On the afternoon of day three of this year's Ballard Jazz Festival, the 10-clubs-for-one-cover Jazz Walk, KNKX welcomed a trio of Northwest jazz all-stars that reminded us how lucky jazz fans are in this corner of the world.
Guitarist Brad Shepik was raised on jazz in Seattle, leaving for the thriving New York City scene in 1990 where he's earned a place as one of the first call players in the "Jazz Center of the World". Featured with his old friends, iconic Seattle bass player Phil Sparks and popular drummer and band leader Matt Jorgensen, our studio audience was hypnotized by the familial musical interplay.
Pushing and pulling the rhythms and melodies back and forth, this session was like spending an evening in a living room with your musical friends having a good time. With these three, it was a friendly collaboration of the highest level.
Ballard's 15th annual Northwest Jazz Party was a diverse, exciting adventure - with luckily fantastic weather - that no jazz fan in our area should miss. The weekend surely felt like Seattle is the "2nd Jazz Center" these days. See you next year!