Jazz in the House that Grunge Built – This Thursday!

Jazz in the House that Grunge Built

The Croc, as we locals call it, opened just as the Grunge revolution was taking flight, and was home to early concerts by Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, and every Seattle band since. It’s also a favorite stop for touring acts like R.E.M., Yoko Ono, Beastie Boys and many more. What has been absent from their lineup has been jazz. Until now!

Read previews of the show by The Seattle Times and Seattle Weekly.

The Zubatto Syndicate is a new 12-piece ensemble under the direction of composer and guitarist Andrew Boscardin. This exciting new group features a unique synthesis of reed instruments and electric sounds, brass and stand up bass. Zubatto targets the musical place where Maria Schneider meets the Mahavishnu Orchestra, and the Roots meet Radiohead by way of Mingus. The music combines detailed arrangements and inventive harmonic ideas with rhythmic settings and idioms atypical of the jazz
orchestra, as realized by the some of the top improvising musicians in Seattle. Band members including Byron Vannoy (drums), Chris Stover (trombone), Greg Sinibaldi (bass clarinet and tenor saxophone), Francine Peterson (bassoon), Chad McCullough (trumpet), Taina Karr (oboe and English horn), Jon Hamar (bass), Mack Grout (keys), Clark Gibson (alto saxophone), Jim DeJoie (baritone saxophone),
Jesse Canterbury (clarinet) and Boscardin (guitar).

Owcharuk 5 plays a mix of Ukrainian folk music, jazz, and punk rock that runs the gamut between tightly orchestrated and freely improvised. The group has been together for 2 years and has developed a fresh, original sound based on Owcharuk’s concept of the music of his ancestors and the unique musical vision of the band members. Band includes Beth Fleenor (clarinet), Jim Knodle (trumpet), Nate Omdal (bass), and Cody Rahn (drums), and Owcharuk (accordion and piano).

Water Babies play what they call Spontaneous Funk. Each show is brand new and fully improvised. Magical interaction and tight coherence ensue as they develop new musical ideas in every moment. Drawing inspiration from each other, from the audience, from the atmosphere of the room, and from their musical forefathers, groups like Herbie Hancock’s Headhunters, Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew band, Maceo
Parker, and Medeski, Martin & Wood. Featuring Jason Parker (trumpet), Mack Grout (keys), Aaron Kassover (bass) and Brad Gibson (drums).

The concert will take place this Thursday at The Crocodile Cafe in downtown Seattle. Showtime is 8:00pm. Cover charge is $8.00.