greta Matassa, Jimmy Holden and Pearl Django, to name just a few.

15th Avenue between NE 175th and 180th in North City will be closed at 7 pm so that jazz fans can make their way to a variety of venues, both indoors and out. In addition to the blue notes, improvisation, syncopation, swing, bebop, Latin and Cuban-African reverberations that will be heard along 15th NE, you won't want to miss the unique sounds of bands Sonando, Janette West Quartet, The Doug Reid Group, The Young Lizards, and the very talented Shoreline Jazz Camp Students and Faculty.

New this year is the salsa band Tumbao, which will be center stage in Shoreline — in the center of the street! Although guests are welcome to sit and listen, dancing is encouraged. Don’t know how to salsa dance? Instructor and salsa master Eduardo Aguirre will be on hand to help teach the basic steps.

Jazz lovers can dine at several of the venues throughout the evening, with food vendors also on hand and Rain City Rotary's beer garden open to the public. Attendees can pick up a CD from their favorite bands or artists at one convenient booth located in the center of all the action.

This three-hour evening of jazz is presented by the North City Business Association, the City of Shoreline, and a number of community sponsors. The Jazz Walk also serves as the kick-off event for Celebrate Shoreline. Tickets for the North City Jazz Walk are available online  for $12 per person. Tickets may also be purchased at the event for $15.


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Shoreline Jazz Camp Student and Faculty Ensembles at the North City Jazz Walk August 16

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Aljoya Thorton Place and the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council’s Summer of Fun Concerts in the Park Series is proud to present the Shoreline Jazz Camp Student and Faculty Ensembles as part of the North City Jazz Walk on Tuesday, August 16 at 7 p.m. 

This free concert will take place on the Showmobile Stage in the Industrial Air parking lot at 17739 15th Ave NE in Shoreline and is the culminating concert for the annual Shoreline Jazz Camp. Each year over 60 middle school and high school students gather for a 7 day intensive, hands on jazz camp experience with some of the finest musicians the northwest has to offer. The concert will showcase the pieces those students worked on in camp as well as the talents of the faculty.

Jazz Camp student and faculty perform at North City Jazz Walk 2010.  Photo by Steven H. Robinson.

More on the North City Jazz Walk
Join the North City Business Association, the Shoreline-LakeForest Park Arts Council and the City of Shoreline as they present the 2011 North City Jazz Walk on Tuesday, August 16 from 7-10 p.m. 

This is the 5th annual event and it serves as the kick-off for Celebrate Shoreline week. The evening includes a wide variety of jazz artists, including Greta Matassa, Jimmy Holden, and Pearl Django, playing in different venues in the North City neighborhood of Shoreline, as well as a street fair atmosphere

Dancing is encouraged!
New this year is the addition of the salsa band Tumbao who will be center stage in the center of the street. Although guests are welcome to sit and listen, dancing is encouraged! 

Attendees can visit as many of the stages as they wish throughout the evening, as well as enjoy fine wine, beer and great food. The Shoreline Jazz Camp show is the only free show during this event. Tickets for the North City Jazz Walk are $15 on the day of the event or can be purchased in advance for $12 at various locations around Shoreline. Visit NorthCityJazzWalk  for more information.

The 2011 Summer of Fun Concerts in the Park Series’ season sponsor is Aljoya Thorton Place. Pursue your passions at Aljoya Thornton Place, Seattle's premier continuing care retirement community. Enjoy arts and cultural events, health and wellness programs, chef prepared cuisine, exceptional on-site health care, and much more - all while staying close to family, friends, shopping and downtown." Visit aljoya.com or call (206) 306-7920 for more information.

Additional support for the Summer of Fun Concerts in the Park series come from the Cities of Shoreline and Lake Forest Park, 4Culture Lodging Tax and Washington State Arts Commission. Information about these and other Arts Council events and programs is available at SLFPAC or by calling the SLFPAC at 206-417-4645.

The Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to nurture all of the arts in the community through programs and events, arts education, advocacy, and support for artists and arts organizations.

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North City Jazz Walk, Tuesday, August 16, 7-10pm, part of Celebrate Shoreline

Wednesday, August 3, 2011



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Jazz Walk has a perfect summer evening

Thursday, August 19, 2010

On a perfect summer evening, Tuesday, August 17, crowds strolled North City, trying to decide which of the eleven music venues to visit. This annual event is organized by North City business and community members and sponsored by the City of Shoreline.  There was a wait at some of the more intimate venues, but the crowd didn't seem to mind.  It was a party atmosphere and there was music outside, under canopies and on the Showmobile stage.  Darkness didn't discourage anyone, as the music played on.

SAN Photographer Steven H. Robinson brought us these photos.

Hot Club Sandwich at Brown & Company. Photo by Steven H. Robinson
Jazz Films at Do North.  Photo by Steven H. Robinson.
Jimmy Holden Trio at the North City Lounge.  Photo by Steven H. Robinson.
 Waiting to hear Susan Pascal at the North City Bistro.  Photo by Steven H. Robinson.



Jazz Camp performs on the Showmobile Stage.  Photo by Steven H. Robinson.

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North City Jazz Walk, Tuesday, August 17 - The North City Bistro

Friday, August 13, 2010


Courtesy of North City Bistro
Join the North City Business Association, the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council and the City of Shoreline as they present the 2010 North City Jazz Walk on Tuesday, August 17 from 7-10 pm.

This is the 4th annual event and it serves as the kick-off for Celebrate Shoreline week. The evening includes a wide variety of jazz artists playing in different venues in the North City neighborhood of Shoreline, as well as a street fair atmosphere. Attendees can visit as many of the stages as they wish throughout the evening, as well as enjoy fine wine, beer and great food. Tickets for the North City Jazz Walk are $15 on the day of the event or can be purchased in advance for $10 at various locations around Shoreline. Visit the website for more information.

Music is 7 pm to 10 pm with 4 sets of 30-35 minutes each with coordinated breaks so you can move on to your next choice. Food & beverages available at some venues, including the North City Bistro which has tickets on sale for $10.

Susan Pascal
One of the eleven venues is  the North City Bistro, 1520 NE 177th St, Shoreline 98155, 206-440-7544. It is a wine bar, wine shop, and regular venue for live jazz.  The Bistro serves "small plates," which are akin to generously sized hors d'oeuvres.  Dinner is served Tuesday through Saturday and Live jazz every Wednesday and Friday.

Vibraphonist Susan Pascal will be the featured artist for the Jazz Walk.  Her quartet includes Dave Peterson on guitar, Chuck Deardorf on bass, and Mark Ivester on drums. 

"Jazz vibraphonist Susan Pascal’s quartet strikes a fine balance between spontaneity and imaginative arrangements, originals and great jazz and American songbook standards."

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North City Jazz Walk, Tuesday, August 17, 7-10 pm

Sunday, August 8, 2010


Mark your calendars now for the North City Jazz Walk.
Tuesday, August 17 - 7 to 10 pm, at eleven venues in North City on NE 15th between NE 175th and 181st.  Ten different artists/groups perform and Da North has a film compilation of the jazz greats. Attendees can visit as many of the stages as they wish throughout the evening, as well as enjoy fine wine, beer and great food.

Tickets vary with when and where you make the purchase.
  • $10 in advance, through August 14 at the following locations: Laughing Ladies, North City Bistro, Brown's Coffee, Peking House, SL-LFP Arts Council.
  • $12 with the order form on the webpage or over the phone 206-364-4566.
  • $15 night of the event, if tickets are still available.
The website is NorthCityJazzWalk.

The main headliners are Greta Matassa and Pearl Django. This is the 4th annual event and it serves as the kick-off for Celebrate Shoreline week. It is sponsored by the North City Business Association, the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council and the City of Shoreline and multiple businesses.

Shoreline Jazz Camp Student and Faculty Ensembles will play on the Showmobile stage in the Industrial Air parking lot at 17739 15th Ave NE (See map) and is the culminating concert for the annual Shoreline Jazz Camp. Each year over 60 middle school and high school students gather for a 7 day intensive, hands on jazz camp experience with some of the finest musicians the northwest has to offer. The concert will showcase the pieces those students worked on in camp as well as the talents of the faculty.  This is the only free event during the Walk.

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