Portland’s 2024 Cathedral Park Jazz Festival | Longest-running Free Jazz Festival West of the Mississippi

The Cathedral Park Jazz Festival is both the longest-running free annual jazz festival west of the Mississippi. The free event features local jazz, blues, soul, and Latin artists.

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Cathedral Park FREE Jazz Festival
July 19-21, 2024
More info: jazzoregon.org

The final lineup and schedule of performances has been announced for the free Cathedral Park Jazz Festival [CPJF] featuring local jazz, blues, soul, and Latin artists for the 44th year of the festival, taking place on Friday, July 19, Saturday July 20, and Sunday July 21, 2024 in Cathedral Park under the historic St Johns Bridge in North Portland.

Oregonians Credit Union and the Jazz Society of Oregon [JSO] are this year’s presenting sponsors.  The festival is organized by the Jazz Society of Oregon, which is still seeking additional sponsors, donations, and volunteers.

Friday, July 19 is dedicated to the Blues, starting at 4:30 pm.

Saturday, July 20 and Sunday, July 21 features a mix of jazz, soul and Latin performers starting at 1pm on both days.

Final Performance Lineup and Schedule

Friday, July 19:

• 4:30pm-5:30pm– The four-piece Jr. T Blues Band with Tevis Hodge, plays an eclectic mix of Piedmont, Delta, Texas, urban and country blues, jug band, jazz, and folk music.
• 6pm -7pm – the soulful R&B band, Fenix Rising led by saxophonist/blues vocalist Fenix Sanders, has performed weekly for nearly 20 years at Portland’s Blue Diamond.
• 7:30pm-8:30pm –Ms. Vee and a Badass Band, led by singer, musician, writer and comedienne, Valyria Lewis and under the direction of jake Koprowski, will play a Soul Blues-Souther Soul sound that marries soul, funk, and R&B. Ms Vee has won numerous awards in the US and internationally.
• 9pm-10pm – The five-member band of singer/songwriter/harmonica player Johnny Wheels and the Swamp Donkeys plays Blues blended with R&B, soul, jazz, funk and rock.A childhood accident that left Wheels paralyzed from the neck down did not deter him from pursuing his love of music.

Saturday, July 20:

• 1pm-2pm – AJAM Student Ensemblewill play straight-ahead jazz (genre of jazz that developed in the 1960s, with roots in the prior two decades). The ensemble is part of The Alan Jones Academy of Music, a private music education institution for all ages in Portland, founded by drummer, composer, and Berklee alumni Alan Jones.
• 2:30pm-3:30pm – Alan Jones’ Social Music Born in Portland, drummer/composer Jonesstarted touring in Europe at age 16 with Amsterdam-based organist Count Dutch. Jones has recorded with international stars like Kenny Wheeler and Lee Konitz, as well as local Portland legends such as Jim Pepper and Ralph Towner.
• 4pm-5pm – Jazz singer and composer Lauren “Lo” Steeleincorporates soul, gospel, blues and modern R&B and will sing original songs from her first album, “Happy Girl”.
• 5:30pm – 6:30pm – Cojunto Berretin is a group oftop tango musicians, playing traditional Argentine tangos, milongas, and valses for social dancing. Among its members are some of Portland’s top jazz musicians, members of the Oregon Symphony, and Tango Berretin founder/dancer/teacher, Alex Krebs. The group has performed at tango festivals across the country and has released seven albums.
• 7pm-8pm – Onion, an instrumental quintet creates an orchestrated jazz fusion sound of original compositions with layers of jazz, rock, hip-hop, and funk, inspired by groups like Return to Forever.
• 8:30pm – 9:45pm – Tyrone Hendrix’ Love Train band: Innovative drummer/multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer Tyrone Hendrix, cousin of Jimi, blends soul, funk, and jazz. Hendrix performed with artists, such as Prince and Stevie Wonder.

Sunday, July 21:

• 1pm-2pm the Yugen Rashad Soul Jazz Project, led by self-taught musician and award-winning Portland broadcaster Rashad,who performs from behind his keyboard while playing bass with his left hand emphasizes improvisation.
• 2:30pm-3:30pm Internationally renowned jazz pianist and multi-instrumentalist, composer, teacher and bandleader George Colligan will play with his trio,featuring Zyanna (new vocalist).
• 4pm – 5pm – Bobby Torres Ensemble, led by percussionist, songwriter, session musician and record producer Torres, who toured for 10 years with Tom Jones, then formed his own Latin jazz group in Portland.
• 5:30pm-6:30pm – Mel Brown B-3 Organ Group will perform aTribute to Les McCann. Nearly every member of the group led by Portland’s own “Gentleman of Jazz” Brown played with the late McCann.
• 7pm- 8pm Jujuba– the 10-member Nigerian Afrobeat group Jujuba combines the rhythms of Afrobeat legends Fela Kuti and King Sunny Ade with the godfather of soul, James Brown, and features Talking Drum master, Nojeem Lasisi. Percussion, rhythm, and horn sections create a sound designed to bring audiences to the dance floor.

CPJF is the longest-running free annual jazz festival west of the Mississippi – and Portland’s longest-running annual community event, according to organizers. Future announcements will provide the full lineup and times of each performance. There is no admission charge.