Community Events and Local Concerts Kick off the 2010 Portland Jazz Festival, February 21-28
February 15, 2010PORTLAND, Ore. – As a cultural, entertainment and educational event that celebrates Black History Month, the 2010 Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air Portland Jazz Festival presented by US Bank offers more than 75 programs and events throughout the Portland area during the last eight days in February. With a Gospel Brunch on Sunday the 21st, the Incredible Journey of Jazz in middle schools during the week, local performances at venues throughout Portland, the PDX Jazz Student Stage, and intimate artist Jazz Conversations, the festival brings jazz to new audiences and educates the next generation of jazz listeners, an integral part of the PDX Jazz mission.
The Gospel Brunch at 2:00 pm on Sunday, February 21 kicks off the Portland Jazz Festival at Self Enhancement, Inc. (3920 North Kerby Avenue, Portland) and features the SEI Sounds of Soul Choir. This annual event supports SEI, a nationally recognized youth development organization that helps students achieve success despite significant barriers including poverty, family substance abuse, gang involvement, and low academic achievement. More about SEI can be found at www.selfenhancement.org. Advanced reservations for the brunch ($10-$25) are strongly recommended.
Next up, approximately 2,000 students experience the Incredible Journey of Jazz, a 60-minute musical theater performance tracing African American history in tandem with the evolution of jazz. Presented by the Portland Trail Blazers and the American Federation of Musicians, these performances (not open to the public) take place in celebration of Black History Month at area middle schools on the weekdays leading up to the Portland Jazz Festival headline concerts, February 25-28. Students are exposed to music from African rhythms through gospel, ragtime, blues and ultimately to jazz. The 60-minute musical/theater piece was originally developed by Portland State University professor and pianist Darrell Grant along with the Leroy Vinegar Jazz Institute.
Over the past year, PDX Jazz has presented nearly 200 free performances showcasing regional jazz artists at ongoing series including PDX Jazz @ RiverPlace, PDX Jazz @ the ArtBar, and PDX Jazz @ RiverFest. A number of free performances will be presented throughout the week and during the Portland Jazz Festival at both traditional and non-traditional venues. In the “free” category, Midnight Jam Sessions begin at 11:59 pm on Friday and Saturday, February 26 & 27. This year’s jam sessions take place at the Norse Hall Lounge following performances by Norwegian jazz artists In The Country and the Christian Wallumrod Ensemble. Hosted by Darrell Grant, they feature a one-time mix of Norwegian and Portland artists joined by nationally acclaimed artists. To prepare for this event, the house band, including Grant, John Nastos (saxophone) and Ben Darwish (piano), has begun an online blog discussion at http://sessions.jazzpdx.org/.
Wednesday, February 24 at 7:30 pm brings one of Portland’s most exciting larger ensembles to the Old Church. The Portland Jazz Composers’ Ensemble, led by the eclectic pianist Andrew Oliver, supports some of Portland’s finest musicians and presents imaginative work by regional composers. Tickets at the door are $10 for students and $15 for the general public.
The main festival weekend, February 25-28, offers a chance for audiences to experience a behind-the-scene view of each headline artist and to explore the festival theme, Is Jazz Dead (or has it moved to a new address)? – New Music from Norway. These events begin with a panelist discussion (centered around the theme) on Friday, February 26 at 2:30 pm with moderator Paul DeBarros (Seattle Times), Peter Margasak (Down Beat), Forrest Bryant (JazzTimes), and Darrell Grant. After the panel, the first of several artist Jazz Conversations (one-on-one live interviews with artists) begin, hosted by local and regional journalists. All take place at the PCPA ArtBar, 1111 SW Broadway:
The third component to the festival’s city-wide commitment to supporting young artists is the PDX Jazz Student Stage, curated by AJAM (Alan Jones Academy of Music), an organization that fosters young musical talent. Dedicated exclusively to showcasing student jazz musicians, the stage will feature nine large group ensembles. This year’s Student Stage, presented by The Standard and PCPA, takes place at Brunish Hall on the fourth floor of the PCPA.
For a full schedule of community events visit http://www.pdxjazz.com/festival/sch.php.
About The 2010 Portland Jazz Festival
From February 21 through 28, jazz audiences from around the country descend upon downtown Portland to experience the 2010 Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air Portland Jazz Festival presented by US Bank. Headline artists include Pharoah Sanders, Dave Holland Quintet, Mingus Big Band, Dave Douglas & Brass Ecstasy, and Luciana Souza.
The headline performances pay tribute to today’s innovative jazz styles from the United States in tandem with a sampling of young Norwegian artists making their North American debuts under the thematic title Is Jazz Dead (Or Has It Moved to a New Address)? – New Music from Norway, based on British jazz writer Stuart Nicholson’s book tracing the new Norwegian jazz movement. In addition to eight headline concerts and more than 50 free performances featuring local Portland artists, the Portland Jazz Festival includes a dozen education and outreach events – The Incredible Journey of Jazz, an historical jazz musical for middle schools, and Jazz Conversations, a series of free in-person interviews with artists.
As a cultural tourism initiative, the jazz festival draws thousands of visitors to downtown Portland each February during a typically slow month for the hospitality industry. Audiences hail from around the country, and the event attracted approximately 27,000 jazz fans last year.
Ticket prices range from $20-$50 at all Ticketmaster locations or from the PDX Jazz box office. For more information go to www.pdxjazz.com or call 503-228-JAZZ (5299).
About PDX Jazz
Founded in 2003, PDX Jazz, Portland’s jazz membership organization, presents both regional and international jazz artists throughout the year. Dedicated to nurturing jazz musicians and audiences, PDX Jazz is best known for its critically acclaimed Portland Jazz Festival. PDX Jazz presented nearly 200 performances in 2009 showcasing Portland jazz artists with the ongoing series PDX Jazz @ RiverPlace (RiverPlace Hotel) and PDX Jazz @ the ArtBar (Portland Center for the Performing Arts), as well as PDX Jazz @ RiverFest in August along Portland’s South Waterfront. The PDX Jazz office is located at 133 SW 2nd Ave in Portland. For more information visit www.pdxjazz.com or call 503-338-5299.
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Media Contacts
Spencer Crandall, 503-228-5299, [email protected]
Don Lucoff, 503-228-5299, [email protected]
Musician photos and bios available via download from http://www.box.net/shared/512zee29b2
Portland Jazz Festival logo available via download from http://www.box.net/shared/e2nglt451j
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