July 16, 2014
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Vancouver
East County
Beaverton
Alberta
North Portland
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JR
Cathedral Parklazz
Free festival to
kick off 34th year
One o f Portland most beloved jazz and blues festi
vals is marking its return this weekend thanks to the
Jazz Society of Oregon. The 34th annual Cathedral
Park Jazz Festival will take place Friday, July 18
through Sunday, July 20 in Cathedral Park under the St.
Johns Bridge.
The north Portland event is the longest-running free
jazz/blues festival west of the Mississippi. Hours of
operation are 5 p.m. to 10p.m. on Friday; and 12-noon
to 10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
For some time, the fate of the Cathedral Park Jazz Fest
has been in question. This year, the Jazz Society of
Oregon took over the production under the leadership of the Soul Funk Project; The Lily Wilde Orchestra; and
Jazz Society organizer and board member Arthur Marx. the Art Abrams Swing Machine.
A committee composed of representatives of differ
Along with the festival renaissance is a new user-
ent community organizations were able to raise the friendly festival layout. To provide more seating room
needed sponsorships which include Schnitzer Steel, in the amphitheater “bowl”, the food and merchant
The Tire Factory, WasteXpress Environmental, Or booths will be situated on Crawford Street at the foot
egonians Credit Union, Port of Portland, University of of the park. This new design allows more room to lay
Portland, US Bank, Burgerville, S & H Recycling,
out your blankets and set up a comfortable “camp” for
Tonkin Corp, and many others, Marx said.
the weekend.
The next monumental task was to secure the talent
There will also be more room under the bridge to
for the festival. Renowned sax player and educator toss the Frisbee, play games with the kids, for relaxing
Mary-Sue Tobin (The Quadraphonnes) helped make meditation to the sound of blues and jazz in the back
the arrangements for nearly 100 players to attend this ground, or for just catching some sun.
year’s festival.
The festival has also secured a variety of local craft
The lineup includes Mel Brown and his septet; beer and cider brewers as well as several excellent
W aterfront Blues Festival favorite DK Stewart; wineries to quench your thirst.
Michael Quinby and his band the Roseland Hunters; •
For more information and a complete Cathedral
celebrated bassist Tom Wakeling; Famell Newton and
Park Jazz Festival lineup, visit cpjazz.com.