Second Wind Jazz was formed with one basic premise: Nothing's better than enjoying the
saxes-and-brass sounds of Big Band arrangements … except playing those great arrangements! We've been keeping the Big Band sound alive in the Portland area since November 10, 1998. Glenn Miller's classic charts, the swinging sounds of Duke Ellington and Count Basie, lush ballads, the brassy charts of Stan Kenton, a little bossa nova, the jump swing of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy—if it makes us smile and say "Oh yeah!" we'll play it. Come spend an evening with us—whether you boogie the night away on the dance floor or just kick back and tap your feet, we think you'll have a good time.
Liberation is both the modus operandi and main ingredient of the fearless five-man band Phony Ppl. Comprised of the cream of Brooklyn’s young musician crop, each member is a product of musical parents who gifted their children exposure to the greatest, from Mandrill to Bossa Nova, and, most importantly, wings for exploration and self-discovery. The result is a collective that is as limitless as its music; one that has received praise from the likes of Tyler The Creator and Childish Gambino, performed with Erykah Badu, Fetty Wap and The Roots, and killed festivals (Camp Flog Gnaw), late night television (Jimmy Kimmel) and their own residency at New York City’s legendary Blue Note.
The warmth of lyrics are mainly credited to lead vocalist Elbee Thrie, a former Manhattan School of Music student whose vocals possess a disarming charm and lyrics glowed by advanced perspective and retrospection (“I broke out of my shell just to find that I’m living by myself”). Elbee also made an appearance on the new Snakehips EP “iii’m Not Sorry.” Co-writing, keys and arrangements are handled by trained composer, Aja Grant, who also produces for artists like Mac Miller. The two-man string section is original School of Rock alum Elijah Rawk (also a member of Princess Nokia’s band) and Bari Bass, Phony Ppl’s visual artist and bass player. The crew’s heartbeat is percussionist and former Music Conservatory study Matthew Byas (his father is DJ Jazzy Jay of the legendary Zulu Nation). You can catch Matthew in the studio with Domo Genesis of Odd Future.
Although these shapeshifters created several now Internet buried independent albums since their 2008 inception, it was Yesterday’s Tomorrow (the first 300 Entertainment distribution) that introduced the world to their genre-less flavors. Released in 2015, the audio rainbow offers experimental splashes of jazz, hip-hop, R&B, reggae, soul, rock and many more sub-genre expressions. It hit #6 on the iTunes R&B chart and the media applause roared in: The New York Times called the band “forward-thinking,” NPR chose “brilliant,” Rolling Stone placed their album amongst the year’s 15 greatest.
Anticipation for Phony Ppl’s latest composition has never been as high. Titled mō'zā-ik. because each song is a singular piece of art possessing shapes and colors separate from the others, yet they all adjoin to make symmetrical magic. Setting things off is “Way Too Far,” a slow dance under purple neon to killer lines like, “‘I got you but it's me i'm missing.” “Cookie Crumble” transports ears to the 1950’s after a latin jazz spirit possesses “Once You Say Hello.” The invitation to this exhibition is the palm tree-breezy hip-hop ballad “Before You Get A Boyfriend,” which transcends classification and time. Soft rock of the early 80’s, early 90’s rap, or the mood music of today? For Phony Ppl, the new album is simply an offering to the religion of music and attempt at adding more hues to future radio.
DAISY
SWEET JAMS AND SWEET HAMS
JAZZ - SURF - SOUL MUSIC FOR KISSIN'
FIVE LOS ANGELES LOCALS WHO MAKE MUSIC FOR KISSIN
DAISY & ALEX & BEN & MATT
"If this band appeared in New York City, they'd be a sensation!" That was guitar great--and one-time Mel Brown bandmate--George Benson's reaction after hearing the Mel Brown B-3 Organ Group open for him in 2003. This true all-star band has been a sensation for a long time—including a 20-year run on Thursdays at Portland’s Jimmy Mak’s (The Oregonian dubbed them “Jimmy Mak’s signature group”). A collective resume that reads like a "Who's Who" of NW jazz, blues, and soul, this group has the talent and confidence to be completely spontaneous--from their blistering solos to their improvised arrangements and segues.
MEL BROWN -- An Oregon icon, has been labeled the "Gentleman of Jazz," with a career spanning a half century. The city of Portland proclaimed June 22, 1989 "Mel Brown Day" in recognition of Mel's achievements as a musician and educator, receiving the Governor's Arts Award in 2002. Mel first made his mark as a Motown staff drummer, recording and touring with the Temptations, Smokey Robinson, and many others. He subsequently spent ten years working with Diana Ross and other pop acts before giving up the road in 1991 and returning home to his first love: jazz. Mel has been a fixture in Portland ever since, leading groups six nights a week at Jimmy Mak's and other venues when he isn't backing jazz artists like Joey DeFrancesco and Benny Golson.
DAN BALMER -- Widely considered the defining sound of contemporary jazz guitar in the Northwest. Described by the Los Angeles Times as "the model of what a contemporary guitarist should be," Dan is one of the most original and creative artists to come from the fertile Northwest music scene. Dan has played and recorded with a long list of jazz greats, has released six CDs of his own, is a jazz educator and a noted composer. Dan leads his own groups and performs with jazz artists including Diane Schuur, Benny Green, and Jeff Hamilton.
RENATO CARANTO -- described as "one of Portland's most soulful jazz saxophonists" by The Oregonian," Renato is one of the most versatile, accomplished, soulful saxophonists anywhere. Arriving from the Philippines in '81 with only his horn, Renato has built an enviable career in Portland. After gaining a foothold in the local scene, Renato became one of the most sought-after jazzmen in the NW and beyond. In recent years, he’s toured with Grammy-winning jazz artist Esperanza Spalding and late country legend Merle Haggard. Talk about versatility!
LOUIS "KING LOUIE" PAIN -- "Portland's boss of the B-3" (The Oregonian) hails from San Francisco, where he played and recorded with a wide variety of top musicians: Tower of Power guitarist Bruce Conte, Santana saxophonist Jules Broussard, Edwin Hawkins vocalist Dorothy Morrison, and B.B. King saxophonist Bobby Forte. After moving north in '86, Louis continued the trend. His 2016 cd with vocalist LaRhonda Steele, “Rock Me Baby,” was honored by Downbeat as one of the “Best Albums of 2016.” Louis’ knack for playing exactly what's needed to further the song has made him Portland's "first call" organist.
Shigeto’s music is vividly beautiful, electronic and beat-driven but given to richly textured sound design, rhythmically fractured but melodically sumptuous.
His body of work has grown over the last few years to the tune of several EPs and remixes for the likes of Tycho, Beautiful Bells, Shlohmo, and more while his albums on Ghostly International are nominally indebted to instrumental hip-hop but touch on cool shades of ambient music, stuttering early IDM, dubstep sub-bass, and jazz.
All of which is now coming together for his new and impressive Live Ensemble joined by saxophonist Marcus Elliot and pianist Ian Fink.
Join us for a classic night of cocktails and cabaret with a rotating cast of phenomenal local and touring performers.
Contact Critical Hit Burlesque for reserved seating or large party rates.
The Jack London Revue is located at 529 SW 4th Ave, Portland
Follow the hardwood path through the Rialto Poolroom to the Jack London Revue downstairs...
$10/ Advance
$12/ Door
8pm Doors
9pm Music
Delivering an infectious blend of soul, jazz and rhythm & blues, the DELVON LAMARR ORGAN TRIO proves to be a band on the rise. Their tantalizing grooves, lush sounds and vibrant jam sessions are always fresh with improvisations strengthened by their undeniable chemistry. This Seattle based trio — Lamarr on B-3 organ, Jimmy James on guitar and Michael Duffy on drums — evokes a classic instrumental sound with a pioneering, virtuosic sensibility all its own on debut LP Close But No Cigar. Featured on Seattle’s KEXP’s “Local Artist Spotlight” in July 2017 followed by a live performance at Upstream Music Festival broadcast by KEXP that has garnered over 5 million views, Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio has captured the attention of audiences around the world. The band put out their album independently in 2016 and Colemine Records gave it a wide release in March 2018 to critical acclaim.
Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio was formed in the Spring of 2015 with the help of Amy Novo, Delvon’s wife and band manager. She told her husband she would take over his music career and all he had to do was find the musicians, create and play music. They started with a weekly residency at The Royal Room in Seattle for the first year then self-released their debut album, playing short tours across the Pacific Northwest. Now they are headlining shows and spreading their contagious grooves with audiences across the globe. With Delvon’s soulful organ sound, Jimmy’s explosive guitar sound and Michael’s perfect pocket drumming, they have the impeccably unique blend of soul, jazz, rhythm & blues and rock & roll.
Ghost Train (2002) first showcased the band’s shift toward original songwriting and Continental Stomp (2003) is a live album recorded in the Hot Club of Cowtown’s natural habitat and joyful home base, the Continental Club in Austin, Texas. In 2008 American label Shout Factory released a 20-track Best of the Hot Club of Cowtown retrospective, followed by Wishful Thinking (2009). In 2011 the band released the first of a three-part series of albums dedicated exclusively to its roots: What Makes Bob Holler arrived in 2011 with Western swing standards made famous by Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys; Rendezvous in Rhythm was released in 2013, a collection of American Songbook standards and Gypsy-influenced hot jazz in the style of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli; and in 2016 Midnight on the trail, re-imagined cowboy ballads, traditional Western swing, and songs by Gene Autry, Cindy Walker, Johnny Mercer, Bob Wills, Tommy Duncan, and others, was released in 2016. To celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2017 the Hot Club of Cowtown re-released Western Clambake which was previously available only as a cassette that the band created in 1997 to sell while busking in San Diego’s farmers markets and at Balboa Park.Crossing the Great Divide (2019) is the band’s latest recording, a seven-song EP of songs by Robbie Robertson, Bob Dylan and The Band to celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Band’s first two albums, Music from Big Pink and The Band. An album of new material is in the works for fall 2019 release.
Trio Subtonic is a groove heavy power trio out of Portland, Oregon that blends genre bending funk with slow burning underground soul jazz. Led by keyboardist Galen Clark, Subtonic explores a coalescence of rock, soul, funk, hip hop and jazz that simultaneously draws in listeners and pushes boundaries. Creating a sonic footprint reserved for more than just three people, Subtonic delivers soulful grooves, expansive improvisations and a deep pocket that compels audiences to try dance moves they didn't know they had.
Trio Subtonic consists of Galen Clark on keyboards, Bill Athens on bass and Russ Kleiner on drums. The group has performed with Dan Balmer, A Love Electric, JFJO, Scott Pemberton, D'Vonne Lewis, Michal Angela and more. Touring extensively on the West Coast, East Coast and in Mexico, Subtonic brings dynamic energy to festivals, jazz clubs and watering holes alike and has garnered admiration from a wide variety of fans and critics.
The Commonheart - the 8-piece Pittsburgh powerhouse led by firey frontman Clinton Clegg - has won fans over with a sound “so explosive...it [could] summon a biblical thunderstorm” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette). Today, the band announces their new album ‘Pressure,’ out 8/16 on Jullian Records, along with lead single “Do Right.” American Songwriter said the song “radiates true soul” and “reverberates through your core.” Listen to “Do Right” here.
“‘Do Right’ is a mantra as much as it is a song - it motivates The Commonheart's message of positive mentorship in our communities as well as our own hearts,” says Clegg. “Seeing the audience’s reaction to the positivity in that song makes me feel like I’m giving them something they may need. Blues music is sad as hell, but it makes you feel good.”
The Commonheart’s gritty, redemptive brand of rock n’ soul offers “commanding vocals amid a Stax-style review” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette). Having drawn comparisons to Joe Cocker, Clegg delivers unforgettable sweat-soaked performances that bring fans to their feet.
Produced by Jeremy and Christopher McDonald (Fleet Foxes, Feist), the 10 songs on ‘Pressure’ embody the band’s rugged yet refined aesthetic, and showcase pristinely recorded, raw-nerve musicianship.
Today, eight-piece Pittsburgh soul outfit The Commonheart reveal their latest single “Pressure” with an accompanying video, directed by Bradley Atom. Watch here: https://youtu.be/PkDi-UY4S8g
The bluesy ballad title track, replete with pleading emotive vocals, drips yearning and melancholy redemption. Speaking with Relix about the track, frontman Clinton Clegg says, “Stability can feel a million miles away, but the people around us are what drives this pursuit. Relationships form and some fold, but those experiences teach us important lessons about people and the world around us. Trust and perseverance are the fuel for this trip; how we use the pressure will determine the road we follow.”
The song follows the band’s recent single “Do Right,” which American Songwriter said “radiates true soul” and “reverberates through your core.”
Produced by Jeremy and Christopher McDonald (Fleet Foxes, Feist), “Pressure” and “Do Right” are the first taste from the band’s upcoming studio album, ‘Pressure’ out August 16th on Jullian Records. This fall, the band will embark on their own headlining tour with stops in NYC, Chicago, performances at Americana fest and more.
Join us for a classic night of cocktails and cabaret with a rotating cast of phenomenal local and touring performers.
Contact Critical Hit Burlesque for reserved seating or large party rates.
The Jack London Revue is located at 529 SW 4th Ave, Portland
Follow the hardwood path through the Rialto Poolroom