all that jazz

What to See at the 2025 Biamp Portland Jazz Festival

Erykah Badu headlines 10 days of jazz concerts across the city.

02/10/2025 By Matthew Trueherz

Got it bad and that ain't good

The 1905 Is in Trouble: Portland Jazz Musicians Rally

Portland's "home for jazz" has fallen on financial hard times, but the community around club owner Aaron Barnes isn't letting it go down without a fight.

08/18/2023 By Sam Stites

Events

20 Totally FREE Things to Do in Portland This Summer

Music, movies, plays, and more: you can catch ’em all for an unbeatable price at these in-city events.

07/12/2022 By Matthew Trueherz, Michelle Harris, and Conner Reed

Music

50 Oregon Albums That Define Our State

From Elliott Smith to Emancipator, Cool Nutz to Quasi, we’re running down the Beaver State’s most essential LPs.

03/23/2022 Edited by Conner Reed By Conner Reed, Gabriel Granillo, Karly Quadros, Katherine Chew Hamilton, Margaret Seiler, and Fiona McCann

Music

5 Can’t-Miss Shows at the 2022 PDX Jazz Festival

Local legend Mel Brown, four-time Grammy winner Robert Glasper, and (many) more will bathe the Rose City in sound throughout the rest of February.

02/16/2022 By Gabriel Granillo and Conner Reed

music

Song of the Week: ‘Formwela 10’ by Esperanza Spalding

One of 13 musical prescriptions on the jazz musician's latest LP, ‘Formwela 10’ is a lush, strange delight.

10/15/2021 By Conner Reed

Performance

16 Months Later, Darrell Grant’s Jazz Opera on Gentrification Hits the Stage

Originally slated to premiere last April, Sanctuaries will run September 7–9 outside the Memorial Coliseum.

09/01/2021 By Conner Reed

Pomo Picks

Top Things to Do in Portland This Week: Aug 5–11

An open-air Stand by Me screening, a Paula Vogel play in a shipyard, the return of the Vanport Jazz Festival, and more

08/05/2021 By Conner Reed, Cami Hughes, and Nick Campigli

Music

An Incomplete Timeline of Portland’s Musical History

From the post-World War II jazz boom to when Courtney met Kurt, these were the moments that shaped Stumptown’s sound.

05/05/2021 By Conner Reed

Music

5 Can't-Miss Shows at the 2021 PDX Jazz Festival

The virtual festival runs February 18–27 and will feature livestreams from Portland to Brooklyn to Cuba.

02/17/2021 By Gabriel Granillo and Conner Reed

Music

Portland Monthly’s Essential Winter Playlist

Reimagined holiday classics, warm Americana, and rainy hip-hop by homegrown talent to keep you warm

12/03/2020 By Conner Reed

How We’re Coping

For the DJs at KMHD Jazz Radio, the Show Must Go On

Creating his shows in a home studio, Derek Smith says listeners can still count on the station for uplift and hope.

04/07/2020 By Margaret Seiler

Jazz Fest

Thundercat Was at Home Among Jazz Fans at His PDX Jazz Fest Set

The bassist set aside the hits and played dazzling solos for a rapt crowd at Portland Art Museum last Saturday.

03/06/2020 By Daniel Bromfield

Music

Our Top Picks for the 2020 PDX Jazz Festival

Thundercat, Douyé, and more featured in this year's lineup

02/17/2020 By Gabriel Granillo and Conner Reed

The Essentials

13 Things to See and Do in Portland: February 2020

Guitar-strumming drag queens, explosive volcano art, and festivals galore.

01/21/2020 By Conner Reed

Signal Boost

The Numberz Is Portland’s Only All-Black Radio Station

Launched by two Grant High School alums, the Numberz aims to unite a community spread thin by gentrification.

01/21/2020 By Conner Reed

Jazz It Up

Meet MC Shoehorn, Portland's Tap-Dancing Saxophonist

"It's a hard act to sell on the phone," says Michael Conley of his unusual schtick.

05/22/2019 By Jackson Main

Music

Legendary Portland Singer Shirley Nanette Brings Sequins and Soul to Holocene

At 71, the dynamo entertainer returns to the stage to perform her 1973 album, Never Coming Back, in its entirety.

04/09/2019 By Rebecca Jacobson

The Essentials

13 Things to See and Do in Portland: February 2019

The PDX Jazz Fest sweeps the city, Beijing Dance Theater makes its Portland debut, Shane Torres returns to Helium, and Jennifer Egan hits the Schnitz.

01/29/2019 By Rebecca Jacobson and Fiona McCann

PoMo Picks

Top Things to Do This Weekend: Feb 22–25

From jazz master Dr. Lonnie Smith to pop-art ballet to new tunes from Typhoon, here are 13 ways to stave off cabin fever.

02/22/2018 By Sarah Hutchins, Rebecca Jacobson, and Fiona McCann