April 20, 2016
Page 15
Exploring ‘Jazz Town’
C ontinued froM P age 2
gon Experience half-hour docu-
mentary “Jazz Town” examines
the eruption of music and nightlife
in black clubs of north and north-
east Portland in the 1940s and
50s. A signiicant chapter in the
city’s cultural narrative, this short-
lived period is largely unknown to
many Oregonians.
World War II brought a great
wave of workers and their fam-
ilies from across the country to
work in the shipyards of Portland.
During this time, the city’s Afri-
can-American population grew
from 2,000 to nearly 22,000.
Many individuals moved into
Vanport, a large tract of wartime
housing built just north of Port-
land. Most of those not living in
Vanport crowded into Portland’s
Albina District.
Many of the newcomers came
with a shared passion for rhythm
and blues and contemporary,
danceable jazz, but their options
for entertainment were limited.
Segregation was permitted by
law, and Portland offered few
venues for African-Americans to
perform or to listen to music.
As the population in the Al-
bina neighborhood swelled, the
music scene intensiied. Some of
the country’s most famous jazz
players—who may have passed
by Portland in earlier years—
began to make it a destination.
Duke Ellington, Louis Arm-
strong, Wardell Gray and Lionel
Hampton became frequent visi-
tors, and pianists Warren Bracken
and Frank Martin even moved to
the city.
Additionally, Portland pro-
duced many of its own home-
grown artists who developed
at what one of them called the
“University of Williams Avenue”
and would go on to ind national
and international fame. This in-
cludes Floyd Standifer, who grew
up outside of Gresham on a farm,
trumpeter Carl Hilding “Doc”
Severinsen from Arlington, sax-
ophone player Jim Pepper and
drummer Mel Brown.
Presented largely through irst-
hand accounts from local resi-
dents, “Jazz Town” showcases
the music and the parade of musi-
cians that helped to put Portland
on the jazz map. The program
also tells the story of a margin-
alized community born of racial
discrimination that proceeded to
thrive during that time.
OPB is also hosting a free,
public screening of “Jazz Town”
on Thursday, April 21 at the Port-
land Community College Cas-
cade Campus in north Portland.
The event begins at 7 p.m.
“Jazz Town” airs Monday,
April 25 at 9 p.m. on OPB TV
and is available to watch online
now at opb.org/jazztown.
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C alendar
April 2016
MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY
11
12
13
14
President Johnson
signs the Civil
Rights Act, 1964
(1964)
18
Paul Revere’s
Famous Ride (1775)
Great San Francisco
Earthquake In
1906.
Pet Owner’s Day
Space Shuttle
Columbia First
Launched Crewed
by John Young and
Robert Crippen -
1981
19
Humorous Day
Revolutionary War
began (1775)
25
26
Anzac Day (Australia,
New Zealand)
Hubble Telescope
launched, 1990
World Penguin Day
Hug a Friend Day
National Pretzel Day
Seismologist Charles
Richter born, 1900
3rd President
Thomas Jefferson
born, 1743
Lee Bennett Hopkins
born, 1938
Webster’s Dictionary
Published, 1828
Titanic Struck sank
at 2:20 AM on
April 15.
20
21
Scientists Marie &
Pierre Curie isolate
radium (1902)
27
Administrative
Professionals/
Secretaries Day
Tell a Story Day
Kindergarten Day
Barbara Park born,
1947
28
Take Our Daughters
and Sons to
Work Day
Take your Daughter
to Work Day
FRIDAY SATURDAY
15
16
Income Tax Day
Artist/Inventor
Leonardo Da Vinci
born, 1452
22
Earth Day
established 1970
Girl Scout Leader
Appreciation Day
29
Arbor Day
Zipper Day
(patented by
Gideon Sundback
in 1913)
Garth Williams
born, 1912
Aviator Wilbur
Wright born, 1867
23
Passover Begins
at Sundown
William Shakespeare
born, 1564
30
National Honesty
Day
Anniversary
Louisiana Purchase
completed (1803)
SUNDAY
17
Sherlock Hemlock’s
Birthday (Sesame
Street character)
24
Library of Congress
established (1800)
Pigs-in-a-Blanket
Day