On Sunday, January 24th, Blackbird Wine (4323 NE Fremont) will present a special evening of music featuring the music of the Blue Cranes.  The Blue Cranes is a Portland-based avant-garde, jazz, pop, rock, experimental, whatever-you-want-to-call-them ensemble featuring Reed Wallsmith on alto saxophone, Sly Pig (Joe Cunningham) on tenor saxophone, Rebecca Sanborn on keyboards, Keith Brush on bass, and Ji Tanzer on drums.

If you haven’t seen the group perform, jump at the chance to hear them in a small intimate venue.  If you have seen them before, you know how much fun it will be to see them in this setting.  Somehow, this group manages to transcend genre boundaries while still being approachable by everyone, regardless of taste.  They make good music that’s fun to listen to – that’s all there is to it.

From Blackbird Wine’s press release:

Wine (by the glass or bottle) and light snacks will be available for purchase. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door, available by check to Matt Miner, 2335 NE 41st Ave, Portland 97212, via PayPal to mminer@hevanet.com, or in person at Blackbird Wine, 4323 N.E. Fremont. Please include your e-mail address. For more information, call 503-484-8196 or e-mail mminer@hevanet.com.

October 2nd at Jimmy Mak’s, Ben Darwish’s trio will play a double bill with Darrell Grant’s newest band – “On the Territory.”

Portland jazz fans will undoubtedly know Ben’s trio by now.  Despite the young age of the group, they have two succesful albums on Portland’s own Diatic Records and have had a strong presence in the local jazz scene for a few years now.

Fans will probably also be aware of Darrell Grant’s work, although perhaps not his newest endeavor.  Here’s what Darrell has to say about it:

Darrell Grant and “On the Territory” is a new project that is inspired by the idea that music, like wine and coffee, is shaped by an indefinable connection to terrain, which is both the physical place and the community from which it springs. The French call this “terroir”.  I call it the Territory.

Most of the players in this ensemble, including myself, come to Oregon from disparate places–New York, California, Wyoming, Boston.  We were drawn here in no small part by the “terroir” of this place, what someone called “a terroir of the mind as much as of the land.”   From here we define our musical territory.  Like the place in which we live, it is a diverse and beautiful landscape.  Where jazz, blues, gospel, folk, classical and rock music are the rivers, valleys, mountain peaks and quiet retreats.

The paths we explore are songs by Bob Dylan, Keith Jarrett, Neil Young, John Lennon, The Neville Brothers, Jan Garbarek and others–some with words, some without–that have in common a reflection on place, and a beauty that speaks to the truths of our life and times.

Ben Darwish’s Trio features: Ben Darwish – piano, Bill Athens – bass, and Randy Rollofson – drums

Darrell Grant’s “On the Territory” features: Darrell Grant – piano and vocals, Cameron Morgan – guitar, Ji Tanzer – drums, Sam Howard – bass, Tim Wilcox (saxophone – subbing for John Nastos), Maureen Frary Kelly – guest vocals

Pianist Darrell Grant has started a new project, called “On the Territory.”  The group features Texas-born and Los Angeles-transplant Cameron Morgan on guitar, Wyoming-born and New York-transplant Sam Howard on bass, Ji Tanzer (of Blue Cranes) on drums, John Nastos on saxophones, and avant-garde vocalist Jessyka Luzzi, Here’s what Darrell has to say about the project:

This project is inspired by the idea that music, much like wine and coffee, is shaped by an indefinable connection to terrain, which is both the physical place and the community from which it springs. The French call this “terroir”.  I call it the Territory.  The players in this ensemble, including myself, come to Oregon from disparate places–New York, California, Wyoming, Boston.  We were drawn here in no small part by the “terroir” of this place–what someone called “a terroir of the mind as much as of the land.”   Living here helps define our musical territory.  Like Oregon, it is a diverse and scenic landscape, where jazz, blues, gospel, folk, classical and rock music become our rivers, valleys, mountain peaks and quiet retreats.  The songs that we travel with come from Bob Dylan, Keith Jarrett, Neil Young, John Lennon, James Taylor, Jan Garbarek and others–some with words, some without–that have in common a reflection on place, and a beauty that speaks to the truths of our life and times.

The band’s next gig will be at the PDXJazz Riverfront concert on August 22nd.  Watch this space for more details as the date approaches.

For now, head over to Darrell’s new blog and check out some photos on the band’s last concert.