Today, JazzPDX.org launches the second redesign since the site launched in June of 2007 (that was 277 posts ago, for those of you that haven’t been keeping track).  As usual, the site looks best in a standards-compliant browser like Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, or Google Chrome.  If you’re using Internet Explorer, please consider switching to one of these browsers - your internet experience will be faster, cleaner, and more enjoyable.

One of the major focuses of the redesign is to highlight sharing the content here on JazzPDX.  You’ll notice that on the right-hand side of each post, there are more obvious links to the categories and tags that each post is attached to.  This way, you can find other articles in the “Gig Announcements” category, or all the past information we’ve posted on someone like Alan Jones.  Below these, there are links to comment on a post, as well as share that post on Twitter, or other social-media services such as Facebook, Reddit, or MySpace.  Use these as much as you can!  Letting your friends know about what’s going on in the jazz scene will only help the scene grow.

Twitter integration is a new project that JazzPDX will be rolling out over time.  If you’re unfamiliar with Twitter, try reading this page - it should give you the basics.  Right now, you can use the “Share this on Twitter” button to get a twitter-friendly link to the post.  Soon, users will also be able to send “tweets” to JazzPDX and have them appear on the front page.  Check out this page for more info.  Also, watch the box right below “Recommended Shows” on the main page - when the new Twitter features are active, this is where you’ll be able to read up on what people are saying.

A couple of JazzPDX’s older features have been changed slightly. For example, the picture gallery has a new home with a more convenient layout.  Over time, this will evolve with tagging features and captions as well.  Instead of being on the sidebar, the gallery preview now sits below the most recent post on the front page.

The “Recommended Shows” section has a new home as well - now it prominently sits at the top of the front page.

Finally, if you’re looking for convenient ways to keep up-to-date with JazzPDX, try reading our RSS Feed or subscribing to e-mail updates via Feedburner.  This way, you can be automatically notified when new posts go up.  Also, you can follow our Twitter ID: @jazzpdx.

As usual, artists and fans are encouraged (begged?) to send pictures, information about gigs, recordings, and anything else relating to the Portland jazz scene to submit@jazzpdx.org

JazzPDX.org had a server-related problem this week and went offline for a while.  Luckily, all is resolved and the site is back to normal.  Look for updates this week about upcoming summer festivals.

Be sure to check out the JazzPDX.org Picture Gallery for pictures of some of Portland’s top musicians including:

• The Incredible Journey of Jazz at the Portland Jazz Festival - featuring Stan Bock, Derek Sims, Bryan Dickerson, etc.
• Ron Steen’s Produce Row Jam Session - featuring Russell Scott, Greg Goebel, Dan Gaynor, etc.
• Shelly Rudolph’s Band - featuring Ron Steen, Dave Captein, and Clay Giberson
• Thara Memory’s Superband - featuring Janice Scroggins, Stevie Ray Mays, Marylin Keller, etc.
• Diesel 10 - featuring Dan Balmer, Jeff Leonard, and Alan Jones
• Another Produce Row Jam - featuring Phil Baker, John Stowell, Derek Sims, etc.
• Shelly Rudolph Trio - featuring Clay Giberson and John Nastos
• Sweet Baby James - featuring Louis Pain, Renato Caranto, and Micah Kassell
• Drew Shoals Collective - featuring Ben Darwish, Farnell Newton, Eric Gruber, and John Nastos

At the bottom of every post on JazzPDX.org, you’ll find a button that says "ShareThis" next to it.  You can use this button to e-mail the post to a friend, save it using a social bookmarking service, or post it on a profile like Facebook or MySpace.  Click on the button to see what all it can do.

Just a reminder that JazzPDX.org has pages on both Facebook and MySpace that can help keep you updated with what’s going on in the Portland Jazz Community.

For Facebook:

• Become a fan of our page.  We’ll send you occasional updates, but keep checking the page - new articles to JazzPDX.org are linked to in the "Notes" section.

For Myspace:

• Become of a friend at our main myspace page.  Then, surf over to the blog at blog.myspace.com/jazzpdx and click "Subscribe" in the left hand column to get notifications when we post new articles.  You can also subscribe to friend updates for JazzPDX on the main page.

Things are starting to change here at JazzPDX.org - there’s a new look to the homepage, a couple of new features, and some upcoming changes.

New features:

• There’s a “Featured Album” section on the right-hand sidebar. Different albums will rotate through here fairly often. Artists can submit their album information (artwork and a link) to submit@jazzpdx.org
• Instead of a full calendar, we’re trying out a “Recommended Shows” section, which is near the top of this page on the right.
• All of the posts on this site now get linked to from the JazzPDX.org MySpace page. If you go to http://blog.myspace.com/jazzpdx and click on “Subscribe,” you will be notified of updates to the site. You can also use RSS feeds to keep up with the site.

Upcoming features:

• A podcast is in the works - more news about this soon.
• We’re working on a picture gallery that everyone can submit images to.  Submit photos of anything related to Portland jazz to submit@jazzpdx.org

JazzPDX.org took a little break during the jazz festival, but now the festival has concluded and we’re back to help you find jazz events to attend for the other 51 weeks in the year. While the Oregonian is pessimistically saying “Farewell to Jazz,” JazzPDX.org is optimistically saying hello to some exciting upcoming music, including the return of the Rob Scheps Big Band, Alan Jones with Ingrid Jensen, and more. Don’t let the festival events be the only jazz you hear all year.