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Clubscene

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JOIN US
JSO Member Night

Sunday July 25
8:30pm

Ron Steen Jazz Jam
with Gordon Lee, piano,
and Dennis Caiazza, bass

Clyde's Prime Rib
5474 NE Sandy Blvd.
Portland, OR

503-281-9200
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Welcome to the Jazz Society of Oregon's Website

(Last Update 7/2/2010)

We are proud to be part of a vibrant Jazz community in the Pacific Northwest. On this site, you will find original articles on local clubs, musicians, and events, as well as, reviews of Jazz recordings, a great calendar and information about Jazz Society activities.

Dive in, enjoy the articles, give us some feedback.

July Highlights:
Todd Strait is the featured musician for July, and the jazz calendar, the upcoming events and the CD Reviews have been updated.

Become a member and you will receive the monthly JazzScene magazine containing features and articles not available on the website. Here are excerpts from the July 2010 edition.

Cathedral Park Jazz Festival
30th annual free event features Luis Conte, Karrin Allyson

By John Pomietlasz

Every third weekend of July, throngs of neighbors, friends and families gather amongst the trees of Cathedral Park. Along the bank of the Willamette River and beneath the gothic arches of North Portland’s historic suspension bridge, they congregate in celebration of their community, to honor the work of past citizens and to listen to world-class jazz and blues.

The quality that sets the Cathedral Park Festival apart from other music events is its connection to the community — it’s one of the only annual jazz and blues festivals truly born of the community, and it continues to serve as a testament to those who first made it possible.

In an age when music and art festivals are increasingly more difficult to produce, this three-day presentation of jazz and blues has become a Portland summer mainstay, and it rests solely upon the steadfast dedication and spirit of Portlanders; in particular, the surrounding St. John’s neighborhood. Festival Executive Director Joe Beeler says that the festival’s success has to do with the hard work of many volunteers who help put the event together.

“Music aside, it’s the people who make the experience so rich every year,” he said. Now in his 17th year as festival director, he knows the challenges of producing a premier summer music event.

….continued in the July 2010 Jazzscene …

Karrin Allyson

By Kyle O’Brien

Being able to hear one of the top jazz vocalists for free is something most fans dream about. At this year’s Cathedral Park Jazz Festival, that dream will become reality as stellar singer Karrin Allyson closes the festival with a Sunday evening performance.

Allyson’s engaging voice and clear vocals have endeared her to jazz audiences around the globe. Twelve albums into her career — including one greatest hits disc — she has cemented herself as an acclaimed force in mainstream jazz. Critics adore her masterful interpretations of diverse tunes. Audiences love her emotive qualities, especially on ballads, where she lays behind the beat just enough to make her delivery satiny smooth, connecting her to the listener in an intimate-yet-sophisticated manner. She even impresses with a command of languages, as she deftly did with Portuguese on her Brazil-ian-themed disc, “Imagina: Songs of Brazil.”

But Allyson is no showboater. She has an amazing ability to scat but doesn’t overuse it. No reaching for the stratosphere here; just targeted improvisation that fits tastefully within the song. Perhaps that’s why she paired with Oregon jazz favorite Nancy King on Allyson’s album, “Foot-prints.” Though their styles differ, they are complementary: King’s fine harmonies mesh with Allyson’s melodic delivery.

Fans at Cathedral Park may be lucky enough to hear this potent duo — Allyson hinted on her blog that King may be joining her on stage.

….continued in the July 2010 Jazzscene ….

Get your own copy of JazzScene magazine by becoming a Jazz Society member. Join now!

For over 30 years, the Jazz Society of Oregon has had a simple mission: to promote "America's Original Art Form" by promoting jazz musicians, sponsoring jazz students and entertaining jazz audiences.

As a non-profit organization, we sponsor shows and educational workshops. And we've helped hundreds of young musicians improve their skills by giving out tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships and grants.

The Jazzscene magazine is Oregon's premier jazz magazine and keeps you in-the-know on who's playing with whom in the northwest, where you can find them, what they're up to, and more. Subscription is free with your paid membership in the Society.

Ultimately, the JSO is a fellowship of jazz lovers: the musicians and their partners in the art form--their audiences.

UNITED WE JAZZ