Sad news from Matt Weiers at the Hollywood Music Center.  The piano store is closing (the decision of Seattle-based management), meaning the end of their wonderful Friday jazz series.  The good news is, you can hear Nancy King and Steve Christofferson play the last concert at the store, this Friday (May 30th).

The concert starts at 8 PM and there is a $10 cover charge.

Also, remember that Nancy King has a regular Wednesday-night gig at The Cave, where she invites different musicians to play with her each week.

This week’s Cave update:

Wednesday May 21st: 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!–

 

It was such a great show last week that Nancy decided to do it again and invite, Steve Christofferson and Tom Wakeling. The music produced by these long time friends is more than great…it’s astounding…it’s very beautiful…it’s SO worth spending your Wednesday night listening to it.

 

Thursday May 22nd: ALAN JONES PRESENTS…

 

his new Quartet of Portland all-stars Randy Porter, Rob Davis and Tom Wakeling. Collectively known as The Cavemen 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 23rd: HAILEY NISWANGER QUARTET

 

Hailey is 18 years old, has a real live time feel and plays the alto saxophone with the fearlessness of a true improviser. She has already made quite a scene in the jazz world performing with the 2007 and 2008 Gibson/Baldwin GRAMMY Jazz Ensemble in Hollywood, California, receiving outstanding soloist awards from many festivals around the US and being selected for the MENC 2007 All Northwest Jazz Band. It looks like Hailey will go away to college next fall, possibly to Berklee on the full scholarship they’ve offered her, so come see her play and get her autograph while it might still be relatively easy. Hailey will be joined by fellow friend female phenom, Kate Davis on bass, her high school band director, world-class musician and soon to be resident of Zimbabwe Jeff Cumpston on drums and the also very young and talented Sam Hirsh on piano

 

 

Saturday May 24th: CHRIS MOSLEY’S EX-STATIC BAND

 

Chris was Born and raised in Austin, TX, lived in Denver for High School then on to Berklee in Boston before finally moving to Portland to become an exciting and unique addition to our already rich guitar culture. He has studied with some of the world’s great musicians including Joe Lovano, Mick Goodrick

 

and Dave Fiucynski and has put out two excellent CD’s of his own music “The Miraculous Aspect of Time” and “Outside Voices” which makes obvious what a talent he is both on guitar and as a composer. Also playing and fresh from NYC is bassist, band leader and composer Sam Howard, and mostly still fresh from NYC the truly inspiring drummer Russ Kleiner.

The Cave is located at 636 SW Jackson.  There is a $5 cover - music from 8-11 PM.  Minors welcome until 9:30

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.

If you’re looking for newer information on The Cave (upcoming shows, etc), try clicking here to view all of the JazzPDX.org posts tagged with “The Cave.”

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.

 

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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