Passings - Dutch Composer, Bandleader Willem Breuker

European Jazzman Willem Breuker, the longtime leader of the Willem Breuker Kollektief, passed away in Amsterdam on July 23rd at the age of 65.  Read the New York Times obituary.

Jazz In The Valley - Ellensburg, WA July 31- August 1

The 12th Annual Jazz In The Valley Music Festival in beautiful downtown Ellensburg begins Thursday July 31st and concludes on Sunday August 1st. The festival consists of 3 days of music, food and fun. Some of the featured performers include Spokane's own Brent Edstrom Trio with Eugene Jablonsky and Rick Westrick; Too Slim and The Taildaraggers, Greta Matassa, Nancy King and many more. For more information, click on the Jazz in the Valley link.

56th Annual Newport Jazz Festival August 6th - 8th

George Wein's 56th Annual CareFusion Newport Jazz Festival in Newport, RI begins Friday August 6th and wraps up Sunday August 8th. The amazing roster of performers includes Herbie Hancock, Ahmad Jamal and Chick Corea. The festival is celebrating the 90th birthday of the Legendary Dave Brubeck who will be performing along with Wynton Marsalis. For  a full artist lineup, click the Newport Jazz Festival link above.

Veteran Bluesman Philip Walker has passed away

Veteran Texas/Gulf Coast Blues guitarist and vocalist Philip Walker passed away of heart failure on July 22nd. Read more at All About Jazz .


(Photo credit: Edward Brooks)

Programmers Pick - The Bob Mamet Trio

If you've been tuned in for the last couple of weeks, you've been hearing some great music from The Bob Mamet Trio. The trio consists of  Chicago native Bob Mamet on piano, veteran drummer, Joe LaBarbera and Darek Oles rounds things out on bass. Check out the review at All About Jazz.com

The 28th Annual Festival at Sandpoint August 5th -15th, 2010

The 28th annual Festival at Sandpoint Concert Series kicks off Thursday August 5th and runs through Sunday August 15th. Some of the headliners include Big Bad Voodoo Daddy who will start things off on Thursday August 5th, Keb Mo' August 7th and Michael Franti and Spearhead on August 13th. For a full listing of performers and ticket information click here.

Legendary Chicago Jazz broadcaster Dick Buckley passes way

Dick Buckley, the long time voice of Jazz in Chicago has passed away at the age of 85. Buckley had a 30 plus year tenure at the legendary WBEZ, which changed it's long time Jazz  format in 2007. Click here to learn more.

Food for Thought - The Color of Jazz Today

(Source:John Coltrane -The Official site)

Interesting Jazz Times article about the current lack of African American Jazz Artists, concert attendees and middle and high school students learning about the culture and performing the music.

Happy Birthday - Sonny Clark

Today, KEWU is celebrating the birthday of Hard Bop pianist Sonny Clark. Clark played with giants such as Trane, Dexter, Art Farmer and Donald Byrd. Clark did a brief stint in 1956 with Howard Rumsey's Light House All Stars, but soon returned to the East Coast.

He died of a heroin overdose in 1963. Learn more about this talented yet underexposed pianist here. (Source:The Hard Bop Homepage)

Passings - Paulo Moura Brazilian Instrumentalist, Composer and Arranger

The Grammy winning, Brazilian clarinetist Paula Moura has passed away at the age of 77. Read the New York Times obituary.

For more information check out the All About Jazz biography of this highly influential Brazilian artist.

Happy Birthday - Jack Teagarden

KEWU is celebrating the birthday of Weldon "Jack" Teagarden who was born on this day in 1905. Read more about this early, not so well known, but influential jazz trombonist here.

Programmers Pick - The Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra with Jimmy Heath

Check out the review of The Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra's "Endless Search" with Jimmy Heath... one of the most happening Big Band releases of the year on Seattle's own Origin Records. Be sure to tune into Jazz 89.5 to hear selections from this great release.
(Source: All About Jazz.com)

Happy Birthday - "Philly" Joe Jones!

Today we are celebrating the birthday of drummer "Philly" Joe Jones. Jones played with giants such as Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Art Pepper, Cannonball and Nat Adderley, Wes Montgomery, Tadd Dameron and many others. Read more about "Philly" Joe Jones here.

Happy Birthday - Johnny Hartman

 

Happy Birthday to vocalist Johnny Hartman! Read more about this Dizzy Gillespie Big Band Alumni at All About Jazz.com

Programmer's Pick - Azar Lawrence

Azar Lawrence is back and you can hear him on Jazz 89.5. Check out the stellar review of Azar's latest project, "Mystic Journey" at JazzTimes

Album sales drop, but digital sales take off.

Interesting article in Variety Magazine about music purchasing trends. 

The Blues Are Back!

Back by popular demand, KEWU is now playing the Blues on Friday Nights. 

Be sure to tune in on Friday evenings at 10pm  for 2 BIG HOURS of the Blues on KEWU!

Eicher and ECM win Down Beat poll for 3rd consecutive year.

For the third time in as many years, producer Manfred Eicher and ECM have been awarded Producer of the year and Label of the year by Downbeat Magazine. ECM is home to artists such as John Abercrombie, Geri Allen, Keith Jarrett, Chic Corea and Manu Katche. Listen to KEWU to hear selected cuts from the latest releases from Keith Jarrett (Jasmine) and Manu Katche (Third Round)

Happy Birthday - Ahmad Jamal!

Ahmad Jamal  is a virtuoso American jazz pianist, composer and arranger. He is one of the most successful small-group leaders in jazz. Born July 2, 1930 in Pittsburgh, PA, Jamal has been performing for over 50 years! Click here to learn more about Ahmad Jamal.