News and Updates

Changes to our 2020 Festival!

UPDATED: OCTOBER 16, 2020

2020-Ballard-Jazz-Festival

Due to the uncertainty of current events, the 2020 Ballard Jazz Festival is currently on a hiatus.

When we have further information we will post it on our website.

Watch Ernie Watts with New Stories performing at the 2019 Ballard Jazz Festival

POSTED: AUGUST 6, 2019

Premieres on August 7 at 9:00am PDT

Thanks for a wonderful 2019 Ballard Jazz Festival!

POSTED: JUNE 2, 2019

Matt talks you through the 2019 Ballard Jazz Festival

POSTED: MAY 16, 2019

Ballard Jazz Festival Program Now Available!

POSTED: MAY 2, 2019

Download a PDF version of the Ballard Jazz Festival Program (or pick up a copy around Seattle starting May 3rd) and start planning your 2019 Ballard Jazz Festival experience.

See the complete schedule, read artist biographies, discover all the new venues and artists performing at the Ballard Jazz Walk, and read more about our Mainstage Concert headliners! Plus, catch up on all the recent Seattle jazz news.

Click here to download the program (PDF file)

Ballard Jazz Walk Schedule Posted!

POSTED: APRIL 27, 2019

We've posted the lineup for Saturday's (June 1st) Ballard Jazz Walk. Click here to view the Jazz Walk page which features the listing of bandleaders and musicians.

This year our Jazz Walk Central has moved to CATHEDRAL (5449 Ballard Ave NW). If you buy a Weekend Pass or Festival Pass you can skip the lines and head direct to any venue!

Click here to see the Ballard Jazz Walk Schedule

Individual Tickets Now On Sale

POSTED: APRIL 16, 2019

Tickets to all Ballard Jazz Festival events are now on sale!

A reminder that when you buy online via our website you pay no service fees and you get the best price available.

Click here to start your order!

Saxophone legend Ernie Watts and Norwegian guitarist Lage Lund headline the 2019 Ballard Jazz Festival

POSTED: APRIL 7, 2019

Two-time Grammy Award winning saxophonist Ernie Watts reunites with the iconic Seattle jazz trio New Stories (Marc Seales, Doug Miller and John Bishop) after a 15 year hiatus. A track from this group's album Speakin' Out was included on every single edition of Microsoft's Windows XP making it one of the most distributed jazz tracks of all time!

In partnership with the Nordic Museum, we are proud to present Norwegian guitarist Lage Lund performing with Seattleites Michael Glynn and Matt Jorgensen. Lage Lund is acclaimed not only as one of the finest guitarists of his generation, but also one of the most compelling jazz artists in the world today. A regular in the "Rising star – Guitar" category in the Downbeat Critic's Poll, he has been hailed by Pat Metheny as a favorite young guitarist.

The Mainstage Concert is set to be one of the most memorable shows in the history of the Ballard Jazz Festival.

Don't miss this show ... Festival and Weekend Passes are now on sale.

2019 Festival Passes Now On Sale!

POSTED: APRIL 4, 2019

With new events and new venues, we have two combo tickets which enable you to skip the lines and hear the music!

BUY A FESTIVAL PASS

  • Reserved Seating in the first five rows of our Friday night Mainstage Concert
  • Access to all events over four days
  • Pick up your lanyard on Wednesday night and bypass ticket lines for the remainder of the festival
  • An amazing four days of music!

BUY A WEEKEND PASS

  • Access to Friday's Mainstage Concert and Saturday's Ballard Jazz Walk
  • Priority Seating at Friday's Mainstage Concert (not reserved but a dedicated seating section for Weekend Pass holders)
  • Pick up your lanyard on Friday night and bypass ticket lines for the remainder of the festival
  • An amazing weekend of music!

Click here to start your ticket order!

Join the fun! Volunteer at the Ballard Jazz Festival

POSTED: MARCH 18, 2019

Come join the fun by volunteering for the 2019 Ballard Jazz Festival!

Click here to signup and we'll contact you shortly.

See you at the festival!

2019 Festival Dates Announced!

POSTED: MARCH 12, 2019

We are excited to announce the 2019 Ballard Jazz Festival will run from Wednesday, May 29 - Saturday, June 1, 2019!

We will have artist information and exciting new Jazz Walk information in the coming days. Make sure you Join Our Mailing List to receive updates about artist, tickets, etc.

2018 in the books!

POSTED: MAY 21, 2018

2018-BJF-Final

Want to know what a Jazz Walk is? Check out this video:

Ballard Jazz Festival Preview: A Seattle Rite Of Spring

POSTED: APRIL 1, 2017

From All About Jazz:

Spanning four days in the historic Ballard neighborhood, the festival has maintained its community feel throughout it's history, this year celebrating its 15th edition. Each year, the festival attracts national and international talent surrounded by the best of the Seattle jazz scene. "I want to make sure it's a local festival, so it sounds like Seattle," says festival organizer and Seattle jazz impresario John Bishop, "It will be a celebration of that." Each year, rather than simply bring in marquee talent from around the country, national talent is paired with northwest musicians, creating a great opportunity for musicians and fans alike to mingle. This is rooted in the awareness of what makes a jazz scene vital, whether at the festival, or in clubs throughout the year, that "the hang" is essential, and creates a vibe that is compelling and welcoming. Promoted and staged by Origin Records, the Seattle jazz label operated by drummers Bishop and Matt Jorgensen, this year's event also celebrates the 20th anniversary of the highly regarded label.

Click here to read the entire article

Photos from the 2016 Ballard Jazz Festival

POSTED: SEPT 20, 2016

Forecast: warm weather, sizzling sounds at Ballard Jazz Festival

POSTED: MAY 10, 2016

From the Seattle Times:

It must be spring, because the Ballard Jazz Festival is upon us. What better way to celebrate these warm, sunny days — hopefully, more are on the way — than by taking the Ballard Jazz Walk next Friday, May 13?

With a French Quarter New Orleans vibe, the Jazz Walk offers 23 Northwest jazz acts in 10 venues, all in one night, attracting enthusiastic fans who crowd the sidewalks, trading tips and on-the-spot reviews.

Click here to read the entire article

JAN MOLENDIJK'S 2016 BALLARD JAZZ FESTIVAL PLAYLIST

POSTED: APRIL 27, 2016

Jan Molendijk (how has traveled from The Netherlands to Seattle to attend the festival three times!) has created his annual Ballard Jazz Festival Spotify Playlist:

BALLARD JAZZ FESTIVAL ALL-STARS LIVE ON KPLU 88.5FM

POSTED: APRIL 25, 2016

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: TRI STAR REALTY TEAM

POSTED: APRIL 4, 2016

tri-star-large

Back in 2003, as we were getting ready to present the very first Ballard Jazz Festival, our first committed sponsor was the real estate team of Chuck Cady and Ann Nordling. They have been with us every year since and have helped co-Artistic Director Matt Jorgensen buy a home twice. As a jazz baritone saxophonist herself, Ann Nordling is committed to the Seattle jazz community.

Chuck Cady and Ann Nordling and have now merged with Deborah Arends & Associates. The combined companies will conduct business together under the name of the TRI STAR Team. Check them out for all of your real estate needs!

Ballard Jazz Festival Bags!

New for 2012 ... we've reused old Ballard Jazz Walk banners to create one-of-a-kind bike messenger bags and totes. Products will be available at the festival merchandise table as well as Sonic Boom Records.



View Photos

Take a look back at previous festival on our Photo Gallery page.

Thank You To Our Sponsors

The Ballard Jazz Festival could not present the great music it does without the incredible support of our local sponsors. Please take a moment to view our sponsors and send some business their way.

INTERACT WITH US:

UPDATED!
DOWNLOAD JAZZ WALK MAP

2018 Jazz Walk Map Plan your Ballard Jazz Walk evening with our 2019 Jazz Walk Map.

Click here to download a Jazz Walk Map and Schedule Grid (PDF file)

DOWNLOAD THE FESTIVAL PROGRAM

Ballard Jazz Festival Program Download the 2019 Ballard Jazz Festival Program
(PDF File)

Included are artist biographies, schedule information, the latest in Seattle jazz news and more!

OUR HOTEL PARTNERS

HAMPTON INN & SUITES NORTHGATE
9550 1st Ave NE
Seattle, WA 98115
Reservations: (206) 522-6991
Ballard Jazz Fest Group Rate

HOTEL NEXUS
2140 N. Northgate Way
Seattle, WA, 98133
Reservations: 206-365-0700
800-435-0754 (Toll Free)
Ask about the Ballard Jazz Festival rate

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The Ballard Jazz Festival is fiscally sponsored by
Shunpike
Shunpike is the 501(c)(3) non-profit agency that provides independent arts groups in Washington State with the services, resources, and opportunities they need to forge their own paths to sustainable success.

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