It is always sad to report the end of a major spot for jazz listening. In this case, the word is that Seattle’s venerable Tula’s is closing. The club has been a jazz fixture in the US Pacific Northwest for more than two decades. In this weekend’s edition of his Jazz Northwest, Jim Wilke will concentrate on Tula’s and what the club has meant to jazz in the US Pacific Northwest for more than two decades. Below is Mr. Wilke’s summary of the program, illustrated with one of Jim Levitt’s always fine photographs:
         (L to R) Tim Kennedy, Thomas Marriott, Rick Mandyck, Jeff Johnson, John Bishop         (Jim Levitt photo)
Trumpeter Thomas Marriott has been playing at Tula’s for all his professional life. Â He started there with his brother Dave on trombone when they were in their teens. Â The Marriotts represent an entire generation of Seattle musicians who have been regulars on stage at Tula’s for more than two decades. Sadly, Tula’s closes after 26 years at the end of this month, another victim of gentrification and high rents. Most of the one-story block in the Belltown district will be demolished for a new high rise building.
It’s been a busy month at Tula’s as most of the top jazz musicians in Seattle are playing their last gigs at the club and it’s been a full house every night. Â We have mixed feelings about presenting this last of many broadcasts from Tula’s, but we’re happy to have had the opportunity to record many shows there to share with our listeners. Â The music has been great, the audiences appreciative, the staff friendly and welcoming. Â
BTW, this is the Fall Fund drive edition of Jazz Northwest  at 2 PM Pacific this Sunday September 29 on 88.5 KNKX and knkx.org.  Maybe make a donation in memory of the hundreds of great nights of jazz at Tula’s? More info:
thomasmarriott.net  (see Tom’s comments on the closing of Tula’s)