While living in Seattle in early 90's, I found a city with an impressive Jazz history, and great live performances from some of best Jazz has to offer. The most popular club I found was Dimitriou's Jazz Alley, conveniently located in the Belltown section of downtown, and is still there. The Jazz Alley has been jammin' for more than 30 years, and is the third longest running dinner and music spot in America.
Dimitriou's Jazz Alley has an international reputation, and first class artists who would gig there on their west coast swing. I've seen Archie Shepp, Marian McPartland, Pharoah Sanders, and Seattle resident, vocalist Ernestine Anderson among others. The club itself is also the home of the Pacific Jazz Institute. It has two levels and can seat about 400. Wherever I am, I've always tried to connect with the artists between sets, and the setting at the Jazz alley allows one to do that in the hallway leading to the restrooms. I've stood in that hallway and had conversations
with Marian McPartland and
Archie Shepp. When I saw Pharoah there I didn't get the chance to speak with him, as I had done on other occasions.
However, I did have kind of a strange encounter with Pharoah the next day. I was driving along Eastlake Ave, when I looked up and saw Pharoah walking down the street, totally white beard almost down to his waist and dressed in African garb. Not an unusual siting in New York, but eye-catching in Seattle. I pulled over, and said something like, "...hey Pharoah", who asked me who I was. I told him I was a big fan, and that I had seen him the night before at Jazz Alley. I asked him if he wanted a ride, but he declined and I drove off. You know how it is when you see someone famous and become speechless.
In any case Seattle is hot for Jazz. Other greats in Jazz I've seen there include Sun Ra, and Miles.
If you're in town in December 2012, try to catch up to Roy Hargrove, or Lee Ritenour.
For more info go to, jazzalley.com.
with Marian McPartland and
Archie Shepp. When I saw Pharoah there I didn't get the chance to speak with him, as I had done on other occasions.
However, I did have kind of a strange encounter with Pharoah the next day. I was driving along Eastlake Ave, when I looked up and saw Pharoah walking down the street, totally white beard almost down to his waist and dressed in African garb. Not an unusual siting in New York, but eye-catching in Seattle. I pulled over, and said something like, "...hey Pharoah", who asked me who I was. I told him I was a big fan, and that I had seen him the night before at Jazz Alley. I asked him if he wanted a ride, but he declined and I drove off. You know how it is when you see someone famous and become speechless.
In any case Seattle is hot for Jazz. Other greats in Jazz I've seen there include Sun Ra, and Miles.
If you're in town in December 2012, try to catch up to Roy Hargrove, or Lee Ritenour.
For more info go to, jazzalley.com.
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