Thursday, April 9 | Hallam Lake | Free, registration required
For the Birds features a jazz duo performing the original music of Seattle pianist and composer Nelda Swiggett. But this is not just a concert. The performance engages the power of artistic expression — live music, spoken words, images and poetry — to connect audiences emotionally to the scientific realities of our changing climate through the lens of birds. Ultimately a story of hope, audiences leave the performance feeling empowered to take meaningful action.
Birds are on the frontlines of climate change as increasing numbers of extreme weather events disrupt the rhythms of the natural world. The number of birds in North America has declined by 29 percent since 1970, and the rate of decline is accelerating. What can one individual do to make a positive difference for birds — for all living things? For the Birds provides some answers.
Nelda debuted her first climate-themed concert, The Alaska Suite, in 2017. Building on the success of the Alaska Suite, she debuted For the Birds in 2024. Collectively, these concerts have been performed 47 times to date, touching over 3500 people with a message of hope and call to action.
About the Musicians:
For the Birds on tour is performed by Clif and Nelda Swiggett. These highly accomplished musicians are a married couple, and have spent over 30 years refining their musical craft together.
Nelda Swiggett (compositions, piano, vocal, narrative, curated images) 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 many of the Northwest’s top jazz stages and festivals. She is an award-winning composer and OA2 recording artist — her five album releases have received rave reviews and extensive airplay around the globe.
Clif Swiggett (trombone, percussion, climate science & policy, producer) is a powerhouse of the Seattle jazz scene, known for his virtuosic improvisation and deep rhythmic command. He grew up outside New York City playing professionally as a teenager, sharing the stage backing legendary jazz icons including Dizzy Gillespie, Phil Woods, and Randy Brecker, and touring with the Glenn Miller Orchestra. Clif currently plays lead trombone with many of Seattle’s top big bands and is a core member of the critically acclaimed Megabopolis and the Forman-Finley Band. This past year, he’s added to his extensive discography with featured recordings on two highly anticipated albums. Clif also served as Carbon Washington’s Policy Chair helping to pass Washington’s landmark Climate Commitment Act.
Learn more about the musicians here.
Nelda’s work featured nationally on NPR’s “Here & Now”. Listen Here: Climate change can be daunting. One woman creates music to help process feelings around it.