Ain't Misbehavin', based on the 1929 Fats Waller tune of the same name, is more of a revue than an actual musical, and pays tribute to the triumphs and contributions of America's black musicians. And it's coming back to town, as performed by the Pacific Jazz Institute. So if you missed it last time, you're fresh out of excuses. more ›

Last week we gave a shout out to keyboardist, and Seattle native, Aaron Parks and pointed you in the direction of Jazz Alley to go hear the James Farm Project. As we often do, we took our own advice and headed down and caught the final set of their three-night stand. All we can say is that this is a band possessed. more ›

Fast forward 12 years and Aaron Parks has become a standout in the new crop of young lions defining today’s jazz scene. Parks is back in town this week touring with some pretty heavy cats including Joshua Redman, Matt Penman and Eric Harland. Collectively they tour as the James Farm Project and will bring their melodic-driven set for a three-night run starting Tuesday night at Jazz Alley. more ›

On Thursday night, saxophonist David Sanborn with his trio, along with Joey DeFrancesco on the Hammond B-3 organ, will be taking over Dimitriou's Jazz Alley for three nights of jazzy fun. Although Sanborn has found commercial success with his saxophone making smooth jazz music, his work has spanned the genres to include rock 'n' roll, R&B, and pop. Since his first album Taking Off debuted in 1975, Sanborn's discography contains over 20 records, several of which are Grammy Award-winners. His prominence on the music scene since the 1980s has contributed to keeping the sound of the saxophone modern throughout the last couple decades. Most recently, Sanborn was featured in a 2007 song by Ween, "Your Party," and that same year, he sat in with the Allman Brothers Band at the Beacon Theater in New York City. more ›

WAR may be rooted in the 1970s, but the American funk band proved it is still kicking with quite the following during its long weekend showcase at Dimitriou's Jazz Alley. On opening night on Thursday, WAR packed the house for two back-to-back shows, bringing out a large middle-aged crowd to see the diverse band play its hits. Although the lineup is quite a departure from the original crew, the sounds of WR sounded crisp and familiar to a crowd that was more than eager to dance and sing along to hits including "The Cisco Kid," "Low Rider" and more. Lead singer/keyboardist Lonnie Jordan was a comical and entertaining host who gave all six other band members their chances to shine during the band's lengthy two-and-a-hal-hour set. Check out photos from the show below, with more available on Flickr. more ›

We all know the funky, rhythmic beat associated with popular American songs "Low Rider" and "The Cisco Kid." Starting this Thursday night at Jazz Alley, the L.A.-based band WAR brings these songs and more to Seattle for four nights of shows. more ›

Best known for his various collaborations with late Grateful Dead front man Jerry Garcia including the famed Pizza Tapes jam session with Tony Rice and the 70's bluegrass super-group Old and In the Way, Grisman has carved out a niche playing his own genre of music he has coined “Dawg” Music. Blending together traditional bluegrass, jazz, swing, gyspy and latin influences the David Grisman Quintet creates a laid back, stylistic sound scape unmatched by any other artist. more ›

PRO: Over the last ten years Los Angeles label ANTI-Records has been home to some of pop music’s rawest singers. Tom Waits, Nick Cave, Joe Strummer, Man Man, and Spoon have all released albums on Epitaph’s more-mature-sister label. Bettye LaVette and Marianne Faithful also call ANTI home, and so it makes perfect sense that rhythm and blues legend Mavis Staples has released her last two albums for the label. Staples has been identified by her soulful wails and low, smoky voice since the early 60s when The Staple Singers released album after album of remarkable early r&b and gospel music. Mavis Staples had it then, that gruffness and rawness often emulated but rarely matched, even by ANTI’s younger crooners, and she still has it in 2010. Enjoy this video of a live performance in 1971 of “When Will We Be Paid.” more ›

BRING FORTH THE SOUL: She sings a mix of R&B, soul, and jazz in a smooth, strong voice. Tonight is the first of Ledisi’s four nights at the intimate Jazz Alley. In August, the Grammy nominated singer-songwriter released her fourth studio album Turn Me Loose with production by Raphael Saddiq, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, and Carvin & Ivan. A performance like this calls for a bottle of champagne. Feel free to let the bubbles go to your head. more ›

JAZZY: Guitar phenom John Pizzarelli and his wife, the chanteuse Jessica Molaskey, are setting up shop tonight at Jazz Alley for four days. John has carried on the tradition of his legendary father Bucky Pizzarelli, and as duo, he and his wife move fluidly from jazz to pop to torch, exploring the depths of the good old proverbial "American Songbook." more ›

HOME ALONE: Poor little Korean kids. In So Yong Kim's Treeless Mountain, two sisters (Jin, 6, and Bin, 4) must take care of each other after their mother leaves them to search for their estranged father. Parents of the Year all up in this piece! In this semi-autobiographical tale (whuuuuuuut?), things move slowly and tenderly while the children are left to their own devices and struggle to adapt to the new status quo. Treeless Mountain plays twice a night at the NWFF through Thursday. 7 p.m., 9 p.m. // Northwest Film Forum // 1515 12th Ave. // $9 more ›

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BOOZE AND SCHMOOZE: Michelle Goodman has written a book called My So-Called Freelance Life! (Full disclosure: this Seattlest let ourselves be interviewed for another book she wrote.) Tonight, she'll be reading from the book and providing folks with snacks and drinks, prizes, and an opportunity to network will fellow freelancers. Get thee to Office Nomads for the party/reading. more ›

The stage at Jazz Alley was cramped for a nine-person band. Before funkified sax master Maceo Parker and his crew hit the stage, the drums were shoved hard against the rear curtain like a belt buckled tight around a pair of empty pants. When Jerome Thomas took to his kit, he had to squeeze through and climb around, and he played much of the set like only the funkiest rhythm could release him. It was fitting accompaniment to a set that included songs with titles like "Off the Hook," "Make it Funky," "Shake Everything You've Got," and "Funky Fiesta." more ›

WATCH THE TOUR DE FRANCE: The Cascade Bicycle Club presents its annual Cyclefest. There's something for everyone--races for those who like to watch, a bike decorating station for those who like to do, and a lot of people in spandex for those who like to drool. After the sun goes down, watch the 17th stage of the Tour de France (that's the part where they race up the Alps. The Alps!) on a big screen. Wheel-less and feeling lucky? Enter the raffle for a bike worth $4,000. more ›

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The glorious fall sunsets have disappeared along with the mouldering husks of Halloween pumpkins, and according the weather report, we can all expect a long, cold, wet weekend. But this being the Northwest, that's never stopped us from getting out and about; here's the weekend plans of your intrepid Seattlest contributors: more ›

We have a message for 15-year-old us: "You are a fuckface." more ›

MUSICAL REVIEW: Tonight Seattlest Matt is checking out what was the longest-running musical review in the history of Broadway, Smokey Joe's Café. A hit-list from the '50s and '60s of songs by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, it opens tonight and runs through June 17th. We can almost hear the K-TEL announcer: Featuring 40 of the greatest songs ever recorded, including such hits as "On Broadway," "Hound Dog," "Jailhouse Rock," "Stand By Me," "Spanish Harlem," "Love Potion #9," and "I’m a Woman." more ›

TRIVIA: Tonight at the Old Pequilar. Seattlest David hosts. Guaranteed round: sesquipedalianism, or "addiction to unnecessarily long words." Also movies and geography. more ›

BOOKS: Dave "Mr. McSweeney's" Eggers' latest is titled What is the What: The Autobiography of Valentino Achak Deng. Mr. Deng himself--a survivor of the Darfur shitstorm--discusses his life tonight. Bring tissue. more ›

ART: Think you were Toulouse-Lautrec in a previous life? Swing by the Bedroom Club tonight and sketch the Burning Hearts Burlesque performers along with the Seattle Figure Drawing Meetup Group. more ›

8pm // Neumo's // $20. 21+ more ›

TRIVIA: By popular demand, there's Seattlest trivia tonight, just one day after we all celebrated the birth of the Lord. more ›

MUSIC: Yeah, we're really not sure about this, it could go either way, but the Crocodile is hosting a Disney cover night, featuring members from Catch, Kane Hodder, Pris, and a bunch of other acts. That's right. Disney covers. If it fails, it should fail in a uniquely horrifying manner. more ›

Tuesday 7th more ›

October is here! That means candy apples, inappropriate costumes, and tons of live music. more ›

Another copious serving of live tunes (not to mention opportunities to leave your smelly apartment), courtesy of Seattlest. You can thank us later. more ›

Now that there's a chill in the air, Seattlest has taken to closing our windows at night before curling up in a warm bed with some hot cocoa and earplugs. That's right, it's officially the fall tour season, and there's live music galore. Behold! more ›

Tired of sitting around with your friends looking stupid? Of course you are! So get off your ass and check these shows out… more ›