Autumn in the Seattle area always brings fantastic live music, these days even weeknights are filled with world class live jazz around Puget Sound. So then, a Wednesday night Halloween is due to be full of spooky, funky jazz fun. Rake in the candy for the kids before dark, then get out for some musical treats of your own.
I suggest you begin your evening with one of the first horror movies, presented with a live jazz score. Seattle jazz icon Wayne Horvitz leads his ensemble at the Royal Room for their Halloween tradition, playing his original music written for the 1920 German silent film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. The movie is a dramatic, expressionist work of high art revolving around hypnotism, murder and the perception of reality that never gets old. Horvitz and his ensemble make it new again.
You can get a glimpse of the concert with this video of our KNKX broadcast of a segment of the performance live at the Royal Room last year, and share this treat with your friends!
Later that night, The New Cool presents Doom Funk Halloween at Nectar Lounge in Fremont, with our friends High Pulp headlining a show mixing up genres alongside their horn powered jazz funk grooves. High Pulp's new album Bad Juice is a favorite on The New Cool, especially my summer jam "Hookai". On Saturday's show, I've got their KNKX studio session performance of the slow funk grinder "Ezell's". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y17pYJUBDkU
Avant psych-poppers General Mojo's open the show at Nectar with a second set of high energy modern cumbia with The Cumbieros. Match your costume to durable dance shoes for this show.
Full disclosure, yours truly will be spinning creepy horror movie scores as DJ Innocent Camp Counselor when the doors open at 8p.
Similarly soul and funk-centered music that New Cool fans (and I) love, The True Loves are celebrating Halloween at Neumo's on Capital Hill Wednesday. This "Halloween Soul Soiree" includes openers Mother of Pearl and the Emerald City Soul Club, and you'll find a few jazz heavy-hitters working with the headliners. Evan Flory-Barnes is scheduled to join the band on bass, with Skerik's saxophonics, trombone killer Jason Cressey, all led by guitarist Jimmy James of the DLO3.
Tula's features an allstar crew in a new setting for Halloween. The Vibraphonics: Music of the Imagination features Susan Pascal on vibes with a goulish gang of Seattle's finest - Bill Anschell (piano), Chuck Deardorf (bass), Mark Ivester (drums) make up her regular quartet. This special night adds Jared Hall's trumpet, the sax and flute of Jeff Kashiwa, David Marriott's trombone, Brian Monroney's guitar and the haunted synthesizer of Dwight Beckmeyer.
Susan tells me, "Yes, sometimes it feels like we've entered The Twilight Zone! This crew of brilliant musicians will expand on the atmospheric, esoteric, and funky themes that live on in our imaginations." Count on a thrilling, often creepy escape from the everyday. Kids welcome until 10pm!
Seattle's thrilling modern global funkateers The New Triumph are hosting a double celebration, this Halloween marks the 15th anniversary of the Seamonster Lounge in Wallingford. The expanded venue has become a trusty home for world class live funk, latin music, jazz and jazz-adjacent musicians, including a regular Tuesday night residency for Hammond organ great Joe Doria. Happy anniversary, and Halloween, Seamonster!!
The New Triumph have an energetic take on soulful jazz with deep grooves and a fusion of rhythms from around the world. They also love the movie Ghostbusters, and aren't afraid to sing about it. Plus, their hit song "Count Dracula's African Vacation" sounds best on one special night each year. This party will go late, so watch out for the gouls and creeps, and get home safely! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Won3fAPdWw4
The New Cool airs Saturdays from 3 to 5pm, hosted by Abe Beeson and produced by KNKX Public Radio in Seattle, Wash.
