by tina | May 29, 2017 | Press |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Portland’s Essiet Okon Essiet to Headline Montavilla Jazz Festival August 19–20, 2017
Montavilla Jazz Festival 2017 lineup and event details announced.
PORTLAND, Oregon–May, 30, 2017—Critically acclaimed bassist Essiet Okon Essiet, will headline Montavilla Jazz Festival 2017. Now in its fourth year, the festival features local jazz artists on the forefront of creative expression.
The Montavilla Jazz Festival is pleased to announce that the festival will be held at Portland Metro Arts on August 19-20, 2017. This year, several extraordinary local musicians will perform new compositions as well as feature world-class musicians in their ensembles:
- Essiet Essiet IBO with Sylvia Cuenca–”Essiet Essiet is, as always, a rock solid foundation on which the others build their improvisational construction.” – Seacoast Newsletter
- Rich Halley 5 with Vinny Golia–Rich Halley quartet plus Los Angeles based multi-reed virtuoso Golia perform music from their most recent release, The Outlier.
- Blue Cranes– “One of Portland’s brightest lights…evoking post-rock icons Sigur Ros and Godspeed You! Black Emperor.” – Downbeat
- David Friesen Quartet–“Bassist David Friesen is a phenomenon, a player whose musicianship, tone, time, and imagination are uncategorizable.” – Nat Hentoff
- PJCE with Jasnam Daya Singh–The nonprofit PJCE teams up with Brazilian-American composer, Jasnam Daya Singh, to premiere a brand new work, Ektah The Unity Project.
- Ezra Weiss Sextet–Internationally acclaimed composer/pianist Ezra Weiss leads an incredible sextet, comprised of world-class Portland-based musicians.
- Andre St. James Sound Ensemble with George Sams–Portland bassist leads a groundbreaking set, featuring St. Louis avant-garde trumpeter, George Sams, and Bay Area violinist India Cooke.
- Rebecca Kilgore–One of America’s leading song stylists brings her quartet of well-known Portland jazz stalwarts for a captivating set of original songs.
- Joe Manis Double Drums Quartet–Rising saxophone star and SteepleChase recording artist leads a quartet that plays freewheeling, high energy jazz.
- Ron Steen Quartet–Portland jazz legend brings a brand new quartet to open Montavilla Jazz Festival 2017 playing energetic, swinging original tunes.
- Trio Subtonic with Dan Balmer–A groove-heavy power trio that blends genre bending funk with slow burning soul-jazz.
- Quadraphonnes + Andrew Durkin–The accomplished all-female saxophone quartet performs compositions of former Industrial Jazz Group leader, Andrew Durkin.
“The Montavilla neighborhood is becoming an epicenter of arts and culture in Portland,” said Neil Mattson, executive director for the festival. “We created the Montavilla Jazz Festival to capitalize on the neighborhood’s appreciation and support of local artists and world-class cultural events. Jazz is one of America’s greatest gifts to the arts community and we are thrilled by what the talent lineup and quality of the festival means to our neighborhood and community.”
Additional artists will also perform new, original work and offer attendees the opportunity to explore music that makes Portland a unique city on the forefront of jazz in the new millennium.
Festival headliner and Portland‘s own Essiet Okon Essiet first received critical acclaim more than a decade ago as a member of saxophonist Bobby Watson’s post-hard-bop group Horizon. He has long since established himself as one of the premier bassists on the jazz scene. His parents moved from Nigeria, West Africa, to Omaha, Nebraska, where he was born, and they moved throughout the U.S., Europe and Africa. His family finally settled in Portland, Oregon, where he began studying the bass and jazz at the age of 14.
He has performed and recorded with such notable musicians as Benny Golson, Johnny Griffin, James Moody, Freddie Hubbard, Bobby Hutcherson, Cedar Walton, Sam Rivers, Pat Martino, Kenny Burrell, Jackie McLean, Frank Morgan, Kenny Barron, Louis Hayes, Ben Riley, Jimmy Cobb, Billy Higgins, Billy Hart, Art Farmer, Abby Lincoln, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Billy Cobham, Bennie Maupin, Al Foster, Eddie Henderson, Steve Turre, Kenny Garrett, Kenny Kirkland, Mulgrew Miller, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Mike Stern, Kevin Mahogany, Kurt Elling, Fort Apache Band, Danilo Perez, Claudia Acuna, Geri Allen and Ralph Peterson.
Montavilla Jazz Festival generates community support for music education.
Created by a small group of Portland residents, the festival not only showcases local artists but is also focused on supporting the next generation of local music talent.
Addressing a national trend of limited funding for music and arts programs, festival organizers worked closely with the Montavilla business community to create new opportunities for area youth in the form of the Montavilla Schools Music Fund.
This year, after a competitive selection process the festival will award Creative Science School $1,000, made possible with proceeds from 2016 festival ticket sales. The grant will help ensure that CSS can provide music classes for it’s Kindergarten through 5th grade students.
“The MSMF grant will allow Creative Science School to continue our current music program into the next school year. Without the grant it was unlikely the we would raise enough money to cover the entire year”, said incoming Creative Science School principal, Meisha Geisler.
Montavilla Jazz Festival is possible due in large part to an array of dedicated, community-minded sponsors and partner organizations, from Montavilla and beyond. These include the following MJF 2017 partners: KMHD Jazz Radio, Montavilla/East Tabor Business Association, Academy Theater, Advantage Tax & Accounting, Audix Microphones, City Beautiful Design, East Glisan Pizza, East Side Printing Co., Fix Auto, Flying Pie Pizzeria, Kathryn Elsesser Photography, KB Custom Framing, Kristin Thiel Editing, Montavilla Neighborhood Association, Mosaic Consulting, Mr. Plywood, PDX Jazz, Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble, Portland Metro Arts, Portland Pedal Power, Portland Piano Company, PROWUS, SE Uplift, Sound Doctor PDX, Stark Street Pizza Co., The 1905, The Bipartisan Cafe, Vespertine Works, and Vino Veritas, among others.
In the spirit of jazz, everyone has something to bring to the table. The Montavilla Jazz Festival believes that everyone has a part to play in the support of music, culture and experiences that bring us together. Individuals, businesses and organizations are encouraged to get involved with the Montavilla Jazz Festival through volunteer and sponsor opportunities.
Dates, Location and Tickets:
When: Saturday and Sunday, August 19-20, 2017
Where: Portland Metro Arts, 9003 SE Stark, Portland, OR 97216
Tickets: Information about day-pass prices and availability to be announced soon.
Contact:
.
.
For more information, please visit: www.montavillajazzfest.com and www.facebook.com/montavillajazzfestival.
About Montavilla Jazz Festival:
The Montavilla Jazz Festival supports and strengthens local music culture and enriches the community by showcasing the best of Portland’s originally composed, progressive jazz. Montavilla Jazz Festival is fiscally sponsored by SE Uplift, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and coalition of twenty Portland neighborhoods.
#####
Download in PDF
by tina | Aug 12, 2016 | Press |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Montavilla Jazz Festival Spotlights Musicians on Forefront of Portland’s Jazz Scene
George Colligan, Boris Kozlov, Rudy Royston, and Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble present new and original works at Portland Metro Arts, August 20-21, 2016
PORTLAND, Oregon—August 12, 2016—At Montavilla Jazz Festival 2016, local artists from across Portland’s jazz community will take audiences on a journey to new frontiers of America’s original art form. Now in its third year, the festival is hosted at Portland Metro Arts, August 20-21, 2016, and spotlights artists who are redefining jazz through creative expression.
Portland’s own internationally recognized pianist, George Colligan, will headline both nights of the festival, including a performance on opening night with the Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble, who will premier Colligan’s original composition, Fathers and Sons. The festival will close on the second night with his New York City Trio, featuring Boris Kozlov, bassist, arranger, and musical director for the Mingus Big Band, and drummer Rudy Royston, who has performed with Bill Frisell, Less McCann, and Ravi Coltrane. Additionally, many top artists on the Portland jazz scene will be performing throughout the festival, including guitarist Dan Balmer, vocalist Jeff Baker, and pianist and composer Kerry Politzer’s Batida Diferente.
“Montavilla Jazz Festival embodies the pioneering spirit of Oregonians,” said Ryan Meagher, programming director, Montavilla Jazz Festival. “By combining our efforts to create a new, supportive artistic environment for exploration and a strong youth music education program, we are also creating an extraordinary cultural experience for the community. We are thrilled by the support of the Montavilla neighborhood, festival sponsors and partners, and the work of many volunteers to create a festival that celebrates the advancement of the arts.”
We are delighted to announce that Fred Meyer is the premier sponsor of Montavilla Jazz Festival 2016. Our shared vision of community building and support for youth education initiatives, like our Montavilla Schools Music Fund, is a perfect match for the festival and provides critical support for local budding artists. Together, we are supporting a thriving, diverse community. In addition, we would like to thank the Montavilla business community for their support, along with more than 50 sponsors of the festival, including our media partner, KMHD Jazz Radio (89.1 FM), and our stage sponsor, Audix Microphones.
In addition to an incredible lineup of emcees to support the event onsite, we are honored to have special guests Nick Fish, Commissioner, City of Portland and Alissa Keny-Guyer, Oregon State Representative, District 46, join us at the festival to announce our headlining artists each night. The broad support from both the public and private sector along with individual donors, volunteers, sponsors and partners is a strong indication of the overwhelming positive support and sense of community in Portland.
Outdoor Student Stage and Jam Session
Empowering the next generation of musicians with opportunities to perform is critical to developing a thriving jazz scene. This year we created multiple avenues to inspire and support young musicians in their efforts to shape the future of jazz.
- Outdoor Student Stage: We are pleased to announce that once again the student stage will feature talented rising young musicians. Student performances will be scheduled throughout both days of the festival. Though attendees must purchase a day pass to enjoy the MJF 2016 acts indoors, the outdoor student stage is free to the community.
- Jam Session: To celebrate the community spirit of the festival, we continue the tradition of hosting an after-hours jam session at East Glisan Pizza Lounge on Saturday evening from 10:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. The session will be hosted by the Alan Jones Academy of Music as part of the acclaimed AJAM series of jam sessions and educational events. Musicians from across the city are encouraged to participate with many festival performers participating on stage and hanging out in the audience. East Glisan Pizza is located at 8001 NE Glisan St Portland, OR 97213.
Schedule of Performers
Saturday, August 20, 2016
- 1:00 p.m. – Doors and box office open
- 2:00 p.m. – The 3 Trumpet Band
- 3:10 p.m. – Todd Bishop
- 4:20 p.m. – The Gordon Lee Quartet featuring Warren Rand
- 5:40 p.m. – The InBetweens
- 6:50 p.m. – Jeff Baker – Phrases featuring Darrell Grant
- 8:10 p.m. – George Colligan: Fathers and Sons with the Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble
Sunday, August 21, 2016
- 1:00 p.m. – Doors and box office open
- 2:00 p.m. – Jessika Smith Big Band
- 3:10 p.m. – Thomas Barber’s Spiral Road
- 4:20 p.m. – Scenes with John Stowell, Jeff Johnson and John Bishop
- 5:40 p.m. – Batida Diferente
- 6:50 p.m. – Trio Uncontrollable featuring Dan Balmer
- 8:10 p.m. – George Colligan Trio with Boris Kozlov and Rudy Royston
Festival Details
The Montavilla Neighborhood Association welcomes the Portland community to Montavilla Jazz Festival 2016. Supporting local artists and creating an environment that promotes self-expression is the sign of a free-thinking community.
- Location: Portland Metro Arts, 9003 SE Stark Street in Portland, Oregon on August 20–21, 2016. The doors and box office open at 1:00 p.m., with the show starting promptly at 2:00 p.m. both days.
- Tickets: General admission day passes will be available for purchase at the box office during festival hours on both days. Passes are sold on a sliding scale from $10-$25, and a portion of ticket sales benefit the Montavilla Schools Music Fund. Youth 12 and under are admitted free.
- Amenities: Hand crafted pizza by East Glisan Pizza Lounge, beer brewed by Montavilla Brew Works, and wine will be available onsite. Beverages are permitted in the air conditioned theatre performance space and festival areas.
- Arts for All: As a project of the Montavilla Neighborhood Association, the festival’s mission is to support local artists while creating an accessible cultural experience for all. As a proud member of the Arts for All program, administered by the Regional Arts and Culture Council, attendees may present their Oregon Trail Card at the box office to purchase up to two (2) Montavilla Jazz Festival day passes for $5 each.
- Parking: To help meet our urban sustainability goals, attendees are encouraged to utilize public and alternative transportation options. On-street parking is available in the neighborhood surrounding Portland Metro Arts.
Get Involved and Stay Connected
If you are interested in getting involved in the festival for sponsorship, partnership or volunteer opportunities, please use the contact information listed below. We welcome your involvement!
The mission of Montavilla Jazz Festival is to support and strengthen local music culture and enrich the community by showcasing the best of Portland’s originally composed, progressive jazz. Montavilla Jazz Festival is a project of the Montavilla Neighborhood Association and is fiscally sponsored by SE Uplift, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and coalition of twenty Portland neighborhoods.
#####
George Colligan
Thomas Barber
Photo © Kathryn Elsesser Photography
by tina | Aug 12, 2015 | Sponsor Spotlight, Uncategorized |
The Montavilla Jazz Festival (MJF) is pleased to announce that Ya Hala is a supporting sponsor of the 2015 festival. We recently spoke with Ya Hala’s manager, Pascal Attar, about the restaurant, the Montavilla neighborhood, and MJF. This is what we learned:
Pascal’s parents, John and Mirna Attar, opened Ya Hala seventeen years ago. Since then, they have welcomed regulars and newcomers as family. The interpersonal connection the Attars have with their customers makes Ya Hala a true Montavilla gem.
(more…)
