NEWS

September music previews

We head into the fall with an incredible line-up of music for you!
Featured artists include Les McCann and the Javon Jackson Band , Curtis Fuller joining the Mel Brown Quartet, MusicFest NW, and many of your local favorites. Please check out our music notes below for news and information about all of the great artists performing at Jimmy Mak's this month.

As always, dinner reservations are recommended to guarantee seating for all of our shows. Please contact us at 503-295-6542 for reservations and additional information.

RESIDENT EVENTS:

Every Tuesday
"Partners in Jazz"
6:30pm, with The Mel Brown Septet following at 8:00pm
Jimmy Mak’s is proud to feature a series of shows designed to bring you the very best up-and-coming jazz artists in Portland. There are many exciting and talented new artists working in Portland right now, our hope is to introduce you to the next generation of jazz musicians coming up in the Portland scene. Every Tuesday, the featured artist in our "Partners in Jazz" series will open for the Mel Brown Septet at 6:30pm, and play until 7:30pm. The Mel Brown Septet will hit it with their blend of straight-ahead and hard-bop jazz, playing two sets, starting at 8pm. The dates and artists in our "Partners in Jazz" series include:

Tuesday, August 24th, Javier Nero
Tuesday, August 31st, no "Partners" artist

Monday nights
Dan Balmer, no cover.
Dan Balmer leads off our week with a variety of trios. Dan’s music is best described as guitar-based contemporary jazz, reflecting the great guitarists of the 70’s (i.e. John McLaughlin, Pat Methany, Bill Frisell etc.).  His line-ups include Micah Kassel, Carlton Jackson, Todd Straight, and Alan Jones on drums. Clay Giberson and George Mitchell rotate on keyboards, with Jeff Leonard and Damian Erskine rotating on bass. On two Mondays a month, Dan teams with Kassel and Giberson to form Go By Train, a post-modern look into the future of jazz-fusion. There is no cover on Mondays, music starts at 8:00, with  minors welcome until 9:30. Check out Dan at www.danbalmer.com.

Tuesday nights
The Mel Brown Jazz Orchestra, $6.00 cover
In 1989, legendary trumpeter Doc Severensen (the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson) implored Mel Brown to “never let this band stop playing.” The extraordinary performance at the 1989 Playboy Jazz Festival was only a hint of things to come. Recently renamed as the Mel Brown Jazz Orchestra, this octet continues to carry the torch of hard-bop and post-bop jazz in the Pacific Northwest. The Godfather of Portland jazz, and one of the World’s finest drummers, Mel is joined in the rhythm section by pianist/composer, Gordon Lee and bassist, Andre St. James. The five-horn line-up features Renato Caranto on tenor saxophone, Warren Rand on alto saxophone, Derek Sims on trumpet and flugelhorn, Stan Bock on trombone and euphonium, and Thara Memory on trumpet. Adjunct members include John Nastos (saxophones), Farnell Newton (trumpet), Jof Lee (piano), and Carlton Jackson (drums). The Mel Brown Jazz Orchestra re-creates the sound of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, segueing from one tune to the next with an ease that makes the songs sound like one continuous piece of music.

Wednesday nights
The Mel Brown Quartet, $5.00 cover
If you were to look up the word “swinging” in the dictionary, the definition and picture would be of the Mel Brown Quartet. The band plays a smart mixture of original material and intelligent arrangements, in the style of Oscar Peterson and Gene Harris. Pianist and musical director, Tony Pacini brings his extensive book of original material and crafty arrangements to the mix.  Bass guru, Ed Bennett lends some of his own compositions, in addition to his amazing playing.  Dan Balmer brings his versatile guitar playing, and some of his own music as well. The band is anchored by Mel’s drumming, featuring his legendary brushwork. This group represents some of the finest straight-ahead jazz played being played anywhere in the world today. You can learn more about them at www.tonypacini.com/mbqinfo.htm.

Thursday nights
The Mel Brown B-3 Organ Group, $5.00 cover
The Mel Brown B-3 Organ Group has held court on Thursday nights for over ten years, and continues to smoke the house with every show. They play organ based soul jazz in the tradition of Jimmy Smith, Jack McDuff, and Jimmy McGriff. Mel also brings his 20 plus years of Motown work to the table, as the band plays instrumental versions of your favorite Motown music. The engine of the band is clearly the Hammond B-3 Organ, in the very capable hands of Louis Pain. Adding melodic under-pinning and great grooving ability is guitarist, Dan Balmer. Out front with his smoldering tenor saxophone, is the man with more soul in his little finger than most of us have in our whole bodies, Renato Caranto. Finally, we’re very happy to welcome back percussionist, Curtis Craft! This group has really been the defining sound for Jimmy Mak’s since our early days, and it has been said that you can’t truly call yourself a Portlander, if you haven’t checked out Mel and this great band. Learn more at www.myspace.com/melbrownb3organgroup.
Stephanie Schneiderman performs material from her landmark CD Dangerous Fruit, on the first Thursday of every month. Schneiderman's partnership with prolific Northwest electronic producer/DJ Keith Schreiner reveals songs that artfully combine ambient-indie-pop, trip hop, folk and soul. Joining Stephanie is a bright young new-to-Portland talent, Jade Vanacore, on keys and background vocals. The duo will experiment on new songs as well with beats, loops, keys, electric guitar and harmonies.
These performances go from 7:00-8:00pm, with no additional cover. The B3 Group begins at 8:30pm on these evenings.

SEPTEMBER MUSIC NOTES

Ed Bennett
CD Release Event
Friday, September 3rd
$10 Cover
Ed Bennett has long been considered one of the West Coast's premiere string bass players. Since his arrival in 1990, Ed has become a mainstay in the Portland jazz community. Bennett, longtime bassist for Carmen McRae, and member of the Mel Brown Quartet (and Saphu Records CEO) will release his fifth title as bandleader. En Route features Bennett’s clever bee-bop flavored compositions, penned for trumpet and tenor sax, with rhythm section – piano, bass, and drums. The fresh sounds of Bennett’s original compositions are bee-bop influenced, but unique with twists in their harmonic progressions and unusual forms. The musicians for this date, Paul Mazzio (trumpet and flugelhorn), Scott Hall (tenor and soprano sax), Dan Gaynor (piano), and Todd Strait (former longtime drummer for vocalist Karrin Allyson), are a winning combination both as accompanists and soloists for Bennett’s originals. Ten original compositions from Ed are represented here, with an eleventh obscure standard present, For Heaven’s Sake. Check out Ed’s website at www.edbennett.net for more information on this incredible artist and also visit www.saphurecords.com to hear even more of his music.

The Bobby Torres Ensemble
Saturday, September 4th
$10 Cover
Bobby Torres knows how to put a great band together. His full sized ensemble rips it up every time they take our stage, and tonight will be no exception. As always, Bobby’s famous percussion leads the way, with help from drummer James Travers and pianist Brian Ward. Bobby’s five-piece horn section always blows the house down, and features a rotating line up of Portland’s best players. And to top it all off, he’s put together the smoldering sexy duo of Karla Harris and Julana Torres on the vocals. As a special feature for this show, we will be clearing space for dancing right in front of the stage! I can’t imagine a better way to spend a holiday weekend than dancing the night away to this great band.  If you haven’t caught them, you’ve been missing out! But don’t fret people you can come on down and discover this local legend tonight! ‘Cause with this band, the party is always happening! Check him out at www.bobbytorres.com. 

MusicFest Northwest
Friday, September 10th
$10 Cover/ MFNW Wristband at the door each night
For More info and complete lineups visit www.musicfestnw.com
Brownish Black, 8pm
Devin Phillips, 9pm
Barry Hampton & The Triple Grip, 10pm
Copacrescent, 11pm
Fractal Quintet, midnight

MusicFest Northwest
Saturday, September 11th
$10 Cover/ MFNW Wristband at the door each night
For More info and complete lineups visit www.musicfestnw.com
Mosley Wotta, 8pm
Shabazz Palaces, 9pm
Champagne Champagne, 10pm
Cloudy October, 11pm
THEESatisfaction, midnight

The Javon Jackson Band
Special Guest, Les McCann
Thursday and Friday, September 16th & 17th
Advanced Tickets $25 Guaranteed Seating/$22 General Admission
Available at www.ticketsoregon.com
Javon Jackson came into international prominence as a member of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers.  As a member of Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, Javon toured and made many recordings with the legendary drummer.  In addition to Blakey, Jackson has toured and recorded with Elvin Jones, Freddie Hubbard, Betty Carter, Cedar Walton, Ron Carter, Donald Byrd, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Richard Davis, Bobby Hutcherson, Curtis Fuller, and Stanley Turrentine. Javon's band recently released Once Upon a Melody, which hit #1 on the jazz radio charts.

Tonight, Les McCann joins the Javon Jackson Band as their featured special guest. Les McCann, the iconic soul jazz pianist, vocalist and composer is known as one of the godfathers of soul jazz, and recognized as a founding force for the genre known as funky jazz, established in the mid 1960’s.
McCann, along with saxophonist Eddie Harris, headlined one of the greatest jazz concerts of all time, the 1969 Montreaux Jazz Festival.The resulting album, Swiss Movement, featuring the single "Compared to What", went on to become a bestseller, introducing a new generation to jazz.
Get a little taste from YouTube, and find out more about these great artists at www.JavonJackson.com.   

Soul Vaccination
Saturday, September 18th
$10 Cover
We’re very excited to welcome back the serious funk and soul of Soul Vaccination! This fixture in the Northwest music scene has been bringing you tunes from the likes of Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Earth Wind & Fire and Tower of Power for years. And they do it quite well, thank you. The band features the mighty Hammond B-3 organ playing of Louis Pain as well as the outstanding guitar playing of Kerry Movassa. Handling the bass is Leah Hinchcliff, while Edwin Coleman III keeps the time on drums. Jeannine Wiggins and Mark Wyatt share the vocal duties. And Lewis Livermore and Dave Mills carry the backbone sound of the Soul Vax horns on trumpets with Mary Sue Tobin and Gary Harris on saxophones. And here is the kicker; they’ve recently added saxophonist Tim Bryson, who helps round out the old-school T.O.P. sound. It is seriously heavy folks! Be sure to pick up a copy of their latest CD, recorded live at Jimmy Mak’s! There is no doubt that this show will blow the roof off of the club, so don’t miss out! Check then out at www.soulvax.com.

Curtis Fuller
with the Mel Brown Quartet
Wednesday, September 22nd
Advanced tickets $22 guaranteed seating/$20 general admission
Available at www.ticketsoregon.com
Trombonist Curtis Fuller has been an important figure in jazz since his arrival in New York City in 1957. Alfred Lion of Blue Note records heard him playing with Miles Davis’ sextet, and immediately put him to work for the label as a sideman and leader. The results were extraordinary to say the least. Inside of a year, he’d become the only trombonist to record with Bud Powell, Jimmy Smith and John Coltrane, working on Coltrane’s seminal work, Blue Trane. He would then go on to from a relationship with Benny Golson, which would lead to a chair in Golson and Art Farmer’s Jazztet. Fuller then moved on to Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers.  At this point, the Messengers featured probably their strongest line-ups with Wayne Shorter, Lee Morgan, Freddie Hubbard, Cedar Walton, Jymie Merrit, and Reggie Workman. It was a fertile time for writing and performing in the post-bop/hard-bop genre, and Curtis was right in the middle of all of it.

Tonight, Curtis will recieve some assistance from Portland’s Godfather of jazz, drummer Mel Brown. Tony Pacini will handle the piano, with Ed Bennett  handling the bass. Rounding out the quartet for this show will be special guest saxophonist Renato Caranto. Anyone who has seen and heard Renato in acion here knows that his tenor will be a perfect fit with Curtis’ trombone.  Folks, I can’t tell you how excited we are for this show. It truly promises to be a highlight on this fall’s calendar!

Andrew Oliver Kora Band Recording Release
with special guests Blue Cranes
Friday, September 24th
$10 Cover
Rising young Portland pianist and composer Andrew Oliver will bring his Seattle-based Kora Band back to Jimmy Mak's to celebrate their new recording, Live at Jimmy Mak’s. The recording, available only digitally, was a tour de force for Kora player Kane Mathis, who had a crowd of about thirty people gathered around him after the show to hear him play even more.
The Andrew Oliver Kora Band combines elements of jazz and traditional West African music to create a unique soul-stirring sound. Kane is one of the most accomplished Kora players in the U.S., having spent many years in The Gambia studying with master musicians. Also featured are Chad McCullough on trumpet, Brady Millard-Kish on bass, and Mark DiFlorio on drums. This talented ensemble performs original compositions designed to explore the many possibilities of the Kora’s unique timbre, as well as traditional and modern songs from West Africa arranged specifically for the band. 

Opening the evening will be the Blue Cranes; the Portland-based "indie-jazz" group which has been gaining acclaim around the region. They gracefully merge nostalgic homages to old jazz, with completely fresh innovations on the genre. This will be an evening of innovative music, reflecting the continued importance of the jazz tradition, and demonstrating several different ways in which it can be applied to the modern, globalized world, effectively and tastefully integrating with other musical traditions

You can learn more about these two bands by visiting http://www.kora.andrewoliver.net and http://www.bluecranesmusic.com.

Linda Hornbuckle
Saturday, September 25th
$10 Cover
Every time I think I’ve heard this band at their best, they come back and take it even higher the next time. So I’m not kidding when I say that Linda Hornbuckle and her band just can’t be missed. Without a doubt, she’s one of the very baddest singers anywhere, and with her powerful band she consistently provides us with some of our best shows. Her rhythm section has recently welcomed back longtime drummer Brian Foxworth, who also adds his splendid vocal talents. Locking up with him are the two guys I like to call the peanut butter and jelly sandwich of funk, bassist Randy Monroe and guitarist Doug Lewis. Bringing his undeniably soulful saxophone is the powerful Renato Caranto. The keyboards of Janice Scroggins, and Louis Pain on his Hammond B-3 Organ round out the band. This is jazz, funk and soul music all in one night people. To learn more about Linda, check her out at www.lindahornbuckle.com. Once again, this is a show you don’t want to miss, so get down and git down!

As always, we thank you for your continued support of live music in Portland, and be sure to become a fan of Jimmy Mak's on Facebook!

From behind the bar,
JD