COMMENCEMENT BAY JAZZ FESTIVAL
EVENING
PERFORMANCES
TICKETS $10 AT THE DOOR
Vocal Performance
Sam True
Idaho raised and Pacific Northwest based singer songwriter Sam Tru has a compelling style all her own. Blending sounds, breaking rules and crossing genres, Tru possesses a voice that is at the same time both new and familiar. Drawing on influences in jazz, soul, Pop and R&B, her incredible vocal talents have been showcased throughout the West opening for Artists such as the Legendary Ms. Gladys Knight, Amy Vachal, performing at the Portland Jazz Festival, the Monterey Jazz 'Next Generation Competition’, the Bellevue Jazz+Blues Festival, the Treefort Music Festival, the KIN Summer Concert Series, the Sandpoint Music Festival and in support of artists like Liz Vice, Jeff Baker Miles Forte, Biddadat and others.
Sam Tru’s debut album ‘Cycle' featuring Grammy Winning bassist Clark Sommers, pianist Justin Nielsen, guitarist Gregory Uhlmann and drummer Matt Carroll reached #1 on Amazon’s Top 100 New Releases, was featured in Downbeat Magazine, and was played on over 200 radio stations across the globe. The impact of the release culminated as ‘Cycle’ made the Nominating Ballot for the 2021 GRAMMY Awards in multiple categories including Album of the Year, Best New Artist and Song of the Year.
Instrumental Performance
SWOJO
The Seattle Womens Jazz Orchestra (SWOJO) was formed in 2000 to encourage women and girls to become involved in jazz performance and composition as a career or avocation, to develop the musical, educational and artistic growth of individual musicians, and to foster appreciation of jazz as an art form. SWOJO has become a dynamic force for jazz in the Puget Sound and Pacific Northwest. It has performed at clubs, jazz festivals and concert halls on two continents.
SWOJO proudly features the contemporary, original music of regional and international women composers and arrangers including Jill Townsend, Ann Reynolds, Leigh Pilzer, Christine Jensen, Jessie Smith and Nelda Swigget. SWOJO has performed with many female jazz artists including Dee Daniels, Grace Kelly, Mimi Fox, Christine Jensen, Jill Townsend, Sherrie Maricle, Greta Matassa, Sheryl Bailey, Ingrid Jensen and many others. SWOJO has performed at Benaroya Hall, the Vancouver (WA) Wine and Jazz Festival, Seattle Jazz Vespers, Triple Door, Dimitrious Jazz Alley, Bumbershoot, Festival Jazz en Lima (Peru) and many others.
