Portland Jazz Festival Unveiled

These assemblies, workshops, master classes, and forums will be held during the weekdays (February 2-6) that lead up to an array of weekend performances spotlighting internationally recognized artists with Oregon’s finest jazz musicians. Nearly 50 performances will take place during the weekend (February 6-8, 2004). Six ticketed, headline concerts will be featured, including legendary saxophonist Wayne Shorter; #1 jazz violinist Regina Carter; master vibraphonist Gary Burton; and multi-Grammy Award winning percussionist Poncho Sanchez. The streets are gonna bop with jazz like we haven’t seen in a looooong time!

Organized in conjunction with Portland Oregon Visitor’s Association’s (POVA) Cultural Tourism Department and 15 downtown Portland hotels, there will be approximately 40 non-ticketed performances showcasing Portland’s jazz scene throughout the weekend. Festival patrons will be able to catch a set at such venerable Portland jazz venues as Jimmy Mak’s, Blue Monk on Belmont, Billy Reed’s, and Lucere at River Place. Combining world-class musical talent while highlighting regional culinary specialties, patrons will experience such unique Festival events as “Jazz High Tea,” “Jazz Barbecue,” “Jazz (& Gospel) Brunches,” “Jazz Dim Sum,” and several “Jazz Wine & Microbrew Tastings.” There will also be special “Late Night Jazz on Broadway,” featuring jazz along a 5-block stretch of Portland’s main street at the Heathman, Westin, Marriott City Center, Lucia, Paramount, and Benson hotels.

Major performances will take place in downtown hotels:

• Wayne Shorter, Portland Marriott Downtown (on the Waterfront), Friday, February 6, 8:00 PM.
• Tom Grant & Jenna Mammina, Embassy Suites Portland, Friday, February 6, 10:30 PM
• Regina Carter, Hilton Portland, Saturday, February 7, 8:30 PM
• Gary Burton & Makoto Ozone, Governor Hotel, Sunday, February 8, 1:30 PM
• PDX Jazz will also stage a “Latin Jazz Dance Party,” featuring Poncho Sanchez, at McMenamins Crystal Ballroom on Saturday, February 7, at 2:00 PM.
• Jazz Society of Oregon, will present their 20th annual “First Jazz” as the Festival’s grand finale on Sunday, February 8, 4:00 PM, at the Benson Hotel, featuring acclaimed saxophonist Scott Hamilton, plus 2003 JSO Hall of Fame recipient Tom Grant and the Portland Youth Jazz Orchestra.
• In addition, the Oregon Symphony will present “The Great Ladies of Song” with vocalist Dee Daniels at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall on Saturday, February 6, at 8:00 PM and Sunday, February 7, at 3:00 & 7:00 PM.

With a two-night stay at any of the 17 participating Jazz Festival hotels, patrons can purchase a $100 all-event Jazz Passport. Exclusions from the passport include JSO’s First Jazz and the Oregon Symphony concert. Individual performance tickets range from $20 -$35. For additional Festival information, call 503-228-JAZZ (5299). For the best Portland Jazz Festival hotel rates, visit www.travelportland.com or call toll-free 1.87.PORTLAND (1.877.678.5263).

A portion of the net proceeds from the Portland Jazz Festival benefit the Albertina Kerr Centers. Since 1907, Albertina Kerr Centers has given hope to – and changed the lives of – our community’s most vulnerable citizens: severely abused children, young people with significant behavioral and mental health problems, families in crisis and individuals with developmental disabilities. Albertina Kerr Centers has successfully fulfilled its 96-year mission while maintaining an industry low overhead of 8%, meaning that 92 cents of each dollar goes to the direct care and treatment of the people served by the organization.