The 11th annual Ballard Jazz Festival is set to kick off tomorrow bringing a four day jazz extravaganza to the streets of Ballard. The festival will feature some of the hottest Jazz talent from America and overseas including the Lew Soloff Quartet, Gary Bartz and the George Colligan Trio and Allison Miller’s Boom Tic Boom with Cuong Vu.
The Ballard Jazz Festival was established in 2003 as a joint venture between Seattle’s Origin Records and the Ballard Chamber of Commerce. In 2007, Origin Records established Origin Music Productions, LLC which continued the festival’s production. The award winning festival has been a highlight on Seattle’s jazz calendar ever since. Performances at the festival have won a swag of awards including “Northwest Concert of the Year” in 2006 and 2008 at the Earshot Jazz Awards.
This year’s festival is set to be its best yet and will feature the following:
- April 17 Brotherhood of the Drum at Connor Byrne Pub (5140 Ballard Avenue NW) at 8 p.m.
- April 18 Guitar Summit at Connor Byrne Pub (5140 Ballard Avenue NW) at 8 p.m.
- April 19 Ballard Jazz Walk – Multiple clubs and retail outlets along Ballard Ave and Market St will be getting into the swing of things from 6 p.m. – 12 a.m. Click here for a detailed map and schedule of venues and performances.
- April 20 Mainstage Concert, Jazz Brunch and Art Reception at The Nordic Heritage Museum (3014 NW 67th St) from 11 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Advance ticket prices range from $13 for Brotherhood of the Drum to $100 for a festival All Access Pass. Click here to check out price details and to book tickets.
Both Seattleites and event organizers are prepped for a fantastic community event. According to festival artistic director Matt Jorgensen the festival is set to “embrace Old Town Ballard’s unique & vibrant community feel.”
To learn more about the Ballard Jazz Festival check out their Facebook page. Download a PDF version of the festival program here.
Photos courtesy of Ballard Jazz Festival. Bands pictured: middle – Human Spirit, bottom – Bobby Broom Trio. Photo credits – Jim Levitt, Lance Mercer and Chad McCullough.
