23rd Annual
Capital City Jazz Band Festival
COOL JAZZ CLEAN WATER
November 22, 2025
Washington Center
for the Performing Arts
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The Rotary Clubs of Thurston County initiated the Cool Jazz Clean Water Event in 2001 as a way to raise funds for an International Humanitarian Project that included water projects in Malawi, Africa. That first event combined the offering of a unique venue for area high school and middle school jazz bands to participate in an adjudicated music event, and an evening Jazz Concert for the community. The net proceeds from this ticketed and sponsored event of about $20,000 went to the water projects in Malawi.
Over the next twenty plus years, the event has evolved into a program that is presented as “Cool Jazz Clean Water Capital Jazz Festival Event”, with the net proceeds being split between funding Rotary-sponsored water projects in Africa; purchase of new and refurbishing used instruments for the local School Districts to make available to low income students; and the rest is designated to a jointly planned “working together for youth” workshop attended by leaders from Thurston County youth programs and opportunities for youth to attend Camp Hope.
During the last few years, all Thurston County Rotary Clubs have supported this event with strong support from individuals from the clubs. Most clubs have also donated to the event itself.
This year we will be hosting a "Recognition Reception" to honor adult volunteers who continue to demonstrate "Service Above Self" for programs funded by the Cool Jazz Clean Water Event.
David Joyner, Greta Matassa and Clipper Anderson will perform for your listening pleasure!
David Joyner: David is a freelance musician and owner of DDJ Music Services. For 18 years he taught at Pacific Lutheran University, where he was Professor of Music in history of jazz, Director of University Jazz Ensemble, Director of Northwest Jazz Honor Band, and Artistic Director and performer for the Jazz Under the Stars concert series. David grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, where he embraced jazz and became a major player in the Memphis jazz and commercial music scene. Additionally, he has performed for legends such as Bob Hope, Danny Thomas, Henry Mancini, and Bob Newhart.
Greta Matassa: 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 2021! She was inducted into the Seattle Jazz Hall of Fame in 2014.
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, Greta was featured with bassist John Clayton’s group in a centennial tribute to Ella Fitzgerald.
Clipper Anderson: Clipper Anderson is one of the Northwest's leading Bassists. Playing all styles on acoustic and electric bass, Clipper is a composer, studio musician, vocalist and educator. Clipper was educated at the University of Montana, where he studied classical bass under Frank Diliberto and Jazz Workshop under Lance Boyd. It was there that he began to master the acoustic bass. The list of recordings on which Clipper appears is both long and impressive, including five with award winning Seattle jazz vocalist, Greta Matassa. Clipper appears in jazz festivals throughout the Northwest and Canada and has been a featured guest artist, annually, at the Buddy DeFranco/ U of M Jazz Festival and the Port Townsend Jazz Festival. He currently teaches jazz bass studies at Pacific Lutheran University.
For more information contact: