• Immanuel Wilkins

    The Jack London Revue, 529 SW 4th Ave, Portland, OR 97204, USA

    The music of saxophonist and composer Immanuel Wilkins is filled with empathy and conviction, bonding arcs of melody and lamentation to pluming gestures of space and breath. Listeners were introduced to this riveting sound with his acclaimed debut album Omega, which was named the #1 Jazz Album of 2020 by The New York Times. The album also introduced his remarkable quartet with Micah Thomas on piano, Daryl Johns on bass, and Kweku Sumbry on drums, a tight-knit unit that Wilkins features once again on his stunning sophomore album The 7th Hand.

    The 7th Hand explores relationships between presence and nothingness across an hour-long suite comprised of seven movements. “I wanted to write a preparatory piece for my quartet to become vessels by the end of the piece, fully,” says the Brooklyn-based, Philadelphia-raised artist who Pitchfork said “composes ocean-deep jazz epics.”

    Conceptually, the record evolves what Wilkins begins exploring on Omega, which included a four-part suite within the album. On The 7th Hand, all his compositions represent movements, played in succession. “They deal with cells and source material like a suite would,” says Wilkins, “but they function as songs, as well.”

     While writing, Wilkins began viewing each movement as a gesture bringing his quartet closer to complete vesselhood, where the music would be entirely improvised, channeled collectively. “It’s the idea of being a conduit for the music as a higher power that actually influences what we’re playing,” he says. The 7th Hand derives its title from a question steeped in Biblical symbolism: If the number 6 represents the extent of human possibility, Wilkins wondered what it would mean — how it would sound — to invoke divine intervention and allow that seventh element to possess his quartet.  

    Wilkins often draws inspiration from critical thought. Even the striking album artwork challenges convention: “I wanted to remix the Southern Black baptism, and also provide critique on what is considered sanctified and who can be baptized.”


    Tickets available here.

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  • Mel Brown B3 Organ Group

    The 1905, 830 N Shaver St, Portland, OR 97227, USA

    Renato Caranto, Tenor Saxophone
    Dan Balmer, Guitar
    Louis "King Louis" Pain, Hammond B3
    Mel Brown, Drums

    "If this band appeared in New York City, they'd be a sensation!" That was guitar great--and one-time Mel Brown bandmate-- George Benson's reaction after hearing the Mel Brown B-3 Organ Group back in 2003.

    In fact, this true all-star band has been a sensation going back to 1997, when they began a 20-year run on Thursdays at Portland’s legendary “Jimmy Mak’s” music venue (The Oregonian dubbed them “Jimmy Mak’s signature group”).

    Two sets, 6:00 and 8:00
    Tickets available here.

  • Christopher Brown Quartet

    The 1905, 830 N Shaver St, Portland, OR 97227, USA

    John Nastos, Alto Saxophone
    Greg Goebel, Piano
    Garrett Baxter, Bass
    Christopher Brown, Drums

    7 and 9 pm shows.


    Tickets available here.

  • Warren Walker, (n)traverse w/ Sound Creation Trio

    The Jack London Revue, 529 SW 4th Ave, Portland, OR 97204, USA

    "Warren Walker does a great job, a mind-bending, eclectic, and challenging sonic stream that doesn’t contain even a shred of pretentiousness, but is full of creativity, individuality, expressivity, and outside of the box thinking". - Igloo 

    "Warren Walker has found a way to make music for music’s sake"-POP MATTERS]

     














    The Portland ensemble Sound Creation Trio is comprised of drummer Matt Mayhall, guitarist Mike Gamble, and bassist Andrew Jones. They explore the various strains of American improvised music, creating a cohesive thread between their original compositions and choice selections from an eclectic mix of artists like Stevie Wonder, Van Dyke Parks, and Ornette Coleman.
     
    The members of Sound Creation Trio have performed and/or recorded with artists such as Charlie Haden, Earth, Julia Holter, Nels Cline, Aimee Mann, Laura Veirs, Jeff Parker, Bobby Previte, Tony Malaby and more. 


    Tickets availabe here.

  • PDX Jazz Thursdays at The Hoxton: Christopher Brown Trio

    Lovely Rita, 15 NW 4th Ave, Portland, OR 97209, USA


    Multi-instrumentalist, bandleader, composer, and educator Christopher Brown is a Portland native who returned home after 17 years between the Marine Corps and the NYC Jazz scene back in 2012. And since then he has not only retired from the military (Army National Guard), but both he and his band have helped to set a very strong precedent for excellence among bands of any genre throughout the state of Oregon, becoming Portland's busiest Jazz group as of January 2017. Currently Christopher leads the Metropolitan Youth Symphony's (MYS) Jazz program, in addition to serving as the drum instructor within Portland State University's Jazz department. And as of January 2023, Christopher has helped to co-create and teach a new course offering within the MBA program at PSU entitled "Business Innovation Through Jazz Improvisation." 
     
    Notable performances include work with artists such as: Beyoncé, Branford Marsalis, Delfeyao Marsalis, Roy Hargrove, Jimmy Heath, Benny Golson, Dave Liebman, John Pattitucci, Gary Bartz, Esperanza Spalding, Paquito D'Rivera, Gerald Clayton, Sean Jones, Ralph Bowen, Vincent Herring, George Colligan, Darrell Grant, Mel Brown, Conrad Herwig, David Sanborn, Don Alias, Geoff Keezer, James Genus, Onaje Allen Gumbs, Stanley Cowell, Vic Juris, Bobby Watson, Chad Lefkowitz-Brown, Steve Turre, Ronnie Mathews, Antonio Hart, Don Braden, John Lee, Chuck Israels, Aaron Goldberg, Ben Williams, Kamasi Washington, Victor Goines, Lonnie Plaxico, Orrin Evans, Randy Brecker, Charles Fambrough, Javon Jackson, Marquis Hill, Cyrus Chestnut, Terry Gibbs, Buddy DeFranco, Ben Wolfe, and many more.
     
    Outside of music, Christopher serves on the Ambassador Council board for Portland's Habitat for Humanity, as well as a board called TASTE: United for Equity, which is an organization that exists to highlight and financially support businesses and organizations throughout the Portland Metro area that excel within their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. And lastly, Christopher owns an ecommerce health and wellness business called Kono Solutions, which exists to help equip musicians with useful strategies and products for responding to the physical and mental stressors often associated with such a lifestyle.  

    Tickets available here.

  • Carrtoons with special guest MLTZR

    The Jack London Revue, 529 SW 4th Ave, Portland, OR 97204, USA

     

    CARRTOONS has become one of the most sought-after producers through his eye-catching Instagram videos and the buzz of his latest album, “Homegrown” (Wichita Recordings). His unique bass lines and fills have made him a favorite, leading to a recent appearance on NPR Tiny Desk (at home), and a commercial placement with Supreme + Nike. He has performed or recorded with Robert Glasper, Terrace Martin, George Clinton, Benny the Butcher, Mac Ayres, Kiefer and many more...


    Tickets available here.

  • Edna Vazquez w/ Mariachi Tradicion

    The Jack London Revue, 529 SW 4th Ave, Portland, OR 97204, USA

    Edna Vazquez is a fearless singer, songwriter, composer, and guitarist whose powerful voice and musical talent transcend the boundaries of language to engage and uplift her audience. She is a creative musical artist with a vocal range that allows her to paint seamlessly with her original material, an intersection of Mexican Tradicional, rock, pop and other genres. Edna’s passion for music and performance grew from her bicultural roots and, with songs deeply rooted in universal human emotion, she has traveled far and wide spreading her message of light, love and cultural healing.

     

    Vazquez has grown as a musical artist and collaborator over the last years, touring all over the world since 2017 with the acclaimed “little orchestra” Pink Martini, while still performing as a solo artist as well. In the past, she led her own band projects, the Edna Vazquez Quartet, the rock band No Passengers, and the latest, the Edna Vazquez Band. Vazquez also participated in the Latin Grammys with the all-female mariachi fusion band from New York City, Latin Grammy 2017 winners, Flor de Toloache and accompanying Natalia Lafourcade that night.


    Tickets available here.

  • Christopher Brown Quartet

    The 1905, 830 N Shaver St, Portland, OR 97227, USA

    John Nastos, Alto Saxophone
    Greg Goebel, Piano
    Garrett Baxter, Bass
    Christopher Brown, Drums

    7pm and 9pm shows: Quartet


    Tickets available here.

  • PDX Jazz Thursdays at The Hoxton: Justin Copeland Quartet

    Lovely Rita, 15 NW 4th Ave, Portland, OR 97209, USA

    Justin Copeland is a trumpet play, pianist, educator and composer based out of the central valley city of Fresno, CA. He has been performing extensively as a professional musician for the past 10+ years all over the United States, and currently resides in the Chicago area.

    Justin completed a B.A in Music Performance at California State University, Fresno in 2011, and subsequently an M.M in Jazz Studies at Northwestern University in June of 2013. Throughout the recent years he has had the privilege of performing with and learning from many world-class musicians, like saxophonist, composer, and educator, Victor Goines, trumpeter, educator and counselor, Dr. Michael Caldwell, trumpeter and educator, Brad Mason, saxophonist, composer/arranger, and educator Christopher Madsen, saxophonist and educator, Sherman Irby, trombonist Elliot Mason, drummer, composer/arranger and educator, Rich Derosa, legendary bassist and educator, Rufus Reid, legendary trombonist, Curtis Fuller, world renown jazz educator David Baker, and legendary saxophonist and educator, Nathan Davis. Currently Justin is pursuing a D.M.A in Jazz Studies at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana.


    Tickets available here.

  • ORGŌNE with Tezeta Band

    Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi Ave, Portland, OR 97227, USA

    ORGŌNE

    With a signature sound signified by lockstep rhythms & a deep grasp of soul and funk, ORGŌNE has built a reputation over the past 2 decades as being one of the tightest, fieriest live bands in the country & a top notch crew in the studio. On their new album “Lost Knights”, ORGŌNE offer up a collection of heavy-duty psychedelic funk-rock anthems created to be played loud and raucously.

    Tezeta Band

    Tezeta Band is the sound of nostalgia and soulful dance music. It is part jazz, part soul and part ancient Ethiopian melodies blended with the R & B music of the 1960’s and 1970’s. It comes from a period when the influential sounds of James Brown, Jackie Mittoo and John Coltrane melted together with Ethiopian tradition in the hot clubs and lounges of Addis Ababa.

    Tickets available here.

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