The 2019 BIAMP PDX Jazz Festival – set for Wednesday, February 20 through Sunday, March 3– will include a wide array of headliners spotlighting the 16th annual event, which celebrates Black History Month. While the Festival traditionally opens on a Thursday, it will kick off a day early this year with an exciting performance by New Orleans trumpeter Christian Scott.
NEA Jazz Master, pianist and educator Ramsey Lewis will make his festival debut, supported by his long standing Urban Knights Quintet, featuring the incomparable guitarist Henry Johnson.
In honor of Blue Note Records 80th Anniversary, trumpeter Terence Blanchard returns with his E-Collective band, Farnell Newton will pay tribute to Donald Byrd, Eli Degibri pays tribute to Hank Mobley, and the annual Al’s Den residency will boast a week of Blue Note Records inspired performances by resident artists (to be announced).
Darrell Grant will be honored as this year’s Portland Jazz Master, recasting the 25th anniversary of Black Art which will serve as the catalyst for his recorded career retrospective. Among the headline pianists and keyboardists set to appear are Patrice Rushen, Harold Mabern (special guest with Eric Alexander), Aaron Diehl, Matthew Whitaker, Orrin Evans’ debut with The Bad Plus, Jean-Michel Pilc, Francois Bourassa, Delvon Lamarr, Cameron Graves, Jovino Santos Neto, andBenny Green with Veronica Swift are also set to appear.
“Double Legacy” is a For Portland Only program featuring the Art Blakey Centennial Band led byRalph Peterson Jr., and the Spirits Up Above Ensemble lead by Steve Turre in memory of Rahsaan Roland Kirk will also be presented. Freddy Cole will lovingly remember brother Nat @ 100!, and the legacy of the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra will be showcased for the first time in Portland.
A Philly Special is planned for the second weekend highlighted by tributes to Michael Brecker andGrover Washington Jr., culminating with the festival debut by bass extraordinaire and GRAMMY® Award-winner Stanley Clarke, who last played in Portland in 2004.
“These established and legacy artists speak to the breadth of what jazz has imparted over generations to fans globally, and our emerging artists point to where jazz is heading for the future to behold,” states PDX Jazz Artistic Director Don Lucoff.
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