Grammy Award-winning pianist and composer Billy Childs is set to perform at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley in Seattle on May 2nd and 3rd. He will be showcasing songs from his new album, The Winds of Change, which was released via Mack Avenue Records in March. His performances will feature a quartet comprising Sean Jones on trumpet, Hans Glawischnig on bass, and Christian Euman on drums.
Childs is a master of two genres, jazz and modern classical music, and is renowned for his exceptional piano-playing skills. He has composed violin concertos, chamber music, and other pieces for classical ensembles, and has also recorded Grammy-winning jazz albums, playing at some of the world’s leading clubs, concert halls, and festivals.
The upcoming show at Jazz Alley will feature songs inspired by film noir, legendary film composers like Jerry Goldsmith, Bernard Herrmann, and John Williams, and nostalgia for the Los Angeles of Childs’ youth. The title track of the album, The Winds of Change, was originally written for trumpeter Roy Hargrove and the Symphonic Jazz Orchestra. Childs says that the song is bittersweet, wistful, and nostalgic, much like the movie themes of Chinatown by Jerry Goldsmith and Taxi Driver by Bernard Herrmann, which create a melancholic feeling about an entire city.
Childs was commissioned by Temple University’s Boyer School of Music to write a large ensemble piece that will be premiered at Rose Hall on April 16th. It will be part of a late Fall release on BCM&D Records, the Temple imprint that Terell Stafford oversees. In February, Childs was part of a special premiere performance presenting “Treelogy” in Los Angeles and San Jose, a three-part concert that honored California’s beloved redwood, sequoia, and Joshua trees. The concert was created in response to the wildfires that ravaged the state’s ancient forests in 2020 and featured works by Childs, fellow Grammy-winner Steven Mackey, and new composer Gabriella Smith.
Childs will be touring his new album starting in late April, with a quartet featuring trumpeter Sean Jones, who recently performed a run at Dizzy’s in NYC to favorable reviews. The tour will feature Hans Glawischnig on bass and Christian Euman on drums, with stops in Santa Cruz, Seattle, and Portland, among other key markets.
On July 27th, Childs will be part of a special Pictures at an Exhibition performance at The Hollywood Bowl, where his work Violin Concerto No. 2 will be performed directly before Mussorgsky’s iconic 10-movement suite.
Childs’ latest album, The Winds of Change, is highly composed and structured, with conversation between the band members incorporated into the songs. The quartet features jazz superstars Ambrose Akinmusire, Scott Colley, and Brian Blade. Childs says that he wanted to get back to being a jazz pianist, and the band has allowed him to interact and have conversations with other musicians. Even though there is specificity in the compositions, there is also a lot of conversation, making it an interesting experience for both the musicians and the audience.
Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley is a premier jazz venue in Seattle, and it is no surprise that Billy Childs has chosen to perform here. The club has a long history of hosting some of the biggest names in jazz, and its reputation as one of the top jazz clubs in the country is well deserved. Located in downtown Seattle, the club offers an intimate setting for jazz lovers, with excellent acoustics and a top-notch menu.
The club’s owner, John Dimitriou, has been running Jazz Alley since 1980, and he has always been committed to providing a home for jazz in Seattle. Over the years, Jazz Alley has hosted some of the biggest names in jazz, including Dizzy Gillespie, Art Blakey, Wynton Marsalis, and Diana Krall, to name just a few. The club has also been a launching pad for up-and-coming jazz musicians, and it is not uncommon for musicians to return to Jazz Alley year after year.
For jazz fans in Seattle, the arrival of Billy Childs at Jazz Alley is a cause for celebration. Childs is one of the most respected and versatile pianists in jazz today, and his new album, The Winds of Change, is receiving critical acclaim. The album showcases Childs’ skills as both a composer and a pianist, and his quartet of talented musicians is the perfect complement to his virtuosic playing.
The Seattle shows are part of a nationwide tour that will take Childs and his quartet to some of the biggest jazz venues in the country. Fans of jazz will not want to miss this opportunity to see Billy Childs perform live in one of the most intimate and prestigious jazz clubs in the country. Whether you are a long-time fan of jazz or a newcomer to the genre, this is a performance that is sure to leave you spellbound.
The upcoming shows by Billy Childs at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley are a must-see event for jazz lovers in Seattle. The club’s reputation as one of the top jazz venues in the country, combined with Childs’ reputation as one of the most talented and versatile pianists in jazz, make this a performance that should not be missed. With his new album, The Winds of Change, receiving critical acclaim, and his quartet of talented musicians providing the perfect complement to his virtuosic playing, this promises to be a memorable and exciting performance. Whether you are a long-time fan of jazz or a newcomer to the genre, this is a performance that is sure to leave you spellbound.
For more information or to buy tickets, visit the Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley website.
