Combining beauty and talent, VANANH is the consummate pianist. Described by Michael Kieran Harvey as ‘she will be a star wherever she goes…’, concert pianist, composer and pianist VANANH performs extensively throughout Australia, Asia, Europe and North America. Born to Vietnamese refugee musicians, VANANH started her piano studies at the tender of age of 13 months, was accepted into the gifted and talented program at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music at aged 4 and went on to being one of the youngest in her generation to obtain her A.Mus.A Diploma at the age of 9, followed by her L.Mus.A Diploma at aged 12. With a string of accolades including Audience Prizewinner at the 13^th Bad-Bertrich Sommerklavierfest, Germany as well as the Kawai Piano Award (Australia), VANANH has released a solo piano record (Mise-en-scene) and most recently a classical crossover record (Tonalita). 2013 sees the release of ‘Sentimentales’, the duo CD with Chris Howlett (cello) as well as a second solo piano CD.

VANANH is passionate about making classical music more accessible particularly to younger audiences. It is here that she creates her crossover-multimedia concerts through varying concert platforms as well as performing with her hand-picked rock orchestra and DJ. Her bubbly personality and versatility at the piano draws audiences into her show and captivates the listener with her exquisite touch and care to sonorities of the piano. She is the Ambassador for Heart Reach Australia.

http://www.myspace.com/vananhnguyenmusic

No charge, open to the public

From Orcas Island  this fiddle playing trio, does mainly swing tunes, with the occasional hoedown, waltz, polka, vocal, etc. (sometimes all in one tune)

JP and the OK Rhythm Boys features the fine fiddling of JP Wittman, backed up by Gordon Koenig and Anita Orne on guitar and bass.

http://jpandtheokrhythmboys.com/

No charge, open to the public

You may not know her name yet, but we’re betting that won’t be the case for long. This young Tacoma-raised singer has the sort of powerful pipes that tend to stun chatty bar bar crowds into silence. Her voice ranges from tender to towering as she covers popular songs by artist Joe Cocker to Adele to Amy Winehouse giving her own soulful flair… Come see Love before her European tour.

https://www.facebook.com/gracelovemusic

No charge, open to the public.

Jimmie Herrod began forging a name for himself in Seattle, Wa as a young, eager vocalist and composer capable of performing at a level complementary to his youth. From early achievements in solo ensemble and a medallion in musical achievement from Mount Tahoma High School. Jimmie currently performs with many many groups around the seattle area. He’s collaborated with Dawn Clement, Kelly Harland, Johnaye Kendrick, Chuck Deardorf, Wayne Horvitz, Jason Goessl, Mary Lambert, Spyn Reset, Mark Taylor,  Alek Edmonds, Al Keith and has performed multiple times with the Esoterics. Outside of just musical performances, Jimmie has shared the 5th avenue theater stage with broadway star Mimi Hines. In addition to his work at the 5th Avenue theater, he understudied the role of Angel along side Jerick Hoffer better known as Jinkx Monsoon while also filling a role in the ensemble under the Direction of Bill Berry. Most recently Jimmie has joined the Seattle based Pop-fussion band Richie Aldente. In other musical settings Jimmie has worked with fellow young artists such as Matthew Reed (arranger, composer, performer, playwright), Tyler Accord (Atlantic Records sound technician). He has studied composition with Linda Waterfall, Jarrad Powell, and Tom Baker as well Jazz Voice with Johnaye Kendrick and Beth Winter. Currently Jimmie is studying at Cornish College of the Arts to receive a degree in Vocal Performance and Music Composition.

http://jimmieherrod.com/

No charge, open to the public

Singer/songwriter, Eugenie Jones first appeared on the jazz scene in Seattle, WA. Audiences rave over her sound and describe her uniquely sultry voice as one they could listen to all night. She is an extremely talented entertainer and performer with an eloquent and sensual presentation of straight-ahead jazz, blues, soul, as well as original tunes that swing, stir and inspire audiences.  Described by the Seattle Weekly as a, “sassy vocalist that delivers soulful tunes in the same vein as sultry mamas Nina Simone and Sharon Jones,” Eugenie is an endearing and engaging performer.

http://www.eugeniejones.com/index.html

No charge, open to the public

Chip Parker has been performing in Seattle since 2009 and has been fortunate to work with many musicians including Darin Clendenin, Hans Brehmer, Nikki DeCaires, Randy Halberstadt, Karin Kajita, Jason Parker, and Chris Morton. He shares his creative energy telling stories through music – conveying joy, humor, love lost and found. His style is part Mel Torme, part Chet Baker, part swinging jazz, and all fun. Greta Matassa says: “Dangerously good – I love your phrasing!”

with Hans Brehmer on piano and Geoff Cook on bass

http://www.chipparkersings.com

No charge, open to the public.

Kelley Johnson is an international award winning jazz vocalist who is known and respected as an arranger, poet and lyricist with a personal body of recordings. Kelley’s lithe velvety voice mixes with a dynamic delivery and tricky colorful arrangements to showcase her interpretive finesse and inspired soloists. An organic groovy singer with a direct approach, Kelley reaches her audience with storytelling, subtlety, soulfulness and swing.
http://kelleyjohnson.com/

No charge, open to the public

Mary Lambert is good at two things; crying and singing. Nowhere is this better reflected than on her debut EP ‘letters don’t talk’ released in July of 2012. Burrowed away with her friends in the woods of Sequim, Washington recording with the production team of Dungeness, she spent 2 years finessing the heartbreaking collection of songs. In ‘letters don’t talk’, Lambert has carved a niche for herself, winding profound lyricism around breathy, haunting melodies.

As a performer, Lambert exemplifies the traditions of a singer/songwriter while melding a background in spoken-word. This status was cemented when the lesbian singer-songwriter paired up with the internationally acclaimed hip-hop duo Macklemore and Ryan Lewis to help write and sing their revolutionary single, “Same Love”.  The track, an honoring of gay marriage, has led Mary to tour nationally with Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, allowed her to reach millions by performing live on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, VH1, and garnered tens of millions of views on YouTube. “Same Love” has reached double platinum in Australia, charted #1 in January, and has peaked at #89 on Billboard.  It is no wonder that Mary has become one of the most talked about new artists in Seattle.

http://marylambertsings.com

No charge, open to the public.

Whether in a vast theater or an intimate living room, The Local Strangers captivate audiences with their powerful voices, compelling lyrics, and engaging presence.  Over 8,000 miles of independent touring over the last year has seasoned Aubrey Zoli and Matt Hart, both as an acoustic duo and fronting their raucous 5-piece band.  In each performance, The Local Strangers’ honest and soulful songs evoke a wide spectrum of emotions spanning from irrepressible joy to wistful introspection.  Their first full length album Left for Better, produced with Kevin Matley (The Head and the Heart, Bryan John Appleby), showcases that dynamic range.

After each departing long term musical projects, Midwest-to-Seattle transplants Aubrey and Matt met in September 2010 and quickly realized that they shared a common musical vision. Within one month, The Local Strangers played a debut show and entered the studio to record their first EP.  Emboldened by Seattle’s supportive music community and a sold-out EP release show, they hit the road to reach a national audience at venues such as The Hotel Cafe (LA), The Casbah (San Diego), Schubas Tavern (Chicago), and Pete’s Candy Store (Brooklyn).  Demand for a full length album grew, and a successful Kickstarter campaign with over 200 backers helped make Left for Better a reality.

http://www.thelocalstrangers.com

No charge, open to the public.

Known for her ability to sing fast swing in one turn and tender, crystal-clear ballads the next, Kimberly discovered jazz through her mother, a former beauty queen who grew up in a tenement off Jackson Street during the heyday of Seattle’s legendary jazz scene in the 1940s. Kimberly studied piano at Cornish College of the Arts and sang in church choirs, including Kent Stevenson’s gospel group, The Urban Rhythm Chorus.

http://www.kimberlyreason.com/

No charge, open to the public