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THE JOY OF SAX. Saxophone great Patrick Lamb will join local jazz favorites Ed Taylor and Darren Motamedy for a July 5 show at Tacoma Club during Tall Ships.

New local band to headline ‘Tall Ships & Smooth Jazz’

By Don Doman

Jazz lovers planning to go downtown for Tall Ships can take in the view from above while listening to music at The Tacoma Club on July 5-6.

Billed as “Tall Ships & Smooth Jazz,” the nightly concerts will feature some great music, comedy, fine dining and a chance to view the Tall Ships from 16 floors up in the Wells Fargo Plaza.

Returning from an April jazz festival in Massachusetts, where he was the headliner, local guitarist Ed Taylor came back with a vision. On Taylor’s latest album, “Songs From a Taylor,” smooth jazz star Peter White joined him on two songs. Taylor’s vision was to appear in live venues with other jazz artists that blend well with his own style and presence. Because of travel and schedules, Taylor knew coordinating bookings was going to be a problem. The solution was to form a group that welcomed change. The new group is called The Smooth Operators (www.thesmoothoperators.net). Their first big concert is going to be at Emerald Queen Casino in November featuring Taylor, Paul Brown and Greg Adams. “Tall Ships & Smooth Jazz” is the first show featuring The Smooth Operators.

Joining Taylor for two shows on July 5 is Darren Motamedy and Patrick Lamb, who has three CDs out and is currently touring the world with Bobby Caldwell. Taylor caught Caldwell and Lamb at Jazz Alley in Seattle and knew right then that Lamb would be a perfect fit. He said Lamb’s saxophone work is out of this world.

On July 6, Seattle’s Motamedy, who has released seven CDs, will join Taylor for a lively set with his saxophone. Motamedy has quite a local following. Lamb joined the group because of Taylor, Motamedy joined the group because of Lamb, and comedian Debbie Wooten joined the mix because of Motamedy.

Wooten will open the all-ages show on both July 5 and 6. In addition to the entertainment there will also be a silent auction to raise funds for PC Homeless Connect (www.pchomelessconnect.org). Helping with public relations and ticket sales are several non-profit organizations: Tacoma Exchange Club, Habitat for Humanity, Pierce County Homeless Connect, Rotarians for Hearing Regeneration, Washington PAVE, Tacoma Area Coalition of Individuals with Disabilities, Sexual Assault Clinic of Pierce County and Jazzy June. Tickets can be purchased through any of their websites or online at www.thesmoothoperators.net/TallShips.html. Although dinner will be served at The Tacoma Club, reservations must be made prior to the event online at the same address. The Tacoma Club would normally be closed for the holiday weekend.

For more information on “Tall Ships & Smooth Jazz” call (253) 759-6639.

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