Montavilla Jazz Festival 2019 was a few months ago, but hearing the voices of these artists brings back vivid memories of all the music we heard that weekend. Like we’ve come to expect, the music was incredibly diverse and the atmosphere was wa

Gordon Lee

Apr 24th, 2019 18m 37s

On Saturday May 18th PJCE honors the late saxophonist and composer Jim Pepper in a concert at the Old Church. We’ll play music by Jim Pepper, Gordon Lee, and Glay Giberson, as well as music by our guest, hip hop artist and traditional singer an

Ezra Weiss

Dec 6th, 2018 35m 22s

I talked with composer Ezra Weiss as two big projects of his go out into the world. First the release the studio recording of From Maxville to Vanport, featuring his music, and lyrics by S. Renee Mitchell sung by Marilyn Keller; and second, a c

Montavilla Jazz Festival Recap - Part Two

Nov 16th, 2018 24m 11s

This is the second installment of a two-part series recapping the 2018 Montavilla Jazz Festival. This time I talk with Neil Mattson, MJF Executive Director, about how the festival went in terms of ticket sales, budgets, and attendance, you know

Montavilla Jazz Festival Recap, Part I

Sep 28th, 2018 25m 27s

If you were at the 2018 Montavilla Jazz Festival on August 19th or 20th in Portland, OR, then you felt the excitement. But if you weren’t, I hope this episode will give you a taste of the music and the people that made the event special. Interv

Trio Untold

Sep 13th, 2018 5m 19s

Trio Untold, with James Miley on piano and keyboards, Mike Nord on guitar and electronics, and Ryan Biesack on drums, is the thirty-third release on PJCE Records. It drops Friday September 14th. Stream and buy it at pjce.bandcamp.com.

Ryan Meagher's Evil Twin

Aug 14th, 2018 21m 49s

Ryan Meagher’s new album of “collective spontaneous composition” is called Evil Twin, and its the 32nd release on PJCE Records. You can hear the band perform live at the 2018 Montavilla Jazz Festival, on August 18th at 4:10 pm. Learn more and g

James Miley's "Watershed Suite"

Jul 30th, 2018 8m 34s

The Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble gives two world premiere performances of James Miley’s newest work “Watershed Suite.” This six-movement piece is inspired by distinctive bodies of water in the Oregon landscape, from the Tamolitch Pool to Oa

Other Barry

Jul 17th, 2018 9m 52s

The 31st release on PJCE Records is “Escape Route,” by Other Barry, a bionic power trio led by George Colligan on keyboards, with Micah Hummel on drums and Enzo Irace on guitar. Transcript: [Doug] PJCE Records artists Other Barry, a trio led by

Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill

Jun 13th, 2018 12m 10s

Portland Center Stage is presenting “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill,” from May 26 to July 1 at The Armory in Portland’s Pearl District. Use the discount code “PJCE” for $10 off your ticket to any performance of this incredible production.

From Maxville to Vanport

May 14th, 2018 20m 37s

“Nothin’ but white people and sheep,” is how one Maxville logger described the tiny town of Maxville, Oregon. Oregon's racist history is well-known, but we rarely hear from the people of color who thrived in spite of it. FROM MAXVILLE TO VANPOR

Grasshoppers 2018

Mar 19th, 2018 7m 8s

The Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble’s Grasshoppers Young Composers Program is now in its third year with six new students. Hear new music by these young artists March 25th, 2018 at The 1905 from 7 to 8 pm. An open composer’s jam session follo

Holler Sessions

Mar 5th, 2018 8m

Frank Boyd's one-man show is a profane yet passionate "love letter to jazz." In this episode of Beyond Category, sponsored by Oregon Arts Watch, PJCE Executive Director Douglas Detrick interviews the show's creator, director and performer about

Edna Vazquez

Feb 1st, 2018 14m 8s

Edna Vazquez joins the PJCE’s 12-piece jazz ensemble February 15th at the Old Church in Portland, February 16 at Mt Hood Community College in Gresham, and February 17th at the Columbia Center for the Arts in Hood River. If you get your ticket b

Andrew Oliver

Dec 28th, 2017 9m 54s

Andrew Oliver, co-founder of the PJCE, lives in London now, but back in 2008 he and a group of ambitious graduates of Portland State University staged the first concert in the group's history. Oliver didn't know what he was getting himself into

Montavilla Jazz Festival 2017

Sep 8th, 2017 21m 2s

This episode is a collection of interviews I did at the 2017 Montavilla Jazz Festival in Portland, Oregon, mostly August 20th. I talked to artists, festival leadership, and a few other members of the jazz community who helped make the event hap

Beyond Category - Ep 24 - Montavilla Jazz Festival 2017

Sep 8th, 2017 21m 2s

Jasnam Daya Singh

Aug 8th, 2017 27m 51s

Jasnam Daya Singh, a pianist and composer originally from Brazil, has composed a new piece for the Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble called “Ektah: The Unity Project.” When Jasnam begins a new piece of music, he begins not with a melody in mind,

Montavilla Jazz Festival 2016

Jul 31st, 2017 17m 44s

The 4th annual Montavilla Jazz Festival is August 19th and 20th, 2017. Get all the information at montavillajazzfest.com. This year’s festival features headliner Essiet Essiet with Sylvia Cuenca, the Rich Halley Five with Vinny Golia, the Blue

Andrew Durkin's Breath of Fire

May 17th, 2017 8m 50s

Andrew Durkin's "Breath of Fire" is out now on PJCE Records! This pianist and composer, who led the firebrand Industrial Jazz Group in concerts around the world, releases his first album in seven years. The meditative music is inspired by Durki

Eddie Bond

Apr 7th, 2017 5m 22s

Eddie Bond makes the unheard sounds of the bridges of Portland audible in his new composition for the Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble's Oregonophony concerts April 13th at Willamette University in Salem, and April 15th at the Fremont Theatre i

Ian Christensen's "Finding"

Nov 11th, 2016 11m 39s

“Finding” is the title of saxophonist and composer Ian Christensen’s debut album, and it’s the twenty seventh release on PJCE Records. When Ian talks about getting lost in the music, he’s talking about what some people call a “flow state.” It’s

Catherine Feeny

Oct 28th, 2016 7m 59s

Portland singer/songwriters Catherine Feeny, Annalisa Tornfelt, Tahirah Memory, Johanna Warren, and Haley Heynderickx join our 12-piece jazz ensemble on original arrangements of their songs, October 29th at The Old Church at 7:30 pm. Curator Ca

Ryan Meagher's "Mist Moss Home"

Oct 12th, 2016 6m 30s

Guitarist and composer Ryan Meagher’s fifth album is called Mist, Moss, Home. It’s a musical celebration of all things Oregon, the state he now calls home. Get the album at pjce.org.

George Colligan

Aug 16th, 2016 6m 18s

George Colligan has composed a suite of new music for the PJCE. It's called "Fathers and Sons" and it's about family—George's answer to the question "how does one person go into another person?" Hear the new piece at the Montavilla Jazz Festiva