Ben Darwish – Commotion

February 24 | 9:00 pm | Hotel Fifty
February 24 | 8:00 pm | The Benson Hotel
February 25 | 9:30 pm | Crystal Ballroom | BUY TICKETS

Keyboardist/composer/leader Ben Darwish is an important part of the nationally-recognized music scene in his native Portland, Oregon. Just as well known for his indie-jazz work as well as straight-ahead jazz, funk, afro-beat and a smidgen of pop, he leads and plays in bands who work in all of those genres. He received a Bachelor of Music in 2007 from the University of Oregon and was awarded “Outstanding Undergraduate Performer in Jazz Studies”. In 2008, he received a Downbeat Award for Outstanding Big Band Performance. He was the winner of the 2010 ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Award for his composition “Under The Bright Red Sky” and most recently, the 2011 Individual Artist Grant from the Oregon Arts Commission. He experienced a very rewarding stay as an artist-in-residency at Oregon’s Caldera Arts to compose new works and has performed at the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art’s internationally recognized Time Based Art Festival two years in a row.

Portland’s COMMOTION is a live experience that you do not want to miss!  Drawing from funk, hip hop, and afrobeat rhythms, they bring a non-stop dance party from start to finish.  Having presented such high concept shows as Live Band vs. Ohmega Watts (band vs. DJ) and Afrobeat Tribute to Michael Jackson, the band is well versed in dance music and draws from these styles and other rhythms from around the globe!

Led by keyboardist, Ben Darwish, COMMOTION features core members Dan Duval on guitars, Sam Howard on bass, Russ Kleiner on drums, and a rotating cast of impressive horn players and percussionists.  Members of COMMOTION have also performed with artists such as Ohmega Watts, Curtis Salgado, Blue Cranes, Reggie Watts, and March Fourth Marching Band to name a few.

Things are heating up for COMMOTION, and clubs have caught the fever. Recently, top northwest clubs have counted on the group to start the party and keep it strong!  COMMOTION has appeared at the Goodfoot Lounge, Tractor Tavern, Jimmy Mak’s, Jo Fed’s, Luckey’s, and at the Crystal Ballroom for Obama’s historic inauguration!  The group hreleased their first full length album in August to a sold-out show at Someday Lounge.

Most recently, they were featured at PICA’s Time-Based Art Festival presenting an Afrobeat Tribute To Michael Jackson.

Charlie Hunter Solo Jam and The “PDX Afrobeat Breakdown” featuring Scott Pemberton Trio with special surprise guest, Ben Darwish – Commotion and Jujube

 

 

Appearances:

PDX Jazz @ Hotel Fifty: Justin Morell Trio featuring Damien Erskine and Ben Darwish

February 24 | 9:00 pm | Location: Hotel Fifty | FREE

PDX Jazz @ Benson Hotel: Naomi LaViolette Duo

February 24 | 8:00 pm | Location: The Benson Hotel | FREE

Charlie Hunter Solo Jam and The “PDX Afrobeat Breakdown” featuring Scott Pemberton Trio with special surprise guest, Ben Darwish – Commotion and Jujuba

February 25 | 9:30 pm | Location: Crystal Ballroom | $25