This week The Cave presents:

• Wednesday 8/6 - Belinda Underwood with Dan Gaynor
• Thursday 8/7 - Alan Jones with Dan Balmer and Damian Erskine
• Friday and Saturday (8/8 and 8/9) - Victor Noriega Quartet

Wednesday 8/6 Belinda Underwood bass/vocal, Dan Gaynor piano

Portland-based multi-instrumentalist/singer/songwriter Belinda Underwood is a young star on the rise.  After a childhood of violin lessons, harp lessons, orchestras and choirs, music became her choice when she fell in love with the upright bass at age sixteen. In high school she traveled as a bass player (on scholarship) to Australia with the Monterey Jazz Festival Honor Band, and in college she played and traveled with the UC Berkeley Wednesday Band. Singing professionally didn’t occur to her until years later when she was playing the bass at the Jazz School in Berkeley, where she studied with Mark Levine, Ledisi, Raz Kennedy, Stephanie Bruce, Brian Pardo, Glenn Richman, and Frank Martin. It was there too that she met David Friesen during a workshop and decided to go to Portland for bass lessons (after a quick trip to Cuba to study music and dance at the University of Havana). When asked what she valued most from her lessons with Friesen, she replied, “He encouraged me to write songs.”

Her debut album was launched nationally in March 2005. Entitled “Underwood Uncurling”, it features David Friesen, Airto Moreira, John Gross, Dan Balmer, Clay Giberson, Chad Wagner, Jason Levis, and Pink Martini members Phil Baker and Martin Zarzar. She sings (and plays some bass too) on the album, which is comprised of six original jazz compositions and six jazz standards. Her new album (with Benny Green - piano, Phil Baker - bass, and Martin Zarzar - drums and percussion) is scheduled for release in early 2008. The new album features six more of Belinda’s originals, including a blues in 9 and a song from the perspective of Polar Bears (co-written with her sister.) Other guests on the album include vocalist Nancy King and her sister, vocalist/saxophonist Melissa Underwood.

Between tours she sings and plays around Portland with Beliss (a sister duo), Underwood and Friends (jazz quartet), and Sarab (Middle Eastern music).

Thursday 8/7 Dan Balmer guitar, Damian Erskine electric bass, Alan Jones drums

Power trio – stretching genres

Dan Balmer is obviously one of the very best guitar players in our land, and while you can hear him on Monday nights at Jimmy Mak’s any time you want (and you should…want), it will be a rare treat to hear him at the Cave with this collaboration of scary musicians.

Damian Erskine is not your ordinary bass player.  He has been playing since he was 6 years of age and has had the privilege of studying with such greats as Marc Johnson, Victor Wooten, Reggie Hamilton and Kai Eckhardt.  In addition to being a graduate of the Berklee College of Music, he also had the privilege of subbing for Kai Eckhardt while in the Bay Area.  ”Being very much a groove player, I also love to draw on my love of (and experience playing) many forms of funk, jazz, latin, folk and all styles of music”.  Equally at home just laying it down, soloing or comping chordally, Damian enjoys pulling as many sounds and textures from the instrument as necessary to add depth and style to his music.

“As the nephew of renowned drummer, Peter Erskine, I spent the majority of my youth surrounded by many talented and famous musicians (including Weather Report where I was able to score a few back stage lessons with Jaco!). I am currently living in Portland, Oregon continuing to do what I love…” says Damian.

Alan Jones…

“The variety of material that he performs, and his versatility gives Jones’ playing a singularly engaging character.” -Leonard Feather, L.A. Times

“An outstanding concert… on the drums played the youngest member of the group, the American, Alan Jones, who by no means takes second place to his “name cousins” Philly-Joe or Elvin. He did not confine himself to the mere naked rhythm. On the contrary, he played a vital role in the musical action of the group and his drum solos belong among the finest ever heard by this critic!”

-Helmut Schwanen, Neuss, Germany

Friday 8/8 FROM SEATTLE Victor Noriega Quartet: Victor Noriega piano, Tim Willcox tenor, Chris Higgins (NY) bass, Kassa Overall (SEA) drums

“Victor Noriega has developed a distinct personal style that is both inventive and adventurous… his piano playing is crisp and articulate, and his compositions fuse Classical and Filipino folk elements with a jazz aesthetic. One moment his playing is reminiscent of the intricate contrapuntal lines in a Bach fugue, and the next the percussive dissonance of Bartok’s music for piano… Listening to Noriega perform is like hearing the pieces of a puzzle come together into a satisfying whole.”

-         Earshot Jazz

Victor Noriega, Emerging Artist of the Year (2005 Earshot Jazz Golden Ear Awards), is an active pianist/composer based in the Pacific Northwest.  He has impressed jazz audiences worldwide with his dynamic command of the piano and his inventive and compelling improvisations.  His compositions showcase powerful melodies layered with sophisticated harmonies and rhythms, creating an original and exciting style of jazz piano.

Since he was 18, the young musician has been playing piano solo, with his trio and with other jazz groups in premier venues, including the Triple Door, Jazz Alley and at the Bumbershoot Festival in Seattle.  He has performed and recorded with many well-known Northwest-based jazz musicians, including Rick Mandyck, Jay Thomas, Jeff Johnson and Julian Priester.  At the 2004 Banff International Workshop in Jazz and Creative Music, Victor worked with top international musicians Dave Douglas, Bill Frisell, James Genus, Clarence Penn, Brad Turner, Mike Murley, Jason Moran, Han Bennik and Mark Feldman.  He also recorded and performed in concert and club settings with George Lewis and Mark Turner.

In early 2005, Victor performed in Shanghai, China, where jazz music enjoys growing popularity.  At steady bookings at premier jazz venues in Shanghai, Victor played his original music with musicians from around the world.  Upon his return, his trio embarked on a successful west coast tour.  In January 2006, Victor’s journeys took him to New York City, where he performed with New York-based musicians for a variety of audiences.

Victor’s debut CD, Stone’s Throw, released in 2004, earned favorable reviews from critics for its masterful improvisation and memorable original compositions.  The record also features first-call musicians Willie Blair on bass and Eric Eagle on drums.  In 2005, Victor was awarded a grant from the Jack Straw Artist Support Program to arrange an album of traditional Filipino tunes.  This full-length album, entitled ALAY, released in March 2006, is a boundary-breaking musical journey with Victor’s trio, featuring original compositions and contemporary, thought-provoking arrangements of traditional Filipino songs.

Tim Willcox has played and recorded with Peter Erskine. Larry Grenadier, Ingrid Jensen, Randy Porter, Ben Monder, Vic Juris, Marc Copland, and countless others.  Educated at William Paterson, where he studied with Kenny Burrell, Rufus Reid, Steve Wilson, Lee Konitz and others.  Graduated in 1998 . Winner of several prestigious awards including the Presidential Scholar of the Arts award, 1st place at the East Coast Jazz Festival, Clifford Brown / Stan Getz fellowship, Several Downbeat Student Music awards and other stuff. Currently resides in Portland, OR where he performs with his own groups along with David Freisen, Dan Balmer, Randy Porter, Alan Jones and John Gross.

Chris Higgins says: “Hi all. I’m from Eugene, Oregon. When I was only 8 years old my father took me out into the woods with noting but a Swiss army knife and had me cut down a giant spruce tree. He then left me there alone and told me not to come home until I had had carved my own bass. In Oregon this is considered initiation for any serious string player. He also insisted I practice my arpeggios while balanced on a log in the Willamette river. When I came East to study at Berklee I was a little surprised when my new teacher, the late John Neves asked only that I “practice” the material, with no reference to how or where”.

Saturday 8/9 FROM SEATTLE Victor Noriega Quartet: Victor Noriega piano, Tim Willcox tenor, Chris Higgins (NY) bass, Kassa Overall (SEA) drums

Music 8:00-11:00, $5 cover, all ages welcome

The Cave at the Green Onion

636 SW Jackson St

Portland, Oregon

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THE CAVE atmosphere blends the dim underground 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 handcrafted Persian food and appetizers can be ordered off the Green Onion menu or from the buffet in the restaurant, 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 also 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

All ages are welcome

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 www.alanjonesmusic.com or the Green Onion - (503) 274-4294