Visit John Nastos’ website

Here’s the newest press release from The Cave:

 

We want to thank everyone who came out to The Cave for this opening week of music.  You’ve helped to set the tone…the spirit of the place! Thank You again, and so looking forward to the future of creative music and spaces in our great city.

 

 

 

Wednesday May 14th: NANCY KING INVITATIONAL

 

“She is, I think, one of the best singers that ever walked the planet.”

 

-       Karrin Allyson, Jazz Vocalist

 

 –Nancy has been nominated Female Vocalist of the year by the Jazz Journalist Association!–

 

 

This week Nancy invites two of her longest standing playing mates, Steve Christofferson and Tom Wakeling.

 

How fortunate we are to be living in a time and place where we can hear Nancy sing every Wednesday!

 

 

Thursday May 15th: ALAN JONES PRESENTS…

 

…an exploration of new music with a totally new line up of some of the “younger” musicians on the Portland scene: Tim Wilcox, tenor; Greg Goebel, piano; Bill Athens, bass; 

 

 

Best-known for his leadership of the Alan Jones Sextet, which for many listeners defines the essence of Portland jazz with its adventurous, hard-swinging original music, grounded in both jazz tradition and the rugged individualism of the Northwest.

 

 

Friday May 16th: THE JOHN NASTOS QUARTET

 

A Portland native recently returned from living, studying and playing in New York, John is a standard setter in our flourishing scene of young players. He plays the alto at a very high level having learned from some of the best…Warren Rand, Dick Oatts, Steve Wilson…he’s first-call guy in many of the working bands in Portland, and he runs JazzPDX.org - a website about the Portland jazz scene.  His energy and enthusiasm is where Jazz is going. John brings with him 3 other great young players Clay Giberson kybds, Randy Rollofson dr and Chris Mosley gt.

 

 

 

Saturday May 17th: DAVID VALDEZ, The Lennie Tristano Files

 

David is a very creative human being.  He plays the alto and tenor saxophones with the depth of…well, someone who deeply understands the music, he teaches at Ethos Music Center, a non-profit music program in north Portland, he runs 2 or 3 bands, he writes a FANTASTIC blog, http://davidvaldez.blogspot.com/ that everyone interested in jazz should definitely read, and he invents really cool projects…this music of Lennie Tristano is one of them.

 

Lennie Tristano had a profound influence on jazz, but as sometimes happens, has not gotten a lot of popular recognition.  His compositions are clever, intricate and challenging to play even if you’re an obvious virtuoso.  This evening will be a slice of jazz history not often heard.  Playing with David will be: Tim Wilcox tenor sax, Dan Gaynor piano, Dave Speranza bass, Alan Jones drums.

Portland vocalist Nancy King has been nominated for a 2008 Jazz Award, presented by the Jazz Journalists Association.  The other finalists in the female vocalist category include Abbey Lincoln, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Dianne Reeves, and Roberta Gambarini.  Winners will be announced in June.

Remember, Ms. King now holds a regular Wednesday-night spot at The Cave.  This provides a great chance to see her sing on a regular basis - something that’s been missing from Portland’s scene for quite some time.

The Portland Jazz Festival is teaming up with the RiverPlace Hotel to present jazz on Friday and Saturday nights.  The current line-up is as follows:

Chance Hayden (May 9)

Gordon Lee (May 10)

Mary Kadderly & Dan Gildea (May 16)

Mitzi Zilka & French Cafe (May 17)

Shelly Rudolph (May 23)

Dan Balmer (May 24)

Eddie Parente & Vince Frates (May 30)

Darrell Grant (May 31)

John Stowell (June 6)

Devin Phillips (June 7)

Ben Darwish (June 13)

Clay Giberson (June 14)

George Mitchell (June 20)

Andrew Oliver & Tim Wilcox (June 21)

Kate Davis (June 27)

Grant Richards (June 28)

The address is 1510 SW Harbor Way.

From the press release for this weekend’s shows at Alan Jones’ new club: The Cave

 

Thursday May 8th: ALAN JONES PRESENTS…

 

his new Quartet of Portland all-stars Randy Porter, Rob Davis and Tom Wakeling! Collectively known (for now) as The Cavemen (clever, don’t you think…thanks Randy!) This group will be performing new original music of Alan’s along with not too common and very interesting re-workings from the modern jazz literature.

 

 

Best-known for his leadership of the Alan Jones Sextet, which for many listeners defines the essence of Portland jazz with its adventurous, hard-swinging original music, grounded in both jazz tradition and the rugged individualism of the Northwest.

 

 

Friday May 9th: THE STEVE CHRISTOFFERSON TRIO

 

Steve is well known as one of the most intuitive and creative vocal accompianists that exists, but he’s also one of the funkiest and most swinging of jazz piano players. Come see imagination and taste in action as Steve re-invents his outstanding trio.

 

Saturday May 10th: DAVID FRIESEN – SOLO BASS

 

A rare opportunity to hear in an intimate Portland setting what you would normally have to travel to the big European Jazz Festival stages to hear…David Freisen playing solo bass! He practically invented the genre. Weird, crazy, solo bass…that must be boring you say? Never in the hands of David!…ok maybe a little weird.

 

————————————————————————————

 

THE CAVE atmosphere blends the dim under ground funky sophistication of a fifties European Jazz club, the creative bohemian vibe of the legendary Village Vanguard in NYC, and the Oriental feel of a Persian cafe.

 

The Cave is an environment where inspired world-class musicians can experiment and develop their art…an environment that encourages original composition, creative project ideas, young emerging artists, and fresh new combinations of veteran players.

 

Excellent hand-crafted Persian food can be ordered off the Green Onion restaurant menu or from the buffet in the Cave, with plenty of options for vegetarians and vegans.

 

And of special note, there is a meticulously selected wine list featuring varieties that not only pair perfectly with the Persian cuisine, but are among the most interesting and exciting wines available for the price.

 

 

There is a $5 cover charge at the door. 

 

Music begins at 8:00pm Wednesday-Saturday

 

all ages are welcome and encouraged until 9:30pm

 

Find The Cave at the Green Onion:

 

636 SW Jackson St (at the corner of Broadway in the PSU neighborhood). 

 

Free parking after 7pm, across Broadway from The Cave in the metered slots in front of the tennis courts. Also, 2 blocks from The Cave in PSU parking structure (enter on Broadway or on 6th Ave between Harrison and Hall).  

 

For more info and a complete schedule of performances CONTACT:

 

Alan Jones – (503) 333-5197 www.alanjonesmusic.com or the Green Onion - (503) 274-4294

This Monday, Tim Willcox will bring his quartet to Jimmy Mak’s, playing music from his new album on Sound Architecture (Diatic Records).  As usual on Mondays at Jimmy Mak’s, there is no cover charge.

On Saturday, May 10th, the 2008 Silverton Wine and Jazz Festival will take place, showcasing many Portland musicians in venues all over Silverton.  Performers include Dave Frishberg, Darrell Grant, Randy Porter, Dan Schulte, Mel Brown, and many more.  The music takes place from noon until 9 PM, with a late set by Bobby Torres finishing out the evening.  Find more information at the festival’s website.

Every Friday until at least mid-June, Ben Darwish presents bands during the after-work happy hour at the Someday Lounge.  Stop by and hear great music for no cover charge from 5-7 PM.  The Someday Lounge is located at 125 NW 5th Avenue.