Seattle Women's Jazz Orchestra

Seattle Women's Jazz Orchestra: Meeting of the Waters

by Jack Bowers
April 24, 2007

The Seattle Women's Jazz Orchestra, now seven years old, has produced its second superlative album of contemporary jazz, a cosmopolitan enterprise showcasing impressive compositions and arrangements by musical director Daniel Barry; Englishwoman Hazel Leach, co-leader of the European-based United Women's Orchestra; and Jill Townsend, one of Canada's most talented writers in the big-band genre.

As on its previous recording, Dreamcatcher (OA2, 2004), SWOJO leaves no doubt that it can play with anyone, readily mastering charts that would test even the ...

Seattle Women's Jazz Orchestra: Dreamcatcher

by Jack Bowers
November 22, 2004

Here's more conclusive evidence, if any were needed, that jazz is no longer solely a man's game. The Seattle Women's Jazz Orchestra joins the burgeoning ranks of all-female big bands that include DIVA, Maiden Voyage, Germany's United Women's Orchestra, Japan's Blue Aeronauts and ensembles led by Chrissy Lee and Kit McClure with an auspicious debut album that proves there's much more than redwoods, rain and remarkably handsome scenery in the Pacific Northwest.

In the interest of full disclosure, it should ...

Seattle Women's Jazz Orchestra: Dreamcatcher

by Dan McClenaghan
October 18, 2004

According to the Seattle Women's Jazz Orchestra web site ,

The Seattle Women's Jazz Orchestra was formed to nurture the musical, educational and artistic growth of individual musicians, to encourage women to become involved in jazz performance/composition as a career or avocation, and to foster community interest in and appreciation of jazz as an art form.

It's a mission statement, I suppose, a little wordy, with admirable intentions; and if Dreamcatcher, the group's recent set of concert performances, ...

Jazz Contest For Women Composers!

Source: Seattle Women's Jazz Orchestra
February 21, 2015

SEATTLE WOMEN’S JAZZ ORCHESTRA (SWOJO) announces the Third Annual Jazz Ensemble Composition Contest for Women Composers. The winning composition will be performed and recorded live by the Seattle Women’s Jazz Orchestra with award-winning guitarist Mimi Fox in Seattle. The winner of the contest will receive a $400 honorarium, an audio recording of their piece performed live, and the winning composition will be published by SWOJO or their designated publisher. Submission deadline is June 30, 2015. Visit swojo.org for complete details ...
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Women Jazz Ensemble Composers Wanted!

Source: Seattle Women's Jazz Orchestra
April 29, 2013

The First Annual Jazz Ensemble Composition Contest for Women Composers is now open for submissions! This contest has been created to encourage the composition of the highest possible quality of jazz ensemble literature playable by high schools, honor bands, college bands and professional bands alike. The winning composition will be performed and recorded live by the Seattle Women’s Jazz Orchestra with a special guest artist as part of the 2013 Earshot Jazz Festival in Seattle. The winner of the contest ...
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Jazz Ensemble Composition Contest For Women Composers!

Source: Seattle Women's Jazz Orchestra
March 14, 2013

Seattle Women's Jazz Orchestra (SWOJO) has created this contest to encourage the composition and performance of the highest possible quality of jazz ensemble literature playable by high schools, honor bands, college bands and professional bands alike. The winning composition will be performed and recorded live by the Seattle Women’s Jazz Orchestra with a special guest artist at our upcoming concert in October as part of the 2013 Earshot Jazz Festival in Seattle. The winner of the contest will receive a ...
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Frank Demiero Jazz Festival Backs out of Agreement with Seattle Women's Jazz Orchestra

Source: Seattle Jazz Scene
February 13, 2009

A bit of controversy has erupted in advance of the Frank DeMiero Jazz Festival which takes place later this month in Edmonds. The Seattle Women’s Jazz Orchestra (SWOJO) had been contacted by Executive Producer Joe DeMiero in mid-January to back up vocalist Carmen Bradford on Saturday, February 28. According to members of SWOJO, a fee had been negotiated and preparations were underway for the evenings music. Doug Reid had been hired to direct the band, replacing Daniel Barry who had ...
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Seattle Women's Jazz Orchestra to play Jazz Alley in Seattle with special guest Greta Matassa to perform

Source: All About Jazz
December 31, 2006

Seattle Women's Jazz Orchestra with special guest Greta Matassa at Dimitriou's Jazz Alley Monday, January 29, 2007 at 7:30pm

The Seattle Women's Jazz Orchestra (SWOJO) features many of the finest female jazz artists in the region. Showcasing high intensity jazz, tight harmonies, and lush dynamic sounds, the band performs with a fresh energy stemming from six years of thrilling audiences on two continents. SWOJO has come a long way in a short time. Since forming in 2000, the ...
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Seattle Presents - Seattle Women's Jazz Orchestra

Source: All About Jazz
May 16, 2005

Seattle Women's Jazz Orchestra Thu., Sept. 1, Noon – 1:00 pm SWOJO has thrilled audiences in both North and South America with high intensity jazz, tight harmonies and lush dynamic sounds from many of the finest female jazz artists in the Pacific Northwest. The Orchestra is directed by composer / arranger Dr. Daniel Barry and regularly features new jazz by Pacific Northwest composers. The Mayor’s Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs hosts “Seattle Presents” free lunchtime concerts every first and ...
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Seattle Women's Jazz Orchestra Announces Benefit w/special guest Kelley Johnson

Source: All About Jazz
April 10, 2005

Ah, spring is in the air... And that means it's time to announce the Third-annual Seattle Women’s Jazz Orchestra (SWOJO) Benefit Concert & Silent Auction! This year’s event, comprised of a special SWOJO concert performance featuring jazz vocalist Kelley Johnson, silent auction, hors d'oeuvres, and wine, will be held at a new location: the Mount Baker Community Club in Seattle, Washington.

SWOJO Benefit Concert & Silent Auction May 13, 2005 7:30p-10:30p Mount Baker Community ...
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Music Works Northwest Announces Workshop with Seattle Women's Jazz Orchestra

Source: All About Jazz
February 27, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 18, 2005 Pull Date: February 28, 2005 Contact: Joanne Lauterjung Kelly (425) 644-0988, x.102 Contemporary Big Band Jazz: A Workshop with the Seattle Women’s Jazz Orchestra Saturday, March 19, 2005 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. Music Works Northwest, Studio A Bellevue, Washington How many female jazz instrumentalists have you ever seen? Exactly. Not ...
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Seattle Women's Jazz Orchestra to Perform with Gabriel Alegria & Un Rezo of Peru

Source: All About Jazz
January 15, 2005

Sunday, January 23, 2005 Tula's, 2214 2nd Avenue, Seattle 206-443-4221 (Reservations, recommended for this very special show) cover $7 The Seattle Women's Jazz Orchestra will be joined at Tula's with Gabriel Alegria and Un Rezo, an Afro-Peruvian jazz group from Lima, Peru. Gabriel (trumpet) is bringing this phenomenal group to Seattle as part of their first West Coast tour. SWOJO is proud to present Un Rezo to our Seattle audience ...
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Seattle Women's Jazz Orchestra to play Jazz Alley - special guest Greta Matassa to perform

Source: All About Jazz
October 1, 2004

A friendly reminder to all friends of SWOJO (www.swojo.org) to pull out your Blackberry, Day Timer, Outlook Calendar, or that old grocery receipt and put our CD Release Party with Greta Matassa (www.gretamatassa.com) on your schedule for Monday, October 11, 2004! Call all your friends to get the headcount for your party and make your Jazz Alley reservations today! Further into at www.swojo.org

Monday, October 11, 2004 8pm, Dimitriou's Jazz Alley (6th & Lenora, Seattle) Reservations: ...
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