Last weekend Pioneer Square was packed with visual-arts aficionados spilling out of the Seattle Art Fair and into nearby galleries. Next up, the historic neighborhood will host a horde of jazz heads roaming the cobblestones and old brick buildings for the second iteration of Jazz Night in Pioneer Square (July 29, 6 - 10 p.m.; venues vary).
I’m not sure what the collective noun is for a group of jazz fans (a swing? a scat? a riff?), but they’ll be there in full force. The objective: Check out 14 diverse bands at 14 varied venues — then hit the afterparty and jam at Owl ’N Thistle pub. The merely jazz-curious are welcome as well, to experience an earful of the musical form that’s been a soundtrack of Seattle since the 1920s.
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The city’s jazz legacy has sprouted a thriving contemporary scene, a small sampling of which will strut their stuff. Among these are saxophonist (and tap dancer) Alex Dugdale, trombonist Beserat Tafesse, keyboardist Joe Doria, trumpeter Thomas Marriott, drummer D’Vonne Lewis and vocalist Jacqueline Tabor — each of whom has the chops to blow your socks off.
As with the first iteration (in February) of this lively jazz walk, the collection of close venues is a fun mix of places, several of whose first order of business isn’t necessarily live music. There’s Cafe Paloma and Zeitgeist Coffee, Hometeam sneaker shop, Frederick Holmes Gallery and Long Bros Fine and Rare Books. You’ll also encounter sets at famous grunge incubator The Central Saloon and newish rock venue Baba Yaga.
Seattle Jazz Fellowship — which originated the event — boasts the newest stage on the roster, having relocated a couple doors down from its previous Pioneer Square digs. You’ll find the clubby and grotto-like room below street level at 103 South Main, which longtime Seattleites may remember as the old Elliott Bay Bookstore cafe. It’s a great place to get your groove on, and cool to see a wider jazz audience coming to Pioneer Square.
Confession: I’ve walked past the ongoing construction of the Downtown Waterfront’s new Pier 58 playground many times and always assumed the emerging animal tower was going to be an octopus. The bulbous head! The undulating tentacles! The general human adoration of octopuses! But I was wrong.
It’s a jellyfish — a sea creature we all want to wrap our arms around (?). In my defense, when the city shared some of the community feedback that went into the design process, suggestions included “kelp-forest-inspired climbing structures; barnacle feather sun/rain shades … clam-inspired structures,” and “Ride a killer whale. Climb on an octopus. Shark slide.” All great ideas. And see what’s missing?
In any case, the park is finally opening this weekend (July 25, celebration 4-8 p.m., marine costumes encouraged) and it looks very cool for kids, implied stinging aside. I especially like the “crab wobble boards,” which seem to emulate the particular side-to-side leaping that occurs when you even think you’ve stepped on a crab.
The new and improved Pier 58 also welcomes the return of the historic Waterfront Fountain — a massive water feature by Seattle artists James FitzGerald and Margaret Tomkins. Originally installed in 1974, the four-ton bronze sculpture plunged into Elliott Bay in 2020, when Pier 58 partially collapsed during planned demolition. But the splashy brutalist beauty was fished from the water (as were two workers), and has been reinstalled at the rebuilt pier.
In more good news for vintage waterfront sculptures: George Tsutakawa’s 1966 bronze fountain is once again flowing outside the Colman Dock ferry terminal after reinstallation earlier this summer.
And more art is coming soon to the promenade across from the 25-foot-tall jellyfish (or “sea jelly,” in the new scientific parlance). Coast Salish artist Qwalsius (Shaun Peterson) is installing his sculpture “Family,” consisting of three tall carved figures embellished with Indigenous textile patterns and looking out to sea.
We’re approaching that point in the summer when Seattleites start feeling exhausted by the meteorological mandate to Always Be Outside-ing. (Be honest: Have you found yourself thinking fall thoughts?) That’s totally normal. But buckle up those Birkenstocks because summer festival season is not yet slowing down.
Bellevue Arts Fair Weekend returns (July 25-27) for the 79th installment of the suburban arts-and-crafts-aganza. This year, the two festivals that used to — confusingly — take place in tandem (Bellevue Arts Museum Arts Fair and Bellevue Downtown Arts Market) have combined into one event featuring 350+ artists and artisans selling wares from outdoor stalls. Note: Bellevue Arts Museum remains closed and in receivership, but will host some events for the fair.
Bite of Seattle (July 25-27) is celebrating its 40th anniversary with 65 (!) musical performers including Northwest darlings Massy Ferguson, Shaina Shepherd, Star Anna, Oblé Reed, Eldridge Gravy and the Court Supreme, Moondoggies and The Walking Papers. And of course: tastes of all nations and gardens of beer. While there, check out the new slew of art installations across the grounds in the self-guided Seattle Center Sculpture Walk.
Road-trip-worthy music festivals include the Timber! Outdoor Music Festival (July 24-27) at Tolt-McDonald Park in Carnation, Wash. Acts amid the trees include M. Ward, Damien Jurado, Dehd, Los Bitchos and Adra Boo. Out east, the Ellensburg Music Festival (July 25 - 27) promises a lively lineup including jazz, big band, blues and the funky sounds of the Polyrhythmics.
And down on a farm in Happy Valley, Ore., the much beloved Pickathon Festival (July 31 - Aug. 3) celebrates 25 years of showcasing indie music of all genres. This year’s impressive lineup includes Taj Mahal, Fruit Bats, Portugal. The Man (annoying punctuation theirs) and Lonesome Shack (a band formed at Seattle’s Cafe Racer).
We’ll close with a guest appearance by Cascade PBS copy chief Gavin Borchert, who brings a few film recs for those seeking an air-conditioned reprieve. Take us out, Gavin!
The Children’s Film Festival Seattle returns (Northwest Film Forum, July 23-27) with five collections of shorts and longer features showcasing an intriguing bunch of protagonists. Among them: two bunnies, a cicada, brother snails, a joyful goat (so far so good), French Resistance fighters, a real-life Iranian school counselor in Seattle, two Olympic divers in love (teaching moments!), a bear who makes caprese salad, a white cloud, an old mattress and a wisp of lint (are we sure this isn’t the Hallucinogenic Film Festival 1968?).
Speaking of vivid imagination: SIFF’s Akira Kurosawa Retrospective (SIFF Cinema Downtown, July 25 – Aug. 14) presents 11 of the Japanese film director’s greatest hits in new 4K and 2K restorations on the old Cinerama’s big screen. Included is the classic unreliable-narrator fable, 1950’s Rashomon, alongside Seven Samurai and his 1985 late masterwork Ran. — G.B.
Looking for more regional arts coverage? Check out Art by Northwest, a new television series on Cascade PBS, featuring artists from all over Washington.
