This blog is about a music program designed for Seattle's historic Panama Hotel Tea Room located on the corner of 6th Avenue South and Main Street, the former center of Japan town. The program premiered August 3, 2013. The ensemble include trumpeter Jay Thomas, saxophonist Steve Griggs, vibraphonist Susan Pascal, guitarist Milo Petersen, and bassist Phil Sparks. An Historic Site-Specific Program grant from 4Culture commissioned the program and it has been supported by a National Park Service Confinement Sites Program grant, 4Culture Arts Project grant, and City of Seattle Office of Arts & Culture smART ventures grant so it is free and open to the public.
Steve Griggs is a writer, composer, and saxophonist in Seattle who combines history, narrative, and improvisation in musical performance. His writing is published in Earshot Jazz, Seattle Times, and Seattle Weekly. He recorded two CDs with drummer Elvin Jones and was a soloist on the video game soundtrack for Halo 3: ODST. He is writing a book about saxophonist Joe Brazil. His other websites are:
http://stevegriggsmusic.com/
http://stevegriggsmusic.blogspot.com/
