You’re invited to Bruce Phares’s Birthday Bash concert

Published 1:30 am Tuesday, November 1, 2022

It’s jazz bassist Bruce Phares’ birthday and you’re invited to his upcoming Birthday Bash Jazz Concert Friday, Nov. 4, at the Vashon Center for the Arts.

Since landing on the island just a few years ago at the beginning of 2020, Bruce has become one of our most prolific collaborators — not only jamming and performing with Vashon’s best and brightest musical stars, but also welcoming other stellar jazz musicians from the mainland for VCA’s “Jam In The Atrium” jazz series.

A multi-talented instrumentalist, Bruce is always entertaining and engaging with his performances. An unusually lyrical approach to bass playing places him among some of the top acoustic bass artists in the country.

The Birthday Bash will be an evening of fun, laughter, love, a few tears, and excellent music.

The celebratory concert is performed in two different parts: First, Bruce will be onstage with his current jazz quartet and for second, he is joining in spontaneous duets and trios with various Vashon all-star musicians.

The quartet features pianist extraordinaire Jeremy Bacon, revered drummer Stefan Schatz, and the unbelievable Alexey Nikolaev on saxophone in addition to Bruce on the acoustic bass.

Jeremy has performed at such revered New York City performance venues and since arriving in Seattle, he has become established as one of the region’s first-call pianists, playing with his own quartet and collaborating with many of Seattle’s finest musicians.

Drummer Stefen Schatz’s spirited and exuberant explorations have put him on the international scene through the prestigious “Rhythm Road” program with Lincoln Center and as a participant in the 2010 Grammys. Saxophonist Alexey Nikolaev has been a force on the Seattle jazz scene for over twenty years and is an incredibly gifted improviser with a bold yet lyrical and approachable voice on the instrument.

Once the quartet finishes off their rousing portion of the show, Bruce will engage in intimate musical conversations with some of the island’s most beloved musical luminaries, including the ubiquitous keyboardist Chris O’Brien, legendary vocalist Ara Lee James, ethereal guitarist Michael Whitmore, soaring vocalist Rebeka Kuzma, jazz keyboardist (and chocolatier!) Randal Collen, and singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Joe Panzetta.

The concert will be dedicated to Bruce’s best friend, the Northwest’s legendary bassist and educator, Charles Deardorf, Earshot Jazz Hall Of Famer, who sadly passed away recently due to complications from Covid.

Tickets are on sale now on the VCA website, www.vashoncenterforthearts.org.

The show starts at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4.