Bellevue Jazz & Blues Music Series

October 2-6, 2024

The Bellevue Downtown Association (BDA) is bringing together top national and regional talent to the Bellevue Jazz & Blues Series! Take a look at last year's lineup.

2023 Lineup

2024 FEATURED ARTISTS ANNOUNCED

Joel Astley Band featuring Johnny Burgin

Friday, October 4th || 7:30-9:00 p.m.
Meydenbauer Center Theatre

Travis Wetherbee – Last Lite Photography

Up-and-coming Blues artist Joel Astley delivers an upbeat blend of sparkling original music and high energy swing, roots rock, jazz and blues. Since starting his first band in 2014, he has amassed 23 Blues Music awards from the Washington Blues Society. Now with the success of his debut album, Seattle to Greaseland, he has broken into the national scene. He is being praised for his powerful Blues harmonica chops and his smooth vocals, and most of all, his exceptional songwriting.

Joel Astley teams up once again with Blues Music Award nominee Johnny Burgin, who is known as one of the hardest working bluesmen on the scene, having played over 200 dates just last year across the US, Mexico, Japan, and Europe. Burgin, who grew up in Mississippi and South Carolina and initially moved to Chicago to become a writer, was drawn into the vibrant Chicago blues scene in the 90s, leading to a prolific career performing, recording, and collaborating with numerous blues veterans and legends, including his recent release "Ramblin' from Coast to Coast," which is currently charting worldwide.

Greta Matassa & Friends

Saturday, October 5th || 7:30-9:00 p.m.
Meydenbauer Center Theatre

Nine times voted Northwest Jazz vocalist of the year and Hall of Fame Jazz Vocalist Greta Matassa has a great group these days and is featured in many of the areas best jazz clubs and concert venues.

The group consists of pianist David Lee Joyner, bassist Clipper Anderson, Mark Ivester on drums and Alexey Nikolaev on Sax. The Greta Matassa Quintet features jazz material and arrangements with a contemporary jazz bent as well as classics.

With a career spanning 40 years, Greta is as comfortable taking requests from the “great American songbook” as she is presenting new original compositions  There are classics such as George Shearing, Bill Evans, Chick Corea and Dave Brubeck. As well as jazz interpretations of Stevie Wonder, Michael MacDonald, Sting, Bonnie Raitt and Herbie Hancock. The group features a large collection of the works of Pat Metheny/Lyle Mays with lyrics by Greta as well as others and, as always, Greta’s concerts also feature tunes from her 11 recordings on Origin Records.

About the Jazz & Blues Music Series

Established in 2008, the previously named Bellevue Jazz & Blues Festival is a cultural and community event that attracts national artists, showcases regional talent and draws diverse audiences. Headlining artists are selected in collaboration with John Gilbreath, executive director of Earshot Jazz.

Past featured artists include Branford Marsalis, Booker T. Jones, Shemekia Copeland, Poncho Sanchez, Dianne Reeves, Bill Frisell, Charles Lloyd, Terence Blanchard, Hubert Laws, Mingus Big Band, Spanish Harlem Orchestra and Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra. The event was renamed the Bellevue Jazz & Blues Festival in 2015.