Jazz in The Georgian, May 25, 2013

Pianist Ryan Burns was back at The Fairmont Olympic Hotel for Jazz in The Georgian this past Saturday night on May 25.  We had another fun time playing lots of tunes.  Here are videos of a few of the songs we played.

This first tune is called Alone Together.  Usually this is a straight ahead swinging tune played fast.  We did this one as a bossa nova.  I think this is the first time that I ever played this tune as a Latin rhythm.

Alone Together

This next song is a classic Wayne Shorter composition called Footprints

Footprints

This is a tune by the late and great legendary tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins called Pent Up House

Pent Up House

Ryan Burns will be back at Jazz in The Georgian on Saturday, June 15.  We hope to see you!

Please visit our YouTube channel to see and hear highlights of Jazz in The Georgian, and Smooth Groove Productions special events.

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Jazz in The Georgian every Friday and Saturday nights, 6pm-10pm at The Fairmont Olympic Hotel, 411 University Street, Seattle, Washington 98101, 206-621-7889.

Please visit www.smoothgroove.net

Elevate your special event with live music.  We don't miss a beat!

Jazz in The Georgian, May 11, 2013

On Saturday, May 11, harmonicist extraordinaire Jay Mabin was back in the house for Jazz in The Georgian at The Fairmont Olympic Hotel in the heart of downtown Seattle.  He is here every second Saturday of the month.  It is always a great pleasure and treat to play with Jay.  The unusual pairing of harmonica and bass does not go unnoticed.  We often have folks approach us to tell us that they really enjoy the sound and musicality of our unique duo.  Jay's soulful sound, deep musicianship, and his high level of technical ability sets him apart from many other players of his instrument.

This night was a little different in that I brought my fretless bass guitar instead of my upright bass.  I have been exploring the fretless lately and wanted to hear how it would work with Jay.  The Ibanez fretless bass has a very warm and deep resonant tone.  I think the sounds of the harmonica and fretless bass work very well together.

Here are a couple videos of some of the tunes we did.  This first one is a rendition of Stella By Starlight.

Stella By Starlight

This one is a little ditty we just came up with called Two Chord Vamp Again.

Two Vamp Chord Again

Jay Mabin will be back again at Jazz in The Georgian on Saturday, June 8.  Hope to see you!

Please visit our YouTube channel to see and hear highlights of Jazz in The Georgian, and Smooth Groove Productions special events.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

Jazz in The Georgian every Friday and Saturday nights, 6pm-10pm at The Fairmont Olympic Hotel, 411 University Street, Seattle, Washington 98101, 206-621-7889.

Please visit www.smoothgroove.net

Elevate your special event with live music.  We don't miss a beat!

Jazz in The Georgian, May 10, 2013

Ron Peters was in the house again for Jazz in The Georgian on Friday, May 10.  Ron is an outstanding jazz guitarist.  He performs regularly throughout the Seattle area and is a very busy guitar teacher with dozens of weekly students.  Here is a video of a tune we played that evening called All Blues by Miles Davis.

All Blues

Please visit our YouTube channel to see and hear highlights of Jazz in The Georgian, and Smooth Groove Productions special events.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

Jazz in The Georgian every Friday and Saturday nights, 6pm-10pm at The Fairmont Olympic Hotel, 411 University Street, Seattle, Washington 98101, 206-621-7889.

Please visit www.smoothgroove.net

Elevate your special event with live music.  We don't miss a beat!

Jazz in The Georgian, May 4, 2013

Ryan Burns was in the house for Jazz in The Georgian on Saturday, May 4.  Ryan is a tremendously talented pianist and musician.  I could call him a great jazz pianist and that would be accurate, but that is also too narrow to say he is only a jazz pianist.  He is very adept at playing many musical styles in commercial situations.  I've known Ryan for over twenty years.  We are actually both alumni from Highline HS in Burien from different years.  I graduated there in 1984 and he did in 1990.  We met on the music scene in Seattle shortly after he graduated.  He then went to Berklee College of Music in Boston for a brief stint, and returned to the Pacific Northwest.   Ryan has recorded his own albums as a leader and plays with many of the most prestigious musicians in the region as well as nationally.  He is a prolific musician that finds all sorts of avenues to work and perform.  He also plays bass guitar in a Led Zeppelin tribute band.

Educator is another title to add to Ryan's name.  He opened his own music school called the Burien School of Music located in....well, Burien.  His school is going strong for over three years.

Ryan has been a regular guest musical artist at Jazz in The Georgian for the past four years.  He also has played in my New Year's Eve band in The Georgian at The Fairmont Olympic Hotel for the last eight consecutive years.  Ryan is very musically deep in knowledge, experience, and performance.  He's a great guy with a good sense of humor in his playing and offstage.

We had a fun night of playing many great tunes.  Here are a couple videos from the gig.  The first one is a nice waltz called Jitterbug Waltz.

Jitterbug Waltz

Here's a Miles Davis tune called Solar.

Solar

Check out Ryan Burns' music school, the Burien School of Music.  He offers lessons in piano, guitar, and bass.  My daughter and niece took piano lessons with him last summer.  They liked him a lot!

Please visit our YouTube channel to see and hear highlights of Jazz in The Georgian, and Smooth Groove Productions special events.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

Jazz in The Georgian every Friday and Saturday nights, 6pm-10pm at The Fairmont Olympic Hotel, 411 University Street, Seattle, Washington 98101, 206-621-7889.

Please visit www.smoothgroove.net

Elevate your special event with live music.  We don't miss a beat!

Jazz in The Georgian, May 3, 2013

On Friday, May 3, 2013, we had the fabulous hard bop jazz pianist John Hansen once again at The Georgian inside Seattle's preeminent The Fairmont Olympic Hotel.  When John is in the house it is sure to be some no-nonsense straight ahead jazz.

Here is a video of a great Benny Golson tune called Stablemates.

Stablemates

We got a little funky on Herbie Hancock's Cantelope Island.

Cantelope Island

John Hansen will be back again for more great Jazz in The Georgian on Friday, May 17, 2013, 6pm-10pm.  We would love to see you come out!

Please visit our YouTube channel to see and hear highlights of Jazz in The Georgian, and Smooth Groove Productions special events.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

Jazz in The Georgian every Friday and Saturday nights, 6pm-10pm at The Fairmont Olympic Hotel, 411 University Street, Seattle, Washington 98101, 206-621-7889.

Please visit www.smoothgroove.net

Elevate your special event with live music.  We don't miss a beat!