Lettuce Caps Intimate Jazz Alley Run With Late-Night Jam Featuring Seattle Legends Skerik & Joe Doria [Photos/Videos]

Earlier this month, Lettuce treated Seattle to four nights of future funk at the intimate Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley and teamed up with local legend Skerik to round out the weekend with a Sunday throwdown at the even cozier Sea Monster Lounge.

The Grammy-nominated sextet landed in the Pacific Northwest on Thursday and got right down to business, showcasing the band’s jazz roots at the 350-cap club. The four-night run was a significant underplay for the group, which typically plays larger venues in Seattle like the AEG-owned, 1,100-cap Showbox. Nonetheless, with six unique shows over four nights, there was no shortage of opportunity for fans to get down.

The weekend culminated on Sunday with a guest appearance by hometown sax hero Skerik. In addition to his horn and a multitude of psychedelic effects, the saxophonist brought his dark sense of humor and melded right into the ensemble, with which he’s developed an intimate chemistry over the years.

After Sunday’s show, those in the know headed over to the Sea Monster for a late-night after party featuring Skerik alongside Lettuce’s Adam Deitch, Erick “Jesus” Coomes, and Adam “Schmeans” Smirnoff. Though not listed on the bill, trumpeter Eric “Benny” Bloom also came along and added a brass flare to the mix, augmenting the two-set jam with trippy effects and his own signature brand of off-color humor—both a perfect match for Skerik.

Also among the lineup was Seattle hammond organ legend Joe Doria, who has carried the mantle of McTuff—one of the country’s most underrated organ trios—since Skerik stopped regularly performing with the Jack McDuff-inspired group. Doria’s presence was a familiar sight for patrons at the Sea Monster, as McTuff has made the venue its home over the years with a series of weekly Tuesday night residencies, but his collaboration with Skerik and members of Lettuce was an extra-special treat.

Check out fan-shot clips from Lettuce’s weekend in Seattle and click below to view a gallery of photos from Skerik’s after party at Sea Monster Lounge courtesy of photographer Dave Vann.

Lettuce’s upcoming shows include symphonic collaborations in Denver and Nashville and a recently announced tour with GZA of Wu-Tang Clan. For a full list of tour dates and ticketing details, head here.