Join us at the Jazz Stage at the Anacortes Arts Festival August 6-8!
The Jazz stage at the Arts Festival is sponsored by the Manieri Foundation and features such beloved local favorites as Ranger and the Re-Arrangers, Trish Hatley, Joan Penney, Dmitri Matheny, the A’Town Big Band, and more.
Friday, August 6
12-1:30 p.m. Ranger and the Re-Arrangers
2-3:30 p.m. Cascadia Groove
4-5:30 p.m. Trish Hatley
Saturday, August 7
11:30-12:30 p.m. Bill Anschell Quartet
1-2:30 p.m. Herding Kats Nonet
3-4:30 p.m. Joan Penney
5:15-6:45 p.m. Birch Periah and the Gin Joints
Sunday, August 8
12-1:30 p.m. Dmitri Matheny
2-3:30 p.m. Pearl Django
4-5:30 p.m. Joel Litwin Group
RANGER AND THE RE-ARRANGERS
Ranger Sciacca – Violin
Dave Stewart – Mandolin and Vocals
Jeffrey Moose – Percussion and Vocals
Mike Sciacca – Rhythm Guitar
Mick Nicholson – Bass
Ranger and the “Re-Arrangers” evoke the spirit of a Paris cafe and the raucous energy of a Gypsy campsite with their version of Gypsy jazz. “At the heart of their sound is Ranger’s sweet violin playing… his sense of melody and daring improvisations” (World Rhythm). The band’s repertoire includes swing standards, traditional Gypsy melodies, and the music of Django Reinhardt.
CASCADIA GROOVE
Members:
Gary Tobin – Guitar
Paul Sherman – Bass
Keith Stone – Tenor Sax and Vocals
Alex Sheldon – Drums
Lance Gibbon – Keyboard
Tracy Jones – Vocal and Tenor Sax
Cascadia Groove bring it’s signature sound and crossover groove vibe to the festival playing a mix of original music and familiar covers.
TRISH HATLEY
Vocalist Trish Hatley is one of the most beloved and enduring figures on the West Coast music scene today. With her easy sense of swing, beautiful tone and innate sensitivity to the lyric, she effectively balances technical mastery and genuine accessibility, making her extremely popular among jazz fans and critics alike. Trish performs and records with her own quintet, as well as the vocal jazz trio Trish, Hans and Phil. Trish is particularly revered for her mastery of the Great American Songbook. In the words of music blogger Robert Nicisoa, “She sings songs that were written years ago but her approach breathes new life and sparkle into all of them!”
A’TOWN BIG BAND
“A’Town Big Band” is Skagit County’s own popular big band. Providing lots of energy, the band plays Big Band music of Stan Kenton, Count Basie, Maynard Ferguson, Bob Curnow, Buddy Rich, and more.
BILL ANSCHELL QUARTET
Bill Ancschell trio, with Jeff Johnson on bass and Robert Rushing on drums “The Bill Anschell Quartet infuses jazz with the energy of rock, on a repertoire ranging from Anschell’s originals, to pieces by jazz greats like Thelonious Monk, to Beatles songs.
Anschell has received Golden Ear Awards as “Northwest Instrumentalist of the Year” three times, and in 2016 was inducted into the Seattle Jazz Hall of Fame. He’s joined in the quartet by three of Seattle’s first-call players: guitarist Brian Monroney, bassist Chris Symer and drummer Brad Boal. Monroney worked for many years as musical director for Tom Jones, and has also performed with artists including Natalie Cole and Gloria Estefan. Symer has performed with jazz greats including Roger Kellaway, Bennie Maupin, and Tierney Sutton. Boal, who grew up in a musical family, attended North Texas State University and studied privately with drum giant Jeff Hamilton.
The group’s 2017 CD, Rumbler, earned rave reviews from the two leading jazz magazines: Downbeat and JazzTimes.
Visit www.billanschell.com/music to hear selections from Rumbler and Anschell’s many other releases.”
HERDING KATS NONET
This local Jazz Octet plays the music of West Coast Cool jazz from Gerry Mulligan, Chet Baker to Horace Silver and Chuck Israels. Barry Erb -Baritone Sax, Pat Rein- Trumpet, Kenton Kuusela- Tenor Sax, Jakob Yansen- Alto Sax, Vince Fejeran- Trombone, Andy Carr- Piano, Paul Benson- Bass, Brad Spangler- Drums
JOAN PENNEY
Hans Brehmer on keys and vocals; Clipper Anderson on Bass; Brian Kirk on drums; Thomas Harris on saxophone.
Joan and her band swing it with jazz standards along with some new twists on select 60’s tunes. Catch some great summer grooves on the Maneri Jazz Stage with Joan and the band.
BIRCH PEREIRA AND THE GIN JOINTS
Featuring front man Birch Pereira’s “old soul” tenor voice and his skilled bass playing, the Gin Joints offer captivating arrangements of well-crafted originals and well-chosen covers. The band features skilled and versatile musicians who share the same love of the American song traditions and the desire to offer fresh interpretations. Whether as a trio or with the addition of a pulsating horn section, the band will take you on a sonic tour of great music. Tune in, fasten your seatbelts and prepare to be transported.
Independent Music Award Nominee 2019 for “St. James Infirmary Cover
Vocalist of the Year Nominee, 2018 & 2017, Earshot Jazz
Northwest Recording of the Year in 2016 for “Dream Man,” Earshot Jazz.
DMITRI MATHENY
Dmitri Matheny flugelhorn
Milo Petersen guitar
Phil Sparks bass
Mark Ivester drums. Winner of “NW Instrumentalist of the Year” honors in the recent Seattle Earshot Jazz Golden Ear Awards, flugelhornist Dmitri Matheny has been lauded as “one of the most emotionally expressive improvisers of his generation” (International Review of Music). An honors graduate of the Berklee College of Music, Dmitri Matheny vaulted onto the jazz scene in the 1990s as the protégé of jazz legend Art Farmer. Since then he has garnered critical acclaim and a loyal international following, touring extensively throughout the United States, Europe and Asia, traveling to 19 countries. With over 100 recordings to his credit, Dmitri Matheny has released 11 albums as a leader. His latest is Jazz Noir, a fresh spin on crime jazz, film noir movie themes and timeless classics. The San Francisco Chronicle calls Matheny “one of the jazz world’s most talented horn players.”
PEARL DJANGO
With a performance history spanning more than two decades, Pearl Django endures as one of the most highly regarded Hot Club style groups working today. Although the band’s roots are firmly in the music made famous by Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli, its extensive repertoire includes traditional jazz classics and original compositions. Pearl Django has performed at festivals, dances and nightspots throughout the U.S. and abroad. They have played at the prestigious Festival Django Reinhardt in Samois sur Seine and have been featured on NPR’s “All Things Considered.” The band’s signature style is marked by pristine and dexterous string work, colors of Bal Musette, the steady pulse of rhythm guitar and an unmistakable swing that delights audiences of all musical sensibilities. Throughout the years, Pearl Django has cultivated a devoted and enthusiastic following and they continue to play to packed houses wherever they perform.
JOEL LITWIN GROUP
Arête Quartet is a groove-oriented acid jazz ensemble, borrowing from downtempo, straight ahead jazz, funk, punk and other styles. Themes and grooves from rhythm-sectionists Joel Litwin (Erin Corday, Incendio) and Steve Jones (Rumors of the Big Wave, Obá Obá) provide the jumping-off point for prodigious soloists Joe Doria (McTuff, Michael Shrieve’s Spellbinder) and Dave Carter (Wayne Horvitz, Pearl Jam). With a respectful nod towards the traditions of jazz, Arête Quartet’s main troublemaker Joe Doria (keyboards) makes detours into electronica, trip-hop and controlled maelstrom, all the while parrying and playing off long-time collaborator and musical alchemist Dave Carter (trumpet), creating a compelling mix of tradition and innovation.