The Jackson Street Jazz Walk Celebrates the Central District's Jazz Legacy

by Jas Keimig

After celebrating its decade anniversary last year, the Jackson Street Jazz Walk is back once again. Pulling from the rich history of jazz music in the Central District, the Jackson Street Jazz Walk is bringing the throughline of the past to the present from Sept. 6 to Sept. 8 at venues across the historically Black neighborhood. The free-by-donation festival is rooted in bringing together emerging and established musicians and community members for the weekend.

"I wanted it to be about more than entertainment, and I wanted it to be about my three mantras: music, community, legacy," said Eugenie Jones, jazz vocalist and JSJW's executive producer for the last seven years. "My actions behind how to produce and create this event are staying true to those three things."

Giants of jazz trace their roots from or through Seattle — Quincy Jones, Ray Charles, Ernestine Anderson, and Dave Lewis all have called the Emerald City home at one time or another. But the real kickoff to jazz in the city started way back at Washington Hall in 1918 when Miss Lillian Smith's Jazz Band took the stage to raise funds for the NAACP. That led the way for Jackson Street to become a thriving jazz scene over the next several decades as segregation barred local Black jazz musicians from playing in white nightclubs downtown. Though many jazz venues closed by the mid-to-late 20th century, their legacy has been kept alive through the JSJW since 2013.

Over two dozen bands and musicians, ranging from world music to Latin jazz, are slated to play at JSJW. The weekend starts off at Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center with Jazz Caliente Con Corazn, a night of Latin-themed and hard-bopping jazz featuring Eduardo Mendona, Alex Dugdale FADE Quintet, Eugenie Jones, Frank Hohl, and Jovino Santos Neto Quarteto. There will also be a VIP Red Dress Reception featuring jazz guitarist Frank Kohl and bassist Jeff Johnson for those looking to sip wine and buy some jazz CDs.

Saturday, Sept. 7, is the big Jazz Walk day with nine stages to choose from during the evening: Wonder Bar, Central Area Senior Center, Cheeky Caf, Jackson Apartments, the Mural and Court stages at Pratt Fine Arts Center, Jackson Street Pizza Lounge, Shewa Bar, and Bell Jackson Apartments. Performers include The (groove-centric) Daimonics, the soulful, jazzy Elnah Jordan Experience, and the Joe Brazil Legacy Band, which pays homage to Seattle jazz music legend, Joe Brazil.

This year, the festival is teaming up with Pratt Fine Arts Center and mixing art with live music. The arts center will host their open house on Saturday, inviting people to come in, make and purchase art, sign up for fall classes, and chill in an outdoor wine and beer garden. And there's demos galore: glassblowing, print pulling, jewelry making, and — impressively — a molten bronze pour with Henry Jackson-Spieker, Jeanne Marie Ferraro, and Lee Campbell.

While all this is going on, Pratt's two outdoor stages will be churning out the rhythms and the funky tunes. Latin jazz groups Buena Vibra and Todo Es, world music players Kwetu Band, and Mexican-Cuban-Brazilian jazz band Alma Villegas are slated to play on both the Mural and Court Stages outside Pratt Fine Arts Center.

"Not only is the Jazz Walk honoring legacy and presenting a diverse and inclusive array of artists, we're also bringing business into those restaurants and bars by presenting the Jackson Street Jazz at those venues," she said.

The weekend finishes not on Jackson Street, but on Queen Anne at Fountainhead Gallery on Sunday, Sept. 8 with performances by vocalist Gail Pettis and the Sugartime Trio. As part of their community commitment, JSJW will donate a portion of the proceeds to a charity of their choosing, which will be announced after the event.

The Jackson Street Jazz Walk runs Sept. 6—8. Find out more information over on their website.

📸 Featured Image: Jovino Santos Neto Quarteto is one of over two dozen jazz bands performing at the Jackson Street Jazz Walk this weekend. (Photo: Daniel Shenan)