More than just rustling leaves and raindrops, fall in Seattle also sounds like Kamasi Washington’s cosmic jazz, Goran Bregović’s orchestral Balkan music, Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 2, an operatic The Turn of the Screw, Beyoncé and Jay-Z, and Earshot Jazz Festival. Below, we've rounded up the biggest and best music events you need to know about this season. You can also find a complete list of music shows in Seattle this fall on our Things To Do calendar, or check out the rest of our critics' picks from Seattle Art and Performance.

Stay in the know! Get all this and more on the free Stranger Things To Do mobile app (available for iOS and Android), or delivered to your inbox.


Jump to: Classical & Opera | Opera | Jazz | Pop, Rock & Hiphop

Classical



Sept 20 & 22–23

Beethoven Violin Concerto Virtuoso violinist Augustin Hadelich will team up with the Seattle Symphony to tackle Beethoven's immortal violin concerto, along with dreamy selections by Debussy. (Benaroya Hall, $22—$125)


Sat Sept 22

Seattle Classic Guitar Society: Iliana Matos Not only does Iliana Matos crush international guitar competitions across the board, but she's also the first woman to win the prestigious S.A.R. La Infanta Doña Cristina International Guitar Competition, and the only person to win the special prize for Best Interpretation of Spanish Music in two consecutive years, 1995 and 1996. She'll play tracks from her acclaimed album Angels in the Street alongside other classics. (Benaroya Hall, 7:30 pm, $38)


Sept 27–29

Morlot Conducts Ravel Few conductors interpret the French masters as well as Seattle Symphony music director Ludovic Morlot. Is it because he's also French? Maybe. But I once spent half an hour with Morlot describing certain notes as "sour" or "very very greenish-blue," and so I think he's got some kind of synesthesia that allows him to see and manipulate the vivid colors in impressionistic work better than others can. Here he breathes new life into Ravel's already lively color palette in Daphnis et Chloé, which features thrills and rushes, weird twists, sudden leaps, and intense swells of pastoral bliss. And by presenting works from Debussy and Messiaen—Ravel's forebear and fruit, respectively—Morlot helpfully places Ravel in his historical context. RICH SMITH (Benaroya Hall, $22—$122)


Fri Sept 28

Richard Clayderman Piano Concert Piano phenom Richard Clayderman brings together classical compositions and pop music for a night of programming notable for its new romantic style. (Benaroya Hall, 8 pm, $61—$161)


Sat Sept 29

Jubilant Journey to the East Let the Seattle Chinese Orchestra take you on a journey through an ethereal blend of pieces illustrated by traditional Chinese and classical Western instruments, all led by Musical Director and SCO founder Warren Chang and conducted by Pacific Northwest notable Roger Nelson, with performances from the Northwest Chinese Guzheng Orchestra, the U.S.-China Music Ensemble, and many more. (Benaroya Hall, 7 pm, $20/$30)


Sun Sept 30

Emerging Artist: Gabriel Royal In recent years, Oklahoma-born, Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter and cellist Gabriel Royal has gone from busking in the subways of New York City to releasing a critically acclaimed debut album notable for what he describes as his "grown-up lullabies." (Benaroya Hall, 7:30 pm, $40—$55)


Tues Oct 2

Max Richter with the American Contemporary Music Ensemble German-born, UK-based prolific film score composer Max Richter will be joined by the American Contemporary Music Ensemble for an evening of elegant, evocative works he originally composed for The Leftovers. (Moore Theatre, 7:30 pm, $35—$45)


Fri Oct 5

The Esoterics: Consolo Choral music group the Esoterics will perform Consolo, a program of contemporary works by Eric Barnum, Anna-Karin Klockar, Ily Matthew Maniano, Sarah Rimkus, and Dale Trumbore. (St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 8 pm)


Oct 5–6

The Strings: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star This Tiny Tots concert will feature nursery rhymes and classic children's songs designed to introduce kids ages zero to five to the diverse family of string instruments in the orchestra. (Benaroya Hall, $12)

Oct 5–7

Harp Seattle 2018 Join Seattle's folk harp community for three days of workshops and performances aimed at "harpers" of all levels. There will also be two evening concerts: Aryeh Frankfurter and Lisa Lynne on October 5, and Martha Gallagher and Alfredo Rolando Ortiz on October 7. (Dusty Strings, $295/$345)

Fri Oct 12

[untitled] 1 I love the Seattle Symphony's [untitled] series. Some dress more casually for the event, others dress to the nines because they're the kind of people who do that. The people-watching is excellent and the music is always contemporary and daring. At this iteration, the symphony presents Hans Abrahamsen's Schnee. "Schnee" is the worst word for "snow," but, to be fair, Abrahamsen is Danish and can only work with the language he was given. "Schnee" also accurately describes the first 10 minutes of the piece, which is a brittle and airy screechfest that flirts with unbearability. The strings warm up soon enough, though, before exploding into a blizzard. RS (Benaroya Hall, 10 pm, $16)

Sat Oct 13

Musical Politics: Motets of Influence The Byrd Ensemble will perform sacred music detailing the complicated religious and political turbulence of the Tudor Renaissance and Elizabethan England. (St. James Cathedral, 8 pm, $18—$28)


Wed Oct 17

Marc-André Hamelin Prolific pianist and New York Times darling Marc-André Hamelin will reawaken the rhythms and harmonies of critically lauded neoclassical pieces composed for piano. (Meany Center for the Performing Arts, 7:30 pm, $47/$55)


Fri Oct 19

Mahler: Symphony No. 2 "Resurrection" Mahler is the true test of any symphony, and Resurrection especially requires lots of strength and agility. You'll walk out of the cathedral feeling like a skyscraper after this dense showstopper. For all its drama, there's a spot of pastoral gold a little over 65 minutes into the piece where I just want to lie down and live forever. RS (St. James Cathedral, 8 pm, $25)

Vicente Amigo Latin Grammy Award-winning flamenco guitarist Vicente Amigo, commonly referred to as the "Sultan of Duende," will return to the Seattle stage. (Meany Center for the Performing Arts, 8 pm, $42/$50)

Sat Oct 20

Goran Bregovic All hick Balkan music kinda sounds the same to me, but in Three Letters from Sarajevo, Goran Bregovic showcases the genre's ethnic and aesthetic diversity. The musicians he gathers here hit pretty hard, and their music forces you to adopt a fun, kinda brassy mood that will lead you to do weird shimmy dances in your seat. RS (Moore Theatre, 8 pm, $33—$43)


Wed Oct 24

Northwest Symphony Orchestra: National Parks Washington's National Park Fund turns 25 this year! The organization helps wrangle private dollars to keep public lands looking good. To celebrate the fine work they do, bliss out to a slideshow of pristine Cascadian wilderness pics while soaking up Dvorák's triumphant New World Symphony. There's an oboe part a couple minutes into the second movement that will take you right back to the shire. RS (Benaroya Hall, 7:30 pm, $25—$58)

Mon Oct 29

Lucia Micarelli Equally known for her talents as an actress and a violinist, Lucia Micarelli has been a featured soloist in two of Josh Groban's world tours, toured extensively with Chris Botti, and was a guest of Barbra Streisand's 2013 international tour. She'll perform a program of her own compositions. (Benaroya Hall, 7:30 pm, $39—$59)


Tues Oct 30

Dvorák & Schubert Let Dvorák and Schubert haunt you with their darkly melodic pieces composed for a string quartet, which contemplate death and serenade life with a fever dream-like tone. (Benaroya Hall, 7:30 pm, $40)


Nov 1–3

Shostakovich Violin Concerto No. 2 Russian soloist Alina Ibragimova has established herself as one of the most expressive and nuanced players of her generation. She's sure to pour all that talent into Shostakovich's melancholic and autumnal Violin Concerto No. 2, which sees heavy rotation on my "Music for Living Under a Dictatorship" playlist. RS (Benaroya Hall, $22—$122)

Fri Nov 2

UW Symphony with Sæunn Thorsteinsdóttir Join UW faculty cellist Sæunn Thorsteinsdóttir and the University Symphony in a program of music by Brahms, Bloch, and Hindemith, with conductor duties for the evening split between Seattle Symphony Music Director Ludovic Morlot and faculty artist-in-residence David Alexander Rahbee. (UW Meany Theatre, 7:30 pm, $15)


Tues Nov 6

Jordi Savall: Routes Of Slavery Viola da gamba virtuoso and early music interpreter Jordi Savall will present a program exploring the diverse experiences of diaspora. Artists representing Europe, Africa, and the Americas will perform music through which enslaved peoples forged community and found endurance to survive during those journeys. (Benaroya Hall, 7:30 pm, $21—$97)


Nov 8–10

Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4 Tchaikovsky's bombastic Symphony No. 4 will be performed by the Symphony with assistance from violinist Viktoria Mullova and cellist Matthew Barley, who will also perform new works composed for them by Pascal Dusapin. There will be a special, low-key "Untuxed" version on November 9. (Benaroya Hall, $22—$122)


Mon Nov 12

Joseph Adam in Recital Seattle Symphony's own Joseph Adams is a highly lauded organist and will perform a recital here that will showcase his virtuosity and sterling technique. (Benaroya Hall, 7:30 pm, $21/$32)


Wed Nov 14

Inon Barnatan Having just served three years as the Artist-in-Association with the New York Philharmonic, pianist Inon Barnatan will show why the New York Times referred to him as "one of the most admired pianists of his generation." (Benaroya Hall, 7:30 pm, $25—$123)


Thurs Nov 15

Black Violin Musical duo Black Violin blend classical, hiphop, rock, R&B, and bluegrass to create their own complex, high-energy sound. They will be accompanied live by their backing band, a DJ, and rotating drummers. (Paramount Theatre, 7:30 pm, $39—$83)


Nov 15 & 17–18

Beethoven Symphony No. 5 It's the one that starts with DUN DUN DUN DUUUN! This concert kicks off with Berlioz's sprightly Roman Carnival Overture, wanders through the garden path of Prokofiev's Fifth Piano Concerto, and then drives on home with Beethoven's most recognizable symphony. Should be a fun ride. RS (Benaroya Hall, $22—$122)


Fri Nov 16

Kurbasy Vocal trio Kurbasy blur the lines between folk and classical with an exploration of Ukraine's trove of calendar song cycles, lullabies, and legends, paired with folk-influenced costuming, and visuals steeped in magical realism. (Meany Center for the Performing Arts, 8 pm, $32/$40)


Nov 29–Dec 1

Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 2 If you like melting into a puddle of romantic feelings 14 times during the course of a single piece of music, then you'll love Rachmaninov's Second Piano Concerto. Rach's piano ambles along, provoking waves of nostalgia, wistful amorousness, and general twitterpation from the orchestra. Young Georgian pianist Khatia Buniatishvili's powerful and passionate playing is the perfect conduit for this romantic classic. Go for the "Untuxed" version on the 30th. RS (Benaroya Hall, $22—$127)

Sat Dec 1

The Snowman This family concert will take you and your kids into the world of Raymond Briggs's classic children's film The Snowman. (Benaroya Hall, 11 am, $15—$20)


Sun Dec 2

(Im)migration: Music of Displaced Peoples In this quarterly series that highlights music by composers affected by diasporas and migration, UW piano professor Robin McCabe will lead UW music students as they perform works by Bartok, Chopin, Schoenberg, Hindemith, and Castelnuevo-Tedesco. (Brechemin Auditorium, 4 pm, free)

The Tenors This Canadian vocal trio, who blend classical music with contemporary pop, have performed at the Diamond Jubilee for Queen Elizabeth II, as well as the 2010 Winter Olympics. (Benaroya Hall, 7:30 pm, $45—$210)


Dec 7–8

The Winds: The Nutcracker This Tiny Tots concert will feature whimsical holiday magic courtesy of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker. (Benaroya Hall, $12)

Sat Dec 8

Messiaen's Twenty Visions of the Infant Jesus Prolific pianist Reinis Zarinš will bring Olivier Messiaen's intense Christmas meditations to life in a profound exploration of the season. (Saint Mark's Cathedral, 7:30 pm, $15/$20)

Turtle Island Quartet with Liz Carroll The Grammy-winning Turtle Island Quartet will be joined by renowned Irish fiddler and composer Liz Carroll for a concert of celebratory wintertime music pulled from around the world. (Meany Center for the Performing Arts, 7:30 pm, $46/$54)


Sunday

Compline Choir This is an excellent opportunity to lie on the floor while listening to choral music. Rich Smith wrote, "Something about the combination of the architecture, the fellowship, and the music gave me a little peek into the ineffable." (Saint Mark's Cathedral, 9:30 pm, free)

See all classical concerts happening in Seattle this fall here.


Opera

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Oct 13–27

The Turn of the Screw In Henry James's novel, a vulnerable governess becomes increasingly convinced that her two young charges are being manipulated by two evil, ghostly lovers. Benjamin Britten's eerie and lyrical score teases out themes of baroque psychosexual turmoil in a repressed society. Peter Kazaras will direct this Seattle Opera production. (McCaw Hall, $25—$314)

See all operas happening in Seattle this fall here.


Jazz

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Sept 17–18

Madeleine Peyroux Peyroux, an American-born jazz singer/songwriter and guitarist who's been compared to Billie Holiday and was discovered busking on the streets of Paris, is touring in support of her last album, Anthem. (Triple Door, 7:30 pm, $75—$90)


Sept 19–23

Djangofest Northwest Djangofest bills itself as the "premier showcase of gypsy jazz music in North America." Join with other "Djangophiles" for performances, workshops, and informal "djam" sessions. (Whidbey Island, $30—$70)


Sept 21–22

John Coltrane Birthday Celebration On September 23, 1926, one of the greatest American musicians to ever live was born in a small town in North Carolina. His greatness was not discovered until well over half of his short life, 40 years, was completed. He died of a bad liver in 1967. But his last decade in this world was simply out of this world. In this short period of time, he contributed to one of the greatest American cultural achievements, Miles Davis's Kind of Blue, and, with the John Coltrane Quartet, made his own American masterpiece, A Love Supreme. His late works were very difficult, but deeply important to him, in much the same way that the almost unreadable novel Finnegans Wake meant a lot to its author, James Joyce. On this night, local jazz musicians—Ben Shapiro, Matt Jorgensen, Marc Seales, and Charles Owens—honor the birth of the jazz giant. CHARLES MUDEDE (Tula's, 7:30 pm, $30)


Sat Sept 22

Ron Jones's Jazz Forest Ron Jones has composed and arranged the music for Duck Tales, Family Guy, and Star Trek: The Next Generation. Now he's back with his Jazz Forest, a collective of 12 highly skilled musicians attempting the synchronicity of a string quartet with the future-thinking joy of iconic jazz artists. (Northwest Music Hall, 7:30 pm, $10—$20)


Mon Sept 24

Donny McCaslin with Kneebody You could pour everything I know about jazz into an airplane-size liquor bottle and still have room for enough bourbon to get a buzz going. And yet even my ignorant ass knows enough to know that Donny McCaslin coming to Seattle is an event. McCaslin and company were handpicked by David Bowie to help him create the sound of his triumphant final album, Blackstar—the majesty of which continues to deepen with age. And lest it seem gauche not to let more than two sentences of a McCaslin preview go by without mentioning the late great Mr. Jones, the band seems to have no qualms about embracing the association—their most recent album, Beyond Now, was dedicated to and inspired by Bowie. SEAN NELSON (Triple Door, 7 pm, $30—$40)


Tues Sept 25

Lady Rizo Amelia Zirin-Brown, aka Lady Rizo, has won the Time Out London and Soho Theatre Award and the 2013 London Cabaret Award in addition to her Grammy for a collaboration with Yo-Yo Ma, and she sounds a bit like Judy Garland on vocal steroids. She'll bring her brassy one-woman performance art and music cabaret to Seattle this fall. (Triple Door, 7:30 pm, $20/$25)


Sept 25–26

Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio: Definitely old-school Hammond B-3 funk! Rediscover the world through the surprisingly varied palette offered by the grand machine itself, complete with its gently psychedelic rotating Leslie speakers. ANDREW HAMLIN (Jazz Alley, 7:30 pm, $26)


Oct 2–3

Leslie Odom, Jr. with the Seattle Symphony Grammy-winner Leslie Odom Jr. is an acclaimed singer and dancer who has found mainstream recognition through his star turn as Aaron Burr in the hit Broadway musical Hamilton. Hear him perform old standards and Broadway and jazz hits along with the Symphony. (Benaroya Hall, 7:30 pm, $46—$103)


Oct 4–7

Bob James Trio Bob James wrote the theme to Taxi, which seals his fame in my book! No, but (more) seriously, he's one of Quincy Jones's discoveries, in a long Quincy Jones career of discovering people; James pioneered the use of electronic keyboards and synthesizers in mostly mainstream jazz; his fans include Ghostface Killah, Run-D.M.C., and LL Cool J, who have all sampled his revelatory cover of Paul Simon's "Take Me to the Mardi Gras"; and he titled his early albums with weird references to numbers. Check him out with guitarist Perry Hughes, drummer Billy Kilson, and bassist Michael Palazzolo. If you're lucky, you'll hear that "Rock the Bells" bit thrown in with a grin. AH (Jazz Alley, $31)


Oct 7–Nov 4

Earshot Jazz Festival This year at the festival, there is an emphasis on youth and women. Not saying that the festival has neglected young and female players. It has not. And the 2018 edition of Earshot seems to feature less huge names and more names you may not have heard of and need to discover. For example, there is harpist Brandee Younger, who's worked close with Ravi Coltrane and is certainly influenced by the musicians John Coltrane worked with in the last period of his musical career (1965-1967). Younger plays the kind of music that clears your brain and soul. Then there is Jane Bunnett and Maqueque. Bunnett is a pretty well-known Canadian saxophonist; but Maqueque, a superb band of Cuban women, is not. And there is also Helen Sung, a pianist who plays with a mesmerizing (and at times mind-boggling) mix of density and clarity. There's the Seattle Women's Jazz Orchestra, Samantha Boshnack, Sarah Manning, Madison Mcferrin, and SassyBlack (formerly of THEESatisfaction). And there is much, much more. More women, and more young players. CM (Various locations)


Wed Oct 10

Bill Laurance Bill Laurance is a classically trained pianist and composer most notable for being a founding member of the Grammy Award-winning, internationally acclaimed neo-jazz group Snarky Puppy. His latest solo works have delved into the sonic partnerships between solo piano, electronics, and composition. (The Royal Room, 8 pm, $15/$18)


Oct 11–14

John Scofield's Combo 66 with Gerald Clayton, Vincente Archer, and Bill Stewart Venerable jazz rock guitarist/composer John Scofield is one of those musicians who puts me at instant ease. His playing is liquid and adept, but free of heavy frills, his tone is warm and comforting, and his style is laid-back while still feeling dynamic. He's also prolific as hell; since the late 1970s, Scofield has released nearly 50 albums as band leader and head collaborator (1998's A Go Go with Medeski Martin & Wood is a particular fave), and he's appeared on a mess of others—including Miles Davis—as sideman. LEILANI POLK (Jazz Alley, $35)


Wed Oct 17

Kamasi Washington Saxophone maestro Kamasi Washington is a jazz musician for badass motherfuckers, or at least his most recent outing, 2018 sophomore LP Heaven and Earth, sure feels that way, full of dramatic '70s vintage funkadelia-influenced sounds (go listen to "Fists of Fury" right now) and mind-expansive fusionistic moments of exploration and experimentation. Also, he's worked with a wide range of venerable talents, among them, Thundercat, Kendrick Lamar, and Flying Lotus. Dude's got chops worth seeing and hearing in person. LP (The Showbox, 7 pm, $35/$45)

Tues Oct 23

Seu Jorge Presents: The Life Aquatic, A Tribute to David Bowie I don't consider myself a Wes Anderson devotee in any way, but I do think that pulling Brazilian artist Seu Jorge for the soundtrack of The Life Aquatic was nothing short of genius. Already an established musician and actor in his home country, Jorge added a layer of retro curiosity and easy joy to well-known Bowie tracks without tacking on the schmaltz that typically goes along with attempting to cover the classics of such a legendary discography. KIM SELLING (Benaroya Hall, 7:30 pm, $45—$100)


Oct 30–31

Leo Kottke Leo Kottke isn't as guts-crazy as his sometimes mentor, the late John Fahey. But who would want to be? Fahey first rewrote the book, and then wrote his own book when it came to six-string steel-string guitar on planet Earth, but didn't seem to like Earth much. Kottke could outpace Fahey by a few decisive concert moves: (a) showing up, (b) showing up on time, and (c) not spending most of the gig talking and giggling with people who are not there. On the positivity flip, though, Kottke's got pep, verve, nerve, and a dry sense of humor when he decides to sing. And he can get to the darkness inside of happiness. Even without words, he can evoke the void behind joy. Dark brightness. AH (Jazz Alley, 7:30 pm, $39)


Nov 1–4

Tower of Power Oakland's fabulous funk and soul-jazz heavies Tower of Power return for yet another Seattle residency. Reports from the most gushing-est of fans claim that every TOP show is a killer dance party, but then they are the "Hipper Than Hip" from "Bump City" and would obviously know how to dig it deep "In the Slot"! That they keep killin' it time and again is REALLY saying something, as Tower of Power have been active for 50 years and show no signs of getting up from all their serious getting down! MIKE NIPPER (Jazz Alley, 7:30 pm, $63 [sold out])


Nov 9–11

Boney James Four-time Grammy nominee, multi-platinum-selling musician, and prolific saxophonist and composer Boney James has been performing for over 25 years, and last year released his 16th album, Honestly. (Jazz Alley, 7:30 pm, 9:30 pm, $62)


Wed Nov 21

Piano Starts Here: The Music of Andrew Hill & Mal Waldron Around the 1950s, there emerged a new kind of jazz player. They were confident, often from middle-class families, and had studied music at college. Mal Waldron was one of these musicians. He was an intellectual, and worked with the best minds in the jazz of his times: Charles Mingus, Abbey Lincoln, Jackie McLean, Eric Dolphy—all jazz intellectuals. He not only composed ground-breaking film scores, but was also one of the first pianists to experiment with free jazz (check him out on the seminal Pithecanthropus Erectus). I also have a soft spot for his jazz version of Satie's "Three Gymnopedies, No. 1." He died in Brussels in 2002 after an almost long life. Tonight is a tribute to his intellectual genius. CM (The Royal Room, 7:30 pm, $10/$12)


Sat Nov 24

Barrett Martin Group A renowned drummer for Screaming Trees, Tuatara, and others, Barrett Martin is one of those treasured musicians—like Mickey Hart and Ginger Baker—who possess an omnivorous appetite for non-Western styles, in addition to rock, blues, folk, and jazz. Like those virtuosic sticksmen, Martin assimilates those elements with subtlety and inventiveness. His expansive travels to Cuba, Brazil, West Africa, New Zealand, the Peruvian Amazon, and other places led to Martin writing a book, The Singing Earth, that traces some of his inspirations and outlines his sonic theories. No doubt he'll put many of those into practice. DAVE SEGAL (The Royal Room, 9 pm, $15/$20)


Tues Nov 27

Squirrel Nut Zippers One of the most successful bands to participate in the mid-'90s big band revival, Squirrel Nut Zippers will play a set rife with brassy, folksy jazz and party swing on their Holiday Caravan tour. (Crocodile, 8 pm)


Sat Dec 1

Mavis Staples Soul powerhouse Mavis Staples has been making music for longer than most of us have been alive. Getting her start in her family's band, the Staple Singers, Mavis has moved through each decade crafting blues, gospel, and soul hits with aplomb, even teaming up with Wilco's Jeff Tweedy and Son Little for dynamic collaborations. (Moore Theatre, 8 pm, $36—$58)


Sun Dec 2

Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox In a reimagining of contemporary pop hits in the styles of jazz, ragtime, and swing classics of the '20s though the '50s, Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox busts genres with a rotating collective of musicians and vocalists who attempt to cross all musical boundaries and generations. (Paramount Theatre, 8 pm, $26—$201)


Mon Dec 3

UW Gospel Choir Longtime UW choir director Phyllis Byrdwell will be joined by a 100-voice gospel choir for an evening of piano, song, and plentiful expressions of the gospel tradition. (UW Meany Theatre, 7:30 pm, $10)


Tues Dec 4

Studio Jazz Ensemble and UW Modern Band New England Conservatory of Music-trained Cuong Vu, who's received praise from publications including the New Yorker and the New York Times, will lead an evening of innovative arrangements and original compositions. Plus, expect big band arrangements and repertory selections from the Studio Jazz Ensemble. (UW Meany Theatre, 7:30 pm, $10)


Dec 4–5

Mike Stern Band with Dave Weckl, Bob Malach, and Tom Kennedy A few years ago, jazz guitarist Mike Stern broke just about every bone in his upper body—or at least, the ones that count—in a fall. He pushed himself to get back to playing, but he had to switch out of no-longer-possible techniques he'd used for decades, playing with Miles Davis, Béla Fleck, his wife Leni Stern, and others. Through all of it, though, he sounds like himself. A strong but subtle personality who draws you in close and gets to know you. AH (Jazz Alley, 7:30 pm, $35)


Sun Dec 9

A Charlie Brown Christmas The Jose Gonzalez trio will again perform the whole of jazz's greatest contribution of the holiday season: Vince Guaraldi's A Charlie Brown Christmas. And we must love this work because it expresses Christmas feelings in a very urban way. It is indeed the sound of the holiday season in a big city and not that no-place out there in the country. In this jazz classic, the snow falls on apartment buildings and not on a forest. CM (Cornish Playhouse at Seattle Center, 1 pm, 6 pm, $24—$75)

See all jazz concerts happening in Seattle this fall here.


Top Pop, Rock & Hiphop Shows

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Liz Phair, Speedy Ortiz
The Showbox, Tues Sept 18

The Zombies, Liz Brasher
Neptune Theatre, Tues Sept 18

E-40
The Showbox, Wed Sept 19

Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Cheap Trick
Washington State Fair Events Center, Wed Sept 19

STRFKR
Neumos, Sept 20–21

Ben Howard
Paramount Theatre, Fri Sept 21

Johnny Marr, The Belle Game
The Showbox, Fri Sept 21

Macklemore
Washington State Fair Events Center, Fri Sept 21

Flogging Molly & Dropkick Murphys
WaMu Theater, Sat Sept 22

Keith Sweat
Snoqualmie Casino, Sat Sept 22

Parquet Courts, Gong Gong Gong
The Showbox, Sun Sept 23

Rascal Flatts, Trent Harmon
Washington State Fair Events Center, Sun Sept 23

Chelsea Wolfe, Russian Circles
The Showbox, Tues Sept 25

Denzel Curry
Neumos, Tues Sept 25

Chief Keef
Neumos, Sept 26–27

Miguel, dvsn, Nonchalant Savant
WaMu Theater, Fri Sept 28

Childish Gambino, Rae Sremmurd
KeyArena, Sat Sept 29

Chvrches
Paramount Theatre, Sat Sept 29

Garbage, Rituals of Mine
Showbox Sodo, Sat Sept 29

Journey, Def Leppard
Gorge Amphitheatre, Sat Sept 29

Mudhoney, The Scientists, Tom Price Desert Classic
Neptune Theatre, Sat Sept 29

Jeff Tweedy, James Elkington
Moore Theatre, Sun Sept 30

First Aid Kit, Julia Jacklin
Paramount Theatre, Mon Oct 1

Max Richter with the American Contemporary Music Ensemble
Moore Theatre, Tues Oct 2

Beyoncé and Jay-Z
CenturyLink Field, Thurs Oct 4

Descendents, A Wilhelm Scream, Audio Karate
Showbox Sodo, Fri Oct 5

Alina Baraz, Lolo ZouaĂŻ
The Showbox, Oct 5–6

Oh Sees
Neumos, Oct 6–7

Courtney Barnett, Waxahatchee
Paramount Theatre, Mon Oct 8

Ty Segall & White Fence, Lavender Flu
Neumos, Mon Oct 8

Luke Bryan, Jon Pardi, Carly Pearce
White River Amphitheatre, Fri Oct 12

Car Seat Headrest, Naked Giants
The Showbox, Oct 12–13

Tom Misch, Rob Araujo
Showbox Sodo, Sat Oct 13

Gwar, Hatebreed, Guests
Showbox Sodo, Mon Oct 15

Hozier
Paramount Theatre, Thurs Oct 18

Sabrina Claudio
The Showbox, Fri Oct 19

King Khan & The Shrines, Gabriella Cohen
Clock-Out Lounge, Sat Oct 20

Lykke Li
The Showbox, Sat Oct 20

Noah Cyrus
Neptune Theatre, Mon Oct 22

4AD Welcomes Tune-Yards + U.S. Girls
Neptune Theatre, Tues Oct 23

Arctic Monkeys
WaMu Theater, Tues Oct 23

Christine and the Queens
Showbox Sodo, Tues Oct 23

Yaeji
The Showbox, Tues Oct 23

Danzig, Venom Inc, Power Trip, Mutoid Man
Showbox Sodo, Thurs Oct 25

The Internet
Showbox Sodo, Fri Oct 26

SOB X RBE, Quando Rondo
The Showbox, Sat Oct 27

Ty Segall, Shannon Lay
Neumos, Sat Oct 27

Mitski, Overcoats
Showbox Sodo, Wed Oct 31

Drake, Migos
Tacoma Dome, Thurs Nov 1

Tyler Childers
Neptune Theatre, Sat Nov 3

Joan Baez
Benaroya Hall, Sun Nov 4

Of Montreal, Reptaliens
Neumos, Sun Nov 4

Mountain Man, The Dead Tongues
Saint Mark's Cathedral, Mon Nov 5

Tank and the Bangas, Big Freedia, Naughty Professor
Neptune Theatre, Tues Nov 6

Troye Sivan, Kim Petras, Carlie Hanson
Paramount Theatre, Wed Nov 7

Lily Allen
The Showbox, Thurs Nov 8

Frankie Cosmos, Kero Kero Bonito
Neptune Theatre, Sat Nov 10

Justin Timberlake
Tacoma Dome, Nov 12–13

August Greene (Common, Robert Glasper, Karriem Riggins)
Paramount Theatre, Wed Nov 14

Rufus Wainwright
Moore Theatre, Wed Nov 14

Dermot Kennedy
Neptune Theatre, Thurs Nov 15

Twenty One Pilots
Tacoma Dome, Fri Nov 16

Cat Power
The Showbox, Sat Nov 17

Fleetwood Mac
Tacoma Dome, Sat Nov 17

Good Charlotte, Sleeping With Sirens, Knuckle Puck
Showbox Sodo, Sun Nov 18

Jorja Smith, Ravyn Lenae
Showbox Sodo, Mon Nov 19

Pedro the Lion, Chris Staples
Neumos, Fri Nov 23

The Tallest Man On Earth
Neptune Theatre, Sat Nov 24

Julien Baker with Phoebe Bridgers & Lucy Dacus
Moore Theatre, Sat Nov 24

Echo & The Bunnymen, Strings & Things, Enation
Moore Theatre, Thurs Nov 29

Neko Case, Destroyer
Paramount Theatre, Thurs Nov 29

Louis The Child, Big Wild, NoMBe, Wafia
WaMu Theater, Sat Dec 1

Elvis Costello & The Imposters
Paramount Theatre, Mon Dec 3

Bomba Estéreo
Showbox Sodo, Wed Dec 5

See all pop, rock & hiphop concerts happening in Seattle this fall here.