Los Angeles-based Latin percussionist Luis Conte will be in Portland this weekend for two shows where he will be the featured guest with two Portland-based groups.

First, on Friday, February 12th, Conte will join the Portland Jazz Orchestra for a concert at the First United Methodist Church (1838 SW Jefferson St) for a concert called “El Rey del Timbal” where the big band will explore the music of Tito Puente.  Don’t miss this chance to see Conte with some of Portland’s best jazz musicians, including Darrell Grant, Alan Jones, Farnell Newton, and more.  Also, Portland’s own Latin-jazz king Bobby Torres will be joining the group on percussion for this special event.

Then, on Saturday, February 13th, Conte will join the Bobby Torres Ensemble at Jimmy Mak’s for another evening of hot Latin jazz.  You won’t find another percussion section like this in Portland again in 2010: Bobby Torres, Carmello Torres (Bobby’s son), and Luis Conte.

Dave Fleschner’s organ trio will release their new album “Creapin’ Up” at Jimmy Mak’s on January 15th.  If you’re itching to get your hands on the disc even sooner, it’s already available on CD Baby.  Also, be sure to check out Dave’s regular Monday night jam sessions at the recently-reopened Brasserie Montmartre.

Saxophonist John Nastos will perform with the Upper Left Trio as well as his Duo Chronicles project Monday, December 14th at Jimmy Mak’s.  The evening will feature different combinations of:

• Clay Giberson -- piano
• Jeff Leonard -- bass
• Charlie Doggett -- drums
• John Nastos -- saxophones

As usual on Mondays at Jimmy Mak’s, there is no cover.  Music goes from 8-11 PM.

On Tuesday, December 1st, pianist Ramsey Embick will play a solo piano set from 6-7:30 opening for the Mel Brown Septet.

The gig is a CD release party for his new disc, titled “Extended Shelf Life.”  You can read Tom D’Antoni’s piece on Ramsey and the new album at Oregon Music News.

David Friesen’s Quintet (Dan Balmer – guitar, Tim Willcox – saxophone, John Gross – saxophone, Charlie Doggett – drums) and Darren Klein’s Kleintet (Noah Bernstein – saxophone, Elysia Strauss – saxophone, Akila Fields – piano, Russ Kleiner – drums) return to Jimmy Mak’s on Friday, November 27th.  Music starts at 8 PM for a $10 cover charge.

Portland State University’s newest jazz professor, trumpeter Farnell Newton, is bringing his student ensemble to Jimmy Mak’s tonight (10/20) to open for the Mel Brown Septet.  The PDX Jazz Project brings together some of Oregon’s most talented young players to get coaching in a group-setting from professional jazz musicians in the area.  Newton also often uses compositions from local composers for the students to play in the ensemble.

The PDX Jazz Project will take the stage at 6:30 PM.  The Mel Brown Septet starts at 8.

Vibraphonist/percussionist Chuck Redd returns to Portland this week for what seems to be turning into a semi-regular appearance with the Mel Brown Quartet at Jimmy Mak’s.  Redd will join the band this Wednesday night (10/7) for what will surely be a night of hard-swinging jazz.

If you’re a fan of the Wednesday-night group down at Jimmy’s, but haven’t seen Redd with the group, be sure to check out this show.  The vibraphone is a perfect compliment to the acoustic ensemble featuring Dan Balmer on guitar, Ed Bennett on bass, Tony Pacini on piano, and of course Mel Brown on drums.

There will be a $10 cover for this event.  Music starts at 8 PM.

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