Upcoming Jazz Festival features some Seattle jazz greats

Friday – Sunday, August 30 – September 1, Orcas Center

— from Kristen Wilson for Orcas Island Jazz Festival —

Tickets are on sale now at www.OrcasCenter.org for the Orcas Island Jazz Festival. Get set 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. 

Saturday night’s Martin Lund, one of the most diverse musicians in the universe, lives and breathes music in many different colors and cultures. He has played with some of the great blues artists of our time and 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. Along with jazz singer, Gail Pettis, and some of his favorite musicians, this night will be no exception.

Sunday night’s Jovino Santos Neto is among the top Brazilian musicians working today. Jovino’s personal style is a creative blend of energetic grooves, deep harmonies, telepathic improvisation, lyrical melodies and great ensemble playing – always inspired and informed by the colorful richness of Brazilian music. Jovino brings to the island his Quinteto of masterful Seattle musicians that compliment his style.

Gail Pettis, who is featured both Friday and Saturday nights, is a two-time winner of the Earshot Jazz Golden Ear “Northwest’s Vocalist of the Year” award. JazzTimes says Pettis maintains “a retro air that hints at the silken sophistication and storytelling elan of the young Nancy Wilson.” Her live performances have been described as going “from strength to strength, performing a winning, crowd-involving style of vocal jazz.”

New this year are 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 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. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to get guidance from two jazz greats.