2011 North City Jazz Walk will have you dancing in the street

It's the best live jazz you’ll hear anywhere, especially on a hot August night. And it's the best ticket bargain in town: 10 venues along one street for just $12.

Greta Matassa

The annual North City Jazz Walk will spice up your Tuesday evening on August 16 with extraordinary music from professional artists Greta Matassa, Jimmy Holden and Pearl Django, to name just a few.

15th Avenue between NE 175th and 180th in North City will be closed at 7 pm so that jazz fans can make their way to a variety of venues, both indoors and out. In addition to the blue notes, improvisation, syncopation, swing, bebop, Latin and Cuban-African reverberations that will be heard along 15th NE, you won't want to miss the unique sounds of bands Sonando, Janette West Quartet, The Doug Reid Group, The Young Lizards, and the very talented Shoreline Jazz Camp Students and Faculty.

New this year is the salsa band Tumbao, which will be center stage in Shoreline — in the center of the street! Although guests are welcome to sit and listen, dancing is encouraged. Don’t know how to salsa dance? Instructor and salsa master Eduardo Aguirre will be on hand to help teach the basic steps.

Jazz lovers can dine at several of the venues throughout the evening, with food vendors also on hand and Rain City Rotary's beer garden open to the public. Attendees can pick up a CD from their favorite bands or artists at one convenient booth located in the center of all the action.

This three-hour evening of jazz is presented by the North City Business Association, the City of Shoreline, and a number of community sponsors. The Jazz Walk also serves as the kick-off event for Celebrate Shoreline. Tickets for the North City Jazz Walk are available online  for $12 per person. Tickets may also be purchased at the event for $15.