Join us for the 36th Annual Earshot Jazz Festival!!!
Year after year, the Earshot festival celebrates Seattle's place in the world of jazz by featuring performances, premieres, and special projects by Seattle's esteemed resident artists alongside international masters.
This year's featured resident artist is SKERIK- a legendary saxophonist, arranger, and studio owner treasured for his work in the Emerald City. Also included in this year's festival is the world premiere of a festival commission from Freddy Fuego that will bend genre, rhythm and harmony to create compelling music. Special projects include workshops (to be announced soon); Garfield, Lincoln and Edmonds-Woodway High School Jazz Bands will take the stage with truly special guests; film screenings; and more. Playlists coming soon for listeners to get a glimpse into each each week of the festival.
Schedule of Events:
7:30 pm: Freddy "Fuego" Gonzalez
Freddy "Fuego" Gonzalez the New York-raised, Seattle-based multi-instrumentalist (trombone, trumpet, flute, keys; and host of Jazz Caliente on KNKX) presents his latest work, an Earshot commission. Composing for film, orchestra and small combos, he melds influences from hip-hop, reggae, funk, rock and orchestral music, always innovative and exploratory.
Fuego received his Master's degree in film scoring from Berklee College of Music in Valencia, Spain. During his time in New York, he has collaborated with B.B. King, Groundation, Talib Kweli, Dead Prez, Collie Buddz, De La Soul, Styles P, Fred Wesley, Delfeayo Marsalis, Arturo O'Farrill, Bobby Sanabria, and the Wu-Tang Clan among others. Internationally, Fuego has worked with Alejandro Sanz, Juan Luis Guerra, Ruben Blades, Laura Pausini, and Rosalia. Now based in Seattle, Fugeo has worked with Marina Albero, D'Vonne Lewis, the SRJO, Beserat Tafesse, Marina Christopher, Carter Eng, Davy Nefos, Marissa Kall, and many others.
For this performance with Earshot Jazz Fuego will be joined by an ensemble of local musicians. Stay tuned for more details.
Earshot Jazz COVID-19 Policy: Earshot recommends that all ticket holders be vaccinated. Policy subject to change. Full COVID policy here.
7:30 pm: What's Going On Festival: Conduction, Improvisation, and the Culture of Structure (2)
Julius Hemphill's Dogon A.D.
Hemphill's iconic 1975 recording with D'Vonne Lewis, Peggy Lee, Stephanie Richards and Marty Ehrlich.
St. Louis, Chicago, LA and New York: A Conduction
Re-imagining the music of Cecil Taylor, Art Ensemble of Chicago, Sun Ra, Julius Hemphill, Carla Bley and Ornette Coleman. With members of The Royal Room Collective Music Ensemble and special guests.
Conduction, Improvisation, and the Culture of Structure
Celebrating the legacies of Lawrence "Butch" Morris, Sun Ra, and Julius Hemphill. Advance tickets can only be purchased online-we do not sell advance tickets at the venue. Refunds are not available within 48 hours of the event. Tickets do not guarantee seating during shows at the Royal Room.
We are now accepting reservations for diners! After purchasing tickets, please visit the Reservations page to book a table. Table reservations require advance tickets, and are only for guests who plan to dine at the Royal Room. We do not take reservations over the phone.
8:00 pm: Skerik-solo
With Blazinspace (aka Gardenia Theroux) transforming the space with immersive digital projections, Skerik, Festival Resident Artist, performs solo saxophone with a complex multiple EFX system based around harmonizers and a balanced continuous matrix routing system. Those allow him to program effects in multiple arrays and create up to nine independent voices through one saxophone. He constructs dynamic, symphonic improvisations inspired by such composers and improvisers as Wayne Shorter, Ornette Coleman, Olivier Messiaen, and Steve Reich.
Earshot Jazz COVID-19 Policy: Earshot recommends that all ticket holders be vaccinated. Policy subject to change. Full COVID policy here.
Additional Dates:
