Follow the sounds of jazz to Ballard next week

By Bill White, The Seattle P-I

The second annual Ballard Jazz Festival, a joint venture of Origin Records and the Ballard Chamber of Commerce, gets under way at 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Tractor Tavern with the first of two programs dubbed "Brotherhood of the Drum."

Michael Shrieve, former Santana drummer, headlines Wednesday with his world-groove ensemble Tangletown. The John Bishop Group and Byron Vannoy Trio also will perform. On Thursday, Pearl Jam's Matt Cameron will include some Monk compositions in an eclectic set featuring Ryan Burns (keyboards) and Geoff Harper (bass). The Gregg Keplinger Trio and Matt Jorgenson +451 round out the bill.

On the night of Nov. 19, an opportunity to hear a broad cross-section of local music in one busy evening is provided by the joint cover "Ballard Jazz Walk," with 13 bands in eight venues along Ballard Avenue.

The festival concludes Nov. 20 at the Mars Hill Church with afternoon clinics and a mainstage concert at 7:30 p.m. The clinics, which are aimed at younger musicians, include performances by local high school jazz combos as well as workshops with leading musicians.

Three exciting acts will appear at the evening concert. Matt Wilson, named No. 1 rising star drummer of 2003 in Downbeat's critics poll, performs with his quartet. Tim Reis, who just returned from a world tour playing sax, organ and keyboards with the Rolling Stones, performs jazzy versions of Stones material. Finally, hard-bop piano music will be featured in a set by Don Stickler and New Stories.