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!
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- For more information, please visit: www.montavillajazzfest.com and www.facebook.com/montavillajazzfestival.
- RSVP our Facebook event: www.facebook.com/events/1573249866303238/
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.
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George Colligan
Thomas Barber
Photo © Kathryn Elsesser Photography