Director Don Lucoff Discusses the 2012 Festival

Posted March 5, 2012 in 2012,Multimedia

PDX Jazz @ The Mission Theater Begins Spring Season Featuring The Bridge Quartet “Crossing into the Monkasphere,” A Tribute to Thelonious Monk Thursday, April 19 @ 7:30pm

Posted March 3, 2012 in 2012,Mission Series,Multimedia

PDX Jazz @ The Mission Theater Begins Spring Season

Featuring The Bridge Quartet

“Crossing into the Monkasphere,” A Tribute to Thelonious Monk

PDX Jazz, the presenting organization of the Portland Jazz Festival in partnership with The Mission Theater, KMHD Radio, and the Crystal Hotel, announces a performance by The Bridge Quartet on April 19th @ 7:30pm. This exclusive one-time only performance by the quartet performing the music of Thelonious Monk, will feature pianist Darrell Grant, bassist Tom Wakeling, drummer Alan Jones, and special guest saxophonist Devin Phillips. The prolific Northwest-based quartet will perform a show entitled, “Crossing into the Monkasphere,” paying tribute to the innovative pianist Thelonious Monk. 

Alan Jones, the group’s leader, is a prolific drummer in the Northwest who has toured internationally and plays regularly with bassist David Friesen. States Jones, “We have always referenced Monk’s music live in our quartet performances, but this will be the first time we’re presenting an entire concert of his music. We’re going to do a wide cross section of compositions spanning Monk’s repertoire including: “Trinkle Tinkle,” “Bemsha Swing,” “Thelonious,” “Skippy,” “Humph,” “Rhythm-a-ning,” “Evidence,” and “Boo Boo’s Birthday,” among other classics.” 

The quartet is rounded out by bassist Tom Wakeling, a member of Jones’ sextet and also another experienced musician and educator who has his own quartet with Canadian trumpeter Brad Turner. Darrell Grant is one of the most respected modern pianists who has released six albums as a band leader and is currently the Assistant Professor of Music Jazz Studies at Portland State University. Devin Phillips, according to Jones, “is an honored addition when we play Portland.” Phillips will be performing in place of Canadian resident Phil Dwyer, the band’s original saxophonist who, due to Homeland Security immigration issues, is not able to perform in the U.S. at this time. Phillips has performed, toured, and recorded with everyone from Wynton Marsalis and Eddie Palmieri to The Headhunters and Lenny Kravitz. He has also performed on the Portland Jazz Festival with Branford Marsalis and Pharoah Sanders.

Additionally, PDX Jazz @ The Mission Theater will host gifted Netherlands-based pianist Amina Figarova and her sextet in a program titled “Amsterdam After Dark” on May 17. The locally based and nationally renowned bassists David Friesen & Glen Moore will perform on June 21 with a show entitled “Bass on Top”. The 2012 series will conclude on July 19 featuring The Devin Phillips Quartet with special guest vocalist Richard Arnold – “Celebrating John Coltrane – A Night of Ballads and Blues.” Doors open at 6:30pm, shows at 7:30pm for all events. 

“The level of musicianship among these four stalwarts is obvious. What’s more impressive, however, is the sensitive, open-ended camaraderie within the band that elevates the music to an insightful level of jazz expression.” - John Barron, All About Jazz

The Bridge Quartet “A Face Like Yours”

PDX Jazz @ The Mission Theater

The Bridge Quartet

“Crossing into the Monkasphere,” A Tribute to Thelonius Monk

Thursday, April 19 @ 7:30pm

The Bridge Quartet:

Alan Jones – drums

Darrell Grant – acoustic piano

Tom Wakeling – bass

Devin Phillips – saxophones

Ticketing Info:

Tickets for shows ticketed by Cascade Tickets may be purchased at the

Crystal box office or other McMenamins outlet

(Bagdad Theater, Edgefield, East 19th St. Café in Eugene)
At these locations the convenience charge is only $1.

Or you can order by phone at 1-800-514-ETIX,

or by clicking the “Buy Tickets“ link located at the event

listing on the McMenamins schedules.

Tickets are $15 advance/day of show.

$10 Student Tickets Available with ID (General Admission, First Set Only)

* Night of show only, based on availability

Trivia Question for $2 Discount at the door: What is Thelonious Monk’s middle name?

** reserved seating is available for PDX members

The  Mission Theater is located at

1624 N.W. Glisan, Portland, OR

(503) 223-4527

Located within walking distance of the Mission Theater,

McMenamins Crystal Hotel & Ballroom is ideal for concert-goers

For more info about McMenamins Hotel & Ballroom, visit: www.McMenamins.com

Rising Star Ben Williams and Sound Effect /PDX Jazz @ Jimmy Mak’s Monday, March 12th @ 7:00 and 9:00pm

Posted March 1, 2012 in 2012,Featured,Highlighted,PDX Jazz Event,Uncategorized

Rising Star Ben Williams and Sound Effect

                                                                        Photo Credit: Jati Lindsey

Thelonious Monk Competition Winner to Make Portland Debut 

Member of Pat Metheny’s Unity Band Project –

New Band to Release Debut Album in Summer With European & U.S. Tours

PDX Jazz, the presenting organization of the Portland Jazz Festival, is pleased to announce a new partnership with Jimmy Mak’s. The first program in the PDX Jazz @ Jimmy Mak’s series will feature award-winning bassist Ben Williams and his quartet Sound Effect. Williams, winner of the prestigious 2009 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition will perform material from his Concord Jazz debut, State of Art, on Monday, March 12th @ 7:00 and 9:00pm.

The bassist/composer leads a quartet comprised of saxophonist Jaleel Shaw who performed in Roy Haynes Fountain of Youth Band during last week’s jazz festival, electric and acoustic pianist Christian Sands (Christian McBride), and drummer John Davis (Cassandra Wilson).

A Washington D.C. native, Williams grew up listening to a diverse range of sounds including jazz, hip-hop, R&B, gospel, and classical, which can all be heard in his music. Williams remarks,

“There’s never a dull moment in jazz; you’re always discovering something new. There’s always something to be done that hasn’t been done yet.”

He is an esteemed student of music, graduating from the Duke Ellington School of Music and receiving a B.A. in Music Education at Michigan State University. Williams is pursuing a Master’s degree in Jazz Studies at the illustrious Juilliard School. He has performed and worked with musicians such as: Wynton Marsalis, Terence Blanchard, Roy Hargrove, Mulgrew Miller, Cyrus Chestnut, Ron Blake, Rodney Whitaker, Stefon Harris, Karriem Riggins, and many others. Williams was recently announced as iTunes “Jazz Breakthrough Artist of 2011.”

Williams is also a member of the Pat Metheny Unity Band, a new quartet project from the guitarist, which also comprises saxophonist Chris Potter and drummer Antonio Sanchez. The band will release their debut album this summer, with tours in Europe and the U.S. to follow.

Ben Williams and Sound Effect NPR Tiny Desk Concert

PDX Jazz @ Jimmy Mak’s Present Ben Williams and Sound Effect

Monday, March 12th @ 7:00 and 9:00pm

Ben Williams – bass

Jaleel Shaw – saxophone

Christian Sands – electric & acoustic piano

John Davis – drums

Ticketing Info:

Guaranteed reserved seats (with dinner), at $20

General admission (seating not guaranteed), at $15

For online tickets, click here.

Coming April 30th: One night only, two shows

Three-time GRAMMY® nominated vocalist Tierney Sutton

Jimmy Mak’s is located at:

221 NW 10th Ave. (between Davis and Everett)

503-295-6542

For more information on Jimmy Mak’s, please visit: http://www.jimmymaks.com/

http://www.pdxjazz.com

Italian Trumpet Icon Enrico Rava And Tribe With Special Guest The Tony Pacini Trio Winningstad Theatre, Saturday, February 18, 7:30pm

Posted February 6, 2012 in 2012,Featured,Portland Jazz Festival

Italian Trumpet Icon Enrico Rava And Tribe  

With Special Guest The Tony Pacini Trio

Winningstad Theatre, Saturday, February 18, 7:30pm 

 

                       Photo Credit: Giuseppe Pino

 

“Italy has yet to produce a more accomplished jazz musician
than the trumpeter Enrico Rava.” - The New York Times 

 

 

The 2012 U.S. Bank Portland Jazz Festival presented by Alaska Airlines showcase an Italian-themed night of jazz featuring the influential ECM-recording trumpeter Enrico Rava in a program entitled, “A Jazz Pilgrim,” with special guest, The Tony Pacini Trio on Saturday, February 18th, 7:30pm @ Winningstad Theatre. The Tony Pacini Trio will perform an exclusive opening set entitled, “The Tony Pacini Trio Plays Italian-American Jazz.”

Rava will make his Portland debut on the festival’s opening weekend with his Italian-based working band, trombonist Gianluca Petrella, pianist Giovanni Guidi, double bassist Gabriele Evangelista, and drummer Fabrizio Sferra. They will play songs from their album, Tribe, which All About Jazz hails as “one of the strongest albums of Rava’s career.” The quintet will play additional introspective-tinged songs from Rava’s celebrated 40-year ECM recording career.

Born in Trieste, Italy, Rava is one of the most accomplished and internationally recognized musicians from Italy. At an early age, Rava traded in his trombone for a trumpet after hearing Miles Davis, whose influence is obvious in Rava’s music. His career ascended in the 1960s by developing key work connections to Chet Baker, Gato Barbieri, and Steve Lacy. Rava released his first album in 1972 and has since recorded over 20 acclaimed albums as a band leader. Over the years, he has worked or performed with preeminent jazz artists such as: Paul Motian, Lee Konitz, Pat Metheny, Gil Evans, Joe Henderson, Joe Lovano, Cecil Taylor and many more.  

The Tony Pacini Trio, a long-standing Portland tradition featuring bassist Ed Bennett, and drummer Mel Brown, will play songs by Italian-American musicians: Henry Mancini, George Wallington (a.k.a. Giacinto Figlia), Frank Rosolino, Frank Sinatra, and Tony Bennett.

Pacini grew up in Portland, where he has resided permanently after graduating from Boston’s illustrious Berklee College of Music. He is an active musical figure in festivals and nightclubs up and down the West Coast performing with his trio as well as with the Mel Brown Quartet. Pacini has also played with countless artists such as: Leroy Vinnegar, Bud Shank, Benny Golson, Byron Stripling, Terell Stafford, Curtis Fuller, Chuck Redd, Marlena Shaw, Richie Cole, Carl Saunders, Chuck Israels, Dan Faehnle, Bill Henderson, Claudio Roditi, Hadley Caliman, Nancy King and Rebecca Kilgore.

Enrico Rava Quintet “Tribe”

Ueffilo Jazz Club

Tony Pacini “Close Your Eyes”

Enrico Rava Quintet, “A Jazz Pilgrim”

With Special Guest The Tony Pacini Trio

Winningstad Theatre, Saturday February 18, 7:30pm

 

Enrico Rava “Tribe”

Enrico Rava – Trumpet

Gianluca Petrella – Trombone

Giovanni Guidi – Piano

Gabriele Evangelista – Double Bass

Fabrizio Sferra – Drums

 

Tony Pacini Trio

Tony Pacini – Piano

Ed Bennett – Bass

Mel Brown – Drums

 

Ticketing Info:

For online tickets, visit: https://www.boxofficetickets.com/pdxjazz 

Portland Jazz Festival Box Office

Hours of Operation: 2 – 5:30PM, Monday – Friday

Order by Phone: (503) 228-5299

In Person: 133 SW 2nd Avenue, Ste. 420 Portland, OR 97204

PDX Jazz Members receive no ticketing fees when purchased at the PDX Jazz Box Office

For ticketing questions, please email: [email protected]

(please do not send any credit card information via email)

Tickets range from $22-$42 

http://www.pdxjazz.com

For more info about The Winningstad Theatre, visit:

http://www.pcpa.com/events/winny.php

For media information, contact:

Maureen McFadden @ [email protected]

 

 

 

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Dee Dee Bridgewater and Roy Haynes to Headline 2012 U.S. Bank Portland Jazz Festival Presented by Alaska Airlines at Newmark Theatre

Posted February 3, 2012 in 2012,Portland Jazz Festival

Presented by Alaska Airlines at Newmark Theatre

Dee Dee Bridgewater  

Dee Dee Bridgewater

Roy Haynes 

Friday, February 24 at 7pm

Roy Haynes on the Late Show with David Letterman (June 2011)