ABOUT JUN IIDA

Award winning trumpeter, composer, and educator Jun Iida is known for his dynamic and versatile contributions to the jazz and contemporary music scenes.

With an impressive array of performances at renowned venues and festivals across the world, Iida has built a reputation as a skilled performer and a dedicated educator. Iida’s musical talents extend beyond performance into composition and education. He regularly teaches private trumpet lessons and has conducted clinics and masterclasses at schools and events throughout the West Coast and New York, including those supporting the prestigious Essentially Ellington competition. Additionally, he curates projects and events that celebrate and promote the intersection of music and culture. His notable curation work includes Hai! Japantown, a series showcasing AANHPI artists in Seattle, and Sake x Jazz Presents, a collaboration combining jazz music and sake culture.

A recipient of multiple awards and grants, Iida’s artistry has been recognized by the greater music community, earning him several Golden Ear Awards nominations and a spot on the 2025 Jack Straw Artist Support Program. His debut album as a leader, Evergreen (OA2 Records), was released in January 2024 to great acclaim, showcasing his evolving voice as a composer and performer.

Fluent in both English and Japanese with strong connections to both Japanese and American cultures, Iida continues to push the boundaries of jazz performance and education, fostering a deeper appreciation for the genre while engaging with diverse audiences worldwide. His passion for both performance and mentorship solidifies his place as one of the emerging voices in contemporary jazz.

Follow Jun Iida: @juniidamusic

ABOUT GRETA MATASSA

“Matassa’s performance was a marvel of virtuosity.” —Los Angeles Times

In the Pacific Northwest, where she built her career, Greta Matassa wins wide acclaim; 8 times, the readers of Earshot, the Seattle Jazz Magazine, have voted her the best jazz vocalist in the Northwest including another award in 2021. She was inducted into the Seattle Jazz Hall of Fame in 2014. Jim Wilke, the Seattle jazz maven and host of the syndicated “Jazz After Hours” radio program, praises her versatility. “She has a fearlessness in approaching material,” Wilke says, “that makes her like an instrumentalist in a jam session.”

Bassist and producer John Clayton says “One of the best jazz singers we have to boast about these days.”

Her 40 year career has been a whirlwind of exciting opportunities and experiences. Over the last 20 years she has become established as one of the greatest jazz singers of her time. Working with top jazz musicians in Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York. In 2016, She was featured with bassist John Clayton’s group in a centennial tribute to Ella Fitzgerald. She has recorded 11 CD’s. Her latest release, Portrait, on Origin Records is receiving rave reviews.

Her decision to start teaching was probably her greatest contribution to the future of the genre she loves so much. For the last 20 years Greta has become one of the most unique and respected educators in the field today. Offering individual lessons and mentorships as well as establishing loyal student bases from Seattle to Japan, from Alaska to Kauai, from Chicago to New York. Greta travels extensively teaching and performing.

“The album (Portrait), closes with Billy Strayhorn’s ‘Lush Life.’ All members of the quintet support Matassa and one another in what could become known as a definitive vocal version of that masterpiece.” —-Rifftides

“Boppish, snappy and conversational.” —Downbeat

“One of the best jazz vocalists we have to boast about these days.” —John Clayton

“Worldly, gentle, bold, dynamic, Favorites From a Long Walk is a gift for the heart. Greta Matassa is one of America’s finest singers, and stands firmly among the best in today’s jazz.” —Jazz Review

“Greta Matassa moves from triumph to triumph.” —Christopher Loudon, Jazz Times

”She can give Ms. Streisand a run for it!” —Seattle times

“Matassa is a Seattle treasure.” —Seattle Times

“Her scatting is as confident, nimble an energetic as Ella’s and her phrasing is hip like Nancy Wilson’s.” —Earshot Jazz

Performance Description: Native Bainbridge Islander, Greta Matassa returns home for this concert. She will be performing materials from many of her 10 CDs including material from her new upcoming release We Are Gathered Here on Origin Records (coming in 2027). Greta’s performances reach across the great American songbook and into jazz interpretations of contemporary music as well. Lots of original compositions will be included in this concert.

Follow Greta Matassa here.

ABOUT CAMILA FERRARI

Camila Ferrari is a Uruguayan singer and songwriter from Montevideo, whose artistic proposal lies at the intersection of indie and alternative, with a strong pop-rock influence and solid work in a band format. Her solo project began in 2021 with the release of the EP “Caer,” followed by her first full-length album “De los Bordes” in 2022 and the album “Se Renueva,” created in collaboration with musician Nacho Mateu, in 2023.

Her live performances stand out for their interpretative intensity, vocal power, and carefully crafted arrangements. In recent years, her music has become increasingly established in the local scene, which has also allowed her to bring her songs to international stages, touring Argentina, Mexico, Italy, and France.

Follow Camila Ferrari: @_camila_ferrari

Eleanor is a 16 year old singer, songwriter, and guitarist from Poulsbo, WA! She enjoys playing music for people in her community. Eleanor recently released her first album, “Seasons”, found now on all major streaming platforms. Her heartfelt originals and creative covers resonate with people of all ages. For more information about Eleanor, please visit her website.

Music style: Acoustic guitar, melodic, heartfelt and uplifting original music

Follow Eleanor Thoemke: Website | @eleanorthoemke

Listen to Eleanor Thoemke

Listen to Lucha Luna here!

Slow Clocks is the musical expression of an ongoing collaboration between Jacob McMurray and Robert Rutherford. Their work finds form in music, printed matter, language, improvisation, and design — see also: the mutant grammar of refusal — not as separate disciplines, but as recurring attempts to return to questions that never seem to stay answered. They are restless, allergic to creative stasis, and keep mistaking one medium for another.

Music style: The songs of Slow Clocks move like weather—slowly gathering, shifting, and releasing through layers of guitar, synthesizers, and spoken word.

Follow Slow Clocks: @mutantgrammar, mutant grammar of refusal hotline: 206-649-8767

Seattle artist Tomo Nakayama’s fourth album “Ocean” will be released on November 7th on Porchlight Records/Den Tapes in the USA, and in Japan on Lemon House Inc. Following his breakthrough 2020 synthpop album “Melonday”, “Ocean” is Tomo’s return to a graceful, lush, organic full-band sound, backed by pianist Yuuki Matthews (The Shins), bassist Abbey Blackwell (Alvvays), and drummer Christopher Icasiano (Fleet Foxes) and featuring guest turns by Jesy Fortino (Tiny Vipers) and Debbie Miller. It is his most personal and complete musical statement to date, a self-produced ten song reflection on grief, healing, and the meaning of creating art and maintaining humanity in a tumultuous world. “Ocean” travels across sonic worlds of dream pop, orchestral acoustic folk, jazzy psychedelia and indie rock, all tied together by a wide open melodic and lyrical heart. “Ocean” is a deeply collaborative album awash in images of the sea, serving as metaphors for the vastness of love, human connection, and our capacity to clearly see and be one with the world.

Born in Japan and raised in Seattle, Tomo Nakayama has explored the lines between intimate indie folk, exuberant synth pop, and cinematic soundtracks for over two decades. Best known for placements in Netflix’s “House of Ninjas” and the Sundance Grand Jury nominated film “Touchy Feely”, Tomo’s music has been praised by NPR, KEXP, and the New York Times, and his hit single “Get to Know You” received over 2 million streams worldwide. He has toured across the world, sharing the stage with artists such as Cornelius, Ron Sexsmith, Fruit Bats, Thao, and Stella Donnelly. A versatile multi-instrumentalist and composer, Tomo has also accompanied and collaborated with Dave Matthews, Jeremy Enigk (of Sunny Day Real Estate), Sera Cahoone, Jherek Bischoff, Jesse Sykes, Uwade, Donnie Emerson (Dreamin’ Wild, Light in the Attic), and experimental dance company Malacarne.

Follow Tomo: Website | @tomonakayama

Listen to Tomo Nakayama here!

The Video Rain is the solo project of Drew Holloway (Western Arrow, The Phantom Years, Recess Monkey).

Casiotone melodies, chorus-drenched guitars, and simple drum machines. It’s the sound of Drew’s four-tracking past, carried forward and given new life.

The Video Rain is also an outlet for visual expression. Every song comes with its own video, built with callbacks to the Atari age. It’s a project as much about what you see as what you hear.

Music style: Live, The Video Rain is primarily vocals and guitar. Drew is a dynamic singer and seasoned performer. Videos play behind him, so you’re getting the same push and pull of sound and image that built these songs in the first place.

Follow The Video Rain: @thevideorain 

Naomi Wachira is a remarkable singer-songwriter hailing from Kenya, whose music harmoniously merges African rhythms, soulful melodies, and powerful storytelling. With her mesmerizing voice and poignant lyrics, Naomi captivates audiences, touching their hearts with themes of love, resilience, and social justice. Her music transcends cultural boundaries, uniting people through a shared human experience. With a unique blend of talent and authenticity, Naomi continues to leave an indelible mark on the music scene, making her a vibrant force to be reckoned with. Her artistry is a testament to the power of music in fostering connection, understanding, and positive change.

Follow Naomi Wachira: Website | @imanafricangirl

Listen to Naomi Wachira here!