PDX Jazz | Portland Jazz Festival 2008

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Portland Jazz Orchestra
http://www.portlandjazzorchestra.org Buy Tickets REPERTOIRE OF CHARLES MINGUS AND DAVE HOLLAND The Portland Jazz Orchestra, Portland’s premier repertory jazz orchestra and the first-ever Resident Ensemble of the Portland Jazz Festival, will follow up the sold-out success of its debut concert last November with another all-ages performance Wednesday, February 20, at the historic McMenamins Crystal Ballroom (1332 W. Burnside) at 7:30 pm. The ensemble is the only local headliner in this year’s Jazz Festival. The Portland Jazz Orchestra made a striking first impression last November to a full house, and is expected to make waves again as 18 of the city’s finest jazz artists come together under the direction of Charley Gray to form the organization’s unparalleled cast, this time performing the celebrated repertoires of Charles Mingus and Dave Holland. General admission tickets are $20/advance or $25/door. About Portland Jazz Orchestra Established in 2005 by trombonist Lars Campbell and composer/arranger/Portland State University professor Charley Gray, the members of Portland Jazz Orchestra are among the finest jazz artists in Portland, offering the highest-caliber big band experience to audiences of Oregon and southern Washington. All locally-based, these 18 esteemed jazz players rehearse and perform under the direction of Charley Gray, and make up the artistic personnel of this non-profit organization, whose aim it is to provide jazz enthusiasts with year-round access to a diverse array of phenomenal large ensemble jazz repertoire and artistic excellence in the unique setting of the concert hall. A complete roster and listing of events is available at www.portlandjazzorchestra.org. About the Composers After establishing his deep admiration for Duke Ellington early on, the fast-rising career of Charles Mingus (1922-1979) saw the American bassist performing with Louis Armstrong, Lionel Hampton and Charlie Parker. As a composer, his unconventional approach incorporated the soulful sounds of gospel music and the tone poems of the classical genre into the hard bop and blues styles. Mingus was posthumously awarded a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award for his creative genius, and is generally regarded as one of the most influential jazz musicians of all time. British composer and Grammy winner Dave Holland (b. 1946) performed for years as bassist for Miles Davis, as well as the avant-garde ensemble Circle, with Chick Corea. His works for large ensemble are layered and harmonically rich, adding elements of the contemporary mainstream to his homage to the established jazz traditions.

Portland Jazz Orchestra

http://www.portlandjazzorchestra.org

Buy Tickets

REPERTOIRE OF CHARLES MINGUS AND DAVE HOLLAND

The Portland Jazz Orchestra, Portland’s premier repertory jazz orchestra and the first-ever Resident Ensemble of the Portland Jazz Festival, will follow up the sold-out success of its debut concert last November with another all-ages performance Wednesday, February 20, at the historic McMenamins Crystal Ballroom (1332 W. Burnside) at 7:30 pm. The ensemble is the only local headliner in this year’s Jazz Festival.

The Portland Jazz Orchestra made a striking first impression last November to a full house, and is expected to make waves again as 18 of the city’s finest jazz artists come together under the direction of Charley Gray to form the organization’s unparalleled cast, this time performing the celebrated repertoires of Charles Mingus and Dave Holland. General admission tickets are $20/advance or $25/door.

About Portland Jazz Orchestra

Established in 2005 by trombonist Lars Campbell and composer/arranger/Portland State University professor Charley Gray, the members of Portland Jazz Orchestra are among the finest jazz artists in Portland, offering the highest-caliber big band experience to audiences of Oregon and southern Washington. All locally-based, these 18 esteemed jazz players rehearse and perform under the direction of Charley Gray, and make up the artistic personnel of this non-profit organization, whose aim it is to provide jazz enthusiasts with year-round access to a diverse array of phenomenal large ensemble jazz repertoire and artistic excellence in the unique setting of the concert hall. A complete roster and listing of events is available at www.portlandjazzorchestra.org.

About the Composers

After establishing his deep admiration for Duke Ellington early on, the fast-rising career of Charles Mingus (1922-1979) saw the American bassist performing with Louis Armstrong, Lionel Hampton and Charlie Parker. As a composer, his unconventional approach incorporated the soulful sounds of gospel music and the tone poems of the classical genre into the hard bop and blues styles. Mingus was posthumously awarded a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award for his creative genius, and is generally regarded as one of the most influential jazz musicians of all time.

British composer and Grammy winner Dave Holland (b. 1946) performed for years as bassist for Miles Davis, as well as the avant-garde ensemble Circle, with Chick Corea. His works for large ensemble are layered and harmonically rich, adding elements of the contemporary mainstream to his homage to the established jazz traditions.