The Orcas Island Jazz Festival, Orcas Island’s premier jazz event, returns to Orcas Island this Labor Day weekend. The line-up includes:
Thursday, August 31 at 6 p.m. – FREE concert on the Village Green: EntreMundos Big Band with the Queen and Duke of Samba Don’t miss this electrifying Seattle-based group that brings to the stage an uplifting and kinetic mix of deep Brazilian roots flavored with world rhythms – A deft blending of funk, jazz, and soul melding with the classic sounds of samba and bossa nova.
Friday, Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. on the Orcas Center Stage: Martin Lund and the Off-Island All Stars. Martin Lund, the Artistic Director behind the Jazz Fest, lives and breathes music in many different colors and cultures. He has played with some of the great blues artists of our time and worked in the studios of LA as a composer, arranger, and musician. He is well known for bringing great artists to this island and providing some of the best shows at Orcas Center. This year’s line-up includes Jeff “Bongo” Busch on drums, Paul Gabrielson on bass, Tony Foster on keys, and vocalist Gail Pettis.
Saturday, Sept. 2 at 7 p.m. on the Orcas Center Stage: säje This GRAMMY® nominated vocal supergroup, is the brainchild of vocalist/composers Sara Gazarek, Amanda Taylor, Johnaye Kendrick, and Erin Bentlage. These world-renowned artists, composers, and arrangers have come together to explore, create, and celebrate the music that moves them, bringing their collective voices to this union, traversing a vast array of compelling original material, beloved jazz standards, and contemporary re-imaginings. “säje explores the edges of jazz and pop with a combination of inventive covers and brilliantly written originals.” – Eric Teel, NPR
Sunday, Sept. 3 at 7pm on the Orcas Center Stage: Martin Taylor & Biréli Lagrène. GRAMMY® nominated musician Dr. Martin Taylor, MBE, is a virtuoso guitarist, composer, educator and musical innovator whom magazine calls, ‘THE Acoustic Guitarist of his Generation’. Widely considered to be the world’s foremost exponent of solo jazz and fingerstyle guitar playing, Martin possesses an inimitable style that has earned him global acclaim from fellow musicians, fans and critics alike. He dazzles audiences with a signature style that artfully combines his virtuosity, emotion and humor with a strong, engaging stage presence.
Joining Dr. Taylor on stage is Biréli Lagrène, a French jazz guitarist who came to prominence for his Django Reinhardt–influenced style. He often performs in swing, jazz fusion, and post-bop styles, and has been the undisputed king of jazz guitar since the 1980s.
Ticket pricing ranges from $25-$59 and are available online at www.OrcasCenter.org. For questions or assistance, please contact the Orcas Center box office at info@OrcasCenter.org or 360-376-2281 ext 100.
