JANUARY 11, 2018 // 7
Take to the Forrest at Fort George Jazz up your
night at KALA
ASTORIA — An American For-
rest — a storyteller and guitar
picker from the conifer forests
of Northeastern Oregon and
Western Washington — will
play Fort George 8 p.m. Sun-
day, Jan. 14. There is no cover
for this all-ages show.
The songs of An American
Forrest pull inspiration from
four years of living out of a
truck, backpack and on horse-
back. He released two EPs in
2013, a debut LP in 2015 and
has toured the Western U.S.
extensively, playing with BJ
Barham of American Aquarium,
John Craigie and Bart Budwig.
His poetic songwriting and
loose, wild, flat- and fin-
ger-picked acoustic guitar play-
ing have drawn comparisons
to Townes Van Zandt, Jeffrey
Foucault and Dave Rawlings.
“Boldly sung poetry takes on
every color of the roots/country
spectrum, from Appalachian
arrangements to Pacific North-
western sweetness and a pinch
of Southern grit,” Seattle’s City
Arts Magazine wrote of An
American Forrest.
COURTESY BRIAN BOVENIZER
An American Forrest
ASTORIA — KALA wel-
comes pianist and compos-
er Chris Parker on Friday,
Jan 12. Doors open at 7:30
p.m.; the show begins at
8 p.m. Tickets are $16
(buying them in advance is
suggested).
Cocktails are available
before and during the
show. Attendees must be
21 and older.
Originally from Port-
land, Parker is a professor
of music and head of the
jazz studies at SUNY Or-
ange College in New York.
In the late 1970s and
early 80s, he made Oregon
his home, where he taught
music at Clatsop Commu-
nity College and provided
live jazz to the region.
The KALA event in-
cludes Tim Willcox on sax-
ophone, Damien Erskine
on bass and Jason Palmer
on drums — all premier
Northwest jazz artists.
Parker has two CDs out
on the OA2 label: “Late
in Lisbon” and the latest
release, “Full Circle,”
which features the unusual
frontline of saxophone and
violin. The albums are an
exciting mix of Parker’s
original jazz composi-
tions ranging in style
from burning Latin and to
funky tunes and laid-back
ballads.
Parker fronts his own
group on the East Coast.
Contemporary jazz icons
Randy Brecker, Bob
Mintzer, Chris Vadala and
Lyn Seaton have all per-
formed with Parker’s band.
KALA (1017 Marine
Drive) provides caba-
ret-style seating with
excellent acoustics and
sound for an intimate and
dynamic music experi-
ence.
Live music returns to the Labor Temple
ASTORIA — The Labor
Temple Diner & Bar wel-
comes Super Giant Lizard, a
surf and blues rock trio from
Portland, 10 p.m. Saturday,
Jan. 13. There is no cover, but
only people 21 and older with
a valid ID may attend.
New Labor Temple owners
Terry and Todd Robinett
promise to bring in live music,
deejays, variety shows, come-
dy and start things off Saturday
with Super Giant Lizard.
Boasting an authentic 60s
sound and featuring Eddie Per-
kins on guitar, Amber Brown
on bass guitar and Michael
Linsmeier on drums, Super
Giant Lizard covers tunes from
the late 1950s and early 60s.
The Labor Temple is locat-
ed at 934 Duane St.
OWEN CAREY PHOTO
FACEBOOK.COM
Chris Parker, a composer and pianist