Earshot Jazz :: Publication

Time doth swiftly fly, as evidenced by the fact that the Portland Jazz Festival (PDX Jazz) has been around for nearly a decade. To be exact, this month’s festival will mark the ninth year of existence for one of the Rose City’s most beloved music festivals. Jazz Master Wayne Shorter was the headline of the first festival in February 2004, and since then, PDX Jazz has presented many of the biggest names in jazz, including Ornette Coleman, Cecil Taylor, Sonny Rollins, Chick Corea, Charles Lloyd, Pat Metheny, Brad Mehldau, Randy Weston and Esperanza Spalding, to name just a few.

In 2008, PDX Jazz Founder and Artistic Director Bill Royston was nominated as Jazz Producer of the Year by Jazz Journalists Association. Despite its critical success and strong audience support, the festival almost did not happen in 2009 due to lack of sponsorship. Just in time, Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air stepped up in support, and the festival celebrated the 70th anniversary of the venerable Blue Note Records, featuring headliners McCoy Tyner, Bobby Hutcherson, Lou Donaldson, Jason Moran and Cassandra Wilson. In 2010, PDX Jazz focused on new Norwegian and Scandinavian music, and asked “Is Jazz dead, or has it moved to a new address?” Last year, the festival was themed “Bridges and Boundaries” and introduced a modern twist on the historical collaborations between African American and Jewish musicians.

But all that is jazz history, and now, on to this year’s festival. But first, it must be noted that Royston has retired as the festival’s artistic director, after a more than 40-year career in the performing arts that was highlighted by a 25-year run as a jazz presenter and festival producer. When he announced his retirement last May, he said: “In 2009, we confronted serious problems to PDX Jazz, and I’m especially proud of how we were able as a team to bring back the festival in 2010 and 2011 … I’m very excited for the future of Portland Jazz Festival under the capable hands and vision of Don Lucoff.”

Lucoff, who serves as the managing director of PDX Jazz, says that Royston has been a mentor and friend for over 20 years, since they first worked together in Pennsylvania on a festival in the Pocono Mountains. The festival seems to be thriving under Lucoff’s direction, once again featuring an impressive lineup in 2012. Officially called the 2012 US Bank Portland Jazz Festival presented by Alaska Airlines, concerts will be held Friday, February 17, through Sunday, February 26, at venues throughout Portland. The eleven-day festival will feature a series of performances by internationally recognized and Pacific Northwest musicians alongside jazz education and outreach events.

Lucoff notes, “The Earshot audience has been quite supportive of our festival and we share a kinship … in offering an eclectic mix of artists from around the world. This year is no different with the [Portland] debuts of trumpeter Enrico Rava and pianist Vijay Iyer.”

Seattle-based guitarist Bill Frisell will also headline this year’s festival. “We are excited about our Bill Frisell program titled ‘For Portland Only,’ where he will perform with four different configurations – solo, 858 Quartet and tributes to John Lennon, Speedy West and Jimmy Bryant. This will be the first time a U.S. festival has done this on behalf of Bill.”

Among this year’s other headliners are renowned saxophonist Branford Marsalis and the prolific pianist Joey Calderazzo, playing selections from their latest album, Songs of Mirth and Melancholy; the unstoppable, octogenarian drummer and NEA Jazz Master Roy Haynes; and Grammy-Award winning singer Dee Dee Bridgewater, who will perform the songs of Billie Holiday.

PDX Jazz will, surprisingly, mark the Portland debut for 86-year old Haynes. His performance is sure to be one of the highlights of the festival, but Lucoff emphasizes that PDX Jazz is also about showcasing some of the best artists who call the Rose City home. “We have local artists opening for headliners, such as Tony Pacini for Rava and Farnell Newton doing an Art Blakey Tribute opening for the Jazz Passengers,” Lucoff explains. “Thara Memory is our Portland Jazz Master this year, doing a tribute to Miles Davis, which is an exclusive program.”

This year’s festival also includes the Portland Jam Band Marathon, which will showcase the skills of guitarist Charlie Hunter in a solo performance that kicks off an evening devoted to regionally based jam bands. Composer and pianist Iyer will lead an ensemble called Tirtha, featuring India-based guitarist-composer Prasanna and tabla player Nitin Mitta. Tirtha’s East-meets-West program is titled “From New York to Tamil Nadu.” Later, Rava and his quintet Tribes will span the influential Italian trumpeter’s celebrated ECM recording legacy in a show entitled “A Jazz Pilgrim.” Not-to-be-missed for fan’s of New York’s new music scene is a performance by the Jazz Passengers of songs off their first album in 12 years, Reunion.

For the complete schedule and to purchase tickets, visit www.pdxjazz.com or call 503-228-JAZZ (5299).

Earshot Jazz is a Seattle based nonprofit music, arts and service organization formed in 1984 to support jazz and increase awareness in the community. Earshot Jazz publishes a monthly newsletter, presents creative music and educational programs, assists jazz artists, increases listenership, complements existing services and programs, and networks with the national and international jazz community.