April 2013, nylon string guitarist & composer Michael Whitmore begins a weekly residency at the Snapdragon Café on Vashon Island, WA. Over the next couple of years this ‘Sunday night jam’ grew into a full-blooded ensemble -- the whole jazz, post-jazz, improvised music, sonically textured torch songs from Mars kit & caboodle. Since then, Some’tet has been gigging around the Puget Sound area, playing in venues such as The Sorrento, Musicquarium/Triple Door, Tim's Tavern, Parliament, Re-bar and the Vermillion.
In July 2017, Some'tet was one of four bands selected for the annual EarShot Second Century Jazz Festival in Seattle. During the summer of 2018, Some'tet had a summer long, monthly residency at the Musicquarium/Triple Door in Seattle. And in the summer of 2019, they began their residency in Vashon’s new Black Cat Cabaret.
Whether performing as a trio or with special guests, the sound is indubitably Some’tet — kind of quiet, abstract, almost old school west coast cool with moments of wild, gritty invention. Add some free jazz, sonic manipulation, a dollop of American primitivism, a touch of a neo-samba rhythms, all augmented with the four elements that are essential to their music: adventure, beauty, spirituality & soul.
Some’tet is --
Michael Whitmore (nylon string guitar), a veteran of the Los Angeles jazz & improvised music scene before moving to Vashon Island about a decade ago. He has a few dozen recording credits under his belt as both a leader & as a sideman & has been awarded a NEA California Composers Grant.
Barrett Cooper (trumpet, flugelhorn, valve trombone), originally from Orange County, CA. For many years he performed with his dad, the renowned SoCal educator Dick Cooper. Since moving to Vashon about seven years ago, Barry has been in constant demand for session work & live gigs.
Patrick Christie (upright bass), hails from Wisconsin, he has studied bass with Karl Netoliczka of the Milwaukee Symphony & with Seattles's own Andy Zydrozny -- both are his two greatest musical influences. Oddly enough Patrick & Whitmore met sitting in on an island Celtic jam, though neither of them play Celtic music.
And of course, there is a revolving group of guest musicians who often augment Some’tet --
Christine Patterson (vocals), Ambrose Kevin Nortness (tenor sax, bass clarinet, upright bass), Dylan Savage (drums, percussion), Rusty Willoughby (drums), Ethan Cudaback (drums)
They're first EP "Steps" was released in spring 2017. And later this year, the band will be heading back into the studio to record their first full length release. Stay tuned.