Every year, as the sun finally begins to emerge in earnest, everyone across the city of Portland celebrates getting out in every way they can, and that especially includes a variety of jazz festivals all across the town and all through the summer season. With so much music to catch alongside all those warm, bright rays, it’s helpful to sketch out the path ahead for the next few months.
Cathedral Park (July 18-20)
This free festival in the St. John’s neighborhood essentially kicks off the summer jazz festival season in earnest, embracing the expansive park under the shade of the majestic St. John’s Bridge. With a line-up including our favorites Tezeta Band, BrandonLee Cierley, Beacon Street Titans with Shirley Nanette, and Kerry Politzer, this weekend in the middle of July is always a can’t miss event of the summer.
Vanport Jazz Festival (August 1 & 2)
There was a time around the 90s or so for a certain generational pocket who remember evenings in the clubs “for the grown & sexy”, this festival rings some bells for them. This is for the folks who like the smooth and easy jams of Norman Brown, being crooned by Jon B, being blown away by the multifaceted vocal talents of Avery*Sunshine, or the smooth jams of Kayla Waters.
Pickathon (July 31 - August 3)
This romp in the woods of the Pendarvis Farm in Happy Valley, Oregon has bent in folk music directions over the years but its eyebrow-raising jazz without boundaries selections in their lineup over the years has made Pickathon quite the noteworthy festival in the Pacific Northwest, and this year’s lineup including SML altogether as well as bassist Anna Butterss and saxophonist Josh Johnson with their own lovingly spacey projects, Surprise Chef, Jimetta Rose & The Voices of Creation, and the expansive Kahil El’Zabar Ethnic Heritage Ensemble makes this year no exception.
Montavilla Jazz Festival (Labor Day Weekend, August 29-31)
This East Portland staple of a festival is focused on highlighting the Portland jazz scene. With a mission of community connectivity, this festival at the unofficial end of summer is worth the journey, especially with this year’s lineup including mae.sun (the project of Hailey Niswanger), the always delightful trumpeter Cyrus Nabipoor, and the Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble featuring guitarist Mary Flower.