PLU Weathermon Jazz Festival

Jared Sessink is the Co-Director of Instrumental Music at Garfield High School, in Seattle, WA. He oversees the collaborative work of all Wind Band, Jazz, and Orchestral Ensembles. Sessink has over a decade of experience teaching in the Central District, both at Washington Middle School and now at Garfield.

Sessink’s teaching philosophy is centered in student voice and ownership in the learning process. He sets high expectations for students and supports them through the journey of achieving excellence in musical performance.

Under his leadership, Garfield has been a frequent participant in the Essentially Ellington Jazz Competition and Festival held in New York City, considered one of the most competitive high school jazz festivals in the nation. Many of his students have gone on to become educators and musicians, at institutions ranging from Berklee School of Music, San Francisco Conservatory of Music, New England Conservatory, Columbia University, Manhattan School of Music, and more.

Sessink regularly plays his trumpet in the Magnolia Big Band in Seattle. On Monday evenings, he is the Director of the North Seattle Community College Symphonic Band working with adults of all ages.

Pianist and composer Nelda Swiggett has been a vibrant force in the Pacific Northwest jazz scene since the early 1990s. Her compositions blend jazz with Afro-Cuban, gospel and classical influences, creating a distinctive and‬ engaging sound. Swiggett’s ensembles, including her trio, quintet, and sextet, have graced stages at Dimitriou’s‬‭ Jazz Alley, Bumbershoot, and the Earshot Jazz Festival. She is an award-winning composer and OA2 recording‬ artist. Her five album releases have received rave reviews and extensive airplay around the globe.‬ Nelda’s big band arrangements of her original music have been performed by Seattle’s nationally recognized Garfield High School Jazz Band, the Seattle Women’s Jazz Orchestra, and others. Nelda currently co-leads Clif & Nelda’s Little Big Band with her trombonist husband, Clif Swiggett; composes for the Megabopolis sextet; and performs “For the Birds” — live music, images and poetry invite reflection on our changing climate — with the Nelda Swiggett Quintet. She is also in demand as a solo pianist, side woman and jazz educator.

Cliff Colón emerges as a luminous figure among Pacific Northwest tenor saxophonists. Over two decades, he has risen as a leader in the field, captivating audiences with innovative solos, making him a highly sought-after sideman and studio musician.

Rooted in the dynamic music scene of greater Seattle, Colón’s journey began in Tacoma, Washington, where his fervor for jazz took flight. Early on, his musical roots intertwined with gospel and soul, shaping his distinct style. In his 20s, he became a fixture in Seattle’s jazz and fusion scene, later expanding his repertoire to include R&B and 1970s funk, enriching his musical palette. Today, Colón is celebrated as a versatile musician, excelling as a band leader, studio recording artist, and producer.