From its founding in 1954 until 2019, the Newport Jazz Festival had been canceled only once, for a single year following the unruly behavior of non-attendees in 1960. The event also spent a decade relocated in New York City, but still bore the Newport moniker, continuing its legacy from afar. But, as with much else, […]
During her recording career thus far, Jen Shyu has drawn on a deep well of song, fable, and poetry from various Asian traditions. Often these incorporate each culture’s native languages. The music on Zero Grasses: Ritual for the Losses (Pi, 2021), her extraordinary new release similarly builds upon traditional Javanese music, Japanese katari, and East […]
Since first picking up the horn in fifth grade, Skerik has charted a less traditional route for a saxophonist. While inspired by music that came before, he’s never seemed confined to it. Instead, over the last few decades, he has been constantly searching for new and different sounds. This quest led him to become a […]
Portland-based flugelhorn and trumpet player Max Ribner makes his solo debut with 1st Language (Self-release, 2021), a colorful tapestry of groove and texture utilizing over 50 collaborators across multiple continents. Ribner’s warm, articulate trumpet sound sits atop some killer rhythm sections interspersed with the sounds of gospel choir, brass band, and a 12 piece string […]
Joe Dyson has established himself as one of the go to drummers for some of today’s masters of the music, performing with a wide range of artists including Dr. Lonnie Smith, Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, Jon Batiste, Nicholas Payton, and Leo Nocentelli. Most recently, he has been performing in a trio with Pat Metheny and […]
We continue our dialogue with legendary bassist Marcus Miller with a focus on his current and more recent projects from his many film scores to the supergroup Mega Nova with Carlos Santana, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, and Cindy Blackman Santana. He also shares his thoughts on genre and how his Sirius XM show “Miller Time” […]
Some of the greatest musical artists are those you can identify after only a few notes, whether Miles Davis’ trumpet or BB King’s guitar. Marcus Miller’s distinctive double thump technique on the electric bass places him among this group. For the past four decades, Miller has charted a career where his unique sound has explored […]
Portland-based singer-songwriter/pianist Jarrod Lawson made waves in 2014 with his self-titled debut album, quickly garnering an international fanbase who have been clamoring for a sophomore project ever since. 2019’s VISIONS groove tape quelled those appetites briefly (available on Bandcamp under the pseudonym Orpheus) and demonstrated Jarrod’s range and production skills. In late 2020, he returned […]
We continue our discussion with Michael Wimberly with an emphasis on the concept behind Afrofuturism (Temple Mountain Records, 2021), his influences, and his role as an educator. PG: You had mentioned that the concept for Afrofuturism was at least partly based on your love of the “Ancient to the Future” concept. The title track sounds like […]
Michael Wimberly’s musical career can be seen as focused on minimizing the gaps between different styles and forms of art. A significant amount of his compositions have been to support dance troupes and classes including the Martha Graham School of Dance, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, and Joffrey II Ballet. He’s also provided music for […]
