Annual Earshot Jazz Festival

Join us for the 36th Annual Earshot Jazz Festival!!!

Year after year, the Earshot festival celebrates Seattle's place in the world of jazz by featuring performances, premieres, and special projects by Seattle's esteemed resident artists alongside international masters.

This year's featured resident artist is SKERIK- a legendary saxophonist, arranger, and studio owner treasured for his work in the Emerald City. Also included in this year's festival is the world premiere of a festival commission from Freddy Fuego that will bend genre, rhythm and harmony to create compelling music. Special projects include workshops (to be announced soon); Garfield, Lincoln and Edmonds-Woodway High School Jazz Bands will take the stage with truly special guests; film screenings; and more. Playlists coming soon for listeners to get a glimpse into each each week of the festival.

Schedule of Events:

7:30 pm: Flat Earth Society Orchestra

Flat Earth Society (FES), the Belgian mega-big band of 15 players, founded and led by Peter Vermeersch, is celebrating its 25th anniversary. It creates riveting, wildly entertaining music, smart and political. The madhouse maximalist juggernaut ensemble, with dazzling chops honed over 25 years, is wildly innovative, complex, incendiary, and as tight as a fine classical orchestra. Expect jazz of unrivaled spirit and verve from this thrilling and friendly eclectic behemoth. FES is touring North America with their new album THE ONE.

They mix the rich Northwest European brass band tradition with oddball topsy-turvy creativity. Taking Belgian whimsy to a logical, irresistible extreme FES straddles the border between multi-color surrealism and savvy skill. Composer, reed player, producer and bandleader Peter Vermeersch, co-piloted by pianist and composer Peter Vandenberghe, have shaped their 15-piece orchestra into one of the most productive and thrilling bands of its kind. While Flat Earth Society's compositions and arrangements betray 20th century traditions-from jazz to rock, exotica and contemporary music-they embody a decidedly forward-looking 21st century spirit. Quick-witted, effortlessly eccentric and always on the lookout for new challenges, Flat Earth Society is that rare beast: a constantly evolving orchestra that is most in its natural environment at a live show.

The ensemble includes: Gert-Jan Dreessen, drums; Peter Vandenberghe, piano and keyboards; Kristof Roseeuw, double bass; Maarten Flamand, guitar; Wim Segers, vibraphone; Bart Maris, trumpet; Jon Birdsong, trumpet; Peter Delannoye, trombone; Marc Meeuwissen, trombone; Berlinde Deman, tuba; Peter Vermeersch, (bass) clarinet and electronix; Martí Melià, (bass) clarinet; Bruno Vansina, baritone sax and flute; Sylvain Debaisieux, alto sax; and Michel Mast, tenor sax.

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