Jazz Walk Returns to North City

Jazz fans take note, the North City Jazz Walk returns for its fifth year on August 16 from 7 to 10 p.m.

Presented by the North City Business Association, the city of Shoreline, and a number of community sponsors, this year's jazz walk features performances at 10 locations along 15th Avenue Northeast between 175th Street and 15th Place.

"I'm really looking forward to my return engagement with the Critical Mass Big Band at the Jazz Walk this year," jazz vocalist Greta Matassa said. "Keith (McClelland, artistic coordinator for the Jazz Walk and musical director for Critical Mass) has written a number of new arrangements for me and it will be very exciting to spring them on folks!"

Besides the jazz, event coordinator and general chair Theresa Poalucci said that this year's walk has an exciting new addition.

"We will have a stage on the street (at the 175th end) that will feature world-qualifying champion salsa dance instructor Eduardo Aguirre and members of his company, E Mayimbe, to the music of Tumbao," said Poalucci. "Tumbao is a Latin sextet, formed by Carlos Cascante and Julio Jauregui. Aguirre will be on hand to demonstrate a few basic salsa dance steps and visitors will be encouraged to dance on the street."

Tickets for the Jazz Walk are $12 in advance online at www.northcityjazzwalk.org or at one of six locations throughout Shoreline (, , , , and the , and , both at the Shoreline Center). If available, day of tickets are $15. While most performances are all ages, the (hosting The Doug Reid Group) is open to those 21 and over only. Poalucci said event organizers are expecting at least 1,000 attendees, with a goal of 1,500 for the evening.