The Artists

Plenty of jazz musicians, especially those in the “side man” category, seem content to wait for phone calls from their more ambitious collaborators, “band leaders,” and lament the scarcity of work and the impending death of jazz. Drummers are often considered side men (or women), but Portland’s Alan Jones has taken the jazz bull by the horns, and not only often leads his own bands, but created a short-lived but well-loved venue (The Cave) for jazz, and shares his musical gifts through teaching. Jones has played extensively in Europe and continues to tour and record with many major players. Besides perfoming at the festival, his organizaton curated the PDX Jazz Student Stage this year.