Preview: The 2010 Bellevue Jazz Festival, June 3rd-6th, 2010, Bellevue, Washington

2010 Bellevue Jazz Festival- Bellevue, Washington, June 3^rd-6^th, 2010

Article and photo credits/copyrights: E. Joyce Glasgow, www.artsandculturescene.com

Photos above of one of the 2010 Bellevue Jazz Festival headliners, vocalist, Saschal Vasandani, taken by E. Joyce Glasgow, at Vasandani's Jazz Alley appearance, in Seattle, Wa., November 2009.

The 2010 Bellevue Jazz Festival is taking place this weekend, June 3^rd through June 6^th in Bellevue, Washington, in venues throughout the downtown area and the Meydenbauer Center.

Three years ago the Downtown Bellevue Business Association resuscitated the event after a number of years on hiatus. It used to be held on the Bellevue Community College campus.

The lineups have been top notch each of the last three years, with each festival progressively bringing more and more big names of jazz on the schedule. The 2008 Festival featured Branford Marsalis and the Spanish Harlem Orchestra. The 2009 Festival, which I had the pleasure of attending, featured the incomparable jazz vocalist, Kurt Elling, with his trio, popular vocalist, Dianne Reeves in a unique trio setting for voice and two guitars called “Strings Attached”, the Mingus Big Band, vocalist/pianist, Patricia Barber and pianist, Danilo Perez.

The Festival also features a number of local jazz musicians and bands, including student jazz bands, in free concerts, in restaurants, bars and hotels around the Meydenbauer Center, throughout the weekend, creating a full and exciting musical experience for listeners and providing local musicians with opportunities to showcase their groups to new audiences.

This year’s headline lineup includes the muscular, assertive trio, The Bad Plus, on June 4^th, known especially for their intriguing jazz twists on pop and rock hits.

Dynamic trumpeter, Terrance Blanchard will bring straight ahead jazz to Bellevue on June 5th, with his tight quintet of accomplished musicians.

Legendary, energetic and fiery, jazz guitarist, Pat Martino, will perform in a trio setting on June 5^th.

An especially intriguing sounding duo concert, by superb husband and wife pianists, Bill Charlap and Renee Rosnes, will take place on June 6^th, on a double bill with the refreshing, emotionally expressive, young Chicago vocalist/songwriter, Saschal Vasandani, pictured above.

Local musicians to perform throughout the weekend include Randy Halberstadt, Bill Anschell, Thomas Marriott, The Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra, Gail Pettis, Overton Berry, John Hansen, Joe Doria, June Tonkin, Primo Kim, Matt Jorgensen, Katrina Cope, Jose Gonzales, Collier and Dean, Jeff Johnson, Devin Phillips, Red Shoes, Mark Taylor, Josh Rawlings, Murl Allen Sanders, Eric Verlinde, Origin Records jam and the student jazz combos of Ingraham High, Eckstein Middle School, Mountlake Terrace High, Federal Way High, Bellevue High, Langley Middle School, Newport High, Edmonds-Woodway High and Tyee Middle School.

Visit www.bellevuejazz.com for more information and tickets.