135 Cushing St NW
Olympia
WA 98502
Saturday, July 8th West Central Park from 6 to 9:30
Come to West Central Park on Olympia’s West Side at the corner of Harrison and Division to see an evening of Free Jazz in the park. This event will feature the bands Spontanea, Circus Aurelius, and The Healing Force.
Spontanea is a Seattle-based collective of improvisers of diverse backgrounds and influences, encompassing jazz, classical, rock, world and experimental music. The interactive work of three soloists defines Spontanea’a music: Guitar innovator Matt Benham employs a custom array of effects to stretch the sonic borders of his instrument. Carol J Levin plays an electrified harp, producing a span of sounds unique to that instrument’s pedigree. Kenny Mandell, an award-winning jazz performer and educator, uses reeds, woodwinds and percussion in myriad ways. Scott Schaffer adds bass and other strings to the mix. As their name suggests, everything Spontanea does is composed in the moment based on interactions of the members. The group has released three albums on Right Brain Records – Flow, Chromasonic and Quintaphonic.
Circus Aurelius is a large ensemble created especially for the Olympia Free Jazz Festival. Composer Joe Mailhot has arranged a piece entitled Project 23 for the large ensemble. Circus Aurelius features Dick Valentine on tenor saxophone, trumpeter Jim Knodle, Marc Smason on trombone, flautist Nancy Curtis, Lewis Jordan on alto saxophone, keyboardist Craig Hoyer, Cooper Schlegel on bass and drummer Don Berman, plus some surprise guests.
The Healing Force is an ensemble of musicians inspired by the music of Albert Ayler, who said that music is the healing force of the universe. Formed especially for the Olympia Free Jazz Festival, The Healing Force plays their interpretations of the music of Albert Ayler. It includes Dick Valentine on tenor saxophone, trumpeter Jim Knodle, Joe Mailhot on guitar, keyboardist Craig Hoyer, Cooper Schlegel on bass, and drummer Don Berman.
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.
