This year’s Silverton Wine and Jazz Festival is quickly approaching.  The one-day extravaganza happens at the beginning of May each year and features some of the best local jazz in the Northwest.  The festival is one of the best opportunities you’ll get during the year to do a sampling of the local jazz scene in small and intimate settings.  Keep May 8th open on your calendar.

Here’s what the festival has to say:

The 4th Annual Silverton Wine and Jazz festival is happening Saturday, May 8th and features many leading local jazz artists, including Nancy King, Glen Moore and Dan Gaynor, Dave Frishberg and Retta Christie, Tom Grant with Dave Captien and Jeff Frankel, John Moak with Chris Woitach and Dan Schulte, Art Resnick with Brian Casey and Jonas Oglesby, the Ben Darwish Quartet featuring Tim Wilcox, and the Peter Piazza large band featuring Dan Balmer and Carlton Jackson, George Mitchell . Vocalists Kirsten Rian and John Gilmore, guitarist John Stowell, Vionist Danny Seidenberg’s “Unbande”, John Nastos and Clay Giberson’s “Duo Chronicles” will appear, as well as legendary jazz icon Dick Berk and others to be arranged.

Also featured are the big bands from Silverton High, Western Oregon University, Portland State University and an educational series of “young lions”, 4 or 5 promising artists with eyes on a professional career. Tree Palmedo and Hailey Niswanger included, as well as bassists Brett McConnell, Heidi Christianson, pianist Ryan Wolfe and others.

This Saturday, the Silverton Wine and Jazz Festival will once again be upon us.  Check out their website for the full schedule, including the Mel Brown B3 Quartet, The Two Tenors (Lee Wuthenow and David Evans), Micah Kassell’s band, Nancy King, and more.

The festival takes place on May 9th from 12 – 10:30 PM

From Eadie Anelli (director of the festival):

The Silverton Wine and Jazz Festival is Saturday May 9, Noon – 9, featuring up to 12 East Valley wineries in 12 venues in Historic Downtown Silverton, accompanied by over 20 different groups of  NW jazz musicians.  A Finale featuring Mel Brown’s B3 Quartet is from  8 – 10:30.  Walk from venue to venue in seconds and hear music and taste wine in each.  It is a potpourri of sensual indulgence.
The festival features prominent NW jazz musicians such as Nancy King, Ron Steen, Dave Frishberg, Dave Evans, Christopher Woitach, Danny Seidenberg, Eddie Parente and many more. This will be a day of jazz you won’t forget.
You can view the music lineup, wineries and venues online at silvertonwineandjazz.com
Tickets are $25 and available at all participating venues and wineries, Roth’s markets, as well as online.  Purchase before April 1 for only $20.
Overnight accommodations are available at several local B&Bs, the Silverton Inn and Suites and the Oregon Garden Resort..  Make this part of your Mother’s Day Weekend and/or a  great jazz and wine getaway.

Photos from last year’s festival:

Tony Pacini, Ed Bennett, Mel Brown

Dave Frishberg with Rebecca Kilgore

Dan Schulte with John Moak, Tim Willcox, John Nastos

On Saturday, May 10th, the 2008 Silverton Wine and Jazz Festival will take place, showcasing many Portland musicians in venues all over Silverton.  Performers include Dave Frishberg, Darrell Grant, Randy Porter, Dan Schulte, Mel Brown, and many more.  The music takes place from noon until 9 PM, with a late set by Bobby Torres finishing out the evening.  Find more information at the festival’s website.