News and Updates

Announcing “Tapestry”

POSTED ON August 23, 2023

FRANCESCO CROSARA (piano & keyboards), GAIL PETTIS (vocals), JOHN STOWELL (guitar)

The Royal Room is proud to present the premiere of TAPESTRY, an intimate Jazz performance which brings together 3 distinct musical talents, highlights the diversity of each artist’s individual music approach, coming together in different combinations (trio, duet, solo) and weaving their music styles to create something unique and inspiring. The trio will present original compositions and select standards arrangements. 5000 Rainier Ave S, Seattle, WA 98118 https://www.strangertickets.com/events/141479349/tapestry

Graphics courtesy of Julia Crosara

FRANCESCO CROSARA: Originally from Milan, Italy, Crosara’s music melds an impressive mix of jazz improvisation, a romantic vein from his classical training, along with Latin influences. Crosara stands among the European-bred jazz greats, performing over the years with the likes of Lionel Hampton, Freddie Hubbard, Roy Hargrove, Richie Cole, Bobby Shew, Ira Sullivan, Don Menza, Von Freeman, John Heard, Gabe Baltazar, Mayuto Correa, Bruce Forman, Barbara Morrison, Earl Palmer, Lilian Terry, and more. His recordings have featured a multicultural and international array of musicians. He has performed at festivals and venues across the USA, Japan, Canada, Mexico, France, Spain, and Italy. Since 2017, the Pacific Northwest can claim Crosara’s talents, too, as he’s demonstrated an eagerness to contribute to the local scene. Francesco was selected to perform at the 2021 Earshot Jazz Festival in Seattle and has been featured two years in a row in the trend-setting Earshot Jazz: The Second Century series for his bold and innovative music composition and video editing work. Equally adept with acoustic and electric jazz concepts, Crosara routinely headlines trios and quartets with the area top musicians.

GAIL PETTIS: Named ” 2010 Northwest Vocalist of the Year,” by Earshot Jazz Society, (also 2007), Gail’s rich, warm vocals and understated phrasing have been described as “deliciously soulful” by Cadence Magazine. Gail’s live performances have been described by Earshot jazz as going “…from strength to strength, performing a winning, crowd-involving style of vocal jazz.”. As artist-in-residence at the Amersfoort Jazz Festival in the Netherlands in 2006, she was featured artist with the New Manhattan Big Band, also Eddie Conard and the Dutch Jazz Cats on the mainstage and smaller combs in venues in Amersfoort and Harderwijk. Included on this tour was a stop in Kobe, Japan to perform as a guest artist at KAVC Hall as First Place winner of the Seattle-Kobe Female Jazz Vocalist Audition. She has also performed at the Gene Harris Jazz Festival in Boise, Idaho, Jazz at the River Festival in Eagle, ID. Most recently, Gail completed Russian tours in the spring of 2015, performing in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Ufa, Ivanova and Perm and returning in the summer for a tour anchored by the White Nights Jazz Festival.

JOHN STOWELL began his successful career in the early 1970’s with private study with guitarist Linc Chamberland and pianist John Mehegan. Both men were valuable mentors to John, allowing him to play with them as he progressed in his development. Several years later he met bassist David Friesen in New York City, and they formed a duo that recorded and toured prolifically for seven years, with performances in the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia.

In 1983, John and David joined flutist Paul Horn and Paul’s son Robin Horn (on drums) for a historic tour of the Soviet Union. This was the first time in forty years that an American jazz group had been invited to play public performances in Russia. In 1993, 1995, 1998 and 2012 John returned to Russia, playing in numerous cities. His two sold-out performances in Kursk may have been the first appearances there by an American jazz musician. John continues to tour, record and teach internationally. He has been Artist-In-Residence at schools in Germany, Indonesia, Argentina, and in the United States and Canada. He served as assistant director and performer in Oregon Public Broadcasting’s PDX Jazz Summit in 1991, and since 1995 has been a contributing columnist for a number of magazines, including “Downbeat”, “Guitar Player”, “Canadian Musician”, “Soundcheck” (Germany), and “Guitar Club” (Italy).

North City Bistro Saturday, July 15!

POSTED ON July 13, 2023

E-mail subscribers will note that a date correction has been made; this show is on Saturday. Scroll down for ticket link. Hope to see you there!!!

Website maintenance: upcoming shows

POSTED ON February 01, 2023

Because not all posted shows have been visible on the Calendar page, engagements will be temporarily listed here under “News and Updates” until issue is resolved. Thank you for your patience; please join us!!!

February 19th Gail Pettis Quartet feat. Tony Foster, Jeff Johnson, Mark Ivester. 2-4pm Frye Art Museum https://fryemuseum.org

February 24th Gail Pettis Quartet at North City Bistro feat. Bill Anschell, Jeff Johnson, Jeff Busch. 8-10:30pm https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=north+city+bistro+%26+wine+shop&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

April 8 The Just and the Blind; Orcas Center https://orcascenter.org/event/the-just-and-the-blind/, https://www.thejustandtheblind.com

April 16th Métier Brewing Company feat. Tony Foster, Jeff Johnson Hans Teuber https://metierbrewing.com

April 22 North Bend Jazz Walk. Tony Foster, Michael Glenn. https://www.northbendjazzwalk.com

June 3 Edmonds Jazz Walk. Tony Foster, Jeff Johnson, Hans Teuber, D’vonne Lewis. 9-Midnight at the American Legion Hall, 117 6th Avenue S, Edmonds WA https://www.google.com/maps/place/American+Legion/@47.8003181,-122.3587931,14z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x54901afa974f9453:0x59722d18bc8412c7!8m2!3d47.8100046!4d-122.374492!16s%2Fg%2F11fd3qscwy?entry=ttu

https://www.edmondsjazzwalk.com/

June 4 Métier Brewing Company feat. Tony Foster, Jeff Johnson Hans Teuber https://metierbrewing.com

“Say the Words” presents musical workshop at Seattle Repertory Theatre

POSTED ON November 03, 2018

Art of Jazz live from Seattle Art Museum on Jazz Northwest

POSTED ON May 04, 2018

How exciting it was to play the Seattle Art Museum during the Figuring History: Robert Colescott, Kerry James Marshall, Mickalene Thomas exhibit! http://figuringhistory.site.seattleartmuseum.org           Many thanks to Earshot Jazz, Seattle Art Museum, KNKX 88.5 FM and to Jim Wilke for capturing the fun! (subscribe to Jazz Northwest with iTunes or Google Play)

Celebrate the holidays with Gail and SWOJO!

POSTED ON November 28, 2017

Seattle Women’s Jazz Orchestra; new dates announced!

POSTED ON June 14, 2017

Don’t let life run a game on you! Don’t be lost in a sea of misery! 🙂 There will be at least two chances to catch Gail with the Seattle Womens Jazz Orchestra this summer: August 5 at the Anacortes Arts Festival and August 10 at the Seattle Downtown Association Out to Lunch Series. Have Mercy!!!

“Ella et al.: Great Ladies of Jazz” Show on Orcas Island

POSTED ON May 01, 2017
 Gail Pettis is a two time winner of Earshot Jazz Golden Ear “Northwest’s Vocalist of the Year” award.  Gail’s warm, rich vocals and retro air, hint at the silken sophistication and storytelling style of the young Nancy Wilson.  The Seattle vocalist is excited to return to the island and share her love and appreciation for all who have gone before her and paved the wonderful road called jazz.  Gail has chosen the fitting occasion of the100th birthday celebration of the First Lady of Jazz herself, Ella Fitzgerald.  “It would be difficult to find a jazz fan or performer who has not been profoundly influenced by her music,” Pettis says.  The term et al. comes from Pettis’ pre-jazz days as a healthcare provider and scientific researcher.  The term is an abbreviation for the Latin phrase et alia, which means “and others.”  Pettis chose this term to illustrate her belief that “I never sing alone – I stand on the shoulders of all the greats who have come before me.  This show is my way of honoring iconic vocalists whose work has challenged, informed and inspired so many of us.” says Pettis. The show will include music by Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday and other greats. Gail also will feature some contemporary artists she considers to be personal heroes and role models. Joining Gail will be the Darin Clendenin Trio and special guest, our Islands’ own jazz great, Martin Lund.  Ticket are available at Darvill’s Bookstore and online at  brownpapertickets.com
Contact: Donna Laslo, Orcas Open Arts

“From Braces to Grace Notes”: NPR Morning Edition/All Things Considered; interview with Ed Ronco (KNKX 88.5 FM),

POSTED ON December 02, 2016

What a wonderful time sitting down with KNKX-FM’s Ed Ronco to discuss music, life and my crazy career path! Link includes interview highlights and info on KNKX Holiday Jam at the Rialto Theater/Broadway Center for the Performing arts in Tacoma WA on December 4 at 7:30. Event is sold out but will be broadcast live on KNKX FM88.5.

Full page feature in October issue of “O, the Oprah Magazine”

POSTED ON September 12, 2016

gail-pettis-o-magazine

                          Gail featured in October issue of O, the Oprah Magazine. Grab a copy; on newsstands now!

                             Pick up Gail’s music:

Directly from this website (mp3s):  Here In The Moment | May I Come In?

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                                             iTunes:  Here In The Moment | May I Come In?

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