Remember the name Camille Thurman. As a composer, multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and unique interpreter of the jazz tradition, she is quickly becoming one of the standard bearers for the form, making a considerable and dynamic contribution to the legacy of jazz while paying tribute to its heroes.

Fluid and powerful on the tenor saxophone and highly inventive as a vocalist, she also plays bass clarinet, flute, and piccolo. Her rich sax sound has been compared to Joe Henderson and Dexter Gordon, while her vocal approach—including an impressive scatting ability—has been classified alongside those of Ella Fitzgerald and Betty Carter.

In a few short years, Thurman has shared stages with such jazz and R&B luminaries as George Coleman, Roy Haynes, Dianne Reeves, Wynton Marsalis, The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (JALCO) featuring Wynton Marsalis, Kenny Barron, Buster Williams, Charles Tolliver, Jack DeJohnette, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Terri Lyne Carrington, Jon Hendricks, Harry Connick Jr., Jon Batiste,  Audra MacDonald, Diana Krall, Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan, Louis Hayes, Russell Malone, Nicholas Payton, Jacky Terrasson, Janelle Monáe, Alicia Keys, Lalah Hathaway, Jill Scott and Erykah Badu, among others.
 
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Two Shows: 6 PM (DOORS 5 PM) All Ages | 8:15 PM (DOORS 7:30 PM) 21+

Artists: Joe Manis (tenor saxophone), Joe Bagg (organ), Charlie Doggett (drums)

Tickets: $20

Originally from Dexter, Oregon, Steeple Chase recording artist Joe Manis is a current faculty member at the University of Oregon and Lane Community College and is the Director of the Oregon Jazz Workshop. Recent Joe Manis Trio appearances include Fat Cat NYC, the Shedd Institute’s jazz series, Jimmy Mak's, Tula's, the Cathedral Park Jazz Festival, and the Montavilla Jazz Festival.

Manis has toured Europe as a duo and trio with David Friesen, where they recorded Structures, a live album. He also appears on Risky Notion (four stars & Best Albums of 2015, DownBeat Magazine) on Origin Records with George Colligan's Theoretical Planets. Manis has played with Thomas Mapfumo and the Blacks Unlimited, including a performance at Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall, and appears on their album Rise Up! on Real World Records. He has also performed with the George Colligan Quartet, the Chuck Israels Jazz Orchestra, and the Ken Schaphorst Big Band. Manis’s live performance was recently featured on NPR’s Jazz Night in America, hosted by Christian McBride.

The recipient of a 2013 Oregon Arts Commission Individual Artist Fellowship, Manis has been published in JazzEd magazine and has presented jazz masterclasses across the country. He received a Master of Music in Jazz Studies-Performance with Academic Honor from the New England Conservatory and a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of Oregon. Additional studies were at the Eastman School of Music.

Late show: 10 PM (DOORS 9:45 PM) 21+

Artist: Noah Simpson

Tickets: $15 

In the short time Noah Simpson has lived in Portland, he has established himself as one of the top trumpet players in the area. Receiving his grandfather’s cornet at the age of 6, his musical journey began, with major accomplishments throughout his younger years performing in his high school big band, his combo, and The Young Sounds Of Arizona.

In his collegiate years, Noah began establishing himself around the Phoenix area as both a leader and sideman. He was a long standing member of the Paradise Valley Community College Monday night big band, numerous Scottsdale Community College combos, as well as groups of his own. While attending SCC he had the privilege of studying with great local musicians such as Eric Rasmussen, Will Goble, and Fred Forney. After receiving the George Benson Honorary Scholarship, he attended Portland State University under the Brad Merserau scholarship while studying with George Colligan and Darrell Grant. As a recent college graduate, Noah is a fixture of the Portland Jazz community sharing his passion for Black American music throughout the west coast.

Noah has performed with renowned musicians such as Bernard Purdie, Lewis Nash, Alex Acuna, Jaleel Shaw, Sean Jones, and Dennis Rowland. In addition he has also toured around the country with groups such as Ron Artis II, Climbing Poetree, and Taina Asili.

 

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Jesse Fischer, piano & keys
TBA, saxophones
Kyle Miles, electric bass
Tim "Smithsoneon" Smith, Jr., drums 
 
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Donna “Mookie” Jones - Lead Vocals
Donna is a Portland native whose singing roots grew deep and early in gospel church choirs. She stretched her vocal and performing skills in local musical theater productions such as "The Wiz" with Stumptown Stages and "Who I Am Celebrating Me" with World Stage Theater. She is now living her dream bringing that unique sultry and powerful vocal talent to audiences across the Pacific Northwest as the lead vocalist for Mookie & the Jazz Cats.  Andrew Jankowski wrote in Willamette Week that “Jones brings plenty of personality to her original songs, as well as renditions of standards like “Black Coffee’, “At Last”, and “Stormy Monday.”

Paul K Ward - Piano, keys
Paul is a pianist, composer, and arranger with a profound respect for the craft of music making, and a deep love for the art of music education.

Madison DeSantis – Percussion
Madison started playing drums when he was 13, teaching himself on his older brothers set. In 2011 he joined CSU Chico’s Jazz X-press under Rocky Winslow. After graduating with a degree in musical composition and performance he joined the band BOGG in 2015. The band specialized in the exploration of new and innovative ideas. He also toured the country, backing up Max Minardi on a 4-week trek. He has played in groups from punk to country, backing many singers and playing for musicals; but found his calling in the world of “jazz”. He has also created projects for solo drums and electronics under the moniker maditheboi.

James Latham – Double Bass
James is a double bassist, musician, recording artist, manager, promoter, and producer who has played diverse music for nearly 40 years in New York, Boston, San Francisco, and now Portland.  He studied double bass with Phil Baker of Pink Martini and Don Hermanns of the Oregon Symphony Orchestra. James formed and performed with indie band The Frigidaires in New York, as well as such notable Oregon musicians and groups as Donna Jones & the Delegation, Calysta Cheyenne, Brigitta Tuescher, Christopher Brown, and many others.

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Polyrhythmics sound originated in Seattle’s underground deep funk scene combining impossibly tight grooves with bold brass and hypnotic percussion that showcased elements of R&B, progressive jazz, and Afrobeat which defined the instrumental group’s early era sound.  

Now on their thirteenth year as a recording project and touring ensemble, the band’s sound continues to evolve following six full length albums, several EPs and live releases. The virtuosic musicianship and musical conversation built on a relentless touring schedule of the previous decade has led them to a brand of psych-funk that fills a room with an impending mood where anything could happen - sometimes evoking their brighter and cinematic Fela-influences, but also a more sinister and darker turn toward a more progressive sonic palette.

Polyrhythmics are:

Ben Bloom: Guitars, Grant Schroff: Drums, Nathan Spicer: Keyboards, Jason Gray: Bass, Scott Morning: Trumpet, Elijah Clark: Trombone, Art Brown: Sax and Flute
 
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