Though no one tends to get shot over it, the East Coast/West Coast divide in jazz is as distinct as it is in hip-hop. From the vantage point of New York, Los Angeles and the Bay Area have thriving scenes but are still viewed as outliers, which makes the Pacific Northwest a virtual wilderness. Still, rumblings have begun to emerge from the Seattle area in recent years that indicate a cadre of musicians who shouldn’t be ignored. Human Spirit gathers three of them — trumpeter Thomas Marriott, saxophonist Mark Taylor and drummer Matt Jorgensen — under one umbrella, dedicated to playing a fiery, hard-driving brand of West Coast hard-bop. And just to erase those territorial boundaries, the band is completed by Philly pianist Orrin Evans and prolific New York bassist Essiet Essiet (bicoastal himself, having grown up in Portland).
Wed., Nov. 14, 7 p.m., $12, Chris’ Jazz Café, 1421 Sansom St., 215-568-3131, chrisjazzcafe.com.
