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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 13, 2015)
Happy 30th, Jazz & Oysters “ In Ocean Park, Washington, it’s party hearty and all that jazz “Can you believe it? We’re celebrating 30 years of Jazz & Oyster’s remarkable music,” VDLGHYHQWRUJDQL]HU'LDQD7KRPSVRQUHÀHFWLQJ on three decades of the Water Music Festival’s annual music-and-food event. “The performanc- es, the verve, the people: It’s all a little bit mag- LFDO$QGLW¶VRQO\¿WWLQJWKDWZHFHOHEUDWHZLWK a big party.” Saturday, Aug. 15, this 30-year gem opens its gates around 11 a.m., and the joint — in this case DJUDVV\¿HOGV²JHWVMXPSLQJDWQRRQVZLQJ LQJERSSLQJDQGVZD\LQJXQWLOSP A long-running festival, Jazz & Oysters has DQHDV\JRLQJDSSURDFKWKDW¿WVULJKWLQZLWKWKH PHOORZDWWLWXGHRIODWHVXPPHU On an afternoon devoted to jazz, the scene is set on the Long Beach Peninsula: Wilson Field, located at 25600 Sandridge Road in Ocean Park, :DVKLQJWRQWREHSUHFLVH7D\ORU6HDIRRGZLOO deliver a couple hundred dozen local oysters. (Aptly, the 30th anniversary gemstone is the pearl.) More than 80 volunteers, many of them VHDVRQHGMD]]ORYLQJORQJWHUPHUVZLOOPDQDOO RI WKH YDULRXV WDEOHV WKH HQWU\ZD\ VRXYHQLUV tents, and liquid refreshment booths — for adults and kids. 2WKHUV ZLOO UDPS XS ZKDW FRXOG EH WKH ZRUOG¶VODUJHVWEDUEHFXHIRUPHUHYHQWRUJDQL]HU 5RQ%DOGZLQUHIHUVWRLWDVD³JULOOWKHVL]HRIDQ Oldsmobile.” As the bevy of oyster grill masters ZRUN WKHLU PDJLF DQ RWKHU JURXS ZLOO VHUYH XS D ZLGH VHOHFWLRQ of food, including the event’s legendary des- serts. The all-volunteer staff make this day hap- pen — remember to be extra nice to them. Jazz & Oysters is a IXQGUDLVHUWKDWEHQH¿WV the great and ongoing music programs in Long Beach Peninsula schools, a rarity today. 6SUHDG \RXU EODQNHWV VHW XS \RXU ODZQ chairs, slather on the sunscreen and adjust your visors. Syncopated drum roll please. Catch the rhythm. Tap your toes. Clap your hands. And if the spirit moves you, get up and dance. 5HQRZQHG 3RUWODQGEDVHG JURXS WKH 0HO ‘The performances, the verve, the people: It’s all a little bit magical.’ Submitted photo Geno Michaels & Soul City is a Pacifi c Northwest group that performs classic and neo-soul, R&B, funk and jazz, covering everything from Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye and Prince to Alicia Keys, Soulive, Ledisi and more. The group will perform during Jazz & Oysters. Submitted photo The Water Music Festival’s Jazz & Oysters event serves up Willapa Bay oysters as well as fruit and cheese plates and desserts. ducted into both the Oregon Music Hall of Fame and the Jazz Society of Oregon Hall of Fame. Submitted photo by Steve Korn Photography Submitted photo George Mitchell is on keyboards, and it’s Mi- The Dan Balmer Trio will perform at Jazz & Oysters. A versatile John Adams, who has been involved with Jazz & Oysters for 15 chael Raynor setting the pace on drums. performer, Balmber has done recording sessions in jazz, coun- years, runs the oyster cooking group. The music event serves up Tickets for Jazz & Oysters are $25 for adults try, rock and blues. Willapa Bay oysters as well as fruit and cheese plates and desserts. and $13 for ages 6 to 18. Budding jazz lovers 6 and under are free. A combination ticket for both %URZQ4XLQWHWNLFNVRIIWKHDIWHUQRRQZLWKERS 7KH FHOHEUDWLRQ FRQWLQXHV ZLWK WKH 'DQ the Jazz & Oysters and the Blues & Seafood ballads and blues. Formed in the fall of 2002 at %DOPHU 7ULR :LWK À\LQJ ¿QJHUV OHJHQGDU\ Festival, taking place Friday and Saturday in Il- Jimmy Mak’s jazz club, the group is a mainstay guitarist Balmer is the youngest person to be in- ZDFR:DVKLQJWRQLVDYDLODEOHIRU on the Portland scene. “If one had to choose a single musician to For tickets and further information go the watermusicfestival.com/jazz-and-oysters UHSUHVHQWWKHKLVWRU\RIMD]]LQ3RUWODQGLWZRXOG EHGUXPPHUDQGEDQGOHDGHU0HO%URZQ´ZULWHV 3RUWODQGMD]]FRPPHQWDWRUZULWHUDQGVWRU\WHOOHU Lynn Darroch in The Oregon Encyclopedia, part of the Oregon Historical Society’s Digital Histo- ry Projects. Next up: Geno Michaels and Soul City. This Portland group pours on the neo-soul, R&B, funk and, of course, jazz. ³,W¶VDOZD\VDEODVWZKHQ,JHWWRSOD\ZLWK Soul City,” said Anthony Jones, drummer for Pink Martini. “With band-leader Geno Michaels at the helm on keys, an outstanding rhythm sec- tion, a killer horn section and lead singers Gigi VISUAL ARTS • LITERATURE • THEATER • MUSIC & MORE :LJJLQVDQG$ORQ]R&KDGZLFNGULYLQJWKHVKLS you’ll be on your feet all night.” Story by MARILYN GILBAUGH the arts August 13, 2015 | coastweekend.com | 9