Jazz musical expression brings on more performances

Photo by Porcha Hesselgesser.

Some people may be preparing for the Black Friday sales, but others are getting into holiday swing in a musical way.

MHCC’s Jazz Ensemble, along with guest soloists Dmitri Matheny and Charles McNeal, are ramping up the holiday spirit this season with their first performance on Nov. 30.

The ensemble’s currently working on polishing up its pieces and working diligently towards the concert. With just a handful of rehearsal days left, Jazz Director Dan Davey plans to ensure that the group’s focus is sustained.

That shouldn’t be an issue, if Monday’s rehearsal was an indicator. The musicians were clearly invested and energized, and have rehearsed outside of class. It’s obvious that Davey and the group are in sync and ready to be successful.

A flugelhorn player (a version of the trumpet), Dmitri Matheny, will host a jazz workshop at MHCC on Nov. 28. The session will be in the Performing Arts center on campus, Room 2102, at 3:30 p.m.

Every year while on tour, Matheney visits colleges, and public schools to present “melodic mastery” jazz improvisation workshops for musicians of all ages. Each focuses on the mental aspects of that occur when performing a jazz solo and the skills for improvisation, with the goal of helping students gain confidence in freely improvising and creating something that’s different, that’s “entirely new and profoundly personal,” he explains on his website.

He invites and encourages local high school students to join the workshop. “Create your own melody. Tell your own story. Sing your own song!” Matheny encourages musicians.

He will be joined by saxophonist McNeal for the Nov. 30 show, which starts at 7 p.m. in the Visual Art Theatre on Mt. Hood’s Gresham campus. Contact the Performing Arts department for concert details, at 503-491-6969.

The next evening, Matheny is scheduled to premiere in “Cool Burnin’: a tribute to Chet Baker” at the Alberta Abbey Theatre. The show starts at 7:30 p.m., at 126 N.E. Alberta St. in Portland. Tickets are $20-$30.

Visit http://pdxjazz.com/event/dmitri-matheny-cool-burnin-a-tribute-to-chet-baker/ for more information.

Meantime, area musicians interested in joining the improvisation workshop with Matheny should contact Davey for RSVP information at 503-491-7010.

Advocate Staff