February I7, 2 0 I0
71,1Portland Observer
Black History Month
Page 13
■ ■ '
One of the many top draw entertainers coming to the Portland
Jazz Festival this month is Pharoah Sanders, one of the most
distinctive tenor saxophone sounds in jazz.
/o programs,
events mark
annual festival
Dave Douglas and Brass Ecstasy give nod to the ever-evolving sprit of brass music with soul
inflected composition. The group will perform Sunday, Feb. 28 at 7:30 p.m. at the McMenamins
Crystal Ballroom, downtown.
m usicians and presents im agina­
tive work by regional composers.
Hie main festival weekend, Feb.
25-28, offers a chance for audi­
Church, file Portland Jazz Com ­ ences to experience a behind-the-
posers’ Ensemble, led by the eclec­ scene view of each headline art­
tic pianist Andrew Oliver, sup­ ist, hosted by local and regional
ports some o f Portland’s finest journalists, at the PCPA ArtBar,
Fills Calendar
schools.
Music from African rhythms
through gospel, ragtime, blues and
ultimately to jazz, the 60 minute
musical and theater piece was origi­
nally developed by Portland State
As a cultural, entertainment and University professor and pianist
educational event that celebrates Darrell Grant along with the Leroy
Black History Month, the 2010 Vinegar Jazz Institute.
Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air Port­
Over the past year, PDX Jazz has
land Jazz Festival presented by US presented nearly 200 free perfor­
Bank offers more than 75 programs mances showcasing regional jazz
and events throughout the Port­ artists at ongoing series including
land area during the last eight days PDXJazz@RiverPlace,PDXJazz@
in February.
the A rtB ar, and PDX Jazz @
With a Gospel Brunch on Sun­ RiverFest.
day, Feb. 21; the Incredible Jour­
A number o f free performances
ney o f Jazz in m iddle schools dur­ will be presented throughout the
ing the week, local perform ances week and during the Portland Jazz
at venues throughout Portland, Festival at both traditional and non-
the PDX Jazz Student Stage, and traditional venues. In the “free” cat­
intimate artist Jazz Conversations, egory, Midnight Jam Sessions be­
the festival brings jazz to new gin at 11:59 p.m. on Friday and Sat­
audiences and educates the next urday, Feb. 26 and 27.
generation o f jazz listeners, an
This year’s jam sessions take
integral part o f the PDX Jazz m is­ place at the Norse Hall Lounge.
sion.
Hosted by Darrell Grant, they fea­
The Gospel Brunch at 2 p.m. on ture a one-time mix o f Norwegian
Sunday, Feb. 21 kicks off the Port­ and Portland artists joined by na­
land Jazz Festival at Self Enhance­ tionally acclaimed artists.
ment, Inc., 3920 N. Kerby Ave., and
Wednesday, Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m.
features the SEI Sounds o f Soul brings one o f P ortland’s m ost ex­
Choir. Advanced reservations are citing larger ensem bles to the Old
strongly recommended.
A pproxim ately 2,000 students
will experience the Incredible Jour­
ney o f Jazz, a 60-m inute m usical
theater perform ance tracing A fri­
can Am erican history in tandem
Quayuana
w ith the evolution o f jazz. Pre­
Washington
sented by the Portland Trail Blaz­
from your
ers and the Am erican Federation
of M usicians, these perform ances
family.
take place in celebration o f Black
We love you.
H istory M onth at area m iddle
Happy
B-Day
I I I 1 S.W. Broadway.
fo ra full schedule ofcom m unity
events, visit pdxjazz.com. Ticket
prices range from $2O-$5() at all
I icketmaster locations or from the
PDX Jazz box office. Formore infor­
mation go to pdxjazz.com or call 503-
228-JAZZ(5299).
CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH
u u iu p cici ivincs uavis is renowned as one ot the most important musicians o f
the 20th Century. Davis was at the forefront o f several major developments in
post-war jazz: his 1957 album 'The Birth O f The Cool" started cool jazz and his
1959 album. Kind O f Blue' broke all the rules o f the predominant bebop style by
introducing modal jazz. In A Silent Way, Bitches Brew and A Tribute To Jack
Johnson were instrumental in the development o f jazz-fusion.
Taj Mahal - The Essential Taj Mahal
BI.
ON SALE $13.99 2CD
One of the most prominent figures in late 20th century blues, singer/multi-
instrumentalist Taj Mahal played an enormous role in revitalizing and preserving
traditional acoustic blues. Not content to stay within that realm, Mahal soon
broadened his approach, taking a musicologist's interest in a multitude of folk and
roots music from around the world - reggae and other Caribbean folk, jazz,
gospel, R&B, zydeco, various West African styles, Latin, even Hawaiian’
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Earth Wind & Fire - Greatest Hits
ON SALE $8.99 CD
Earth, Wind & Fire were a 70’s funk band from Chicago led by drummer and
songwriter Maurice White. They released several albums o f tight horn-led funk in
the early 70s with limited commercial success. Their big breakthrough came in 191
when 'That's the Way o f the World' turned Earth Wind & Fire into simerstars
Robert Johnson - The Complete Recordings
ON SALE $13.99 2CD
One o f the greatest blues artists o f all time, the legendary Robert Johnson
recorded only enough music to fit onto two CDs. After his death at the age of
27 in 1938, Johnson had only 42 tracks in total, if you include alternate takes,
under his belt. But those records would go on to influence the world o f blues
and rock & roll like no other recordings and become an essential influence to
Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, and Keith Richards (to name just three)
OFFER GOOD
THRU: 2/28/10
MUSIC
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32nd & E. Burnside
503-231-8926
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