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.

Better Homes and Gardens, a Portland free-jazz and improvised-music collective featuring Tim DuRoche, the Blue Crane’s Reed Wallsmith and Sly Pig, and Fred Chancelor will be playing at Gallery Homeland in the Ford Building (2505 SE 11th Avenue) this Saturday (7/18).

There is a $6-12 sliding scale.  Music starts at 9 PM.  Also performing will be Oakland’s Weiner Kids and If:else.

This Satuday, drummer Tim DuRoche brings his free improvisation ensemble Better Homes and Gardens (described as: an all-star lineup of indie-music, free-jazz roustabouts from such notable and notorious outfits as Decemberists, Blue Cranes, the Evolutionary Jass Band and the uke-wielding world of Tiny Tim) to the Camellia Lounge (511 NW Eleventh Avenue).

The music starts at 9 PM – no cover.  Featuring Tim DuRoche (drums), Reed Wallsmith and Sly Pig (saxophones), and Bob Jones (bass).