"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.
Directed by flugelhornist/composer Dmitri Matheny (“one of the most emotionally expressive improvisers of his generation”—International Review of Music), the DMG has developed an engaging repertoire and a strong international following. The group's signature sound pleases both crowds and critics, balancing fresh, original works with familiar jazz classics, hard bop, west coast cool and selections from the DMG's 11 critically-acclaimed CDs.
“Their music is a fertile landscape without boundaries,” writes the Oakland Tribune, “earning Matheny and his cohorts a reputation as one of the most eclectic and daring ensembles on today’s jazz scene.”
All About Jazz agrees: “An all-star jazz band featuring some of the most accomplished musicians in the western United States, the Dmitri Matheny Group is a cohesive and seamless unit, serving up equal parts soulful expression, caressing phrases, imaginative asides, and dedicated lyricism.”
The band has also garnered praise for it's youth and family programming. Dr. Herb Wong writes, “As past President of the International Association of Jazz Educators, I'm gratified that the Dmitri Matheny Group has made jazz education a prominent and vital part of their busy season.
Hailing from Joshua Tree, California, Gene Evaro Jr’s sound is a mixture of soul, folk, electronic and funk. Gene Evaro Jr has the power and dexterity of Earth, Wind & Fire, and the music has the soulful craftsmanship of Stevie Wonder. Evaro can sing, play and lead in a way that brings to mind Stephen Stills or Prince. Watching Gene Evaro Jr and his band feels like you are experiencing some grand force of nature spiritually, like making love in a hurricane or testifying to the heavens in a meteor shower
Gene Evaro Jr is currently touring in support of his third full length album “Like its 1965” released in April of 2018. Gene Evaro Jr’s formidable and dedicated following is rapidly expanding beyond So-Cal, fueled by national tours supporting Milky Chance, Elle King, and Blues Traveler and prominent festival appearances at High Sierra Music Festival, Lightning In A Bottle, Wanderlust Festival, Lucidity Festival, Hangtown Music Festival, Joshua Tree Music Festival, and Guitarfish Festival. Gene Evaro Jr’s works have been featured on the network television show Deadliest Catch and Ian Somerhalder’s Time Framed Series.
From the folk magic of Paul Simon, to the crazy funk fashion of Sly & The Family Stone, to the R&B nature of Bill Withers, this old-soul artist reminds us of what it once felt like to put on a record, press play, and then relish in every word from start to finish, without missing one beat.
Join us at Jack London Revue for Portland's best new trumpeter, Noah Simpson and his band! Soul Cypher after the show beginning at 11pm, don't miss it!
The London is proud to continue the jazz tradition of the Monday Night Big Band. On a night when most musicians are free of gigs, they gather in numbers to play some of the music they love most: everything from Ellington and Basie to Buddy Rich and Michael Buble. Don't miss this chance to enjoy the power and diversity of the top horn-heavy bands from Portland and beyond.
The Carroll Raaum Swing Orchestra is an 17-piece Big Band that plays the best of big-band music from the 20's to today.
Gunhild Carling is a Swedish jazz musician and multi-instrumentalist. She is famous for playing three trumpets at the same time. Gunhild plays trombone, bagpipes, trumpet, recorder and harp, and will often showcase all of her skills in one song, sometimes casually breaking into a tap dance or singing lyrics. Carling competed as a celebrity dancer in Let's Dance 2014 on TV4 (Sweden), placing third.
In 2013, she performed with her 'Carling Big Band' at the Royal Palace in Stockholm in the celebration of King Carl XVI Gustaf's Ruby Jubilee. In 2016, Carling performed at King Carl XVI Gustaf's 70th birthday celebration.
She is featured as a singer and multi-instrumentalist in several of Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox's adaptations of pop songs, including a 1920s jazz swing version of "Material Girl", a vintage jazz version of Europe's "The Final Countdown", a jazz cover of Pharrel Williams' "Happy", and a 1920s hot jazz cover of ABBA's "Dancing Queen", among others.
Christoph Irniger Pilgrim
Christoph Irniger, tenor saxophone / Stefan Aeby, piano / Dave Gisler, guitar / Raffaele Bossard, bass / Michi Stulz, drums T he quintet Pilgrim, founded by Zurich based tenor saxophonist Christoph Irniger, has become over the years one of the most exciting ensembles in young European Jazz. After the highly praised group's latest vibrant live album 'Big Wheel', Pilgrim presents n ow their fourth recording 'Crosswinds'. On this gorgeously considered, but luxuriantly open new recording the quintet uses ambiguity as a tool. Some compositions are freely improvised, while others are completely notated, yet most lie in between, with an e lasticity that reflects a life of freedom, where informed choices are made spontaneously. The accompanying soundtrack oscillates between enigmatic reflection and wild eruptions, although the band creates a dense, all - round sound which is hard to categorise . For Pilgrim finished musical notes are no more than a heading, the subject of an unwritten story or a door leading to another free musical space. No matter which musician takes up a subject, each tells the story differently. What cannot be enforced or im posed in deliberately controlled action leaves its traces in subconscious processing. It can surface again and crop out in differently maturated qualities. The surprising turning points in Pilgrim's music indicate that this is not wishful thinking or plati tude. It ensures that the group's playing remains sharp and really happening. In the Liner Notes Peter Margasak writes: " On Crosswinds Pilgrim expresses the incomprehensible -- the ineffable -- but it the quintet does so with ravishing beauty, humanity, and tend erness. Finding a way through confusion, madness, and difficulty with such empathy and care is the gift of the musician." The five members of the group, which was formed in 2010, come from different parts of Switzerland. They also play in various other gr oups, throughout the world, and already in their short careers they have had the opportunity to play with and be taught by jazz greats such as Dave Douglas, Nasheet Waits, Dave Liebman and Joey Baron. "People who know about jazz say Christoph Irniger is one of them most promising musicians in contemporary Swiss jazz at the moment." ( Jazzthetik )
Portland’s own 5 Grand has been in existence for 3 years just over a year, comprised of some of the city’s best r&b and jazz players, combining years of experience and touring with such bands as Romeo, Visions, Hot Property, Dirty Revival, The Andy Stokes Band, Cool Breeze, Mack and Dub’s Smokin’ Section as well as appearances with National Acts such as Con-funk-shun, Buddy Rich, Portland’s own Shock, George Clinton and others. Come have a “Grand” Experience!
The Members of 5 Grand are:
Melissa “Meli” Steinbach – Lead Vocals
Eddie “Kane” West – Rhythm Guitar and Vocals
Darnell “Dee Love” Love – Bass, Vocals and Keys
Tony “Tone” Winters – Drums, Vocals and Programming
Will “The Sound” Caynon III – Keyboards
Michael “Black Squirrel” Richards– Lead Guitar and Vocals
The London is proud to continue the jazz tradition of the Monday Night Big Band. On a night when most musicians are free of gigs, they gather in numbers to play some of the music they love most: everything from Ellington and Basie to Buddy Rich and Michael Buble. Don't miss this chance to enjoy the power and diversity of the top horn-heavy bands from Portland and beyond.
The Millennium Dance Band is the largest performance ensemble of the Lake Oswego Millennium Concert Band. This 18-member group performs dance and concert music as performed by the “Big Bands” of the 1930’s, 40’s, and 50’s, with an occasional selection from more recent times for the younger crowd
"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.
David Barber is an MC, a jazz musician, and a conduit of avant-garde hip hop. His live performance consists of compelling verses saturated in abstract imagery as well as unique and spontaneous lyrical delivery . His song arrangements, backed by live musicians, are consistently rooted in the grooves of boom bap hip hop and jazz. In addition to thoughtfully arranged material, David’s live performance is heavily laced with improvisation, whether it be freestyled verses or instrumental solos. David draws inspiration from MCs such as Common,Busta rhymes, and Mos Def, alongside the influence of jazz musicians such as Ornette Coleman and Charles Mingus.
This set will feature David Barber on vocals, Todd Marston on piano, Lee Hauser on drums, Patrick Golichnik on upright bass, Jeff Chilton on trombone, and Chang Park on trumpet.
After the show, stick around for the Jack London Burly-Q Revue, downtown's hottest burlesque - free with your ticket for David Barber.
Thankusomuch is the result of some of PDX’s very best young musicians bonding over a shared interest in pop, soul, R&B, hip-hop, and jazz. Whether they’re paying homage to the brilliant artists of past decades, playing inventive arrangements of modern pop-tunes, profusely thanking audience members and venue staff, or showcasing melodically tasteful and harmonically advanced original numbers, Thankusomuch is all about groove and (mostly non-ironic) gratitude. Led by bassist/pianist Alex Koehler and guitarist Josh Clark, Thankusomuch includes some of the best local talent to round out their powerful sound. Often featuring talented vocalists such as Jimmie Herrod, Michal Angela Wilson, Rich Hunter, and most recently Edan Krolewicz, Thankusomuch has had the immense pleasure of working with dozens of incredible local singers over the past few years. The phenom’ instrumentalists regularly participating in Thankusomuch performances and recordings include Noah Simpson (trumpet), Kristof Schroeder (alto sax/flute), Paul Paresa (keys), Machado Mijiga (drums/sax), Steven Skolnik (drums/percussion), Kyle Lissman (bass), Reed Neuman (sax/EWI), and Cory Limuaco (drums/percussion). Thankusomuch has been a featured artists with the PDX Jazz Festival, Soul’d Out Music Festival sharing the stage with artists like Bilal, Dead Prez, De La Soul, and at some of the best venues in the Northwest.
The London is proud to continue the jazz tradition of the Monday Night Big Band. On a night when most musicians are free of gigs, they gather in numbers to play some of the music they love most: everything from Ellington and Basie to Buddy Rich and Michael Buble. Don't miss this chance to enjoy the power and diversity of the top horn-heavy bands from Portland and beyond.
The NoPo Big Band is modeled after the 17-piece instrumentation..., trombones, trumpets, altos, tenors and baritone saxes, driven by a four-piece rhythm section. The members of the band play for fun and for a love of the music. Music styles vary from fast swing, to blues and bossa, ...even funk!
The North Portland (NoPo) Big Band is a community large jazz ensemble. While based in North Portland, our members hail from all areas of Portland. The band started in 2010, a random mix of musicians, ...some experienced, ...some not... but all drawn together by a mutual love of big band music. As our membership has grown, local musicians have helped fill our ranks. and our musical experiences have grown richer by the year. All members of the band volunteer their time and talents as musicians, and some step-up to serve as music directors and board members. All past and present members of the band have played an important role in the evolution of NoPo,...and all are appreciated. We strive to offer musical experience back to the community, and hope to instill in the next generations a passion for exploring the spirit and spontaneity of this music.
"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.
Malcome Noble's career has spanned many decades and seen major changes in his music genre, but he's still performing and as outspoken about the industry as when it all started for him with the legendary band Shock! Noble has spent his life entrenched in Portland's R&B scene. He was introduced to hip-hop via an East Coast acquaintance of his cousin. When it came time for Shock to go into the studio, he decided to experiment with rap cadence. "Let's Get Crackin'," which appeared on the group's 1980 album, Electrophonic Funk, became a minor hit, leading to tours supporting Smokey Robinson, Tower of Power and Tina Turner. Catch him and his band at the Jack London Friday August 23!
Known for being the heartbeat for many different artists over the years... Portland Native has finally decided to step out to the forefront. With a collection of his close friends and favorite musicians, this will be a night of music you will not soon forget.
The London is proud to continue the jazz tradition of the Monday Night Big Band. On a night when most musicians are free of gigs, they gather in numbers to play some of the music they love most: everything from Ellington and Basie to Buddy Rich and Michael Buble. Don't miss this chance to enjoy the power and diversity of the top horn-heavy bands from Portland and beyond.
The Ne Plus Ultra Jass Orchestra is the NW's premier dance band orchestra, specializing in lush, fully orchestrated original charts from the 1920s and 30s!
She regularly performs worldwide at jazz festivals, jazz parties, and on jazz cruises. She has been a frequent guest on National Public Radio’s ‘Fresh Air’ with Terry Gross, has appeared on ‘A Prairie Home Companion’, and with Michael Feinstein at Carnegie Hall.
The Rebecca Kilgore Quartet (formerly known as BED) was a popular favorite on the jazz festival circuit: with Eddie Erickson (guitar/banjo/voice), Dan Barrett (trombone), and Joel Forbes (bass).
She has been performed with the Statesmen Of Jazz, dedicated to perpetuating the art of jazz for future generations.
Other venues. New York: Feinstein’s at the Regency; New York: Birdland; San Francisco: The Plush Room at the York Hotel; Oakland, CA: Piedmont Pianos; Culver City, CA: The Jazz Bakery; Fullerton, CA: Steamers Jazz Club; Phoenix, AZ: The Nash; Madison, NJ: Shanghai Jazz; LA: The Westin at LAX; Toledo, OH: Murphy’s Place; Cleveland Heights, OH: Nighttown; Ann Arbor, MI: The Firefly Club; Cincinnati, OH: The Blue Wisp; Southampton, UK: The Concorde Club; Sherman Oaks, CA: Spazio’s.
She is honored to have been inducted (in 2010) to the Oregon Music Hall of Fame and to the Jazz Society of Oregon’s Hall Of Fame, and to have been invited to perform at New York’s Mabel Mercer Cabaret Convention for three years at Town Hall and Lincoln Center. She was the guest of honor at the 2013 Roswell (New Mexico) Jazz Festival, and honored as a Jazz Legend at the San Diego Jazz Party in 2016.
"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.
When these virtuoso players meet on the bandstand, the result is sheer magic. Join revered French guitarist Romain Pilon, powerhouse drummer Brian Blade and internationally acclaimed bassist, vocalist, and composer Jeff Denson as they celebrate their Ridgeway Records album Between Two Worlds. The recording features originals by Denson and Pilon, who met two decades ago as students at Boston’s Berklee College of Music. After graduation they pursued their own careers, but reunited occasionally to reclaim their musical camaraderie. When Denson played with Blade on a 2017 tour with Joel Harrison’s Spirit House, they clicked. “We deeply connected right away, from the first notes in the sound check,” says Denson. “It felt like kindred spirits, rhythmically; a whole other language was taking place behind the soloists, and it was totally enthralling.” Denson thought of Pilon as an ideal third partner. "He’s a virtuoso player but very sensitive and very musical, the same words I would use to describe Brian.” Denson extended an invitation to Pilon and Blade, who enthusiastically accepted. The result is one of the most captivating new groups in jazz, a trio of players with unmistakable chops, unquestionable creativity, and probing sensitivity.
On January 2, 1962, Ophlin Russell, better known as Sister Nancy, a seminal Jamaican dancehall deejay and singer, was born in Kingston, Jamaica. Also known as Mama Nancy, She was the first female dancehall deejay and an important female voice on the dancehall scene for over 20 years. One of her most famous songs, “Bam Bam,” was labeled a reggae anthem by the BBC in the United Kingdom.
Sister Nancy was one of 15 children. Her brother Robert is better known as Brigadier Jerry, also a dancehall deejay. She and her siblings were raised in a conservative household, and she was expected to take on the role of elder in the community, promoting the conservative values of being drug-free and family-oriented
Although her father encouraged her to pursue Christian music, she rebelled against her traditional upbringing and followed her brother into deejaying and dancehall. When she entered the dancehall scene, she was often the only female to turn up at a dance. During her teen years, she sometimes performed on the Twelve Tribes of Israel sound system. She also worked with the Jahlovemuzik sound system, and for several years on the Stereophone sound system with General Echo.
She ran away from home for months at a time and followed DJ Junior Chalice throughout Jamaica and St. Thomas. While in St. Thomas, he gave her a chance to deejay when she was 15 years old.
In 1980, producer Winston Riley took her into the studio for the first time. This led to her first single, the classic “Papa Dean” on the Techniques label. She performed at Reggae Sunsplash, the first female deejay to perform at the event. She is also the first female Jamaican deejay to tour globally. Further success followed with recordings like “One Two,” “Money Can’t Buy Me Love,” “Transport Connections,” and the classic “Bam Bam.” Sister Nancy released her debut album “One Two” in 1982. She later worked with producer Henry “Junio” Lawes, recording “A No Any Man Can Test Sister Nancy” and “Bang Belly,” She also collaborated with Yellowman on “Jah Mek Us Fe A Purpose”
She toured internationally, and both she and her brother Brigadier Jerry made their debuts in London in 1982. Sister Nancy credits her brother with being her inspiration, which is reflected in her work and career. Sister Nancy’s work is similar to her brother’s in its focus on cultural issues and spiritual tone.
