Internationally-acclaimed pianist and composer George Colligan picks a dream team of young Portland artists for PJCE’s first in-person concert since February 2020. Fredson the Jeffy opens.

(PORTLAND, OR)— Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble (PJCE) returns to the stage with a hybrid in-person and live-streamed performance featuring composer and pianist George Colligan on Sunday, October 17, 2021 at 7:30pm PDT at Portland’s Old Church Concert Hall (1422 SW 11th Ave). The concert is an album release for Colligan’s chamber-jazz trio Fredson the Jeffy that will open the show, performing music from their upcoming PJCE Records release.

The trio will be followed by PJCE’s flagship 12-member jazz ensemble featuring Colligan on piano. In addition to selections from Colligan’s Fathers and Sons suite that PJCE commissioned in 2016, young composers Carlos Andres Moreno, Quinn Walker (both PJCE Young Jazz Composers program alums), and Wes Georgiev will also contribute world premiere compositions, and vocalist Anna Meyer will perform as well.

Like a tap takeover at your favorite brewpub, PJCE asked pianist, composer, and Portland State University professor George Colligan to assemble a cast of his favorite young Portland jazz artists to compose and perform with in PJCE’s first in-person concert since the beginning of the pandemic. Among Portland’s brightest jazz stars and a steady presence on national and international jazz stages, PJCE wanted to shine a spotlight on Colligan, a brilliant musician who plays an invaluable role as a mentor in the Portlandjazz community.

Concert details:

Featuring George Colligan
Sunday, October 17, 2021
7:30 pm, 6:30 pm doors | The Old Church | 1422 SW 11th Ave, Portland, OR 97201
Opening set by George Colligan’s Fredson the Jeffy at 7:30 pm (Album release!)
Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble featuring George Colligan at 8:30 pm
Event page: https://pjce.org/event/featuring-george-colligan/

In person tickets $5-35: 
https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=129959

Advanced in-person tickets: $30 Premium*, $25 General, $20 Senior, $10 Youth (30 and Under), $5 Arts for All.
Day of Show in-person tickets: $35 Premium*, $30 General, $25 Senior, $15 Youth (30 and Under), $5 Arts for All. 

* Premium tickets are reserved, center section in front three rows.

In-person COVID-19 Procedure: All attendees must present proof of COVID-19 vaccination status at the door, and must wear a face covering while inside the building.

Livestream Tickets: $10 or more: https://pjce.bandcamp.com/merch/george-colligan-with-pjce-fredson-the-jeffy
Suggested $20 for multiple viewers in a household, $10 for individuals
Access to replay for 48 hours.

 

About George Colligan: George Colligan is a pianist, organist, drummer, trumpeter, teacher, and bandleader, who is one of the most original and compelling jazz artists of his generation. An award-winning composer (Chamber Music America/Doris Duke Foundation grant recipient, RACC Grant Winner) and player (winner, Jazzconnect.com Jazz Competition, DownBeat Critics Poll Winner), Colligan is highly in demand as a sideman, having worked with players like Jack DeJohnette, John Scofield, Cassandra Wilson, Ravi Coltrane, and many others both on the bandstand and in recording sessions (appearing on over 150 CDs). He has released 31 recordings full of his intelligent writing and impressive technique.

Colligan’s musical style incorporates everything from showtunes to funk, from free improvisation to 20th century classical music. His performances include dazzling technique as well as mature restraint. Colligan was on the faculty of the Juilliard School for two years and is currently an Assistant Professor at Portland State University. He is currently a member of Jack DeJohnette’s New Quintet. Recently, Colligan started playing the Hammond 44 Melodion (melodica). He also started a popular blog called jazztruth (jazztruth.blogspot.com).

Quinn Walker: Quinn Walker is a Seattle-born, Portland-based trumpet player, composer, producer, and educator. Preserving the legacy of jazz legends such as Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk while embracing and building upon new styles of Black American Music, Quinn Walker strives to bring exciting music that can live within and outside the bounds of the jazz idiom simultaneously. He is currently completing his Master’s degree in jazz performance and working as a graduate educator at the University of Oregon.

Carlos Andres Moreno:  Carlos has always remembered being surrounded by music his whole life. Starting with the piano at a young age he developed an ear for melody and rhythm that soon transferred over to the drum set. Carlos was very interested in rock, punk, and metal music early in his musical endeavors and that heavy hitting foundation still finds its way into his music today. In middle school he slowly fell in love with the improvisational aspect of jazz music and soon began his mentorship with local giant Alan Jones. Through high school he became much more serious about pursuing drumming and composing as a career and started playing alongside mentors such as George Colligan, and eventually Chuck Israels. Now in his early 20’s, Carlos continues to play in Portland with musicians and bands of many different styles and genres. He is currently working on a trio album of his own set to come out soon.

Wes Georgiev: Wes Georgiev is a pianist, composer, and educator based in Portland, Oregon. Growing up in a multicultural and musical household, Wes began playing music at a very young age, learning the rhythms and tones of Bulgarian folk music by ear with the guidance of his parents. He then began 9 years of classical piano study, and transitioned to learning the Black American Music idiom known as jazz at age 12. In his music, Wes aims to transcend notions of “genre” to tell stories steeped in natural, archetypal themes, allowing listeners to superimpose their own stories and experiences as a means to find healing.

Fredson The Jeffy: Original works mixing 20th century European classical techniques with jazz and improvisation in a unique collaborative and genre defying set. Featuring Lisa Lipton, clarinet and bass clarinet; Micah Hummel, drumset.

Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble performers: Joe Manis, soprano saxophone; Machado Mijiga, alto saxophone; Tim Willcox, tenor saxophone; Mieke Bruggeman, bari saxophone; Noah Simpson & Quinn Walker, trumpet; Adriana Wagner & Lars Campbell, trombone; Ryan Meagher, guitar; George Colligan, piano; Andres Moreno, drums; Christian Ramirez, bass.

Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to create original jazz music that engages and supports our community’s diverse artists, cultures and place. In operation since 2008, PJCE is the only organization dedicated to commissioning and performing original music by Portland musicians, building a broad audience through unique, collaborative and community-oriented programming that builds bridges between communities in this vibrant city. Learn more at http://pjce.org.

Share