Oregon Music News: Oregon’s all-genre music magazine since 2009

07/12/2021

Cathedral Park Jazz Festival returns: In Person July 16-18

After a year in Covid exile musicians and music lovers will once again gather under the St. John's Bridge for three summer's days of home-grown music...July 16-18. Full schedule here

 The 41'st annual Cathedral Park Jazz Festival is back under the St. John's Bridge after a year in Covid prison. Three free days of great home-grown music.

Let's let them tell us about it: 

2021 Cathedral Park Jazz Festival Lineup Friday evening, July 16, 2021

4:30-5:30 pm:

Steve Cheseborough plays the harmonica, guitar, percussion, sings, and tells  stories while he plays. He was a finalist in the International Blues Competition in 2004.

6:00-7:00 pm:

Sonny Hess & Lady Kat, “Smokin’ True Blue.” Sonny was the first woman nominated for “Best Lead Guitar” by the Cascade Blues Association, and Lady Kat Trotter has a low, rich, full bodied voice comparable to Etta James.

7:30-8:30 pm:

Fenix Rising is a dynamic, soulful rhythm and blues band led by saxophonist/vocalist Fenix Sanders. With his gravelly vocals and stirring sax, Fenix reveals the depth of emotion and experience of an authentic blues man. He is backed by a smooth and well-oiled rhythm section.

9:00-10:00 pm:

Lloyd Jones with The Atlas Horns. Oregon Music Hall of Fame winner Lloyd "Have Mercy" Jones will be performing songs from his brand new recording, "Tennessee Run.” Backed by the full force of The Atlas horns, this "Swampified American Music" will raise your spirit to move everything you got!

 Saturday afternoon & evening, July 17, 2021

1:00-2:00 pm:

Portland State University’s Collective Combo featuring some of the brightest future stars emerging from this lauded jazz education program.

2:30-3:30 pm:

Michael Raynor Quartet. Chicago drummer, who spend more than twenty years backing tenor titan Von Freeman now calls Portland home. No stranger to the international festival scene, Raynor will be matching wits with some of Portland’s finest musicians.

4:00-5:00 pm:

Andrew Oliver Trio. Returning from 7 years in London, pianist Andrew Oliver brings his expertise in 1920s jazz and stride piano to Cathedral Park this year. He’ll be accompanied by clarinetist/saxophonist David Evans and drummer Tyson Stubelek whose raucous energy spans 1920s stomps to 1930s swing tunes.

5:30-6:30 pm:

Melao de Cuba. A Salsa fusion of musical rhythms such as Afro-Cuban Rumbas, Latin Jazz, Chachachá, Spanish Flamenco, Boleros, and other Afro-Cuban influenced styles. Led by Cuban-American lead singer and percussionist, Virginia Lopez, Melao de Cuba brings vibrant, danceable music that lifts your spirit, and brings joy to your heart.

7:00-8:00 pm:

Korgy & Bass. An eclectic beat-making duo, Barra Brown and Alex Meltzer,inhabit that “other-world” between hip-hop and jazz not exactly embracing either one. For this rare live performance, they’ll be joined by New Orleans trained trumpeter Cyrus Nabipoor and Sam Arnold out of the Austin electronic music scene.

8:30-9:45 pm:

Jarrod Lawson. A composer, keyboardist, and singer, Lawson is heavily inspired by Stevie Wonder and Donny Hathaway. Like those legends, he incorporates social and spiritual messages into his uplifting sound. His chops suggest a broad range of musical knowledge and a deep connection to jazz.

Sunday afternoon & evening July 18, 2021

1:00-2:00pm:

Portland Youth Jazz Orchestra (PYJO) Founded by multi-instrumentalists Ben Medler and Michelle Medler, PYJO is Oregon’s largest private jazz program. They have been training musicians from the Portland Metro area since 2001. The PYJO band is the Jake Khawaja Trio with Jake Khawaja on piano, Ben Medler on Acoustic Bass, and Michael Rodenkirch on Drums.

2:30-3:30pm:

Tony Pacini Trio. As a teenager, Tony was awarded a full scholarship to the prestigious Berklee College of Music by world-renowned jazz author and critic Leonard Feather. One of Portland’s most popular pianists, Tony’s style is reminiscent of Gene Harris. Joining him on bass is top-rated Ed Bennett whose career included touring and recording with Carmen McRae. The very tasteful and Billy Higgins-inspired Portland drummer Tim Rap completes the trio.

4:00-5:00pm:

Julianne Johnson with the Ron Steen Quartet. An acclaimed singer, actress, director, and producer, Julianne is co-chair of music at Portland Community College. A classically-trained vocalist, Julianne’s deep roots in jazz will be evident at Cathedral Park. For this special performance, Julianne is backed by veteran Portland drummer and bandleader, Ron Steen.

5:30-6:30 pm:

500 Miles High (A Tribute to Chick Corea). With the passing of one of the most important figures in Jazz history, we’ve decided to honor his legacy. A brilliant and virtuosic keyboardist, Chic broadened the scope of jazz in our lifetime. To lead this group we’ve chosen one of Portland’s most versatile pianists, Ramsey Embick. A former Los Angeles music producer and engineer, Ramsey was music director and band leader for the Pointer Sisters. His love of Latin jazz is as evident as his modern jazz chops. Joining Ramsey is an all-star cast of top Portland players: bassist Tim Gilson, woodwind player Tim Jensen and drummer Michael Raynor.

7:00-8:15 pm:

Soul Vaccination. To finish the weekend, what better way than offering the kind of vaccine that keeps you humming those good old Funk & Soul classics. One of the tightest bands working today, Soul Vax infuses the stage with the greatest soul standards, and has been a fixture in the Northwest music scene for over 20 years.

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