FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kerry Politzer to Headline Ninth Annual Montavilla Jazz Festival August 19–21
Montavilla Jazz Festival returns as a three-day event spanning four venues and 12 new jazz concerts by local artists.
PORTLAND, OR—After creating spaces for jazz around the city throughout the pandemic —on the big screen, in parks, on the playground, and in driveways—Portland’s Montavilla Jazz Festival 2022 returns for its ninth season August 19–21 with concerts by an array of emerging and established local artists at Portland Metro Arts and expands its footprint to four venues across the city. Pianist/composer Kerry Politzer headlines the festival with LA-based guest trumpeter Alex Norris joining her Quintet Sunday, August 21, and Saturday night adventurous saxophonist Rich Halley is joined by NYC’s Matthew Shipp Trio. This year, Montavilla Jazz Festival includes two late-night sets at The 1905 and presents at Alberta Rose Theatre, kicking off the festival with Portland Jazz Composer Ensemble’s The Heroine’s Journey, a double-bill of newly commissioned works from veteran vocalist Marilyn Keller and alt-jazz singer-songwriter Rebecca Sanborn.
DATES: Friday, August 19–Sunday, August 21, 2022
LOCATIONS: Alberta Rose Theatre (3000 NE Alberta St, Portland, OR 97211)
Friday, August 19 ONLY 8PM
Portland Metro Arts (9003 SE Stark St, Portland, OR 97216)
Saturday, August 20 & Sunday, August 21, 2022, 2PM, 5PM, and 8PM
The six concerts at Portland Metro Arts will also be live-streamed.
The 1905 (830 N Shaver St, Portland, OR 97227)
Friday, August 19 & Saturday, August 20, 2022, 11:30PM
Vino Veritas Wine Bar and Bottle Shop (7835 SE Stark St, Portland, OR 97215)
Friday, August 19–Sunday, August 21, 2022, 6PM
TICKETS: $5-35 per concert with discounts for advance purchases, students, and Arts for All available for some concerts. Limited day passes for Saturday and Sunday performances at Portland Metro Arts for $50-60 and full festival passes for $155-185 are available.
Find ticket details and information at https://www.tickettomato.com/event_group/338/montavilla-jazz-festival-22
The 2022 Montavilla Jazz Festival features debuts as bandleaders by Marilyn Keller, Barra Brown, James Powers, Noah Simpson, and Andrew Oliver. Festival events include:
- PJCE’s The Heroine’s Journey Feat. Marilyn Keller with Darrell Grant and Rebecca Sanborn
Friday, August 19, 2022, 8PM – Alberta Rose Theatre – Tickets $5-35
Lyricists and songwriters Sanborn and Keller each debut their new songs honoring the power of dreams to change our waking lives, performed with Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble. - George Colligan and Jazz Millenium
Friday, August 19, 2022, 11:30PM – The 1905 – Tickets $15-20
Virtuoso multi-instrumentalist and mentor George Colligan showcases four young Portland jazz artists. - Tunnel Six performs the Columbia River Suite
Saturday, August 20, 2022, 2PM – Portland Metro Arts – Tickets $5-20
A musical pilgrimage following the Columbia River’s winding banks is the creative framework for this suite for sextet and spoken word. - Idit Shner and Mhondoro
Saturday, August 20, 2022, 5PM – Portland Metro Arts – Tickets $5-20
Mhonodoro, meaning the lion spirit in Shona, a language of Zimbabwe, formed spontaneously, melding Zimbabwean folk and American jazz traditions. - Rich Halley with Matthew Shipp Trio
Saturday, August 20, 2022, 8PM – Portland Metro Arts – Tickets $5-30
Dynamic tenor saxophonist Rich Halley performs in-the-moment improvisations with the New York City-based Matthew Shipp Trio to create a powerful emotional experience. - Barra Brown Quintet
Saturday, August 20, 2022, 11:30PM – The 1905 – Tickets $15-20
A rare performance by drummer/composer Barra Brown’s melody-driven improvisational ensemble of inventive original music. - 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. - Noah Simpson Quartet
Sunday, August 21, 2022, 5PM – Portland Metro Arts – Tickets $5-20
Noah Simpson’s energetic, attentive, and dynamic quartet strives to create forward thinking music rooted in Jazz. - Kerry Politzer Quintet featuring Alex Norris
Sunday, August 21, 2022, 8PM – Portland Metro Arts – Ticket $5-30
2022 Festival Headliner, pianist/composer Kerry Politzer premieres original music from her album, In a Heartbeat, coming out this fall on PJCE Records. - MJF Student Stage
Friday, August 19–Sunday, August 21, 2022, 6PM – Vino Veritas Wine Bar and Bottle Shop – FREE
Breakout university students take center stage.
“Montavilla [Jazz] is doing so much for the music right now, really cultivating that community-driven aspect,” 2019 Festival artist Charlie Porter told NPR’s Jazz Night in America. “There are so many crushing musicians in Portland, and they should have more opportunities to play… It’s a problem of having a place for them to go do it.” Executive Director Neil Mattson shares, “Montavilla Jazz has been focused on turning the ‘issue’ of venues into an opportunity to look at spaces creatively. If people haven’t been to the festival before, they may be surprised at the high-quality, intimate venues right here in Montavilla. Portland has an embarrassment of riches: world-class jazz from straight-ahead to out, right outside your front door, and we’re proud to be creating space and a platform for these artists.”
Find the complete festival lineup and schedule at https://montavillajazz.org/.
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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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