Montavilla Jazz’s 2025 Nick Fish Jazz Community Awardee
Nick Gefroh has been a prevailing presence in our beloved community since high school, playing drums with the Journal Junior Traveling Troupe. Feasting on the music of Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, Lester Young, and Oscar Peterson at Jazz at the Philharmonic here in Portland, secured his passion for Jazz. It was during high school that Nick and Jim Pepper were introduced by their parents. Pretty much inseparable for the next several years, they frequented the jazz clubs up and down Williams Avenue, where Nick said, “We really learned to play.” He was always attracted to Latin music, listening to Mongo Santamaria, Tito Puente, and Cal Tjader. His move with Pepper to New York City in the 60s exposed him to even more. Rooming with Puerto Rican musicians, he was immersed in live Latin music while also hanging with Larry Coryell, Bob Moses, and Richie Havens.
After returning to Portland in the 70s, Nick is credited with starting the first Latin Jazz band in Portland, Pa’lante, which means “Straight Ahead! Onward!” Pa’lante’s first gig opened for Mongo Santamaria at Key Largo, then for Tito Puente at the World Music Festival. The Nick and Molly show on KBOO, with a wide range of Latin music, ran for 30 years while also hosting Monday Night Descarga on KMHD for many years. Now, alternating on Wednesdays, Nick partners from noon to 2 pm with his daughter, jazz singer Anandi, on KBOO to present Jazz Lives! Nick is featured in Salsa Music in the Pacific NW: A Collective Memoir by Oswaldo Lucca.
Read more about the Nick Fish Jazz Community Award here.
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