Mt. Hood Jazz Festival

Artists:

2008 FRIDAY ARTISTS

Friday, August 15 Artists (in order of appearance)

The Benny Green Trio

A perpetual student of the history of Jazz piano, Benny Green mentions Art Tatum, Erroll Garner, Hank Jones, Ahmad Jamal, Phineas Newborn, Bud Powell and Oscar Peterson as some of his main influences. His approach to Jazz can be resumed in his own words: "… for myself and a lot of musicians I admire, the main focus is to just swing and have fun, and share those feelings with the audience … and, if I'm able to convey that, then I feel like I'm doing something positive".

Born in New York in 1963, Benny Green grew up in Berkeley, California, and began classical piano studies at the age of seven. Influenced by his father, a tenor saxophonist, his attention soon turned to jazz. By 1987, at the age of 24, he joined Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, where he stayed until late 1989, at which point he began working with Freddie Hubbard’s quintet. In 1993 Green replaced Gene Harris in Ray Brown's Trio, working with the veteran bass player until 1997. From 1997 on, Benny resumed his freelance career, led his own trios, and concentrated on his solo piano performances.

Benny is currently on tour to support the January 28, 2003 release on Telarc, Jazz at the Bistro, a duo recording with guitarist Russell Malone, dedicated to the memory of the late jazz bassist Ray Brown.

Click here to read more from Benny Green’s website.

Diane Schuur

Born in Tacoma, Washington, vocalist/pianist Diane Schuur is as eclectic as she is brilliant. A longtime disciple of Dinah Washington and other legendary jazz singers of the ‘40s and ‘50s, Schuur has built a stellar career by embracing not only the jazz of her parents’ generation, but also the pop music of her own youth during the late 1950s and ‘60s. In a recording career that spans nearly three decades – and includes two Grammy Awards and three Grammy nominations – Schuur’s music has explored nearly every corner of the 20th century American musical landscape.

In February 2008 Schurr released Some Other Time, a recording of songs by jazz artists whom she first discovered via her parents during her childhood and adolescent years. The album features songs by George and Ira Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Sammy Cahn, Rogers and Hammerstein and more. Some Other Time is, among other things, Schuur’s celebration of the music of her parents’ generation, and a tribute to her late mother on the fortieth anniversary of her death at the young age of 31. “This is a celebration of the music she introduced to me when I was growing up,” says Schuur. “After enough time goes by, everything your parents ever told you, everything they ever tried to teach you, starts to make sense. You find out how they grew up and how they looked at the world in the context of their generation and their times.”

Click here to read more from Diane Schuur’s website.

2008 SATURDAY ARTISTS

Saturday, August 16 Artists (in order of appearance)

Black Swan Classic Jazz Band featuring Marilyn Keller

The Black Swan Classic Jazz Band was established in early 1989 as a hot dance band dedicated to the preservation and performance of Dixieland, old-time gospel, early jazz and ragtime music. Black Swan delights in entertaining as well as educating its audiences with authentic renditions of the music of noteworthy early jazz figures such as Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong, King Oliver, Duke Ellington and others. Marilyn Keller joined Black Swan in 1997and brings a special magic to the stage with her charming presence and flawless vocal stylings. Click here to read more from the Black Swan Classic Jazz Band website.

Portland Youth Jazz Orchestra Festival Band

This year the Mt. Hood Jazz Festival is collaborating with the Portland Youth Jazz Orchestra organization, led by jazz educators Ben Medler and Michelle Medler, to provide a jazz camp just prior to the 27th annual festival. Students participate in rehearsals and clinics led by many of the festival's artists, and their efforts for the week will culminate in a performance at the Festival.

Louis Pain with Sweet Baby James

Louis Pain is a mainstay for soul and blues fans in the Portland area, and has played at the Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival and Jimmy Maks many a time. He and "Sweet Baby James" Benton, create beautiful jazz when together.

Hailey Niswanger Quartet

At 18 years of age, alto saxophone player Hailey Niswanger has already made her mark in the jazz world, having performed with the 2007 and 2008 Gibson/Baldwin GRAMMY Jazz Ensemble in Hollywood, and received outstanding soloist awards from many festivals in the U.S. She will be joined by fellow jazz phenom Kate Davis on bass, young and talented Sam Hirsh on piano and well known Portland drummer Ron Steen.

MHCC Jazz Band with Nancy King

She’s been called everything from a “Cult figure” and an “uncompromising artist,” (Earshot Jazz) to “the greatest living jazz singer,” (Herb Ellis). As one of the few improvisers in vocal jazz to master the vocabulary, Nancy King has “indefatigable scat chops and a remarkably elastic range.” (The Oregonian) In 2001 Nancy was inducted into the Oregon Jazz Society’s Hall of Fame. Come see one of the jazz world’s treasures. Click here for more information.

Dusty York Quintet

Portland tenor saxophonist and composer Dusty York is a rising voice in jazz today. Coupling unique and creative improvisation, with a high level of prolific composition, York will be certain to mark his spot in the upcoming jazz world. His groups feature a distinct sound, very energetic performances, and all original compositions. His recording career continues with his latest recording, "A State Of Secession Volume One,” featuring his father, well-known Portland tenor saxophonist Michael York. Click here to read about Dusty York.

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