Live Jazz and Past Reviews

Thursday, February 27, 2014
BOXLEY'S
7-10pm
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, WA
ph: (425) 292-9307
no cover

Tuesday, March 4, 2014
TULA'S RESTAURANT & JAZZ CLUB
2214 Second Ave , Seattle, Wa
ph: (206)443-4221
7:30 - 10:30pm
$10 at the door

THE YOUNG LIZARDS new digital release and limited edition CD "FREEBIRD AND OTHER JAZZY THINGS" was recorded live (mostly) at Seattle's premier Studio X last year. Hot on the heels of the band's first disc "Our Modern Lifestyle" - It has been specially "Mastered for iTunes" in a daring forward-technology marketing move, to master directly to the high resolution files and make them available firstly to the digital realm at these higher resoltuions. Old school meets new school.

NY guitarist
MARK ELF TRIO
with
paul gabrielson, bs
greg williamson, drms

two nights!

fri nov 8, 9pm
egan's ballard jam house
1707 NW Market St, Seattle, Wa
ph: 206.789.1621
www.ballardjamhouse.com
$12 at the door

sat nov 9, 7pm
boxley's
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, Wa
ph: 425.292.9307
www.boxleysplace.com

A burning guitarist with a penchant for be-bop - this gentleman is a real "cat" - having played with a huge list of the real-deal-jazz-daddies.

"Mark Elf has been on the Jazz scene for over 40 years... He has played and or recorded with the Jazz Giants: Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Jimmy Heath & the Heath Bros., Wynton Marsalis & Jon Hendricks just to name a few. ...During the 1970’s he toured with Lou Donaldson, Jimmy McGriff, Groove Holmes & Charles Earland and recorded a number of albums with them. He recorded his first album as a sideman with Jimmy McGriff & Groove Holmes in 1973 on the Groove Merchant Record label called “Giants of the Organ Come Together”. In the late 1970’s Mark worked with Junior Cook and Bill Hardman in New York City … In the 1980’s he toured Europe with Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry…"
(more bio at http://www.jenbayjazz.com/bio.html)

A full scale jazz club & restaurant, a beautiful setting right under the mountains in historic North Bend. Pony Boy presents live music five nights a week, with more local nights, education programs the other two. Lights, Steinway Grand Piano, stage, a great menu, even a patio to watch the trains. Just a short drive up I-90 from Seattle. No cover charge.
Music sets start at 7:00; 6:00 on Sunday.
101 West North Bend Way, North Bend, WA - ph: 425.292.9307
www.boxleysplace.com

Live Jazz seven nights a week!
Downbeat Jazz lists "Best Places To Hear Jazz Around The World"

Jazz For Japan - Monday, April 18, 2011

Review:
Pony Boy Orchestra: Claude Thornhill's "Real Birth of the Cool"

Earshot's Art of Jazz Series
Seattle Art Museum, Downtown, Amphitheater
Thursday, December 9, 2010
5:30pm
free with museum admission

Jim Wilke's "Jazz Northwest" - KPLU FM88.5
Sunday, December 19, 1:00pm Pacific Time
listen to online archive at kplu.org
Recorded live at the Seattle Art Museum

In the late 1940's, Big Band leader and pianist Claude Thornhill commissioned young Gil Evens and Gerry Mulligan to write smooth bop influenced charts for his big band. Slightly ahead of it's time, this rare music is the precursor to the more famous Miles Davis/Gil Evans recording, several years later. Most notable is the size of the orchestra - an expanded band with two french horns, and an army of clarinets and bass clarinets. Music almost-lost has been researched, edited and readied for publication by Dr. David Deacon-Joyner, director of Jazz Studies at Pacific Lutheran University, who will be conducting the Pony Boy Orchestra, led by drummer and composer Greg Williamson.

Musicians:
Saxophone and Clarinets:
Tracy Knoop, Travis Ranney, Jim Cutler, Mike West, Bill Ramsay
Trumpets: Jay Thomas, Andy Omdahl, Al Keith
Trombones: Gary Shutes, Greg Schroeder
French Horns: Tom Varner, Mike Simpson
Tuba: Bill Park
Piano: John Hansen
GuitarL: Milo Petersen
Bass: Nate Parker
Drums: Greg Williamson

Thursday November 18, 2010
Members of the Pony Boy All-Star Big Band will once again be backing up Don Rickles at the Snoqualmie Casino. info & tickets

Thursday May 13, 2010
Members of the Pony Boy All-Star Big Band with Bob Newhart at the Snoqualmie Casino.
info & tickets
Legendary comedian Bob, began his comedy career as a stand up comedian in the 1950s. His 1960 comedy album, 'The Button Down Mind of Bob Newhart', went straight to number one on the charts, beating Elvis Presley and the soundtrack to 'The Sound of Music'. 'Button Down Mind' received the 1960 Grammy Award for Album of the Year. He became known for his deadpan delivery and his slight stutter...

Thur-Sunday, June 24-27, 2010
Bobby Caldwell and the Pony Boy Orchestra
Jazz Alley
info & tickets
Caldwell’s musical career spans over 30 years with several solo releases earning awards nationally and internationally. Timeless classics such as, “What You Won’t do For Love” has been recorded and sampled by more than 100 artist including; Natalie Cole, Aretha Franklin, and Michael Bolton. Bobby has been featured on several television shows including the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, BET Jazz Central...

A-Y-P Expo Jazz Music to air on radio "Jazz Northwest"
FM 88.5 KPLU and kplu.org
Sunday, March 7, 2010 at 1 PM Pacific Time

A-Y-P Large Ensemble
Jazz Music for Seattle's 1909 AYPE, Seattl'e First World's Fair
more info, air date and podcast download

Greg Wiliamson's A-Y-P Large Ensemble
Jazz Music for Seattle's 1909 AYP Expo
2009 Earshot Jazz Festival

4Culture's Model-T Site
Video & Pics

• October 29, "Seattle Presents" @ City Hall, noon - 1:00
700 5th Ave (@ Cherry St), Seattle, WA
Free

• November 4, The Triple Door, 7:00 - 8:00
216 Union Street, Seattle
$18/$16 tickets
BUY TICKETS ONLINE

A mash-up and jazz improvisation of music written for, and performed at Seattle's "First World's Fair" - the 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition. Including the newly uncovered "Gloria Washington March" theme song written by AYP Bandmaster Fr. Innes in 1909; and marches, vocal songs like "Meet Me In Seattle." Collaged, contrasted and culminating with modern big band classics by Basie, Ellington and Seattle's own Quincy Jones. All of this in front of compelling slides and films of the 1909 Expo. Featuring an All-Star cast of musicians with a fun sense of artistic expression.

"This is sick, it's like changing the radio dial from 1909 to 2009. You're a twisted puppy. Thanks." - Dan Marcus, trombone

Conversations & Deconstructions by this ensemble was nominated "Earshot Golden Ear Award Concert of the Year"

more info and "Gloria Washington" Preview

Pony Boy All-Star Big Band
A-Y-P Expo / Model T Rally

Pony Boy All-Star Big Band CSI 
(Crime Scene Investigation)

Monday, March 30, 2009 - 7:30pm
Pony Boy Records Presents: 
A Workshop Big Band Resurrection of
Ronnie Pierce's "Dream Band" library from 1946 

Tula's Restaurant & Nightclub
2214 2nd Ave, Seattle, WA
reservations:  ph: 206-443-4221
http://www.tulas.com
$8 cover charge

This will be an investigative workshop/rehearsal/rehydration of a book and big band that lots of the jazzers from the period raved about. Kids like Red Kelly, Marvin Thomas, Fred Greenwell, etc... They all said it was a great book, and a very modern band for the time... With Arrangements by Bob Hill** and Glenn Thompson. We will give it a reading and see what's been hidden away since 1946. We'll do some rendering, and make some recordings in "workshop" fashion for documentation to apply for a grant - for a more formal performance. We'll even do some on-stage panel interviewing of Ronnie Pierce and the author of a new book about the "Sheriff," along with some photos and historical perspectives. I came across many references to this band when researching the "Conversations & Deconstructions" piece. Ronnie has had the music locked away for a very long time - let's see what all the fuss was about.

Come on down for the spectacle! 

Saxes: Travis Ranney, Alexey Nikolaev, Mike West, Bill Ramsay
Trombones: Gary Shutes, Dan Marcus, Dave Marriott, Greg Schroeder
Trumpets: Dennis Haldane, Mike Mines, Al Keith, Jake Bergevin, Chad McCullugh
Wandering French Horn High Notes: Mike Simpson
Rhythm Section: Greg Williamson, drums; Jon Hamar, bass; Dan Kramlich, piano; Jim Day, guitar

(** Bob Hill passed over the hill last Thursday. He will be missed. He was a fine pianist, arranger, and a real musical gentleman.)

Larry Fuller appeared with John Pizzarelli
watch online: NBC's Late Night with Conan O'Brien
February 11, 2009

Fuller's CD "Easy Walker" continues to a popular release

A GREAT DAY IN SEATTLE
Even though this fundraising program has officially ended, we have an archive of prints for purchase. E-mail inquiries: jazz@ponyboyrecords.com

Pony Boy Records and the JAZZ PICNIC was awarded an Earshot Jazz GOLDEN EAR AWARD for "signifigant and enduring contributions to Seattle's Jazz Scene"

3rd Annual JAZZ PICNIC was nominated 2006 CONCERT OF THE YEAR.

The 4th annual Jazz Picnic was held September 9, 2007, and featured over 40 jazz musicians in a free outdoor park concert, with close to 1,000 in attendance. Thanks and congratulations to all the musicians, sponsors, and fans.

New: Jazz Picnic 2006 Photo Gallery 2007 Gallery coming soon

Jazz & Sushi on TV:
City A Go Go: Jazz and Sushi/Sci Fi Museum
with Nancy Guppy

Online Video
Seattle Channel 21: schedule almost daily thru Jan 20
KCTS 9: check listings

"... Jazz and Sushi are the perfect combo and can be enjoyed every Friday night at Hiroshi's restaurant on Eastlake."

see the video!
Pony Boy All-Star Big Band Kent performance
on YouTube.com with 4 cameras split-screen!
check out all 4 parts (and the great trains screaming past)

Friday, September 22, 2006
Downtown Kent First Avenue Party
Presented by Kent Arts Commission in partnership with Kent’s First Avenue South Merchants, as part of 4Culture’s SITE-SPECIFIC/2006 King County Performance Network.

Featured CDs

Larry Fuller Trio

with Ray Brown
and Jeff Hamilton