Tickets going fast for Orcas Island Jazz Festival

— from Kristen Wilson —

Tickets are selling faster than in past years, so if you want to see the great jazz artists this weekend at the Orcas Island Jazz Festival – you’ll want to move quickly before the shows sell-out. Tickets are on sale now at www.OrcasCenter.org for three superb nights of great jazz from Friday, August 30, through Sunday September 1. This year’s festival will feature Pearl Django and guest artist Gail Pettis on Friday night, Martin Lund and the Off-Island All-Stars on Saturday night and Jovino Santos Neto Quinteto on Sunday night. (Get there early on Sunday for a pre-concert talk by Jovino starting at 6:45 p.m.) All concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. 

Friday night’s Pearl Django endures as one of the most highly regarded Hot Club style groups working today. Saturday night’s Martin Lund, an island favorite, has worked in the studios of LA as a composer, arranger and musician. He is well known for bringing great artists to this island and providing us with some of the best shows at Orcas Center and this event will be no exception. Jovino Santos Neto is among the top Brazilian musicians working today. He brings his Quinteto of masterful Seattle musicians to close out the Festival Sunday night. Gail Pettis, who appears both Friday and Saturday nights, is a two-time winner of the Earshot Jazz Golden Ear “Northwest’s Vocalist of the Year” award. 

A few slots are still available for the free Sunday afternoon workshops with Brazilian master pianist Jovino Santos Neto and exuberant drummer/percussionist Jeff Busch.  The workshops will be held at the Emmanuel Episcopal Church Parish Hall. To register for the piano/flute workshop (2:00 to 3:15 p.m.) with Jovino go to oijfpianoworkshop.rsvpify.com.  To register for the percussion workshop (3:30 to 4:45 p.m.) go to oijfpercussionworkshop.rsvpify.com. You don’t have to be a pianist or percussionist to attend.

Founder and Artistic Director of OIJF, Martin Lund is one of the most diverse musicians on Earth, lives right here on Orcas, and breathes music in many different colors and cultures. One of his great loves is passing on the joy of musical improvisation to kids from 8 to 88. The gift keeps on giving!