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Susannah & Rob’s Wedding

We spent a beautiful Sunday afternoon (Fathers’ Day) with Susannah and Rob at Golden Gardens for their wedding. They were two of the most easy-going soon-to-be-married’s I’ve worked with and their family and friends were much the same. The day was a tad cloudy but it stayed dry the whole time and a good time was had by all. This was a fun crowd that liked to dance, and we were happy to oblige. We were joined by the lovely and talented Katrina Wible on vocals who wowed them all day, as she usually does, with her blend of jazz standards and R&B classics. Here’s a few photos I snapped:

IMG_0594Katrina gives a dancing lesson

IMG_0589Gotta love a crowded dancefloor

IMG_0591But nothing beats dancing barefoot on the beach!

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4Culture Press Release

I’m still on cloud nine about receiving a grant from 4Culture to help finish the JPQ CD! Today I received the official press release and was able to see the rarefied company I’m in. Other recipient include trumpeter Cuong Vu, filmmaker Lynn Shelton, Senegalese master drummer Thione Diop, and pianists Wayne Horvitz and Jovino Santos Neto. That’s just a small sampling of the wildly talented and deserving individuals and organizations receiving assistance from 4Culture.

Click here to view the entire list and press release.

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Amazing News!

I have been applying for grants for years for a number of different projects. There are many wonderful organizations out there willing to fund arts projects but many, many more artists applying for those grants. I’m always disappointed when I don’t get funded, but even more amazed at all the quality artists out there who do get the grants.

One thing I’ve learned over the years is that when you receive a letter-sized envelope from a grantor, it usually means there is a rejection letter inside. Most often if you are awarded a grant the letter comes with a packet including your contract, tax info, etc.

So today when I saw one small envelope from 4Culture in my mailbox, I said to my fiance, “Looks like I didn’t get the grant.” Imagine my surprise when I opened the envelope and the first words I saw were “It is our great pleasure to inform you that your 2009 Individual Artist Project to 4Culture has been recommended for an award”! Out of a record 391 applications, mine was one of 94 that was accepted. The letter went on to say:

The peer panel felt that each of the selected applicants demonstrated artistic merit, excellence or innovative quality of project; artistic excellence demonstrated in the work samples provided; feasibility and demonstrated ability to accomplish the project; and a plan to provide access and public benefit for King County residents.

What an honor to be included in this group! I feel humbled and proud to see my work being appreciated and valued, especially as a public benefit. It gives me great faith to see artists recognized in this fashion.

What this means is that between this grant money and the money I have been able to raise through my micropatronage program, I will be able to finish the new Jason Parker Quartet CD with no further money out of my own pocket. I can’t tell you what a relief this is, as I still have to finish the mixing and mastering, find someone to design the artwork, pay royalty fees and get the discs printed and replicated. I was prepared to find a way to do it myself, but this certainly takes the edge off.

Please check out the good folks at 4Culture, who’s mission is to “advance community through arts heritage preservation and public art.” And look for the release of the new JPQ CD sometime this summer!

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Anna & Alfredo’s Wedding

We had an absolutely wonderful time at Anna & Alfredo’s wedding this past Saturday at Top of the Market. It was one of those sunny Springtime days in Seattle where everything seems to be just right with the world. What a great day to be married!

I had the pleasure of playing with Darrius Willrich on piano and Evan Flory-Barnes on bass. Evan is the regular bassist in my Quartet and it’s always a treat to play with him. I’ve known Darrius for years and we’ve played together a bunch, but it had been a while. He’s an incredible piano player and the nicest guy you’ll ever meet. I was glad to have the chance to spend the evening with him. This is one smokin’ trio, if I do say so myself!

Anna and Alfredo came to our recent show at Tula’s and told me that they just wanted us to be ourselves and do what we do, which is always nice to hear. They did have a few requests, however, which turned out to be great ones! For their recessional, for instance, they had us play “Here Comes The Sun” by The Beatles. It’s always a challenge to take a well-know song from outside the jazz genre and do it justice. But it’s a challenge I love! And that song is so simple yet so beautiful that all we really had to do was play it straight and it worked out great. The bigger challenge was learning Jim Croce’s “Time In a Bottle”. Of course I’ve heard this song countless times, but I never paid too much attention to it until Anna asked if this could be their first dance. I take first dances very seriously, and wanted to create an arrangement that would be remembered by all in attendance. It took me a while, but the response was incredible, and I think we will add this song to our regular repertoire!

Top of the Market is a gorgeous place to have a wedding, with stunning views of Puget Sound. The staff took great care of us and was very complimentary about our music. The bartender told me she was thrilled to have such a great live band and not another cheesy DJ!

Thanks to Anna & Alfredo for including us in their big day.

Kathryn Krogstad was the photographer for the wedding and some of her beautiful shots:

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