February 2026 Check-In's

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Upcoming:

Olivia Fields Quartet At
The 1905 Jazz Club, Portland, Oregon
Thursday, February 12, 2026, 8:30 PM

Saxophonist, teacher, musician!

Olivia is a Portland based saxophonist and teacher who holds a Masters Degree from the University of Oregon in Jazz Studies. As of now, Olivia can be heard playing with her group, The Olivia Fields Quintet, as well as various other musical projects around Oregon.

Currently, Olivia works as an Artist in Residence at various Portland Public Schools. Here, she leads group lessons for high school and middle school saxophone students, targeting essential skills like intonation, articulation, and great saxophone technique. Olivia also works as a PPS jazz band clinician, offering valuable insight and feedback to band directors on how to improve their bands' performances.

On top of her work as a PPS Artist in Residence, Olivia is proud of the work her private students do in lessons. Private students get a one hour- long lesson every week, and depending on the various goals of each student, lessons delve into various levels of saxophone technique, improvisation, transcription, and jazz history. Some of these students come to her with a beginning skill set while other students are college- level improvisors hoping to start a professional career. Regardless of age or skill, however, Olivia can help anyone play the saxophone to the best of their ability.

As a lifelong student, most of Olivia's time spent outside of the classroom is dedicated to deepening her own knowledge, appreciation, and understanding of music. Olivia takes weekly lessons with her teacher, Alan Jones, and works hard to continuously improve her skills as a saxophonist and jazz musician. Olivia is available for teaching private lessons, providing masterclasses, playing shows, and as a guest artist.

Delfayo Marsalis & The Uptown Jazz Orchestra
Jack London Revue, Portland, Oregon
Sunday, February 21, 2026, 7:30 PM, Doors open at 6:30 PM

In 2007, NEA Jazz Master and Grammy Award winning trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis formed the Uptown Jazz Orchestra (UJO) for the purpose of keeping important jazz music traditions alive; such as riff-playing, spontaneous group improvisations, and collective New Orleans instrumental polyphony. At the time, Marsalis realized that the New Orleans music community was lacking the infusion of young homegrown talent outside of the great brass band tradition, and chose to form an orchestra that could present traditional, classic, and modern compositions. with authenticity. Since that time, UJO has grown into one of the premier large ensembles in the world, releasing three CDs to critical acclaim, and touring locally, nationally, and internationally.

In 2008, Marsalis founded the educational program, "Swinging with the Cool School" (a soft introduction to jazz for hip tots and adults), which was used as an experimental form of music therapy at the New Orleans Children Hospital. The Cool School has since expanded to introduce live instrumental jazz to students around the country, with the intent of helping young people develop a relationship with music that has gradually disappeared from mainstream radio and media at large. Through these performances, UJO is able to introduce students (and adults) to the wide emotional range of instrumental music.

Since 2021, UJO has produced the annual Jazz at Congo Square Festival (JACS) to celebrate New Orleans culture by presenting live performances of musicians, poets, dancers, and Black Masking Indians to local and visiting audiences. JACS Festival also features local food, arts & craft vendors. Marsalis and the Uptown Jazz Orchestra plan to continue using the great legacy of American music to engage and hopefully inspire the younger generations for many years.

Mel Brown B3 Organ Group At
The 1905 Jazz Club, Portland, Oregon
Sunday, February 22, 2026, 7:30 PM

"If this band appeared in New York City, they'd be a sensation!" That was guitar great--and one-time Mel Brown bandmate--George Benson's reaction after hearing the Mel Brown B-3 Organ Group open for him back in September, 2003 at Oregon's prestigious Britt Festival.

In fact, this true all-star band--each member is widely viewed as tops in the Northwest on his instrument--has been a sensation for a long while now. With a collective resume that reads like a "Who's Who" of jazz, blues, and soul (all four members are Oregon Music Hall of Fame inductees), this group has the talent and confidence to be completely spontaneous--from their blistering solos to their improvised arrangements and segues. No wonder they've thrilled audiences wherever they've played.

Chuck Israels Jazz Orchestra
Jack London Revue, Portland, Oregon
Shelli Tucker, Barbara & Me
Thursday, February 26, 2026, 8 PM, Doors open at 7 PM

Featuring: Chuck Israels:Bass | John Nastos: Alto saxophone | Dave Evans: Tenor saxophone | Joe Manis: Baritone saxophone | Paul Mazzio: Trumpet | John Moak: Trombone | Dan Faehnle: Guitar | Michael Rodenkirch: Drums Note: Lineup may vary

Chuck Israels, revered as one of the preeminent bassists in the world, GRAMMY winner has performed and recorded with Billie Holiday, Benny Goodman, Herbie Hancock, John Coltrane, Bud Powell, Coleman Hawkins, Stan Getz, Bill Evans, J.J. Johnson, Rosemary Clooney, Tony Williams, Eric Dolphy, Jim Hall, Patti Austin, Gary Burton, George Russell, the Kronos String Quartet, and countless others.

Among Chuck's many recordings as a bassist, some outstanding ones include: Coltrane Time, with John Coltrane; My Point of View, with Herbie Hancock; Getz au Go-Go, with Stan Getz; and many recordings with the Bill Evans Trio, including The Town Hall Concert; The Second Trio; Trio '65; Live at the Trident; and Time Remembered. In 2020 Chuck won a GRAMMY for his work with opera star Joyce DiDonato on her recording "Songplay"

As an acclaimed composer and arranger, Chuck has written for Bill Evans, John Coltrane, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, Berkshire Music Center, Richard Stoltzman, Eastman Jazz Ensemble, Swedish Radio Jazz Orchestra, West German Radio Jazz Orchestra, North German Radio Jazz Orchestra, Radio Denmark Jazz Orchestra, Hannover Symphony Orchestra, Metropole Orchestra, and others.

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