By Amy Musser
L I S T E N:
EARSHOT JAZZ FESTIVAL
Every autumn the Earshot Jazz Festival brings a stellar line-up of jazz acts to venues all across the city. This year it’s back and bigger than ever with more than 50 concerts showcasing some of the best and hottest talent in the contemporary jazz scene. This breadth of talent spans genres, styles, and proclivities of all kinds. From the “telepathic free jazz” of Marilyn Crispell, Joe Fonda, Harvey Sorgen at the Chapel Performance Space, to the Yemenite Jewish and ancient Arabic sounds from Yemen Blues Plays Hallel at The Triple Door, there is truly something for everyone.
Not to be missed: Cecile McLorin Salvant a thirty year old three-time Grammy winning jazz vocalist will take the stage at Town Hall with Aaron Diehl on keys. Salvant has been lauded as one of the best jazz singers to emerge from the last decade by the NYT, and blends elements of classic jazz vocals with a fresh, unique spin that is all her own. She gives herself away with abandon in moments, and then springs back to a more restrained but impeccable style, creating connection and intrigue all the while with her crystalline vocals. Other acts that are sure to impress include Gerald Clayton, Orrin Evans, and Makaya McCraven, among many others. You can discover these artists and more here on this exclusive mix of Earshot artists.
W I T N E S S:
LOCALLY SOURCED AT PNB
Locally Sourced is a triple header that features three contemporary dance performances from local choreographers.These never-before-seen performances offer a tonal shift from the usual PNB suspects, and showcase three distinctly creative choreographers’ works from the region.
First on the roster is Choreographer Eva Stone who worked with an all-women design team and selected music from five female composers for her first work to grace the PNB stage, F O I L. Meanwhile local choreographer Donald Byrd, a grammy-nominated choreographer (The Color Purple), will debut his sixth performance for the PNB. His own Love and Loss is a 22-person performance set to music by Emmanuel Witzthum. Last but not least is a multi-media work titled Wash of Gray that features video, visual arts, and soundscapes from Miles Pertl, his sister, visual artist Sydney M. Pertl, and composer Jherek Bischoff. Locally Sourced kicks off October 29 and runs through early November
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W A T C H:
PARASITE AT SIFF
Class conflict is centerstage in Parasite, the latest film from Joon-Ho Bong. Set in modern day Tokyo, the plot revolves around two families, the Kings and the Parks. The Kings, a picture-perfect example of wealth and privilege, begin to employ various members of the impoverished Park family in order to maintain their life of ease and entitlement. But things go awry when a mysterious interloper arrives, threatening to nullify this balanced, seemingly symbiotic relationship between the two families.
It’s hard to imagine that Parasite isn’t going to be good given its current 100 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and the fact that it took home the Palme D’or this year at The Cannes Film Festival. What’s more elusive, however, is the genre of this film. Whatever this comedy/drama/thriller mashup is, it certainly seems to be shocking and inspiring audiences and critics everywhere, specifically with the way it unravels into something completely unexpected. But suffice it to say, you should see this film from Joon-Ho Bong, who wrote and directed the film, when it finally debuts in Seattle at SiFF in mid-October.