The Oregonian’s “Sound Check” article this week features the Portland Jazz Orchestra. The PJO will be performing the music of Thad Jones and Claire Fischer tonight (November 30th) at the Dolores Winningstad Theatre. Tickets are $20 - show starts at 7:30 PM.

Now that drummer Alan Jones has returned to Portland, he’s being transitioned back into some of the gigs he was featured on before he moved to Europe four years ago. Next Monday (December 3rd), you can catch Alan at Jimmy Mak’s with Dan Balmer’s Diesel 10, also featuring bassist Jeff Leonard.

In January, keep your eyes open for a reunion concert of Gordon Lee’s Rough Jazz quartet, the group that brought together tenor saxophonist John Gross and Jones.



You can check out what else Alan is up to at alanjonesmusic.com

Writer Lynn Darroch interviews pianist Dave Frishberg in preparation for the annual “Vocal Madness” concert that will take place on Sunday, November 11th at the Benson Hotel.

Listen to the interview here.

On Thursday, Mel Brown and his B3 band will celebrate their 10-year anniversary at Jimmy Mak’s. Mak’s club was the birthplace of the band which has held a regular gig there since the club’s early days at the old location.

Since their inception, the band has recorded a number of CDs, all of which have been live performances.

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Live at the Britt Festival: This record is a live recording (that the band didn’t know was being made) from the Britt Festival in Jacksonville, Oregon where the B3 band opened for George Benson (whom they dedicated one of their tunes). You can even hear Benson’s bass player cheering them on from offstage. The band on this album includes Dan Balmer on guitar, who took over Faehnle’s spot in the group. Also, Memory has left the horn section, leaving Carranto at the reins.

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Pianist Greg Goebel has just launched his website at www.greggoebelmusic.com

Goebel keeps a busy calendar, playing with groups like PDXV and the David Friesen Trio.
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