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Montavilla Jazz celebrates Portland jazz with live streamed concerts on August 15-16

Montavilla Jazz celebrates Portland jazz with live streamed concerts on August 15-16

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Montavilla Jazz celebrates Portland jazz with live streamed concerts on August 15-16

Montavilla Jazz hosts weekend concerts in honor of its cancelled annual festival and shifts to new projects and expanded educational programming in 2021.

PORTLAND, Oregon, August 5, 2020

For the first time in seven years Montavilla Jazz will not host a late summer neighborhood jazz festival in East Portland.

In each of the past six summers Montavilla Jazz Festival has featured established and emerging local jazz artists including Mel Brown, Gordon Lee, Essiet Okon Essiet, Sylvia Cuenca, Darrell Grant, Nancy King, Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble, George Colligan, Dana Reason, Charlie Porter, Nicole Glover, Bobby Torres, Ezra Weiss, Alan Jones, Farnell Newton, Tim Willcox, Randy Porter, Jasnam Diya Singh, David Friesen, and many more. With each successful event Montavilla Jazz has grown and expanded its programming centered on its mission to support local artists and build an audience for jazz.

The global pandemic and ensuing shutdown of almost all live music events has given festival organizers a chance to pause and reflect on how they will serve our community moving forward.

“We know that now more than ever Montavilla Jazz has a crucial role to play in helping to sustain Portland jazz by providing local artists with performance and teaching opportunities that pay well” says executive director, Neil Mattson. “Without a festival this year we feel it’s important to celebrate the good work we’ve done over the past half dozen years and give our community a chance to support some important projects we’ve got cooking for 2021!”

Festival Weekend Honored with Live-Streamed Benefit Concerts

In lieu of a 2020 festival, Montavilla Jazz is celebrating Portland jazz by hosting live-streamed concerts as a fundraiser for future programs and projects.

Let’s Celebrate Portland Jazz!
A benefit for Montavilla Jazz
Live-streamed by Left Door Streaming from The 1905
August 15 and 16, 2020, 5-7 p.m. both nights!

Integer Saturday, 8/15, 5 p.m.
https://www.facebook.com/events/692937427975401/

Integer is a Portland-based jazz trio led by composer and pianist Todd Marston, with bassist Andrew Jones and drummer Micah Hummel. Marston’s compositions are accessible, propelled by strong grooves, they juxtapose singable melodies with complex harmonic textures.

Ron Steen Trio Sunday, 8/16, 5pm
https://www.facebook.com/events/1430665090466026/

Ron Steen, who was recently honored as a Jazz Journalist Association 2020 Jazz Hero, is a local jazz legend. This concert will feature Ron Steen with pianist George Mitchell and bassist Perry Thoorsell.

“For the past 50 years, Steen has been a paragon of integrity and consistency in the Portland jazz community. As a jam session host, he is congenial and supportive, giving everyone a chance, at least once. As a bandleader and hired gun, he can rise to any creative challenge the music has to offer, with fierce intelligence and finely honed chops.”  —Rick Mitchell

OCF Covid Relief Fund Awarded to Expand Education Programs

Montavilla Jazz has received funding from Oregon Community Foundation’s Covid Relief Fund to continue their jazz education programs in Montavilla schools in 2020-21. The $7,000 grant will fully fund an expansion of Montavilla Jazz Artist-in-Residence adding a third school and reaching approximately three hundred 4th and 5th graders.

Montavilla Jazz Artist-in-Residence 2020-2021 will serve students at three Montavilla public schools (Bridger K-8, Vestal School, and Harrison Park) This program provides essential arts and culture experiences to children from historically marginalized communities in these underserved schools. By sharing the cultural heritage of jazz, Montavilla Jazz hopes to create a sense of belonging to a proud creative tradition, foster ownership of the artistic practices of that tradition, and share opportunities for inclusion in music and art making.

RACC Award Funds Montavilla Jazz Film Series

Very soon Montavilla Jazz will announce details about Montavilla Jazz Presents: The Portland Sound Film Series. The film series is partially funded by Regional Arts & Culture Council and features six Portland jazz artists in collaboration with five local filmmakers collaborating to create an original work filmed at unique locations within the Montavilla neighborhood and presented as a series of concert films for 2021 screenings.

Contact:

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  • For more information, please visit montavillajazz.org and www.facebook.com/montavillajazz

About Montavilla Jazz: The mission of Montavilla Jazz is to support and strengthen local music culture and enrich our community by showcasing the best of Portland jazz. Montavilla Jazz is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

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Mel Brown and Gordon Lee to Headline Sixth Annual Montavilla Jazz Festival August 17–18

Mel Brown and Gordon Lee to Headline Sixth Annual Montavilla Jazz Festival August 17–18

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Mel Brown and Gordon Lee to Headline Sixth Annual Montavilla Jazz Festival August 17–18

Montavilla Jazz Festival 2019 lineup and event details announced.

PORTLAND, Oregon, June 18, 2019Portland jazz icon Mel Brown and his musical collaborator of three decades, Gordon Lee, will headline Montavilla Jazz Festival 2019 running August 1718 at Portland Metro Arts, 9003 SE Stark, Portland, Oregon, 97216. For the sixth year, the nonprofit neighborhood festival features local jazz artists playing original music at the forefront of creative expression. This year, several extraordinary local musicians will perform new compositions and feature world-class musicians in their ensembles.

The complete festival lineup and schedule can be found at https://montavillajazz.org/.  Advance day passes and headliner tickets are available for  $15-30 at https://www.tickettomato.com.

The 2019 Montavilla Jazz Festival lineup includes:

  • Mel Brown and Gordon Lee with the Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble–A celebration of their thirty-three-year musical partnership, Mel Brown and Gordon Lee reunite to perform Lee’s original works arranged for this performance with the Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble.
  • Ezra Weiss Big Band: We Limit Not the Truth of God–The Ezra Weiss Big Band celebrates the release of their new album on Origin Records with this original suite of intensely personal reflections on the troubled world in which we live. 
  • CMG Sound Foundry presents Wayne Horvitz–Michael Gamble, the artistic head of Portland’s most adventurous musical organizations, Creative Music Guild, performs an improvised set in collaboration with award-winning pianist Wayne Horvitz.
  • Mel Brown B3 Organ Group–Portland music legend Mel Brown and his all-star B3 Organ Group have wowed Portland audiences for 23 years and counting with their unique combination of jazz, soul, and blues, performed with fire and spontaneity.
  • Bobby Torres Ensemble–“Latin jazz with enough flavor and spice to satisfy your body and soul’s need for rhythmic nourishment.” – The Oregonian.
  • Charlie Porter Quintet–One of Portland’s best-known artists outside of the local area performing new original music with an all-star cast. The Palm Beach Post says, “Porter’s excellent stylish playing draws you in; you hang on each note!”
  • Dana Reason: Torque Songs–A new work utilizing the concept of torque to create thematic and generative sonic rotations that move through “forgotten” voices.
  • Sherry Alves with George Colligan–Newest member of the Portland State University jazz faculty, vocalist Sherry Alves fronts a quartet powered by new music from keyboard virtuoso, George Colligan.
  • Bryan Smith: Let Me Take You There–A nature-inspired multimedia collaboration between composer/saxophonist Bryan Smith and poet/photographer Matt Spohn, aiming to bring awareness to the importance of environmental conservation.
  • Ian Christensen’s Rolling House–A brand-new group of stellar locals performing Christensen’s newest work as a composer.
  • Kathleen Hollingsworth: Mad Love–Best described as having “East Coast drive and West Coast soul.” The trio’s music is rooted in the jazz tradition yet playfully branches out into Americana, singer-songwriter, and Rhythm & Blues territory.
  • Kerry Politzer: Bossa PDX–Brazilian jazz inspired by the masters of bossa nova.

“We want the Montavilla neighborhood to be the epicenter of arts and culture in East 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 talented lineup and quality of the festival mean to our neighborhood and community.”

Montavilla Jazz Festival generates community support for jazz education.

Addressing a national trend of limiting funding for music and arts programs, festival organizers continue to work closely with the Montavilla business community. In 2015, in order to bolster music education in our schools, MJF created the Montavilla Schools Fund (MSMF). Four for years, MJF earmarked a portion of each ticket sold to this fund. Montavilla’s four neighborhood public schools had the opportunity to apply for grants funded by these proceeds. In four grant cycles, MJF has allocated $7,500 for music education in Montavilla schools.  

This year, MJF is redirecting efforts from the grant program to focus on developing jazz education initiatives in Montavilla schools. MJF recently completed its pilot program the Montavilla Jazz Artist-in-Residency at Vestal School, initiated by a 2018 MSMF grant. In the first months of 2019 Vestal students experienced how the sound and spirit of jazz are woven into the fabric of American life during six weeks with our Jazz Artist-in-Residence, Portland-based jazz saxophonist and educator, Mary-Sue Tobin.

Montavilla Jazz Festival is possible thanks to more than 30 dedicated, community-minded sponsors and partner organizations from Montavilla and beyond.

Dates and Location:

When: Saturday and Sunday, August 1718, 2019,
1:30-9:00 pm; Doors at 12:30 pm

Where: Portland Metro Arts, 9003 SE Stark, Portland, OR 97216

Day Passes: General admission and VIP day passes for both Saturday and Sunday are available for presale purchase at https://www.tickettomato.com/, and at the box office during festival hours on both days. Seating is limited, re-entry is not guaranteed, and no refunds are given. General Admission day passes are $15, VIP day passes are $30. 

Headliner Show Tickets: General admission and VIP tickets to both Saturday and Sunday headliner shows are available for presale purchase at  https://www.tickettomato.com/, and at the box office during festival hours on both days.

ADA Reservations: ADA reservations available upon request, please call (971) 220-6051.

Arts for All: Montavilla Jazz Festival is proud to offer Oregon Trail card-holders up to two (2) day passes for $5 each when they present their Oregon Trail card at the box office. MJF is proud to partner with the “Arts for All” program to introduce this new offering to the festival. Go to https://racc.org/artsforall/ to learn more about this program and to see a list of participating arts organizations.

Arts Card: Montavilla Jazz Festival is also proud to be an official Work For Art: Arts Card event! Arts Card-holders can get 2-for-1 MJF day passes. Go to https://workforart.org/ to learn more about this program and to see a list of participating arts organizations. 

Note: Arts for All and Arts Card discounts are available for general admission day passes and headliner show tickets only, and do not apply to VIP passes and headliner tickets.

Contact:

    .
  • For more information, please visit www.montavillajazzfest.com and www.facebook.com/montavillajazzfestival

About Montavilla Jazz Festival: The mission of Montavilla Jazz Festival is to support and strengthen local music culture and enrich our community by showcasing the best of Portland’s originally composed, progressive jazz. Montavilla Jazz Festival is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

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The 5th Anniversary Montavilla Jazz Festival Spotlights Musicians at Forefront of Portland’s Jazz Scene

The 5th Anniversary Montavilla Jazz Festival Spotlights Musicians at Forefront of Portland’s Jazz Scene

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The 5th Anniversary Montavilla Jazz Festival Spotlights Musicians at Forefront of Portland’s Jazz Scene

Explore new frontiers in jazz with the most innovative and influential local artists
August 18–19, 2018, at Portland Metro Arts, day passes $15

PORTLAND, Oregon—August 8, 2018—What is jazz? More importantly, where is it headed? At the Montavilla Jazz Festival (MJF), the future of the art form is at the forefront of the experience. With Portland artists from across the spectrum of expression, attendees will hear musical pioneers exploring new frontiers in jazz.

Now in its fifth year, MJF 2018 takes place at comfortably air-conditioned Portland Metro Arts, 9003 SE Stark Street, Portland, Oregon on August 18–19, 2018. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, MJF’s mission is to support local artists while creating an accessible cultural experience for all. The full festival lineup, schedule, and ticketing information is available at www.montavillajazzfest.com.

Festival Details

  • Location: Portland Metro Arts, 9003 SE Stark Street, Portland, Oregon, on August 18–19, 2018. Both days the doors and box office open at 1:00 pm, with the festival starting promptly at 1:30 p.m..
  • Day Passes: General admission day passes will be available for purchase only at the box office during festival hours. General Admission Day Passes are $15, and a portion of ticket sales benefit the Montavilla Schools Music Fund. Youth 12 and under are admitted free.
  • Presale Tickets: Limited Reserved ($25) and VIP Stageside tickets ($50) for individual concerts available for purchase online at: https://www.tickettomato.com/event_group/233/montavilla-jazz-festival-18
  • Limited Reserved and VIP Stageside tickets also provide General Admission access to all other shows on the same day.
  • Parking: To help meet our urban sustainability goals, attendees are encouraged to use public and alternative transportation options. On-street parking is available in the neighborhood surrounding Portland Metro Arts.

Montavilla Jazz Festival 2018 Features Local Artists with World-Class Talent

“The artists featured at this year’s festival are truly creating new frontiers in jazz,” said Ryan Meagher, programming director of MJF. “Our goal is to support local jazz artists and provide a wonderful cultural experience for the community while shining a light on the need for music education. With the support of the Montavilla community, donors, festival sponsors, and the work of many volunteers, we are honored to present a dynamic music festival that is as unique as the city of Portland.”

Several extraordinary local musicians will perform new compositions as well as host visiting world-class musicians in their ensembles at MJF 2018. Check out the full artist schedule below and visit montavillajazzfest.com for more information on the artists performing at MJF 2018.

Festival headliner, jazz pianist, Randy Porter has a refined understanding of improvisation and the spontaneous communication among musicians. Jazz writer and radio host Lynn Darroch stated, “Porter has built a reputation as a musician’s musician, a knowledgeable, inventive, and sophisticated player with a remarkable sense of time and gorgeous keyboard facility.”

Nominated for the 60th Grammy Awards, Porter’s recent release Porter Plays Porter with vocalist Nancy King is a mix of swing, harmony, and lyrical adventure. In the spirit of Cannonball Adderley and Nancy Wilson, King’s vocal stylings are interspersed with instrumental tracks featuring the Randy Porter Trio. John Wiitala on bass will be joined by guest Portland legend Alan Jones (replacing Todd Strait) on drums for Porter’s MJF 2018 performance.

Nancy King has been called everything from a “cult figure” and an “uncompromising artist” (Earshot Jazz) to “the greatest living jazz singer” (Herb Ellis). As one of the few improvisers in vocal jazz to master the vocabulary, King has “indefatigable scat chops and a remarkably elastic range” (the Oregonian).

Additionally, top artists on the Portland jazz scene will be performing throughout the festival. Highlights include Nicole Glover Quartet; Dmitri Matheny and Darrell Grant; Farnell Newton; and James Miley with the Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble (PJCE).

“Artistic expression is the foundation of a free-thinking and culturally rich society,” said Douglas Detrick, executive director of PJCE. “What we love about the Montavilla Jazz Festival is the encouragement from the community to take risks, explore new territories, and express ideas that can resonate across boundaries.”

PJCE will perform with award-winning composer James Miley and unveil his new composition, Watershed Suite. Miley’s new work honors Oregon’s diverse waterways, from the mighty Columbia to the serenity of Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge.

Schedule of Artists: Montavilla Jazz Festival 2018

Saturday, August 18, 2018 (doors open at 1:00 pm)

  • 1:30 p.m. – Shao Way Wu: Salting
    Lineup: Shao Way Wu, bass; Randy Porter, piano; Jason Palmer, drums.
  • 2:50 p.m. – George Colligan: Other Barry
    Lineup: George Colligan, keyboards; Enzo Irace, guitar; Micah Hummel, drums.
  • 4:10 p.m. – Ryan Meagher’s Evil Twin
    Lineup: Ryan Meagher and Mike Gamble, guitars; Tim Willcox, tenor sax; Lee Elderton, woodwinds; Charlie Doggett and Tim DuRoche, drums.
  • 5:30 p.m. – PJCE featuring James Miley: Watershed Suite
    Lineup: Ian Christensen, soprano sax; Idit Shner, alto sax, clarinet; Tim Willcox, tenor sax; Andy Rayborn, bari sax, bass clarinet; Thomas Barber, trumpet; Douglas Detrick, trumpet;  Matt Hettwer, trombone; Denzel Mendoza, trombone; James Miley, composition, piano; Ryan Meagher, guitar; Andrew Jones, bass; Jonas Oglesbee, drums.
  • 6:50 p.m. – Farnell Newton: Evolution
    Lineup: Farnell Newton, trumpet; Kyle Molitor, trombone; Charlie Brown III, piano; Peter Knudsen, bass; Tyrone Hendrix, drums.
  • 8:10 p.m. – Nicole Glover Quartet
    Lineup: Nicole Glover, tenor sax; George Colligan, piano; Jon Lakey, bass; Alan Jones, drums.

Sunday, August 19, 2018 (doors open at 1:00 pm)

  • 1:30 p.m. – Alan Jones: Social Music
    Lineup: Alan Jones, drums; Joe Manis, tenor sax; Randy Porter, piano; Jon Lakey, bass.
  • 2:50 p.m. – Christopher Brown: Art of the Dialog
    Lineup: Christopher Brown, drums; John Nastos, alto sax; George Colligan, piano; David Captein, bass.
  • 4:10 p.m. – Creative Music Guild: Sound Foundry
    Lineup: Jimmie Herrod, vocals; John Savage, reeds; Mike Gamble, guitar; Andrew Jones, bass; Chris Johnedis, drums.
  • 5:30 p.m. – Tim Willcox: Superjazzers
    Lineup: Tim Willcox, tenor sax; David Goldblatt, piano; Bill Athens, bass; Charlie Doggett, drums.
  • 6:50 p.m. – Dmitri Matheny and Darrell Grant
    Lineup: Dmitri Matheny, trumpet, Darrell Grant, piano; Eric Gruber, bass; Michael Raynor, drums.
  • 8:10 p.m. – Randy Porter Trio with Nancy King
    Lineup: Randy Porter, piano; Nancy King, vocals; John Wiitala, bass; Alan Jones, drums.

Back in 2018! Jazz Lounge & PROWUS Student Stage

With the support of our generous Jazz Lounge and Student Stage sponsors PROWUS, East Glisan Pizza Lounge, Montavilla Brew Works, and Teutonic Wine Company, Montavilla Jazz Festival 2018 is excited to present performances by talented rising young local musicians. Student performances will be scheduled throughout both days of the festival inside Portland Metro Arts in our air-conditioned Jazz Lounge!

Enjoy handcrafted pizza by East Glisan Pizza Lounge and award-winning beer brewed by Montavilla Brew Works while listening to the next generation of local jazz artists perform between Main Stage sets.

Beverages are permitted in the air-conditioned Main Stage theater performance space and the Jazz Lounge.

Saturday Night After-Hours Jam Session at East Glisan Pizza

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 (8/18) evening from 9:00 pm to midnight.

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 Lounge is located at 8001 NE Glisan Street, Portland, OR 97213.

Arts for All and Work for Art Programs Make the Festival Accessible to Everyone

As one of America’s original art forms, jazz music has a strong legacy of being created by the people, for the people. It is important for the Montavilla Jazz Festival to continue the tradition by helping to make the festival accessible to everyone.

The Montavilla Jazz Festival is proud to be a member of the Arts for All program, administered by the Regional Arts and Culture Council. Everyone enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is eligible to purchase up to two (2) Montavilla Jazz Festival passes for $5 per pass when they present their SNAP Oregon Trail Card at the box office.

Work for Art is a program of the Regional Arts & Culture Council serving the Portland, Oregon metropolitan region. Work for Art’s Arts cardholders can get 2-for-1 General Admission Passes (subject to availability).

TICKETS: Passes at the box office during festival hours with Arts Card and Photo ID. Re-entry is not guaranteed. No refunds.

Community Support for Arts and Education

We are delighted that Montavilla/East Tabor Business Association is a lead sponsor of Montavilla Jazz Festival 2018. 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. We thank the Montavilla business community for their support, along with more than 75 sponsors of the festival, including our lead partners, KMHD Jazz Radio (89.1 FM), The Skanner, Montavilla/East Tabor Business Association, and our Main Stage sponsors, Portland Piano Company, Sound Doctor PDX, and Revival Drum Shop.

In addition to an incredible lineup of emcees to support the event onsite, we are honored to have former NAACP Portland Branch president, Jo Ann Hardesty; Oregon House Member, Representative Alissa Keny-Guyer; Matt Fleeger, Programming Director, KMHD Jazz Radio (89.1 FM); and Stephen Rice, President, Montavilla/East Tabor Business Association, join us at the festival as special guest speakers. The broad support from both the public and private sector, along with individual donors, volunteers, sponsors, and partners is a strong indication of the overwhelmingly positive support and sense of community in East Portland.

Get Involved and Stay Connected

If you are interested in getting involved in the festival for sponsorship or volunteer opportunities, please use the contact information listed below. A healthy artistic community creates a vibrant and open society. Please join us at the festival and support local jazz!

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  • For more information: www.montavillajazzfest.com and www.facebook.com/montavillajazzfestival.
  • Purchase Limited Reserved and VIP Stageside tickets: https://www.tickettomato.com/event_group/233/montavilla-jazz-festival-18

About Montavilla Jazz Festival

The Montavilla Jazz Festival is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports and strengthens local music culture and enriches the community by showcasing the best of Portland’s originally composed, progressive jazz.

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Randy Porter Trio with Nancy King to Headline Fifth Anniversary Montavilla Jazz Festival August 18–19

Randy Porter Trio with Nancy King to Headline Fifth Anniversary Montavilla Jazz Festival August 18–19

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Randy Porter Trio with Nancy King to Headline Fifth Anniversary Montavilla Jazz Festival August 18–19

Montavilla Jazz Festival 2018 lineup and event details announced.

PORTLAND, Oregon, May 29, 2018Grammy-nominated pianist Randy Porter will headline Montavilla Jazz Festival 2018 running August 18-19 at Portland Metro Arts, 9003 SE Stark, Portland, Oregon, 97216. In its fifth anniversary, the nonprofit neighborhood festival features local jazz artists on the forefront of creative expression. This year, several extraordinary local musicians will perform new compositions and feature world-class musicians in their ensembles.

The complete festival lineup and schedule can be found at https://montavillajazz.org/. A limited number of reserved seating and VIP tickets can be purchased in advance at https://www.tickettomato.com, and general admission day passes will be sold at the door during the festival.

The 2018 Montavilla Jazz Festival lineup includes:

  • Randy Porter Trio with Nancy King–Portland jazz master Randy Porter performs music from his Grammy-nominated album Porter Plays Porter, featuring Nancy King, and new music created for this MJF 2018 set.
  • Nicole Glover Quartet–This New York City rising star and Portland hometown hero returns to perform an energetic acoustic set with Portland jazz masters.
  • Dmitri Matheny and Darrell Grant–Longtime duo partners Dmitri Matheny and Darrell Grant lead an all-star quartet in a performance of new chamber jazz works.
  • Farnell Newton | Evolution–Revitalizing jazz, funk, and soul with a new twist, Farnell Newton has been stirring up a ton of noise in the Northwest music scene.
  • PJCE feat. James Miley | Watershed Suite–In a new suite, renowned composer James Miley honors Oregon’s diverse waterways, from the mighty Columbia to the serenity of Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge.
  • Tim Willcox | Superjazzers–Tim Willcox’s saxophone sings and, at times, broods passionately and inventively in the vein of Jan Garbarek, as well as modern master Rick Margitza.
  • George Colligan | Other Barry–Downbeat Poll-winning pianist and Portland State professor George Colligan leads a powerhouse fusion trio and unleashes a new release on PJCE Records.
  • Christopher Brown | Art of the Dialog–The busiest jazz group in Portland performs for the first time at Montavilla Jazz Festival, presenting a set that explores the dialogue between artist and audience.
  • Creative Music Guild | Sound Foundry–One of Portland’s most adventurous musical organizations hosts an improvised set with top-flight instrumentalists.
  • Alan Jones | Social Music–Alan Jones’s Social Music aims to create a refreshing atmosphere of relaxed comradery, with music that is accessible and engaging for audiences.
  • Ryan Meagher’s Evil Twin–Acclaimed for his compositional acumen, Ryan Meagher and his double trio spontaneously compose a set and celebrate their newest release.
  • Shao Way Wu | SaltingPortland bassist Shao Way Wu’s collaborative project, Salting, features Randy Porter, and Jason Palmer, performing new compositions that examine the role of truth in today’s society.

 

“We want the Montavilla neighborhood to be the epicenter of arts and culture in East 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 talented lineup and quality of the festival mean to our neighborhood and community.”

Festival headliner jazz pianist Randy Porter has a refined understanding of improvisation and the spontaneous communication among musicians. Lynn Darroch of the Oregonian has stated, “Porter has built a reputation as a musician’s musician, a knowledgeable, inventive, and sophisticated player with a remarkable sense of time and gorgeous keyboard facility.”

Nominated for the 60th Grammy Awards, Porter’s recent release Porter Plays Porter with Nancy King is a mix of swing, harmony, and lyrical adventure. In the spirit of Cannonball Adderley and Nancy Wilson, King’s vocal stylings are interspersed with instrumental tracks featuring the Randy Porter Trio. John Wiitala on bass and Todd Strait on drums bring their wonderful swing, skill set, and intuition.

Nancy King has been called everything from a “cult figure” and an “uncompromising artist” (Earshot Jazz) to “the greatest living jazz singer” (Herb Ellis). As one of the few improvisers in vocal jazz to master the vocabulary, King has “indefatigable scat chops and a remarkably elastic range” (the Oregonian).

Porter currently performs with Charles McPherson, Madeline Eastman, the New York Voices, Rebecca Kilgore, and Nancy King. Bassist David Friesen’s 2001 Trio CD, Name of a Woman, received 4 stars from Downbeat in June 2002 and featured Porter as pianist and composer.

Additional artists will 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.

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 $2,500 split between Bridger, Creative Science, Harrison Park, and Vestal schools, made possible with proceeds from 2017 festival ticket sales.

Montavilla Jazz Festival is possible thanks to an array of dedicated, community-minded sponsors and partner organizations, from Montavilla and beyond. These include the following MJF 2018 partners: Academy Theater, Adore Wedding Films, Advantage Tax & Accounting, Bipartisan Cafe, Brownstein Rask, BusinessWorks, Catalinbread, City Beautiful Design, Cravedog, East Glisan Pizza Lounge, East Side Printing Co., Eastside Distilling, Hawthorne Dental, Hungry Heart PDX, Kathryn Elsesser Photography, KB Custom Framing, Kirsch Drums, KMHD Jazz Radio, Kristin Thiel Editing, Montavilla/East Tabor Business Association, Mr. Plywood, Music Millennium, Portland Community College Southeast Campus, Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble, Portland Metro Arts, Portland Piano Company, PROWUS (Portland Rock On With Us) , Recumbent PDX, Redwood, Sound Doctor PDX, Vespertine Works, Vino Veritas, Washman, among others.

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Dates and Location:

When:           Saturday and Sunday, August 1819, 2018

Where:         Portland Metro Arts, 9003 SE Stark, Portland, OR 97216

Day Passes: General admission day passes are available for purchase only at the box office during festival hours on both days. Seating is limited, re-entry is not guaranteed, and no refunds are given. Each day pass costs $15.

Reserved Seating: Limited Reserved and VIP tickets are available for individual concerts at https://www.tickettomato.com/.

ADA Reservations: ADA reservations available upon request, please call (971) 220-6051.

Arts for All: Montavilla Jazz Festival is proud to offer Oregon Trail card-holders the opportunity to purchase up to two (2) MJF day passes for $5 each when they present their Oregon Trail card at the MJF box office. MJF is proud to partner with the “Arts for All” program to introduce this new offering to the festival. Go to https://racc.org/artsforall/ to learn more about this program and to see a list of participating arts organizations.

Arts Card: Montavilla Jazz Festival is also proud to be an official Work For Art: Arts Card event! Arts Card holders can get 2-for-1 MJF day passes. Go to https://workforart.org/ to learn more about this program and to see a list of participating arts organizations.

Note: Arts for All and Arts Card discounts are available for general admission day passes only, and do not apply to Limited Reserved and VIP seating.

Contact:

    . .
  • For more information, please visit: www.montavillajazzfest.com and www.facebook.com/montavillajazzfestival.

About Montavilla Jazz Festival:

The mission of Montavilla Jazz Festival is to support and strengthen local music culture and enrich our community by showcasing the best of Portland’s originally composed, progressive jazz. Montavilla Jazz Festival is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

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Montavilla Jazz Festival Spotlights Musicians at Forefront of Portland’s Jazz Scene

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Montavilla Jazz Festival Spotlights Musicians at Forefront of Portland’s Jazz Scene

Explore new frontiers in jazz with top local artists, August 19–20, 2017, at air-conditioned Portland Metro Arts, day passes $15–30

PORTLAND, Oregon—August 9, 2017—What is jazz? More importantly, where is it headed? At the Montavilla Jazz Festival (MJF), the future of the artform is at the forefront of the experience. With Portland artists from across the spectrum of musical expression, attendees will hear from pioneers creating new frontiers in jazz.

Now in its fourth year, MJF 2017 will be hosted at Portland Metro Arts, 9003 SE Stark Street, Portland, Oregon, on August 19–20, 2017. As a newly formed 501(c)(3) nonprofit, MJF’s mission is to support local artists while creating an accessible cultural experience for all.

Festival Details

Montavilla welcomes the Portland community to the air-conditioned comfort of Portland Metro Arts for the Montavilla Jazz Festival 2017.

  • Location: Portland Metro Arts, 9003 SE Stark Street, Portland, Oregon, on August 19–20, 2017. Both days the doors and box office open at 1:00 pm, with the festival starting promptly at 2:00 pm.
  • Tickets: General admission day passes will be available for purchase only at the box office during festival hours. Passes are sold on a sliding scale $15–30, and a portion of ticket sales benefit the Montavilla Schools Music Fund. Youth 12 and under are admitted free.
  • Parking: To help meet our urban sustainability goals, attendees are encouraged to use public and alternative transportation options. On-street parking is available in the neighborhood surrounding Portland Metro Arts.

Montavilla Jazz Festival 2017 Features Local Artists with World-Class Talent

“The artists featured at this year’s festival are truly creating new frontiers in jazz,” said Ryan Meagher, programming director of MJF. “Our goal is to support local jazz artists and provide a wonderful cultural experience for the community while shining a light on the need for music education. With the support of the Montavilla community, Southeast Uplift, festival sponsors, and the work of many volunteers, we are honored to present a dynamic music festival that is as unique as the city of Portland.”

Several extraordinary local musicians will perform new compositions as well as host visiting world-class musicians in their ensembles at MJF 2017. Check out the full artist schedule below and visit www.montavillajazzfest.com for more information on the artists performing at MJF 2017.

This year, the festival will feature Portland native Essiet Okon Essiet, now one of New York’s busiest bassists. In his festival performance, Essiet leads his own group, IBO, a project that mixes jazz harmonies with West African rhythms featuring Sylvia Cuenca, Rob Scheps, Randy Porter, and John JB Butler.

Additionally, top artists on the Portland jazz scene will be performing throughout the festival. Highlights include Rich Halley 5 with Vinny Golia; Blue Cranes; David Friesen Quartet; and Jasnam Daya Singh with the Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble (PJCE).

“Artistic expression is the foundation of a free-thinking and culturally rich society,” said Douglas Detrick, executive director of PJCE. “What we love about the Montavilla Jazz Festival is the encouragement from the community to take risks, explore new territories, and express ideas that can resonate across boundaries.”

PJCE will perform with Brazilian-born pianist and composer Jasnam Daya Singh and unveil his new composition, Ektah: The Unity Project. This new music brings together jazz, classical, and Brazilian music influences to explore the idea that, in Singh’s words, “unity is not a luxury or something we concern ourselves with when everything else is taken care of. Rather, I want to think of this word and concept, Unity, as possibly one of the most needed things in our existence.”

Schedule of Artists: Montavilla Jazz Festival 2017

Saturday, August 19, 2017 (doors open at 1:00 pm)

Sunday, August 20, 2017 (doors open at 1:00 pm)

New in 2017! Jazz Lounge & PROWUS Student Stage

With the support of our generous Jazz Lounge and Student Stage sponsors PROWUS, Kirsch Drums, East Glisan Pizza Lounge, and Montavilla Brew Works, Montavilla Jazz Festival 2017 is excited to present performances by talented rising young local musicians. Student performances will be scheduled throughout both days of the festival inside Portland Metro Arts in our new air-conditioned Jazz Lounge!

Enjoy handcrafted Detroit pan (aka “square”) pizza by East Glisan Pizza Lounge and award-winning beer brewed by Montavilla Brew Works while listening to the next generation of local jazz artists perform between Main Stage sets.

Beverages are permitted in the air-conditioned theater performance space and Jazz Lounge.

Saturday Night After-Hours Jam Session at East Glisan Pizza

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 (8/19) evening from 9:00 pm to midnight.

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 Lounge is located at 8001 NE Glisan Street, Portland, OR 97213.

Arts for All Program Keeps the Festival Accessible to Everyone

As one of America’s original art forms, jazz music has a strong legacy of being created by the people, for the people. It is important for the Montavilla Jazz Festival to continue the tradition by helping to make the festival accessible to everyone.

The Montavilla Jazz Festival is proud to be a member of the Arts for All program, administered by the Regional Arts and Culture Council. Everyone enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is eligible to purchase up to two (2) Montavilla Jazz Festival passes for $5 per pass when they present their SNAP Oregon Trail Card at the box office.

Community Support for Arts and Education

We are delighted to announce that Montavilla/East Tabor Business Association is a lead sponsor of Montavilla Jazz Festival 2017. 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 thank the Montavilla business community for their support, along with more than 50 sponsors of the festival, including our lead media partner, KMHD Jazz Radio (89.1 FM), and our Main Stage sponsors, Audix Microphones, Portland Piano Company, Sound Doctor PDX, and Revival Drum Shop.

In addition to an incredible lineup of emcees to support the event onsite, we are honored to have Nick Fish, Commissioner, City of Portland; Matt Fleeger, Programming Director, KMHD Jazz Radio (89.1 FM); and Stephen Rice, President, Montavilla/East Tabor Business Association, join us at the festival as special guest speakers. 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 East Portland.

Get Involved and Stay Connected

If you are interested in getting involved in the festival for sponsorship or volunteer opportunities, please use the contact information listed below. A healthy artistic community creates a vibrant and open society. Please join us at the festival and support local jazz!

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  • For more information, please visit: www.montavillajazzfest.com and www.facebook.com/montavillajazzfestival.
  • RSVP at our Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/715804961949017/

About Montavilla Jazz Festival

The Montavilla Jazz Festival is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports and strengthens local music culture and enriches the community by showcasing the best of Portland’s originally composed, progressive jazz.

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Portland’s Essiet Okon Essiet to Headline Montavilla Jazz Festival August 19–20, 2017

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:

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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.

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