Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble @ OSU

PJCE performs “From Maxville to Vanport” in the Memorial Union Ballroom at Oregon State University. Reserve your free ticket here.

PORTLAND JAZZ COMPOSERS ENSEMBLE IN RESIDENCE AT OSU

The OSU Jazz Ensemble, directed by Ryan Biesack, performs at 7:30 pm, PJCE follows at 8:30, concluding around 9:30 pm. The performance concludes a day of workshops with OSU students led by vocalist Marilyn Keller, composer Ezra Weiss, and PJCE Executive Director and trumpeter Douglas Detrick.

The 12-piece Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble performs original songs and short films inspired by two towns that reveal distinctive viewpoints of the state’s under-represented Black history. Looking honestly at the prejudice these people faced, the joyful program celebrates their resilience, courage, and important contributions to Oregon through jazz, R&B, and blues.

The music, composed by Weiss with lyrics by poet S. Renee Mitchell, is performed by the PJCE with vocalist Marilyn Keller. The project also includes two film shorts by filmmaker Kalimah Abioto scored by Weiss that will be projected with the ensemble performing the score. http://pjce.org/maxville-to-vanport/

From Maxville to Vanport was funded by the Oregon Community Foundation’s Creative Heights program and was sponsored by Vanport Mosaic and Oregon Historical Society.