Author: Zoe Anderson
You know that Monday moment when you are decaying and haven’t stopped doing some kind of schoolwork since your eyes sadly opened at 8 a.m. after a long, beautiful, relaxing weekend of doing endless homework? Yeah, me too. Also, you know that moment when you are having a hard day, and so you decide to go on a walk along the Seattle waterfront, and then you come across a man playing beautifully on a saxophone, so you think to yourself, dang, I want to go see some jazz? Yeah, me too.
If you walk around this corner in Pioneer Square, you probably won’t see anything but streetlights and bricks. However, if you look closely, you may see a sign that says “Jazz,” with an arrow pointing to the right. You will then look to the right and see a staircase. Down that staircase, you may find the most amazing jazz venue in Seattle: The Seattle Jazz Fellowship.
The Seattle Jazz Fellowship is a nonprofit jazz venue that hosts musicians from all over Seattle. This venue usually has live jazz about four nights a week; however, Mondays are special. On Mondays, they have jam sessions. At these jam sessions, anyone can play music with anyone! Just bring an instrument or a beautiful voice, and you will fit right in. These Monday jam sessions are where I spend most of my Monday nights, and they are certainly amazing. There’s something really beautiful about strangers getting together and jamming. I think that’s one of the many things I love about jazz—how it has always brought people together, whether best friends or people who have never even thought of meeting each other. They don’t even need to speak! Just name the tune, bust out a godly solo, and boom. You guys are good friends.
Something that I think is important about these third spaces is the community they bring. Nowadays, it is very hard to find somewhere to hang out that doesn’t involve an $8 latte or some other ridiculously priced item. Yes, Seattle summers have endless third spaces; however, it’s not the most exciting to hang out in Cal Anderson in the dead of winter, accompanied by freezing rain. This small jazz venue is perfect for a rainy evening, and even on the days when the shows do have a cover fee, they are super affordable. Finding these spaces where you feel welcomed and can meet new people is a necessity for these winter months. The Seattle Jazz Fellowship can offer just that and more.
As someone who plays bass guitar and was in a jazz band throughout high school, I cannot emphasize enough how important jazz is. Jazz is the backbone of music and has tunes that anyone can enjoy. For me, jazz taught me the fundamentals of playing almost any instrument I pick up, and it is a staple of music theory if you want to write your own songs. As well as this, if there’s anything I can certainly share, it’s that hearing a good jazz solo is life-changing. Go watch some live jazz!
Zoe Anderson | Music and Arts Reporter