by Neil Mattson | Jun 29, 2019 | Press |
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, 2019—Portland jazz icon Mel Brown and his musical collaborator of three decades, Gordon Lee, will headline Montavilla Jazz Festival 2019 running August 17–18 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 17–18, 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:
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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by Neil Mattson | Aug 7, 2018 | Press |
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!
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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by Neil Mattson | Aug 9, 2017 | Press |
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!
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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