The Ballard Jazz Festival kicks off with Brotherhood of the Drum showcase
Ready, Ballard? Set, jazz fans? Then go, Ballard Jazz Festival!
Now in its fifth year, the Ballard Jazz Fest has become one of the most popular and lively jazz events of the year. It gets started next week with the Brotherhood of the Drum on Wednesday and Thursday.
Night One kicks off with the kick drum, featuring former Santana drummer Michael Shrieve, Julian Priester sideman Byron Vannoy and festival co-founder Matt Jorgensen.
Brotherhood of the Drum Night Two features Heart drummer Ben Smith, popular young Seattle tubsman D'Vonne Lewis and festival co-founder John Bishop.
The two-night drum-in starts at 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday at the Sunset Tavern, 5433 Ballard Ave. N.W., Seattle; $13-$15 (21 and up).
The rest of the jazz fest schedule:
April 25: Hadley Caliman Quartet, Hal Galper Trio. The concert starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Nordic Heritage Museum, 3014 N.W. 67th St., Seattle; $20.
• The Ballard Jazz Walk. Musical performances start at 8:30 p.m. and feature Matt Jorgensen +451, Marc Seales Group, Sam Yahel Trio, Brent Jensen, Jay Thomas, Bill Anschell, Gail Pettis Quartet, Tumbao, Ben Thomas, Jovino Santos Neto and others. Bands play at the Sunset Tavern, Conor Byrne Pub, Bad Albert's, the New York Fashion Academy, Egan's Ballard Jam House, the Lock & Keel Tavern, Resolution Audio, the Collective, Sonic Boom Records, Bop Street Records and Portalis — venues all within blocks of each other on Ballard Avenue, Market Street and Leary Way; $15-$20.
April 26: Lee Konitz with the Hal Galper Trio, Sam Yahel Trio. Concert starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Nordic Heritage Museum; $30-$35.
April 27: Swedish Pancake Jazz Brunch. Starting at 11 a.m., close off the jazz festival with a pancake brunch featuring a jazz performance by Brent Jensen. At the Nordic Heritage Museum; $5-$10.
Tickets for some events can be purchased online, and combo tickets are available for multiple events; get more details at the Web site or by calling the Ballard Jazz Fest (
www.ballardjazzfestival.com or 206-219-3649).
Linear Mode
