Steve Griggs Ensemble at Panama Hotel

Representing the Japanese American WWII experience, the Steve Griggs Ensemble presented a program of original music and stories at the historic Panama Hotel from 2013 to 2016. The Panama Hotel Tea Room is located on the corner of 6th Avenue South and Main Street, the center of Japan town. The ensemble included trumpeter Jay Thomas, guitarist Milo Petersen, saxophonist Steve Griggs, vibraphonist Susan Pascal, and bassist Phil Sparks. An Historic Site-Specific Program grant from 4Culture commissioned the program and it was supported by a National Park Service Confinement Sites Program grant, 4Culture Arts Project grant, and City of Seattle Office of Arts & Culture smART ventures grant so that it was free and open to the public.