James Powers Relativity Ensemble

Sunday, August 21, 2022, 2PM – Portland Metro Arts – Ticket $5-20

A genre-bending 13-piece instrumental ensemble, playing new compositions exploring social issues, Identity, science fiction, and modern myth.

Relativity: One thing is often given value by it’s relation to another. With his newest project, trombonist and composer James Powers seeks to bring together the seemingly disconnected and find commonality. Powers is a third generation musician who’s made his home in many styles of music, and has always sought to meld disparate influences together. This project attempts to bridge the gaps between influences like Sun Ra, Shostakovich, and Squarepusher, all being viewed through a modern improvisational, polyrhythmic lens. Joining him will be some of the Portland area’s finest young talent to bring life to compositions exploring social issues, Identity, science fiction and modern myth. In addition to this group, Powers’ playing and compositions can be heard on his record “Damnation of Memory” on PJCE records. He also regularly performs with the Gordon Lee Quintet, the Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble (PJCE), March Fourth, Buddy Jay’s Jamaican Jazz Band, The Frank Irwin Quintet, and with Jet Black Pearl, amongst many other projects.

Lineup: Chang Park, trumpet; Sunzen Anderson, French horn; James Powers, trombone; Chris Shuttleworth, tuba; David Floratos, soprano saxophone, clarinet; Reed Wallsmith, alto saxophone, flute; Wyck Malloy, tenor saxophone, flute; Andy Rayborn, baritone sax, bass clarinet; Matt Sazima, keyboards; Ryan Albert Miller, guitar; Garrett Baxter, bass;  Machado Mijiga, drums; Mike Lockwood, drums

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