Olympic Theatre Arts welcomes back the jazz ensemble “Friends of Brubeck” for a pair of shows in early August.

Pianist/bandleader Linda Dowdell is joined by Craig Buhler on reeds, Ted Enderle on bass and Terry Smith on drums for a 7:30 p.m. show on Saturday, Aug. 4, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 5, on the OTA Main Stage, 414 N. Sequim Ave.

Joining them again, this year from New York City, is vocalist Elinore O’Connell.

Reserved seating tickets are $20 each and available online at olympictheatrearts.org, at the theatre box office or at the door (if available). Olympic Theatre Arts’ box office is open 1–5 p.m., weekdays; call 360-683-7326 for more information.

About the group

Praised as “an engaging storyteller, with the vocal prowess to match!” by Sequim fans, O’Connell brings her Broadway voice (“Les Miserables,” “Ragtime”) to Sequim not only to perform, but also to teach Peninsula youth in OTA’s Musical Theatre Intensive for Teens, using her 25 years of professional experience “to inspire students to create a deep, joyful connection between themselves and their music.”

Dowdell has an affinity for Dave Brubeck’s blend of classical and improvisational jazz elements. No stranger to odd or mixed meters, Dowdell has years of experience with dancers, choreographers and musical theater, performing with the likes of Mikhail Baryshnikov, Yo-Yo Ma and Elaine Stritch. She is also known as the composer/lyricist of the hit family musical “Strictly No Elephants,” produced at OTA last September.

Buhler counts Paul Desmond, Brubeck’s long-time musical partner, as one of his influences. Buhler has spent decades trying to “get inside Desmond’s head” while incorporating Desmond’s subtle sound and melodic dexterity into his own distinctive lines.

Enderle on bass and Smith on drums complete the quartet.

The performance will include Brubeck classics (“Take Five,” “Blue Rondo à la Turk”) along with Dowdell arrangements.