Ahmad Jamal photo by Daniel Sheehan

February 20-March 2
Portland, Oregon

The 2014 Portland Jazz Festival offers a bonanza of 50 shows at 15 venues over 11 days. This much music can overwhelm most fans, so here are 5 different paths through the programming that focus on specific themes. Tickets and more information are available at 503-228-5299 or portlandjazzfestival.org.

– Steve Griggs

Solo Piano 

If you prefer solo artists performing on a top-flight piano in an intimate setting, check this schedule out. I confess that this is my favorite slice of the festival. Award-winning Juilliard graduate Aaron Diehl will likely perform some of his ragtime interpretations. Toshiko Akiyoshi plans to honor the 40th anniversary of Duke Ellington’s passing with “Sophisticated Lady.” Dan Tepfer will play Bach’s Goldberg Variations with each movement followed by a related improvisation. Janice Scroggins will draw on her wide ranging repertoire to match her spontaneous mood. Geoffrey Keezer will share some tracks from his latest solo recording Heart of the Piano.

Big Stars

If you like to hear internationally touring artists in formal auditoriums, try this on for size. This program includes piano perfectionists from around the world – Brazilian Eliane Elias, American Ahmad Jamal (a.k.a. Fritz Russell Jones), Chinese Toshiko Akiyoshi and Norwegian Tord Gustavsen. Add bristling ensembles with drummer Brian Blade, trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, saxophonist Bobby Watson and guitarist Pat Metheny and there is absolutely no low point on this schedule. As of the deadline for this article, the festival was also adding public conversations with festival artists for audiences to learn more.

Listen Locally

If you want your theater listening experience to include artists with a connection to the Pacific Northwest, try this set of performances. Darrell Grant is a chart-topping pianist and Portland State University professor who will perform his new Chamber Music America New Jazz Works commission. Seattle trombonist Julian Priester joins Mwandishi band mates Buster Williams and Bennie Maupin along with PSU Assistant Professor George Colligan. Portland’s Dave Frishberg will wend his songwriting wit with Bob Dorough. Home-town hero Esperanza Spalding will mix her young Grammy-winning talent with leading jazz statesmen. Glen Moore and Ralph Towner reunite the band Oregon from their college days, joined by Portland double reed expert Paul McCandless, who joined the band in 1970. The Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble harvests their grassroots effort to build and sustain local talent. Portland born Andrew Oliver joins Portland resident Mark DiFlorio along with Seattle’s Chad McCullough and Brady Millard-Kish in the Kora Band. We are fortunate to have such talented artists call the Northwest home.

Darrell Grant photo by Jim Wilson

On the Scene

If you prefer to hear music from big-name artists in a club setting, follow this list. Pianos bookend this lineup, starting with Kenny Werner and closing with Helen Sung. The first time I heard Kenny Werner, he was performing with Portland saxophonist Jim Pepper. This time he brings his “effortless mastery” in trio format. Next, you won’t want to miss the Yellowjackets with their new bassist – Jaco Pastorius’ son Felix. Saxophonist Bob Mintzer takes up residence with the Yellowjackets, a student big band and then a night of performing his own work with educators. Newcomer saxophonist Grace Kelly follows and Houston pianist Helen Sung caps the festival shows.

Free Bird

If you don’t want to pay for a ticket and like to move around, focus your itinerary on Portland’s hotels, featuring free afternoon and evening performances. By the way, this is one of the coolest ways to show your love to the Portland scene. You can hear some of the city’s best talent and at the same time demonstrate to the local businesses that the community includes an audience for live music.