|
|
Were there ever a Godfather of Jazz in
Bellingham, BILL MACDONOUGH would be the man. He has taught, accompanied, performed, or
backed almost every musician in Bellingham,
playing local venues too many to name. OK here
goes: Old Town Café, Beech House Pub, Cookie
Café, Casino Bar & Grill, Blue Water Bistro,
Chuckanut Manor, The Fairhaven, Bel Porto,
Tony’s Coffee, Fairhaven Billiards, Bullies,
Black Forest, Channel Landing, Majestic Hotel,
Il Fiasco, The Metro, Stuarts Coffee House,
Lummi Casino, Red River Casino, Marz Café, Port
of Subs, Café Akroteri, Speedy O’Tubbs, The Up &
Up, Bucks, Mt. Baker Brewery, Blue Maxx (later
Red Baron), Elephant & Castle, Zumbarah, Bagelry,
Top of the Towers, Caravan’s Crossing,
Renaissance Café, Community Food Co-op,
Fairhaven Bus, Matt’s Place, Packers at
Semiahmoo, Boundary Bay, Poppe’s, Grand Avenue,
The Breakwater, Calumet, Palmers.
So when there
are calls for a pianist, Bill’s name is
inevitably bantered back and forth like a
Bellingham Jazz Boss.
|
JULIAN MACDONOUGH is simply part of the
family business. Now living in Seattle, he
performs regularly with his own group, and as a
sideman for players from Portland to Vancouver.
JEFF JOHNSON
is another favorite among players in the area.
A world-class player, by all accounts, he has
the versatility to lead his own group, or be
the consummate sideman, as seven years with Hal
Galper will attest. He toured South America in
2003 with vocalist, Karrin Allyson, and works
regularly around Seattle with Ernestine
Anderson.
PAUL CHANDLER, recently
back from a tour of the
world, and has just returned to the local jazz
and music scene where he gigs as much as he can
and plays “enough to pay the rent.” Where he
ends up will be anyone’s guess, as he has the
talent, attitude, and musicianship to go just
about anywhere. |
