Arts briefs | Feb. 3 edition
Published 1:30 am Wednesday, February 2, 2022
Shaymus Hanlin Quintet postponed
Jazz crooner Shaymus Hanlin was scheduled to perform at Vashon Center for the Arts (VCA) on Feb. 5; the concert is now postponed until April 23. Visit vashoncenterforthearts.org for more information and tickets.
Poet Laureates talk poetry
A conversation, “Vashon Poet Laureates: The Importance of Poetry in the Life of a Small Community,” will be hosted by Beachcomber Editor Elizabeth Shepherd, at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 10, on Zoom. Free registration is available at tinyurl.com/faprwh75. Ann Spiers, the island’s first Poet Laureate, and Sandra Noel, the current Vashon Poet Laureate, will provide a perspective on poetry on the island, how it has developed and changed over the years, and how it has again come to play an increasing visible and important role in our community.
‘The Voice’ Finalist Zan Fiskum
Singer and songwriter Zan Fiskum will perform in concert at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 12 at VCA. Fiskum made her television debut on Season 18 of “The Voice,” becoming a top nine finalist. She has received praise from Maggie Rogers, of Billboard Magazine and continued to work with her coach, John Legend, as she recorded her debut album, “Sleeping Problems.”
At the age of 12, Fiskum departed from classical music training to experiment with her own songwriting. She soon went on to release her first six singles and achieved more than 2 million streams on Spotify alone. Since appearing on “The Voice,” she has formed her band and written and released her debut album “Sleeping Problems.” She has since found herself performing in iconic Northwest venues such as The Moore Theater, The Triple Door and Sasquatch.
LeRoy Bell and His Only Friends
LeRoy Bell, an accomplished singer and songwriter, will perform with his band at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 18, at VCA. As part of the duo Bell and James, Bell had a top-15 pop single, “Livin’ It Up (Friday Night),” and composed songs for Teddy Pendergrass, Gladys Knight, and two hit singles for Elton John. In 2020, he Bell partnered with G.E. Smith (bandleader at SNL ‘85-’95) to release an album as a duo, “Stony Hill,” on BMG.
Diane Schuur with Bruce Phares
Legendary vocalist Diane Schuur will return to the island for a concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19, at Vashon Center for the Arts, appearing with jazz great and Vashon resident, Bruce Phares.
Schuur is regarded as one of contemporary jazz’s leading vocalists. Born in Tacoma, Washington, Schuur was blind from birth; but she was gifted with perfect pitch and three-and-a-half-octave vocal range. She initially taught herself piano by ear and later received formal piano training at The Washington State School for the Blind, which she attended until she was 11 years of age.
Her latest recording, “Running on Earth,” was co-produced by Schuur and Grammy-winning saxophonist Ernie Watts. On this very personal musical statement, released by Jazzheads Music Group, the vocalist has created new versions of songs written and performed by other legends — a group ranging from the Miles Davis to Carole King to Paul Simon.
Note: Find out more about all shows at Vashon Center for the Arts and get tickets at vashoncenterforthearts.org.
