Well — I’m fresh back from an incredible trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico with my wife Emily and boy Leo. It was our first international excurssion as a family and we had delightful time together. I’m excited to play some music this week and share some of that Traquillo R&R and Sunshine with you all!

I have 2 fantastic live performances in Seattle that I hope you can attend:

The first is this Wednesday, Dec. 21st at LUCID from 8pm to 11pm. I’ll be playing piano and accompanying vocalist Michelle Searle as well as some other special guest vocalists. We’ll be doing everything from Jazz to Funk/Soul and some holiday classics mixed in as well (or not – that is if you’re tired of hearing holiday tunes). Unfortunately this show is 21+, but the 2nd show below is all ages…if you’re looking to try and bring the little ones

More info can be found here: http://www.joshrawlings.com/shows/

The 2nd show will be with the Josh Rawlings Trio at Sip Seattle on Thursday, Dec. 22nd from 6pm to 9pm. My trio has been playing Sip Wine Bar in Issaquah and Seattle now for the past month and a half and have been really enjoying our shows. Sip features an incredible selection of first class wine and their food is AMAZING! We’ve been playing a select number of Thursdays and Thursday night just happens to be ‘Ladies Night’ as well! Discount prices on food and drinks for the ladies all night long! Join my Trio this Thursday and remember we’re taking requests — so you can request from nearly a list of 500 tunes — and that includes holiday tunes if you so desire

More info can be found here: http://www.joshrawlings.com/shows/

Also — for those of you who aren’t on my group The Teaching’s mailing list (if you’d like you can signup HERE), you’ll be happy to know (if you’re in the Denver area or know someone who lives there) that I have 3 shows planned for after Christmas in Denver. This will be our 4th year in a row performing as a group down there and I’m really excited to be back for this short run of shows. I’ll be at Dazzle Jazz Club on Dec. 27th, Christ the King on Dec. 28th and at the D Note on Dec. 30th. More information about the tour can be found on our websitehttp://www.theteachingmusic.com/shows

Happy Holidays and thank you so much for your support of my music and Live Music in the Seattle area! Would love to see you this week at a show.

Hi everyone,

I’m so excited to announce that the Jason Parker Quartet heads to Jack Straw Studios on Dec. 26th to record our next CD, “FIve Leaves Left: A Jazz Tribute to Nick Drake”. We will remake British singer-songwriter Nick Drake’s debut album in our own inimitable style!

To help raise funds for the project we have partnered with Kickstarter, the #1 site helping independent artists worldwide connect with their fans in new and innovative ways.

Please take a minute to check out the video below explaining the project at http://oneworkingmusician.com/nick-drake-project and make a pledge of support today.

Thank you so much for your support of this wonderful project.

Here’s a fun video put together by the bandleader, Jason Parker, of Robot characters talking about the recording project – you’ll laugh!

Friends, family and fans of The Teaching! We’re so, so excited to announce our Triple Door show as part of the 2010 Earshot Jazz Festival this coming Wednesday, October 27th at 7:00pm. Please see the event details by clicking on the link below and share this post and poster with anyone and everyone you know. We want to show Earshot and Triple Door  we can fill the venue with our incredible, loving and supportive fans for this special performance. We’d love for you to be in attendance and welcome any of you who wish to spread the word on the street! Let’s GET ‘EM CATS!

http://www.theteachingmusic.com/shows

There’s some really nice reviews coming in for MC Spekulation’s latest record ‘The Depression Era‘ coming in this past week. Check them out:

By Hip-Hop Northwest writer CK: http://www.HipHopNorthwest.com/?p=1448

“I was impressed”
~CK

By Posted In The Parking Lot writer Joey MC: http://postedintheparkinglot.com/2010/10/13/spekulation-the-depression-era-ep/

“The Depression Era EP is an interesting entry into the field, one that has its moments and hopefully signals more collaboration between these currently disparate scenes.”
~Joey MC

If you haven’t downloaded the FREE album on Spekulation’s BandCamp page – do yourself a favor and get it NOW GAL DANG IT!!! http://spekulation.bandcamp.com/album/the-depression-era-ep

• Graduated from Cornish College of the Arts with a Bachelor of Music in 2005
• 10+ years of performance and music business experience
• Private instruction 2+ years (including some school instruction at Skyline High School, Cornish College of the Arts and Moore Brothers Music in Sammamish)
• Started my booking company J&J Music with a business partner in 2008 and still book countless performances year round in the greater Seattle area
• Worked as a consultant and business agent for the Musicians’ Association of Seattle from 2007 to 2009
• I’ve been a grant panelist for Artist Trust and devoted countless hours to helping develop a more vibrate and sustaining music scene for live musicians in the Seattle Area

Josh will be playing solo piano at the lovely Lakeside Bistro in Seattle. He’ll be playing your favorite Jazz Standards, originals he’s written of his debut CD ‘Climbing Stairs’ (plus new ones), and taking your requests. Come out for a fine evening of light piano jazz, a beautiful view of Lake Washington and Lakeside Bistro’s fine drinks and Modern Vietnamese cuisine. See you there!

Lakeside Bistro
11425 Rainier Avenue
Seattle, WA 98178
(206) 772-6891
http://www.lakesidebistroseattle.com/

Reverie + Spekulation at Lo-Fi on Saturday, July 31st
performance starts at 9pm / 21+ / tickets are $10 advance / $12 at the door

The New Seattle Brass Ensemble (NSBE) presents a special performance after nearly a year of being on hiatus. This performance will be like no other show you’ve seen the NSBE or see at Lo-Fi for that matter. The concert will feature the musical suite ‘Reverie’ composed by Ahamefule J. Oluo with lyrics by SoulChilde (aka Okanomodé), and features an incredible 10-piece band of all amazing local musicians. The show will have superb lighting, sound and projections set to each of the pieces to integrate some visual elements. There will be a 3 person camera crew to document event in all of it’s glory, and Stranger Genius Award winning film maker Zia Mohajerjasbi has been helping design that aspect of it. And if that weren’t enough – we also got approval from from the owner at Lo_Fi to have confetti for the big finale. …in other words…this show is NOT to be missed. Mark your calendars!

Tickets:
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/118969

Website:
http://nowimfine.com

Facebook Invite:
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/event.php?eid=121594054551434

Related show

• Artist: New Seattle Brass Ensemble
• Date: Saturday, July 31st 2010
• Time: 9:00pm
• City: New Seattle Brass Ensemble in Seattle
• Venue: Lo-Fi Performance Gallery
• Address: 429 Eastlake Avenue East
• Venue phone: (206) 254-2824
• Country: United States
• Admission: $10
• Age restrictions: No Minors
• Box office: (206) 254-2824
• Notes: The New Seattle Brass Ensemble (NSBE) presents a special performance after nearly a year of being on hiatus. This performance will be like no other show you’ve seen the NSBE or see at Lo-Fi for that matter. The concert will feature the musical suite ‘Reverie’ composed by Ahamefule J. Oluo with lyrics by SoulChilde (aka Okanomodé), and features an incredible 10-piece band of all amazing local musicians. The show will have superb lighting, sound and projections set to each of the pieces to integrate some visual elements. There will be a 3 person camera crew to document event in all of it’s glory, and Stranger Genius Award winning film maker Zia Mohajerjasbi has been helping design that aspect of it. And if that weren’t enough – we also got approval from from the owner at Lo_Fi to have confetti for the big finale. …in other words…this show is NOT to be missed. Mark your calendars!
• Add to Google Calendar | Download iCal

The Josh Rawlings Trio is back for the 3rd year in a row for the City of Bellevue’s ‘Live at Lunch’ FREE music series. We’re so thrilled to be invited back once again and we look forward to a delightful afternoon with you outdoors. Bring a lunch and we’ll provide the swing you need to get through the rest of your work day!

Here’s the full press release about the ‘Live at Lunch’ music series – lot’s of great live music to enjoy!

Savor lunch hour with free noontime tunes at Downtown Bellevue’s Live at Lunch summer concert series
Series runs July 6 – September 9, every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, noon to 1:30 p.m.

BELLEVUE, Wash. (June 17, 2010) – Downtown Bellevue’s outdoor concert series will entertain audiences with a stellar lineup of top Northwest bands every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, noon to 1:30 p.m., July 6 through September 9.  Now in its 10^th year, the Bellevue Downtown Association will present 30 concerts in the 10-week series, infusing downtown with jazz, flamenco soul, disco, R&B funk, Rolling Stones tributes and more.

Week one of the series begins Tuesday, July 6 with the Scott Lindenmuth Trio (Jazz standards at Skyline Tower), Wednesday, July 7 with New Age Flamenco (Flamenco soul at Bellevue City Hall) and Thursday, July 8 with Emerald City Throwdown (Hits from the 60s to today at Bellevue Galleria).

Tuesday and Wednesday concerts will take place in outdoor plazas and open spaces throughout Downtown Bellevue, while Bellevue Galleria’s Compass Plaza hosts each Thursday concert.  The annual Rockaraoke contest will be August 19 at Bellevue Galleria.  Concert goers can enter to win lunch for two for a year at Tap House Grill.

Event and venue information is available at bellevuedowntown.com/events or by calling (425) 453-1223.  For day-of event updates, follow Live at Lunch on Facebook(Live at Lunch) and on Twitter (@Live_at_Lunch).

Each Live at Lunch concert will also host sign-ups for the BDA’s Walk Downtown Bellevue campaign.  Participants will receive a free Walk Downtown Bellevue Starter Kit with a free Overlake Hospital pedometer, David Barton Gym water bottle, Downtown Bellevue walking map, reusable BECU shopping bag, and more.  More informationon Walk Downtown Bellevue is available at bellevuedowntown.com/walk.

Live at Lunch is produced by the Bellevue Downtown Association and sponsored by Bellevue Galleria, Unico, U.S. Bank, Puget Sound Energy, 98.9 KWJZ, AM 880 KIXI, Warm 106.9, MOVIN 92.5, the Bellevue Reporter, Ilium and Tap House Grill.

Established in 1974, the Bellevue Downtown Association is a nonprofit membership organization charged with leading the continuing evolution of Downtown Bellevue as the economic and cultural heart of the Eastside. The BDA also produces the annual Bellevue Jazz Festival presented by First Tech Credit Union, the 6th Street Fair, the Group Health Ice Arena in Bellevue Downtown Park, and co-produces the Symetra Bellevue Family 4th.

2010 Live at Lunch Concert Series Schedule

Venue details and directions are available at bellevuedowntown.com/events/liveatlunch.

Related show

• Artist: Josh Rawlings Trio
• Date: Tuesday, August 24th 2010
• Time: 12:00pm
• City: Josh Rawlings Trio in Bellevue
• Venue: Bellevue City Hall
• Address: 450 110th Avenue North East
• Venue phone: N/A
• Country: United States
• Admission: FREE!
• Age restrictions: All Ages
• Box office: (425) 453-1223
• Notes: The Josh Rawlings Trio is back for the 3rd year in a row for the City of Bellevue’s ‘Live at Lunch’ FREE music series. We’re so thrilled to be invited back once again and we look forward to a delightful afternoon with you outdoors. Bring a lunch and we’ll provide the swing you need to get through the rest of your work day!
• Add to Google Calendar | Download iCal

Soul Kata is excited to be the musical guest on Nancy Guppy’s Art Zone show on the Seattle Channel. Nancy reached out to us and invited us to be a part of a special show that will air for the first time ever on 2 different channels. Art Zone is a Seattle Channel show and will broadcast on Friday, January 29th at 8:00pm. The following Wednesday, February 3rd the same show will air on KCTS Public Television at 7:00pm. So needless to say – Soul Kata is very happy about the oppertunity to be on TV. Watch for us.

Please tune in:

Friday, January 29th at 8:00pm
Art Zone on the Seattle Channel (Channel 21)

Wednesday, February 3rd at 7:00pm
Art Zone on KCTS (Channel 9)

The Teaching was nominated in two categories for the 2009 Golden Ear Jazz Awards (2009 NW Acoustic Jazz Group & Emerging Artist of 2009). The ballots are here online if you’d like to vote for us or any of the other excellent choices! http://www.earshot.org/events/golden.html

This award could significantly help my group The Teaching in our efforts booking a large East Coast for the group next Fall.

If you’d rather mail in your ballot you can print a copy of the ballot by printing this image and mailing it to the following address:

Earshot
3429 Fremont Place, #309
Seattle, WA 98103

Please mail ballot in before January 22nd