The Essentials

12 Things to See and Do in Portland: January 2018

Photographer Pete Souza makes us nostalgic for the Obama days, the Oregon Symphony mashes up Brahms and Radiohead, and Oliver Twist gets a hip-hop spin.

12/28/2017 By Rebecca Jacobson and Fiona McCann

The Essentials

12 Portland Shows, Events, and Pure-Genius Things to Know This August

See a different kind of eclipse, get your family heirlooms assessed at the Antiques Roadshow, and belt tunes from the Revolution Hall roof.

07/10/2017 By Rebecca Jacobson and Fiona McCann

Jazz

PDX Jazz Celebrates the Centurions, Sans Jimmy Mak’s

This year’s festival fetes three jazz legends—Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonius Monk, and Buddy Rich—all born 100 years ago.

02/16/2017 By Jason Buehrer

The Essentials

PDX Jazz Festival to the Last Artful, Dodgr: February’s Pop Culture Hot List

The album, festival, show, and book you need to know this month.

01/23/2017 By Fiona McCann

Jazz

Jimmy Mak’s Announces Plans to Close Permanently

Now's your chance to own a legendary jazz club!

11/28/2016 By Arlo Voorhees

Culture Cheat Sheet: Music

Stumptown Soundtracks: A Seductive Portland Playlist

Perhaps you’re under a blanket on a hillside, or hiding out the winter in your tiny house: either way, invite some company and hit play. You’re welcome.

11/14/2016 By Fiona McCann

B-Sides

Trumpeter Farnell Newton Doubles Down on Portland

Jazz to funk to soul, the trumpeter and songwriter juggles musical genres and countless projects.

11/14/2016 By Casey Jarman

PoMo Picks

Top Things to Do This Weekend: Sept 22–25

German films, Wanda Sykes, a Portland-set crime novel, Latin jazz, Art Garfunkel, a landmark August Wilson play—fall is here.

09/22/2016 By Rebecca Jacobson, Regina Winkle-Bryan, and Michelle Porter

SOUL SCENE

Revisiting the Mid-Century Jazz Clubs and Soul Food Kitchens of Portland’s Albina Neighborhood

Before it became a chic bike thoroughfare, N Williams was a compact universe of black-owned businesses.

08/15/2016 By Kelly Clarke

PoMo Picks

Top Things to Do This Weekend: July 14–17

Prince tunes on the cello. Highland dance and stone throwing in Gresham. Jazz under the St. Johns Bridge. Speed drawing. A Wizard of Oz convention. Bring it, weekend.

07/14/2016 By Rebecca Jacobson and Fiona McCann

MUSIC

After Playing with Billie Holliday and John Coltrane, 80-Year-Old Portland Bassist Chuck Israels Still Fights for Jazz

Forget retirement.

07/12/2016 By Fiona McCann

PDX JAZZ FEST

2016 PDX Jazz Fest: What Would Coltrane Dig?

From Dianne Reeves to Coltrane’s own son Ravi, this month’s citywide jazz spectacular pays tribute to a legend who would have turned 90 this year. These are the shows we think he’d catch.

02/17/2016 By Ramona DeNies

HOT TICKETS

Here Are the 5 Can’t-Miss Jazz Events of Fall

A drum roll, please, for the season's hottest jazz tickets. These are the amazing shows that score autumnal bliss in the city.

09/30/2015 By Ramona DeNies

POMO PICKS

Top Things to Do This Weekend: Aug 13–16

You'll sound like happy this weekend, with the PDX Synesthesia Festival, Ural Thomas and the Pain, the Stumptown Improv Fest, and the joyous disregard for personal safety at the Adult Soapbox Derby.

08/13/2015 By Ramona DeNies

JAZZ

Is This Man Portland's Best Kept Jazz Secret?

He’s played with Billie Holiday and John Coltrane, had Lead Belly in his living room, and was a member of the Bill Evans Trio. Now Portland’s best kept jazz secret Chuck Israels is releasing a new record, and he’s hoping his hometown will get behind it.

07/16/2015 By Fiona McCann

WEEKEND PICKS

Top Things To Do This Weekend: Feb 20-23

The PDX Jazz Festival lures local and national talent, PIFF extends its run, and two local theater companies tackle heavy subject matter.

02/20/2014 By Portland Monthly Staff and Nathan Tucker

MUSIC

Our Picks for the PDX Jazz Festival

From Feb 20–Mar 2, jazz luminaries and emerging local and national acts swing, sing, and shred their way across the city.

02/17/2014 By Nathan Tucker

ON THE TOWN

PoMo Picks: February 2014

Jazz's rising star Cécile McLorin Salvant, the reinvention of comics, the Portland Art Museum's Venice exhibition, and the rest of the month's best bets for things to see or do

02/03/2014

JAZZ

Profile: Cécile McLorin Salvant at PDX Jazz Fest

The Grammy-contending jazz upstart is set to sear Portland’s ears on Feb 22 as part of the 11th annual festival.

01/15/2014 By Nathan Tucker

MUSIC

Q&A: Bill Frisell

The innovative jazz guitarist talks about his new album, his feelings about genre labels, and his history of collaborations. He plays the Aladdin Theater on Nov 9.

11/05/2013 By Nathan Tucker