Kandace Springs photo by Robby Klein
Friday and Saturday, August 5 & 6
Colwood Golf Course
7313 NE Columbia Blvd
Portland, OR
$60-125
BY EMMA GAROFALO
This August, Kandace Springs, Eric Benét, Brian Simpson, and more bring the heat to the 5th annual Vanport Jazz Festival, a two-day celebration featuring some of the most cherished jazz and R&B musicians around today. Come on down for good music, good vibes, and extraordinarily good company.
The festival kicks off with a Friday evening ceremony starring vocalists Musiq Soulchild and Kandace Springs, who’ll both bring their sultry, soulful, gospel-inspired spirit to the good people of Portland. Saturday’s all-day festival, hitting from noon to 9pm, begins with a showcase of Portland jazz artists. Following the Portland Jazz Collective is Special EFX All-Stars who take the term “jazz fusion” to a whole new level. Chieli Minucci, the mastermind behind it all, is known for his ability to blend rock, jazz, and Latin influences together seamlessly for a sonic experience that’s truly one-of-a-kind.
Contemporary jazz pianist, Brian Simpson, and saxophonist, Jackiem Joyner, take center stage next. Simpson joins us for a rousing rendition of favorites from his ten studio joints as a solo artist. A passionate, lifelong lover of the genre, Simpson’s innovative style and flow make him one of the most celebrated musicians in this lineup. Joyner will be performing his greatest hits from his most recent studio albums, bringing his unique twist on smooth jazz to the City of Roses.
The penultimate act is twice Grammy-awarded bass guitarist, Marcus Miller. Miller’s timeless sound and style and previous collaborations with legends the likes of Luther Vandross, Miles Davis, and Wayne Shorter ring loud and clear in every number and performance.
Closing out the festival Saturday night is four-time Grammy Award-winning R&B vocalist, Eric Benét. Known for the instant hit “Spend My Life With You,” soul music finds new life in Benét’s work. His smooth vocals electrify the air, embodying R&B masculinity of the genre’s golden age.
The Vanport Jazz Festival is one of the more recent festivals to come about in a long legacy of celebrating the love, appreciation, and respect of the art form and its community. Historic Vanport, Oregon serves as the backdrop for this landmark jazz event. During World War II, Vanport was a redlined housing project for shipyard families who had moved up to the Northwest for work. On Memorial Day 1948, Vanport was swept away in a devastating flood. Today, that area is now Delta Park, a public park still enjoyed by the local community.
Purchase general admission all-day passes for as low as $60 Friday or $75 Saturday. Additionally, you can get 10% off of either of the VIP packages, which includes several perks such as artist meet & greets, swag, priority seating, and more. Visit vanportjazzfestival.com for tickets.
