The Jazz Society of Oregon presents

Andrew Oliver and Michal Vanoucek

in a

Dual Piano Concert

Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Sherman and Clay Pianos
131 NW 13th, Portland
7:00 p.m.

Tickets $20 at ticketsoregon.com  or at the door

Children 12 and under are free.

Sherman Clay Pianos in the Pearl (131 N.W. 13th Ave) will be the scene of a Jazz Society of Oregon sponsored jazz and ethnic music concert on Wednesday, October 21st starting at 7:00pm. The program features two outstanding piano virtuosos.

These two musicians met while attending the Banff International Workshop in Jazz & Creative Music in Alberta Canada in the spring of 2009. Their collaboration on a two piano performance will consist of jazz standards, original compositions as well as some Slovak traditional tunes, solos and two piano arrangements.

Bring all the pianists among your family and friends to this special performance. The musical variety of the program and the piano duet format promises an interesting and exciting evening of piano jazz that shouldn't be missed.

Andrew Oliver is a native Oregonian pianist and composer who now calls Portland home. He lived in New Orleans from 2002 until 2005 when he began his jazz studies at Loyola University. Hurricane Katrina saw him return to Portland where he has studied and performed with many of Stumptown’s great musicians. He is a graduate of the Portland State University jazz studies program. The Andrew Oliver Sextet performs original creative music drawing on jazz, world music and rock roots. He also composes for and codirects the Portland Jazz Composers’ Ensemble and directs the Andrew Oliver Kora Band, a Seattle based Jazz/West African group.  Among other projects, he is also co-director of the traditional jazz band the Bridgetown Sextet, in which he plays trumpet and drums.

Photo by Brandy Kayzakian-Rowe

Michal Vanoucek completed his studies of orchestral conducting in Slovakia after which he moved to the Netherlands to study jazz piano at The Royal Conservatory where he received a master’s degree. Michal’s professional career has involved conducting and performing as well as teaching throughout Europe and America. In 2008 Michal won the Deloitte Jazz Award, from the most prestigious jazz contest in The Netherlands.