By Jessica Davis, JTNews Correspondent
When Eastsiders Cooksie and Lionel Kramer arrived from South Africa nine years ago, they discovered a shortage of live jazz east of Seattle.
Instead of just complaining about the lack of their favorite music in their new neighborhood, they did something about it. They started the Eastside Jazz Club to give jazz musicians an opportunity to play and jazz lovers an opportunity to listen.
Lionel, a drummer, currently performs jazz all over Washington. Cooksie taught piano, accordion and organ at the largest music studio in the city in South Africa for 30 years and continues to teach at her home in Kirkland. She also had her own radio and television program in South Africa.
In addition to jazz, the Kramers performed in South Africa at a variety of Jewish functions, from Bar Mitzvahs to weddings, and Lionel used to play percussion in a klezmer band.
“I think the Jewish people are very much surrounded by the arts,” said Cooksie. “We just grow up with music.”
To get this new project started, the couple met with Leng Tshua, pianist and manager of Sherman Clay Pianos in Bellevue, and the three of them collaborated to produce the Eastside Jazz Club’s opening concert on June 3.
“We’re very excited. This is a new venture and we’re promoting local jazz artists/musicians and it is supported by the sort of a community effort and we hope that we can do something for the Eastside to provide some wonderful, wonderful music here,” said Tshua.
The opening performance included Lionel on drums, pianist/vocalist Hans Brehmer, saxophonist Brian Kent and bassist Ev Stern, in the first half of the evening. After the first set, refreshments were served. Later on in the night, Ben Thomas on vibes, Jeff Busch on percussion and Clipper Anderson on bass performed. Cooksie said the event was so successful, the musicians did not want to go home. About 50 people attended the concert.
Already booked for the next six months, the club has generated a great deal of interest.
“The musicians have been calling us,” said Cooksie. “We’ve had calls from everyone in the business.”
“We have a great pool of talent,” agreed Tshua.
The next performance, on Aug. 13 will feature the Modern Jazz Trio (Bud Shultz on vibes and piano, Steve Sanders on bass and Lionel on drums) and drummer Tony Grasso, in the first half. In the second half, the Essential Elements Ensemble will be featured, with Tony Grasso on trumpet, Brian Kent on saxophone, Ev Stern on bass and Bob Rees on percussion. On Sept. 10, the Jovino Santos Neto Quartet will perform a full evening of Latin Jazz.
On Oct. 8, Newport High School’s jazz band will perform. On Nov. 12, singer Kelly Johnson will be featured. On Dec. 10, drummer John Bishop will be featured.
The Eastside Jazz Club plans to be open the second Tuesday of every month, usually with two groups of musicians, at Sherman Clay Pianos, 1000 Bellevue Way N.E. in Bellevue. The first group performs 7:30–8:30 p.m., the second group performs 8:45–9:45 p.m.; then an open music jam takes place until 11 p.m.
If audiences increase, the club will host more performances, possibly twice a month or even once a week, said Cooksie. The intimate recital area at Sherman Clay can sit about 80 people. Admission is $10, including refreshments. All of the money collected for the evening goes to the musicians.
“It’s all about music and musicians,” said Tshua.
For more information, contact Leng Tshua, at 425-454-0633, or Lionel and Cooksie Kramer, at 425-828-9104 or [email protected].