MUSIC

The Jazz Main Stage

What better way to enjoy a fun weekend of great wine and food than with the accompaniment of some of Seattle’s best jazz artists? This year, Pony Boy Records is pleased to welcome our main stage musical guests.

Music Schedule

Friday, July 18

6:00 - 7:15 BUDDY CATLETT TRIO w/Jay Thomas, Greg Williamson

7:30 - 8:45 LEAH STILLELL & HANS BREMER w/Clipper Anderson

Saturday, July 19

2:00 - 3:15 MONKSTONE THEOCRACY w/Bill Anschell, Mike West, Chris Symer, Greg Williamson

3:30 - 4:45 KAREN SHIVERS QUARTET w/Bill Anschell, Doug Miller, Greg Williamson

6:00 - 7:15 JAY THOMAS QUARTET w/John Hansen, Chuck Kistler, Adam Kessler

7:30 - 8:45 PONY BOY ALL-STAR SMALL LARGE BAND w/Jay Thomas, Mike West, Alexey Nikolaev, Dan Marcus, John Hansen, Chuck Kistler, Greg Williamson

Sunday, July 20

2:30 - 3:45 GREG WILLIAMSON QUARTET w/Alexey Nikolaev, Jon Hamar, Tony Foster

4:00 - 5:15 PETE PETERSEN PORKPIE SEPTET & DANCE

Pony Boy Records

Greg Williamson, Artistic Director and Producer, Pony Boy Records

Greg Williamson, drummer, percussionist and composer, has toured as a member of the swinging big bands of Woody Herman, Glenn Miller and Harry James. He has appeared on over 30 CDs, including the recent Jazzinit by singer Dee Daniels, which has been charting #1 across Canada. He traveled several years with Steve Allen and Tonight Show Live with legendary pianist Paul Smith. He has performed with Seattle's own and widely renowned vocalist Ernestine Anderson since 1991, presently acting as her musical director. For many years he has led his own groups ranging from Greg Williamson Quartet to the Pony Boy All-Star Big Band. In 1994 he founded Pony Boy Records which has produced 40 releases, the weekly series Jazz & Sushi, and the annual Pony Boy Records Jazz Picnic which received a 2006 Earshot Jazz Golden Ear Award for "significant and enduring contributions." Discover more at ponyboyrecords.com.

Artist Bio's

Buddy Catlett Trio

Buddy Catlett played his bass back in the late 1940’s on Seattle’s fabled Jackson Street with Quincy Jones and Ray Charles, then hit the road from the 1950s to 1970s with Jones, Cal Tjader, Count Basie, and Louis Armstrong, and recorded landmark albums with them, Frank Sinatra, and others. In 1978 he returned to Seattle, where he is held in both awe and admiration. He is joined on stage with multi-instrumentalist Jay Thomas and drummer Greg Williamson.

Leah Stillwell

Vocalist Leah Stillwell is influenced by the greats Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Billie Holiday. Born and raised in Western Washington, Leah is inspired by the diverse flavors and talents of the local jazz community. Calm and alluring, her tunes will relax you into the finest essence of vocal jazz. Her debut CD "So This Is Love" is on Pony Boy Records. Joined onstage by Hans Brehmer at the piano and Clipper Anderson on bass.

Hans Brehmer

Pianist-Singer-Songwriter has a solid piano sound with dry lyrical twists and wit. It's like Dave Frishberg meets Randy Newman, in a jazz trio setting. There are some twisted sentiments here... always crowd pleasing and entertaining, with a little something extra for those who listen close. His early CD for Pony Boy Records is titled "When God Was A Boy."

Monkstone Theocracy

Monkstone Theocracy is a coalition of like-minded jazzers with a passion for the music of the angular be-bop master Thelonious Monk. The compositions of Monk are presented in a totally authentic style, angular harmonies and melodies with a bouncy rhythmic undercurrent. To this are added the improvisations, which are modern jazz. The Monk style also serves as a springboard for completely new and fresh original compositions. Bill Anschell, piano; Chris Symer, bass; Greg Williamson, drums; guest Mike West, sax.

Karen Shivers

Karen Shivers is the 2008 winner of the 'Seattle-Kobe Sister City Association's' Best Female Jazz Vocalist competition. She has been singing in and around the Puget Sound region for twelve years. Karen's 2006 CD is titled "Precious Love" - she will be joined onstage by the recording cast from the CD, Bill Anschell, piano, Doug Miller, bass, and Greg Williamson, drums.

Jay Thomas

Trumpeter and saxophonist Jay Thomas, winner of the ‘96 & '98 Golden Ear Award for Best Instrumentalist, is at once a consummate craftsman and an emotionally charged improviser. Following an exciting career in Boston, New York and the Bay Area, Jay moved back to Seattle becoming a frequent presence at Parnell’s Jazz Club working engagements with a host of jazz greats. Through his critically acclaimed recordings, his non-stop gig schedule and his appearances on over 60 albums, Jay has become one of the most important figures in Seattle jazz. The quartet includes John Hansen, piano; Chuck Kistler, bass, and Adam Kesseler, drums.

Pony Boy All-Star Small Large Band

The Pony Boy All-Star Small Large Band is what jazz is all about. Many of the musicians from the day’s festival will come together in a large group. This is an original event not to be missed. Listen for musical selections from their large ensemble CD of "Conversations and Deconstructions: Jazz Traditions" featuring sampled stories from local jazz traditions and legends -- the piece was nominated for 2005 "Concert Of The Year" by Earshot's Golden Ear Awards. In addition to Dan Marcus on trombone and tuba, look for Jay Thomas, Mike West, Alexey Nikolaev, John Hansen, Chuck Kistler, Greg Williamson, and more.

Greg Williamson Quartet

The Greg Williamson Quartet is inspired by jazz's classic period. Their music fuses familiar tunes with more modern harmonies and grooves. To this foundation of hard swing and be-bop is layered the sounds of Thelonious Monk, Wayne Shorter, and Williamson originals. Their music has been listed in the Top Ten by Jazz Times Year In Review. They have performed around the world in clubs, festivals, and an inaugural performance at White River Amphitheater, Earshot Jazz Festival and more. With Tony Foster, piano; Jon Hamar, bass; and the inflectuous Alexey Nikolaev on tenor saxophone.

Pete Peterson and the Porkpie Septet

The Porkpie Septet was founded in 2002 by saxophonist Pete Petersen in Portland. The band's original mission was to recreate the hard-swinging sound of the classic Kansas City swing bands of the 1930's, a scene that gave rise to giants like Count Basie, Lester Young, and Charlie Parker. The band has grown up since then, choosing to focus on original jazz and bop while staying true to the notion that the originators of this music called jazz were in fact the Rock Stars of their day. Their music connects with audiences and gets people up on their feet and dancing. Porkpie has hit the national stage, playing jazz and swing festivals in Chicago, Denver, Phoenix, Seattle, Boise and beyond. His new CD "Keep Your Hat On" is on Pony Boy Records.

The Classical Fountain Stage

The Kirkland Cultural Council Fountain Stage is the perfect setting for enjoying the light sounds of classical music brought to you by 98.1 Classical KING FM. The Kirkland Cultural Council promotes the arts and heritage in Kirkland. They oversee the City's significant public art collection and work with community members to find ways to bring more of the arts into the everyday lives of residents and visitors. The Council is a catalyst for bringing together local arts and heritage groups with the goal of making Kirkland a more artistically inspired place.