Jessika Smith Big Band

Jessika Smith Big Band returns 10 years after her debut album was released with all new music and a stellar lineup of musicians.

Lineup: Jessika Smith, conductor, composer; Sam Reid and Vanessa Sielert, alto saxophones; Steve Treseler and Tim Willcox, tenor saxophones; Mieke Bruggeman, baritone saxophone; Fred Forney, lead trumpet; Vern Sielert, Tom Barber, and Paul Krueger, trumpets; Jenny Kellogg, Chris Shuttleworth, and James Powers, trombones; Bill Foster, bass trombone; Kyle Smith, guitar; Torrey Newhart, piano; Garrett Baxter, bass; Ken Mastrogiovanni, drums.

Jessika Smith is an award-winning jazz composer, saxophonist, and music educator. She teaches at Parkrose Middle School and High School in Northeast Portland, and she directs the Jessika Smith Big Band. Jessika is proud to be a featured composer with Brava Jazz Publishing. She has written commissions for Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble, Seattle JazzEd, the Columbia Gorge Orchestra Association, and the Reno Jazz Festival. Jessika’s band has performed at the Cathedral Park Jazz Festival, Mt. Hood Jazz Festival, and Montavilla Jazz Festival.