MAGGIE SCHMIDT/Yakima Herald-Republic Rhythm Junction band members Tyler Leavitt, left, and Rob Fraser practice Tuesday in Thorp. The blues band will be performing for the first time at the annual Jazz in the Valley music festival this weekend in Ellensburg. Links   E-mail             Print              Comments Advertisement

"We're older guys -- we don't have egos," said Dale Sweet, the guitar player. "None of us is going to be a guitar god. I'm a teacher and he's a teacher."

Dan Leavitt, the other guitar player, agreed that everyone in the six-person blues band is perfectly happy with the status quo, even the two younger members.

They're not interested in making it big, or doing every gig at every bar on every weekend.

"Been there, done that," Sweet said.

But when they were invited to perform at the 11th annual Jazz in the Valley festival in Ellensburg, they agreed immediately. The local members have attended the festival many times before, so they're familiar with the quality of the event.

"We were ecstatic for the opportunity to play for people who are there to listen," Sweet said. "They're there because we and other bands are playing music, not because it's somebody's wedding or because they felt like hitting up a bar."

Jazz in the Valley, run entirely by more than 200 volunteers, takes place each year throughout downtown Ellensburg, attracting people from as far away as Virginia who want to listen to quality jazz, blues and swing music.

Other performers this year include John Wikan & Ingrid Jensen, Alice Stuart & the Formerlys and Little Bill & the Bluenotes.  

Larry Sharpe, the board president for the festival, said the audience has swelled from 800 the first year to 4,000 last year and is always an equal combination of locals and visitors.

The board invites a new local band each year to play at one of the 10 venues, all of which are within walking distance of each other.

Rhythm Junction will be playing at KV Realty from 9 p.m. to midnight Saturday. A total of 25 acts will perform today, Saturday and Sunday.

The festival is so popular largely because of the significance of the jazz scene in town.

"For its size, there is more music going on in Ellensburg than anywhere else in the world," Leavitt said.

He said Central Washington University has one of the best jazz programs in the western part of the country.

"Naturally when you have a jazz program of that stature, it just makes sense that you're going to have a lot of good musicians around the area," he said.

Rhythm Junction is a cover band -- its main influence is Eric Clapton. The members said they only play songs people will get up and dance to, and they don't usually perform popular songs that have been played on the radio. If they do, they make sure to put their own spin on them.

"We do a lot of rockin' blues and rhythm blues out of the '70s," Sweet said. "We don't try to emulate anyone in particular."

He said they do a lot of covers of Delbert McClinton songs.

The six band members gravitated toward each other because of their shared love of blues, as well as other connections. Drummer Rob Fraser is Leavitt's brother. Bass player Tyler Leavitt is his son. Lead singer Amy Gibson is his daughter's good friend. And keyboard player Stefan Clemente is a parent from the school where Sweet teaches.

They've all been practicing at least twice a week since they became a cohesive force a little over a year ago. Leavitt said the younger people in the band -- Gibson and Leavitt's son -- bring energy and fresh ideas to the table, while the older people bring their experience and knowledge. But they all have in common their passion for blues.

"I teach for a living, and I play music to forget about what I do for money," Sweet said.

Although he said band members don't have stars in their eyes, they do take their music seriously.

They said they've never performed at an event of Jazz in the Valley's magnitude, so they're looking forward to sharing their love of blues with other people who love blues.

"Music is worldwide, just a way for people to express themselves and forget about the price of gas, and the war, and everything negative in our society," Leavitt said. "It's the one thing all of us have in common -- to just let go."

If you go ...

WHAT: Jazz in the Valley.

WHO: Alice Stuart & the Formerlys, Scott Cossu, the Greta Matassa Group, Ingrid Jensen and John Wikan, the Jeffrey Brooks Quintet, the Mel Brown B3 Quartet, the All Star Big Band directed by Chris Bruya and John Moawad, Jake Bergevin & The Javatown Swing Orchestra, Rhythm Junction, Sidewalk Stompers and the Total Experience Gospel Choir, among others., among others.

WHEN & WHERE: Today through Sunday at 10 venues in downtown Ellensburg.

HOW MUCH: Festival passes cost $35; day and evening passes are also available. Tickets are limited.

THE SCHEDULE: Lineup and complete festival information are available at www.jazzinthevalley.com, or call the Ellensburg Chamber of Commerce at 888-925-2204 or 925-3137.

MORE THAN MUSIC: Here's what else is going on around Ellensburg on Saturday:

* 9 a.m.-1 p.m. -- The Ellensburg Farmers Market, on East Fourth Avenue between Pine and Pearl streets. Features fresh produce, arts and crafts.

* 10 a.m.-4 p.m. -- The Kittitas County Historical Museum, 114 E. Third Ave., hosts family activities including its popular "Who Wants to be a Pioneer?" program. Admission is free. Call 925-3778.

* 1-7 p.m. -- Sip N' Sample Northwest wines, specialty foods and artwork at Gallery One, 408 N. Pearl St., and The Clymer Museum of Art, 416 N. Pearl St. Cost is $10 and includes a souvenir wine glass. Script is interchangeable at both locations.