4/9: Francesco Crosara Quartet
Francesco Crosara is a Seattle based Italian jazz pianist, composer and educator performing in a variety of formations. Crosara’s original music melds an impressive mix of jazz improvisation, a romantic vein from his classical Conservatory training in Rome, bouncy lyrical expression along with strong Latin influences. His main jazz piano influences are Chick Corea, Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett, and Herbie Hancock.
Cost: $20 general, $10 students
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Website: www.francescojazz.com
4/16: Jeff Hamilton Trio
Don’t miss a performance by jazz drumming legend Jeff Hamilton! Influenced by greats like Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich, Hamilton’s illustrious career has seen him perform with jazz royalty, from Lionel Hampton and Woody Herman to Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, and Oscar Peterson. A founding member of the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra and leader of his own acclaimed trio, Hamilton has graced hundreds of recordings and shared the stage with artists like Diana Krall, Ray Brown, and Paul McCartney. A four-time Modern Drummer magazine Readers’ Poll winner and Jazz Cruise Hall of Fame inductee, Hamilton brings his unmatched talent and energy to every performance.
Lineup: Jeff Hamilton (drums); Tadataka Unno (piano); Jon Hamar (bass)
Cost: $30 general, $15 students (not included in Spring Pass)
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Website: www.hamiltonjazz.com
4/23: Transcendence Quartet
Pacific Northwest drummer, composer, and educator Christian Casolary reunites his Transcendence Quartet for a night of music that explores the relationship between darkness and light. This group features all-star musical masters playing a mix of original compositions and lesser-known jazz standards. Beauty, raw expression, gentle moments, and heavy cosmic swirls… buckle up for the Transcendence Quartet.
Lineup: Christian Casolary (drums), Mike Allen (saxophone), Miles Black (piano), Jeff Johnson (bass)
Cost: $20 general, $10 students
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Website: www.christiancasolary.com
5/14: Jared Hall Quintet
Trumpeter, composer and educator Jared Hall hails from Spokane, Washington. He studied at Whitworth University, the Indiana University Jacobs School Of Music and the University Of Miami’s Frost School Of Music, where he received the degree Doctor of Musical Arts in 2015. His primary teachers include Terence Blanchard, Joey Tartell, Dan Keberle, Whit Sidener, David Baker and Brian Lynch, under whom he pursued his doctoral studies. Hall is the winner of the 2013 National Trumpet Competition – Jazz Division, and has performed and recorded with Paquito D’Rivera, Bob Hurst, John Daversa, Arturo Sandoval, Maria Schneider, Vincent Herring, Peter Erskine, Dave Liebman, Alan Pasqua, Brian Lynch, Ira Sullivan, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Terence Blanchard, Rick Margitza, Wycliffe Gordon, David Binney, Johnny Mathis, George Benson, Gloria Estefan, Fred Hersch, Melissa Aldana, Shelly Berg, the South Florida Jazz Orchestra, and the Frost Concert Jazz Band.
Hall’s recording credits include his albums Influences (Origin Records, 2024), Seen on the Scene (Origin Records, 2021) and Hallways (Hollistic MusicWorks, 2017). Other recordings include Home at Last (Sierra Music, 2024), Inventions (OA2 Records, 2021), Cheap Thrills: The Music of Rick Margitza (Summit, 2020), North By Freaking Northwest (Skymuse, 2019), Jazz & The Philharmonic (OKeh, 2014), With Love (Jeremy Fox, 2014), Inspiration: A Tribute to Nat King Cole (George Benson, 2013), and others.
Cost: $20 general, $10 students
Purchase Advance Tickets: https://secure.givelively.org/event/whatcom-jazz-music-arts-center/jared-hall-quintet
5/28: Skerik Acoustic Quartet
SKERIK has toured with the following: Sadhappy, Critters Buggin, Ponga, Wayne Horvitz, Roger Waters, Les Claypool, Tuatara, Garage a Trois, The Dead Kenny Gs, Black Frames, Crack Sabbath, Maelstrom Trio, Bandalabra, Mad Season, Beta Popes, Omaha Diner, Syncopated Taint Septet, LORBO, Khu-eeX, Sound Cipher, DRKWAV, Skerik Band, OG GAT (original Garage a Trois) Stanton and Skerik’s Emerald Quintet, Robert Walter, Bobby Previte, Jamie Saft, MMOB, New York Composers Orchestra, Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, Headhunters, True Loves, Mctuff, Master Musicians of Jajouka, etc.
SKERIK has also recorded on over 200 records as a saxophonist, horn section, keyboardist, etc, SKERIK and his bands have been placed in feature films, independent films, TV, theatre, dance, etc, SKERIK has performed in major festivals all over the world mostly as a band member., SKERIK owns a studio in Seattle and records regularly as a session musician, horn arranger and soloist. He also continues to tour all over the world.
Cost: $20 general, $10 students
Purchase Advance Tickets: https://secure.givelively.org/event/whatcom-jazz-music-arts-center/skerik-acoustic-quartet
Website: www.skerikmusic.com
Questions? Feel free to contact Steve Jones at steve@jazzcenterofbellingham.org with any questions about tickets or seating accommodations.
Location
FireHouse Arts and Events Center1314 Harris Avenue, Bellingham, WA, 98225