From its launch in 1982, the Mt. Hood Jazz Festival celebrated the best of Portland area jazz alongside performances from national and international jazz heroes. A partnership between Mt. Hood Community College, the City of Gresham and the Mt. Hood Jazz Association, the festival drew crowds of 30,000 at its height and hosted artists like Sonny Rollins, Dave Brubeck, Tito Puente, Arturo Sandoval and B. B. King; it was even the last place that Rosemary Clooney performed live.
In 2019, the MHCC music department acquired the rights to the festival name and began to plan a relaunch, returning the festival as a live-streamed event in 2021. This May, the fest makes its in-person return with an impressive lineup of touring and local acts alike:
Chris Potter Trio
Helen Sung
Bridgetown Sextet
Christopher Brown
Ezra Weiss Big Bang
Horsfall/Matheny Quartet
Sarah Clarke
Shanghai Woolies
Tony Pacini Trio
Trio Uncontrollable featuring Dan Balmer
Mel Brown B-3 Organ Group
Ryan Meagher Trio
May 6-8, festivalgoers will enjoy the music as well as the beautiful vistas of Troutdale’s Yoshida Haven Estate — a private venue, complete with gardens, not usually open to the public.
All info and tickets here.
Below, find a KMHD-curated playlist of recordings from artists on this year’s festival lineup.