Top-notch school jazz bands to play Seward Park festival On Sunday, June 5, SouthEast Effective Development (SEED) opens its 2005 season of free outdoor jazz & world music concerts at the Seward Park Amphitheatre (5900 Lake Washington Blvd. S.), home of SEED's free music series for the past 29 years.
Continuing the longstanding tradition of opening the season with a celebration of jazz and showcasing the talents of area youth, SEED welcomes three regionally accomplished and nationally/internationally recognized jazz performance groups to the stage.
Washington Middle School Senior Jazz Band will open the concert at 1pm, Franklin Jazz Lab enters the stage at 2:15, and headliner Garfield Jazz Ensemble gives the finale performance at 3:30. In case of rain, the concert will be moved to Rainier Valley Cultural Center, 3515 S. Alaska St. near the SW corner of Rainier Ave. S. & S. Alaska St. in the Columbia City neighborhood.
Under the leadership of Clarence Acox, the Garfield High School Jazz Ensemble has achieved an international reputation. During 2004, the Garfield Jazz program received eight 1st place awards including the Essentially Ellington competition in New York City where they won first place for an unprecedented two years in a row.
The Franklin Jazz Lab, led by Bob Pitzer, is well known regionally and has won many competitions. This contemporary jazz band has performed many concerts for students, staff and the community. In addition, they have performed in Asia, at DisneylLand, and with world famous saxophonist Bobby Watson, vocalist Ernestine Anderson and French horn player/composer Mark Taylor.
Washington Middle School Senior Jazz Band has had an impressive year, taking first place at Lionel Hampton, Bellevue Community College and Reno Jazz festivals in the middle school division. Music Director, Robert E. Knatt, has been awarded many music and academic related honors over the years, most recently his induction into the Earshot Jazz Hall of Fame last winter.
SEED is a non-profit community development corporation serving Southeast Seattle since 1975 through its three program areas of economic development, affordable housing, and cultural arts. For event information, please call SEED's Arts & Events line at 206-760-4285.[[In-content Ad]]
