Portland Jazz Audience Steps Out To Celebrate Two Birthdays.

Pianist Tony Pacini & legendary drummer Dick Berk celebrated their birthdays with gusto on Friday, May 28th. The event took place at Portland’s old-school jazz venue and supper club -  Wilf’s Restaurant and Bar.  The Tony Pacini Trio, (Tony Pacini on piano, Ed Bennett on bass, and Tim Rap on drums), set the mood by beginning with Pacini’s composition “Time To Swing” - available on Saphu Records. Throughout the first set, the Trio would exchange drummers shifting between longtime Tony Pacini Trio drummer Tim Rap, and legendary drummer Dick Berk (of Billie Holiday fame). At one point in the night, Rap played African hand drums while Berk was on the drum set.

Seating was limited at this year’s event as guest musicians, jazz media celebrities, and beloved Portland jazz fans turned up in droves to participate in the festivities. Additionally, K.M.H.D. Jazz Radio made their presence visible with Matt Fleeger (station manager), Kate Hutchens Clause (operations manager), and a plethora of on air hosts.

During the second set, musicians were invited up by Pacini to join the powerhouse rhythm section. Some highlights that captivated the SRO audience included the reunion of guitarist Dan Faehnle (formerly of the Diana Krall band) and Pacini performing Bobby Timmons’ tune “Dat Dare”, - an arrangement they both hadn’t played together since the mid 1990’s when they used to work weekly at a Portland jazz hotspot.

Longtime Portland jazz listeners were also treated to rare performances by Chuck Israels (of Bill Evans notoriety), and former Portland resident / vocalist Alyssa Schwary – who moved to Alaska in the 90’s. Schwary (on a family visit), left another lasting memory with Portland fans with her tender interpretation of “The Nearness Of You”.

Other guests included saxophonists Bill Harris, and Portland tenor sax favorite Lee Wuthenow, who performed a stellar rendition of “You’d Be So Nice To Come Home Too”, spontaneously arranged on the spot by Pacini’s trio. When the two birthday cakes were brought out, the room traditionally sang for Pacini and Berk, ate cake, and conversed musical thoughts socially.

- Saphu Staff June 1st, 2010

Photo courtesy of David Gates.

Jun. 1, 2010 | Featured, Live Events | No Comments

M.B.Q. (Mel Brown Quartet), Is A Band Of Bandleaders Who Blow The Stage Apart Every Wednesday Night at Jimmy Mak’s Jazz Club.

M.B.Q. (Mel Brown Quartet), Is a band of bandleaders that blow the stage apart Every Wednesday Night at Jimmy Mak’s Jazz Club.
Read what Jazz Journalist / Radio Celeb George Fendel says about M.B.Q.;

“If mainstream jazz is your bag, the Mel Brown Quartet brings you bop, ballads, blues and scintillating originals making you glad you have ears! With over 100 years of collective experience, here’s a group that knows jazz and brings it boldly to the bandstand on every gig” - George Fendel

Saphu Record’s own staff writer Marci Maitland wrote in the liner notes of the (critically acclaimed) CD “Girl Talk”, the following biographical info: (read below)

“The Mel Brown Quartet came together in the fall of 2002 at Jimmy Mak’s, a popular jazz club in Portland, Oregon. All seasoned jazzmen the group has become a mainstay in the Portland jazz scene playing to enthusiastic, full capacity crowds at every appearance. The quartet, Tony Pacini on piano, Ed Bennett on bass, Dan Balmer on guitar and legendary drummer Mel Brown present on this recording a variety of tasty original compositions and fresh takes of time-honored standards in the jazz tradition.

The band members, all bandleaders in their own right, look forward to Wednesday night when the quartet performs at Jimmy Mak’s. Pianist/musical director Tony Pacini sets the stage for us: “Dan shows up with his guitar, Ed with his bass, Mel with his stickbag and I show up with my music and piano mic. Tonight the room looks full. Dan tells me he would like to play Ed’s tune Waltz For Theo (written for Ed’s youngest son). A fan comes up to me and asks how was my weekend. In response I pull from my book Girl Talk, a popular tune from the 60’s I had arranged that Sunday. Next I select Oldest Son, an original composition written for Mel by Dan. The band takes the stage. Bartender J.D. welcomes the audience promising an evening of world-class jazz. One of us counts the tune off; the band hits and here we go.” – Marci Maitland

Catch all the action Every Wednesday Night At:

Jimmy Mak’s Jazz Club ( Voted one of the top 100 places to listen to jazz in the world – Downbeat Magazine ).

221 N.W. 10th Avenue ( between Davis and Everett Streets )

Portland, Oregon 97209

503-295-6542

8pm – 11:00pm (All ages welcome for the first set)

May. 17, 2010 | Featured, Live Events | No Comments

Trumpeter Byron Stripling Performed In Portland..

Trumpeter Byron Stripling performed in Portland Saturday, May 8th, 2010 at Jimmy Mak’s Jazz Club. The bandstand was equally populated by Portland’s own world-class musicians Gary Hobbs (drums), and Saphu Recording artists Tim Gilson (bass), and Tony Pacini (piano).

Since most of the time Stripling is seen performing in symphony halls world wide, the Louis Armstrong inspired singer/trumpeter had the freedom to spontaneously arrange on the fly intros, cadenzas, and the occasional medley with his attentive, world class Portland rhythm section - a more intimate and jazz-like approach than audiences are used to seeing from the former Count Basie trumpeter. The Portland jazz audience experienced a more casual Byron, at times sitting onstage in a chair interacting with those sitting closest to him.

Some highlights included: Byron and the trio’s approach to “On The Sunny Side Of The Street”, reminiscent of Satchmo’s rendition as opposed to Dizzy’s.

Byron will return to Portland to perform in his more traditional environment with the Oregon Symphony in October this year.

- Saphu Records

Sidenote: Portland trumpeter and Saphu Recording artist Paul Mazzio came to the show to hang out with Bryon on the breaks. ( They both shared horn duties in the trumpet section as “Herdsmen” in Woody Herman’s big band  together ).

(Photo and excerpt below from byronstripling.com)

“A spectacular trumpeter with a very wide range, a beautiful tone, and the ability to blend together many influences into his own style, Byron Stripling is also the artistic director of the Columbus Jazz Orchestra, leader of his own quartet, and constantly in demand to play with pops orchestras around the world. Byron is an extroverted performer who brings the audience into his music. The happiness that he exudes through his trumpet, his vocals and his words is reminiscent of Louis Armstrong yet very much his own.” -Scott Yanow

May. 2, 2010 | Featured, Live Events, News | No Comments

Benny Golson Performed To SRO Portland Audience Wednesday, April 21st, 2010.

Benny Golson played to an S.R.O. Portland audience on Wednesday, April 21st, 2010 at Jimmy Mak’s ( voted one of the top 100 places to hear live jazz in the world by Downbeat Magazine ). Portland’s own world-class jazz musicians Mel Brown (drums), Ed Bennett (bass) and Tony Pacini (piano), shared the bandstand with the honorable and sophisticated jazz tenor legend playing  notable Golson compositions such as, Whisper Not, Along Came Betty, I Remember Clifford, Killer Joe, and Stablemates - just to name a few. In addition to his great playing, Benny’s soft spoken eloquence on the microphone between tunes, ( often humorous ), gave those in attendance a “behind the scenes” glance at jazz history.  At one point Benny announced;  “Maybe the next time, I’ll come back and play two nights here. And, I want this band!” ( Saphu Record Execs are already working on it ). Benny Golson’s performance marked a crowning achievement in our growth as one of the best jazz venues in America, and we hope to see him again very soon.

Mr. Golson’s Bio in brief:- see below

While in high school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Golson played with several other promising young musicians, including John Coltrane, Red Garland, Jimmy Heath, Percy Heath, Philly Joe Jones, and Red Rodney. After graduating from Howard University Golson joined Bull Moose Jackson’s rhythm and blues band; Tadd Dameron, whom Golson came to consider the most important influence on his writing, was Jackson’s pianist at the time.

From 1953 to 1959 Golson played with Dameron’s band and then with the bands of Lionel Hampton, Johnny Hodges, Earl Bostic, Dizzy Gillespie, and Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers.

Golson was working with the Lionel Hampton band at the Apollo Theater in Harlem in 1956 when he learned that Clifford Brown, a noted and well-liked jazz trumpeter who had done a stint with him in Hampton’s band, had died in a car accident. Golson was so moved by the event that he composed the threnody “I Remember Clifford”, as a tribute to a fellow musician and friend.

Golson has composed several other jazz standards such as “Stable Mates”, “Killer Joe”, “Whisper Not”, “Along Came Betty” and “Are You Real?”.

From 1959 to 1962 Golson co-led the Jazztet with Art Farmer. Golson then left jazz to concentrate on studio and orchestral work for 12 years. During this time he composed music for such television shows as Ironside, Room 222, M*A*S*H, and The Six Million Dollar Man. During the mid-1970s Golson returned to jazz playing and recording. In 1983 he re-organized the Jazztet.

In 1995 Golson received the NEA Jazz Masters Award of the National Endowment for the Arts.

Golson made a cameo appearance in the 2004 movie The Terminal, related to his appearance in the A Great Day in Harlem photo. As of 2007, he tours regularly.

In October 2007 Golson received the Mellon Living Legend Legacy Award presented by the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation at a ceremony at the Kennedy Center. Additionally, during the same month, he won the University of Pittsburgh International Academy of Jazz Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award at the university’s 37th Annual Jazz Concert in the Carnegie Music Hall.

In November 2009, Benny was inducted into the International Academy of Jazz Hall of Fame during a performance at the University of Pittsburgh’s annual jazz seminar and concert.

Apr. 17, 2010 | Featured, Live Events, News | No Comments

Jazz journalist Dick Bogle died Thursday, February 25th.

Dick Bogle, passed away on Thursday. The cause of death was congestive heart failure. He was 79.

Nationally Bogle was known as Oregon’s freelance Downbeat Magazine writer. Locally, he also wrote for The Skanner Newspaper, Jazzscene Magazine, and The Oregonian, sharing his wisdom of jazz not only in print, but also on the air waves of K.M.H.D. jazz radio for many years. Additionally, he was an officer with the Portland Police Bureau from 1959 to 1968 before shifting to television, working as a reporter and anchor at KATU (2) for 15 years. After his years in television news, Bogle was elected in 1984 to the City Council, where he served as a commissioner for eight years. In April 2008, Bogle joined the Portland Police Bureau’s cold case unit working on forgotten crimes. We (at Saphu Records) will greatly miss his jazz enthusiasm, journalism, emcee work, smile and laughter.

Feb. 26, 2010 | Featured, News | No Comments