Marquis Hill Archive

PDX JAZZ In Portland, Oregon Concert October 19th, 2017 with the Marquis Hill Quintet

by Audiophile Audition | Oct 24, 2017 | Concert and Festival Reviews

We are not living in the balmiest of times when it comes to the local arts scene. For years, Portland, Oregon had boasted several fine Jazz venues, and it was just a matter of choosing between them on a Friday night. But then, one after another closed up. The last one, the legendary Jimmy Mak’s, closed its doors last fall. However, before we could begin to wallow in despair, a relief operation was mounted by the outstanding Jazz PDX organization, which promises to revitalize jazz in the city and put Portland back on the map for world-class Jazz events.  PDX Jazz goes back to 2003 when it began as the presenting organization for the Jazz festival. The Festival was established as both a cultural tourism initiative and as an educational outreach aimed at broadening understanding of the rich legacy of Black American music.       It is in the last two years, though, that PDX Jazz has redoubled its efforts to promote jazz. Last year’s Jazz festival brought out Maria Schneider, the most illustrious modern jazz composer of our time, and her orchestra to Portland for the their West Coast debut. And as the leaves begin to fall and […]