PDX Jazz Festival: The Rough Guide
Navigating the 150+ different performances that make up the Portland Jazz Festival can be a mind-bending challenge. Fortunately for you, we’ve compiled this easy rough-guide to the festival. The following are our picks for some noteworthy, and off-the-beaten path performances. Whether you’re a fan of straight-ahead Jazz, funky stuff, vocals, or avant-garde – the festival has something for everyone!
Here are our picks:
-For Straight-ahead Jazz Fans
Mon, 2/20, 7:30 @ Jimmy Mak’s – Charles McPherson
Weds, 2/22, 8:30 @ Ivories – Chuck Israels plays Bill Evans
Fri, 2/24, 7:00 @ Newmark Theater – Roy Haynes Fountain of Youth Band
Sat, 2/25, 9:30 @ Art Bar – Upper Left Trio
Sun, 2/26, 3:00 @ Newmark Theater – Branford Marsalis + Joey Calderazzo
-For Fans of Funky Jazz
Fri, 2/17, 9:30 @ Nel Centro – Damian Erskine + Carlton Jackson
Sun, 2/19, 8:00 @ Blue Monk – The Quadraphonnes
Fri, 2/24, 9:30 @ Crystal Ballroom – Bill Frissell plays John Lennon
Sat, 2/25, 9:30 @ Chrystal Ballroom – Charlie Hunter + PDX Afrobeat Breakdown
-For adventurous fans
Sat, 2/18, 7:30 @ Winningstad Theater – Enrico Rava
Sun, 2/19, 7:00 @ Winningstad Theater – The Jazz Passengers
Thurs, 2/23, 8:00 @ Gallery 135 – Portland Jazz Composer’s Ensemble
Sat, 2/25, 3:00 @ Crystal Ballroom – Vijay Iyer + Tirtha
-For fans of Vocal Jazz
Thurs, 2/23, 7:00 @ Newmark Theater – Dee Dee Bridgewater
Sat, 2/25, 8:30 @ Touche – Kelley Shannon feat. Dick Birk
-For Free!
Sat, 2/18, 9:30 @ Art Bar – Better Homes and Gardens
Thurs, 2/23, 9:00 @ Rogue Brewery – Go by Train
Thurs, 2/23, 9:30 @ Art Bar – Rebecca Kilgore and Dave Frishberg
