It’s snowmageddon, or snowpocolypse, or whatever blast from whatever pole, and Portland is sure to get its collective underwear in a bind over it, but if you’re anywhere near the max or streetcar lines, hop on and get yourself down to Jimmy Mak’s tonight at 7:30 for an incredible concert of improvisatory wizardry!
On the first set, local jazz guitar legend Dan Balmer will play one of his compositions with OSO percussionist Sergio Carreno, followed by UofO trumpet professor and beta:collide co-founder Brian McWhorter in a solo work of dazzling virtuosity. The sent is rounded out by a rare local performance of John Zorn‘s ‘Cobra’, which is a renowned game piece which has rules that are very evident to the performers, but quite difficult to guess for the audience. Just wait for guerrilla mode!!
Enjoy a drink, dinner, and dessert during the show, and get ready for the second set, which features three movements of David Schiff‘s Road Maps, which features a chamber ensemble with written out music, and soloists for each of the movements who have nothing written for them to play. Zip, zero, nada. They make it up on the spot each performance! For the first movement “Mountains”, we’re joined by pianist/composer goddess Myra Melford; for the second movement “Streams”, we’re rejoined by trumpeter/hobbyist extraordinaire Brian McWhorter; and for the third movement “Clouds and Stars”, saxophonist Marty Ehrlich will blow everyone away with his fecund licks!
It is a good bet that you might get a table since the weather will scare the less hardy off, but I can virtually guarantee you’ll get a seat (maybe even a table) if you show up at Jimmy Mak’s (221 NW 10th Portland, OR 97209, 503-295-6542) and get a ticket at the door. They’re right on the streetcar line! They open at 5:00 to serve dinner and drinks, so make an evening of it and join us for a great show!