The 2011 Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air Portland Jazz Festival Presented by US Bank presents a powerful lineup during the second weekend of shows, in support of this year's theme, Bridges and Boundaries: Jewish and African Americans Playing Jazz. With the exception of Esperanza Spalding's sold-out performance, good seats for all ticketed performances remain available for the second weekend, beginning Thursday, February 24 and concluding with the final festival performance by saxophonist Maceo Parker on Sunday, February 27. The second weekend boasts eight ticketed shows, presented at the Newmark Theater, Crystal Ballroom and Alberta Rose Theater.
DON BYRON
Thursday, February 24 - 7:30pm - Newmark Theater
He's been to the festival before and now the conservatory trained social critic and activist brings Plays Mickey Katz, the groundbreaking and virtuosic ensemble that spearheaded the Klezmer revival dedicated to the great Mickey Katz, musical pioneer, humorist, and musical director for Spike Jones.
NIK BARTSCH'S RONIN + BLUE CRANES
Friday, February 25 - 8:30pm - Alberta Rose Theater
Swiss/Zen/Funk best describes the highly theatrical, Zurich based Nik Bartsch's Ronin. He will perform with the invigorating Blue Cranes, whose recent release, Observatories, was named as one of the best jazz releases out of Portland this year by local critics.
PONCHO SANCHEZ - LATIN JAZZ DANCE PARTY
Friday, February 25 - 9:30pm - Crystal Ballroom
Poncho Sanchez's music would best be described as a kaleidoscopic swirl of some of the hottest colors to emerge from either side of the border. The Grammy Award winning conquero will perform with his sizzling rhythmic ensemble to get the party started.
THE 3 COHENS + AFRO-SEMITIC EXPERIENCE
Saturday, February 26 - 2:00pm - Crystal Ballroom
The 3 Cohen siblings- Anat (clarinet), Avishai (trumpet), and Yuval (sax), express lyrical tone qualities of the swing era with a post-Coltrane fervor and a flair for Near-East Mediterranean folk, cross-referenced with Afro-Latin rhythms. The Afro-Semitic Experience is an off-shoot of the creative work of African-American pianist Warren Byrd and Jewish-American bassist David Chevan.
SF JAZZ COLLECTIVE
Saturday, February 26 - 7:30pm - Newmark Theater
A Portland Jazz Festival favorite, this will mark their premiere performance of SFJAZZ Collective Plays Stevie Wonder. They will be feted by an elite octet: Miguel Zenon, Robin Eubanks, Avishai Cohen, Edward Simon, Matt Penman, Stefon Harris, Eric Harland, and Mark Turner.
REGINA CARTER
Saturday, February 26 - 9:30pm - Crystal Ballroom
Violinist Regina Carter traveled through Africa to research and record an album of indigenous folk music. Her latest E1 Music release, Reverse Thread, fuses this folk medium juxtaposed with a contemporary feel while remaining true to the past.
JOSHUA REDMAN
Sunday, February 27 - 2:00pm - Newmark Theater
It's been 20 years since Joshua Redman broke through by winning the famed Monk Competition and he has not looked back since. Redman had a remarkable tenure with The SF Jazz Collective and on this occasion, a special quartet comprised of Aaron Goldberg, Matt Penman and Eric Harland.
MACEO PARKER
Sunday, February 27 - 7:30pm - Crystal Ballroom
Who better than Maceo Parker to close the festival! He's synonymous with funky music and best known for his tenure with James Brown. He's the living, breathing pulse which connects the history of Funk in one golden thread.
