"History, Hope & Harmony:" A FREE Black History Month reception

Esperanza Spalding, a celebrated bassist, vocalist, composer and the FIRST jazz artist to win a Grammy for Best New Artist, will headline a public Black History Month reception on Wednesday, Feb. 23, which gives tribute to Spalding's local mentors, Thara Memory and Darrell Grant, as well as local jazz elders, Sweet Baby James and Bobby Bradford. Mayor Sam Adams will also be reading a mayoral... [read more]

Esperanza Spalding, a celebrated bassist, vocalist, composer and the FIRST jazz artist to win a Grammy for Best New Artist, will headline a public Black History Month reception on Wednesday, Feb. 23, which gives tribute to Spalding's local mentors, Thara Memory and Darrell Grant, as well as local jazz elders, Sweet Baby James and Bobby Bradford. Mayor Sam Adams will also be reading a mayoral proclamation honoring Spalding and Portland's few remaining jazz elders.

The city’s series of February’s jazz-related events, titled “History, Hope & Harmony,” all celebrate community, honor diversity and showcase the impressive musical and artistic talents of local residents. The series, which will occur at various locations, is being organized through a partnership between the City of Portland, PDX Jazz and Twysted Healing Systahs, a creative consulting company founded by former award-winning Oregonian columnist S. Renee Mitchell.

Spalding is also the artistic and community ambassador for PDX Jazz, the presenting organization of the Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air Portland Jazz Festival presented by U.S. Bank. She will be performing Feb. 25 at the Newmark Theatre inside the Portland Center for the Performing Arts.

Here are other highlights of the Feb. 23 public reception:
* A limited number of tickets will be given away for the last weekend performances of Sherman: A Jazz Opera, which is loosely based on the life of saxophone player Sherman Thomas. The original score was written by Thara Memory, one of Spalding's local mentors; libretto by S. Renee Mitchell. The performances, featuring LaRhonda Steele and Reggie Houston, are sponsored by the Regional Arts & Culture Council.
* A compelling 15-minute documentary, which interviews numerous local musicians who are knowledgeable about the legacy of North Williams Avenue, when it was known as "Black Broadway." During the post-war era, the street was the heartbeat of Portland’s black community and attracted well-known musicians, singers and dancers from around the country, including Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong.
* A rarely seen photographic display of the art of former city commissioner and jazz enthusiast the late Dick Bogle, who often photographed and wrote about local jazz artists.
* Live music by a multi-generational jazz band, led by Thara Memory.

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