Olympia's West Side
The Olympia Free Jazz Festival 2023 is a five-day festival from Thursday, July 6 through Monday, July 10 occurring at five different venues and featuring performers from all along the west coast from Vancouver BC to San Francisco.
Beginning with a house concert of solo artists at Dr. Wheelz’ Pad Thursday, on Friday night at Nicole’s Bar is followed by a music in the park event at West Central Park. Sunday at New Traditions features a Poetry and Jazz Workshop in the afternoon for poets to collaborate with musicians and a concert of Free Jazz and the Spoken Word in the evening. The closing night of the festival is at Art House Designs.
Thursday, July 6th from 7 to 10 pm at Dr. Wheelz’ Pad
Thursday, July 6th from 7 to 10 pm come to Dr. Wheelz’ Pad for a house concert featuring solo performances by bassist Cooper Schlegel, steel guitarist Hal Merrill and vocal artist Amelia Clearheart. There may be time for a jam session, so bring your instrument!
Dr. Wheelz’ Pad is on Olympia’s West Side near Harrison and Division.
For more information please RSVP to drwheelzpad@gmail.com as seating is limited.
Cooper Schlegel studied music at the University of Wisconsin under Richard Davis after being told to do so by Bert Wilson and Steve Luceno. He then got his Masters in Music Education through University of Washington. Cooper has had the opportunity to play with Linda Oh, John Raymond, Caili O’doherty, Ingrid Jensen, Freddie Cole, and Bob Sheppard (among others), scored two full length plays, wrote small theater/music pieces with buddy Christopher William-Wolter, played bass for the Olympia Symphony Orchestra, and released “Please Take Us Seriously;” an all-original album with the collaborative Left Field Quartet. Cooper is finishing up his first year teaching public K-12 music in Willapa Valley (close to Raymond, WA), which was amazing.
Hal Merrill – Pedal Steel Guitar as a soloist
Hal has been playing jazz on pedal steel guitar for more than 40 years, and for more than 30 years in the Pacific Northwest. You will enjoy the mixture of jazz standards and original free improvisation that Hal presents on this beautiful musical instrument.
Amelia Love Clearheart/the Indigo incorporates loops and effects interwoven in a synergistic, immediate performance that ranges from tender to wild. She has been a regular contributor of spontaneous poetry, vocals, and dance to the improvised music scene at Spite House in Seattle. She enchanted the audience with her performance with CHA! at the inaugural Olympia Free Jazz Festival. Now she’s back for a solo performance of spoken word and improvised melodies mixed with her special effects.
Suggested donation: $20.
