Ravi Coltrane Back on the Books at Jazz Alley and 3 Other Shows of Note

Ravi Coltrane has a new date at Jazz Alley. There are many other noteworthy performances over the next several months –  here are a few we’re excited to see.

Back in November we got word that Ravi Coltrane’s set at Jazz Alley had been postponed due to illness. Well, good news. Coltrane is set to be back in town this April for a couple of sets at Jazz Alley.

His last visit to Jazz Alley was back in 2017, fresh off his Grammy nomination. At the time, Coltrane was getting raves for his work on the 2016 release with Jack DeJohnette, IN MOVEMENT.

You probably already know that Ravi is the son of legendary jazz musician John Coltrane. His mother, Alice Coltrane was also an accomplished jazz musician and composer.

So when Coltrane takes the stand at Jazz Alley, he’ll be preforming a set he calls Cosmic Music – The music of John and Alice Coltrane.

Ravi Coltrane performs April 26-27 at Jazz Alley

If you are looking to hear some jazz tonight or tomorrow, Bob James rolls into town with his trio.

James may be best known for his song “Angela,” which ended up being the theme song for the hit TV sitcom, Taxi. But our favorite on that album was “Caribbean Nights” which featured Hubert Laws and Earl Klugh. Steve Gadd, the session drummer on the album, will be sliding into Jazz Alley this time next month.

James latest release (2020) is “On Vacation” with trumpeter/vocalist Till Brönner.

Bob James performs tonight and tomorrow (Jan. 18-19) at Jazz Alley

Next month one of the great jazz pianists of our time, Kenny Barron, will be at Jazz Alley.

In the 60s you could hear Barron playing along with Dizzy Gillespie. Over the next several decades Barron was in the mix with all the jazz heavyweights of the time. In the 90s Barron started racking up Grammy nominations, nine in all, through his recordings for Verve.

And yes, there is a Seattle connection here. Barron also teaches at the Juilliard School of Music where he counts jazz pianist Aaron Parks, a native of Seattle, as a former student.

Kenny Barron performs February 22-23 at Jazz Alley

And who doesn’t need a little funk – especially in these times.

Maceo Parker will bring his own style of March Madness to Jazz Alley (March 3-6). Parker has worked with James Brown, Parliament-Funkadelic, and Prince – to name a few. And with the bona fides of being known as “the greatest little funk orchestra on earth,” there is little more we can add.

So, we’ll just leave this here for you.

Related: Marquis Hill Blacktet Stands Out With Defining Vision At Jazz Alley