Jazz Overhaul at Seattle Jazz Fellowship

It was bound to happen--a Seattle jazz band interpreting the classics of the grunge rock movement in the city that proliferated into a worldwide phenomena. After the synth-driven superficiality of the 80's, the grunge guitar rockers may have saved rock 'n roll, but what did they do for US (the jazz community)? The answer may lie in the now formidable amount of classic tunes lying in wait to be re-interpreted by those that may sense some things beyond the suffocating surrounding high walls of major chord insanity.

Not that interpreting grunge classics is an entirely original idea. Pianist Dan Kramlich led a jazz piano trio with the same intent for a variety dates at Tula's pre-pandemic...

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It was bound to happen--a Seattle jazz band interpreting the classics of the grunge rock movement in the city that proliferated into a worldwide phenomena. After the synth-driven superficiality of the 80's, the grunge guitar rockers may have saved rock 'n roll, but what did they do for US (the jazz community)? The answer may lie in the now formidable amount of classic tunes lying in wait to be re-interpreted by those that may sense some things beyond the suffocating surrounding high walls of major chord insanity.

Not that interpreting grunge classics is an entirely original idea. Pianist Dan Kramlich led a jazz piano trio with the same intent for a variety dates at Tula's pre-pandemic. But that softer approach cannot match the raw power that tenor saxophonist Cliff Colon brings to the table, no matter what the musical environment. Colon has a powerful presence to attach to his ultimate virtuosity, a dynamic that can range from earth-shattering voluminous retort to tender, romantic figures that forces an about-face emotionally. Drummer D'Vonne Lewis is a fourth generation Seattle musician, and the most visible member of the band. His joy is expressed with an original, swinging mechanism that is spontaneous, intricate and wholly exciting. Osama Afifi slides back and forth between double and electric bass, a perfect match for this particular machination. Jake Sele is known for his musical versatility that brings with it some serious, formidable chops. How he decides to fit into this fireball of musical intensity could very well make or break the premise of jazz musicians going full Mike McCready. I'll be betting on the former. In any case, this should be just plain fun. https://seattlejazzfellowship.org/events

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