Lots of different bands marching through Oregon this weekend, from mariachi to gypsy brass to chamber jazz, symphony orchestras to Baroque cornettos. There’s also more intimate musical experiences onstage, ranging from solo classical piano to vocal ensembles.
“Boldly Launched”
AnyWhen Ensemble, March 2, Majestic Theater, 115 SW 2nd Street, Corvallis; March 6, First Presbyterian Church, 1200 SW Alder Street, Portland.
Read my Willamette Week preview of the chamber jazz ensemble’s project that combines musical and poetic “riffs” on Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick.
Julian Priester and David Haney
March 2
Jimmy Mak’s, 221 NW 10th, Portland
The jazz trombone legend joins Portland pianist and impresario Haney in his jazz stories series, featuring a large ensemble (including theremin!)
Mariachi Sol de Mexico de Jóse Hernàndez
March 2
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland
The fifth-generation Mexican trumpet legend continues his 35 year revival of the traditional band music.
MarchFourth plays March 3 and 4 in Portland. Photo: Andrew Wyatt.
MarchFourth
March 3-4
Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside Street, Portland
In these fundraising concerts (two of them kid friendly) for the valuable Joy Now Arts Project, the 20 member troupe unleashes its danceable melange of rock, funk, jazz, Afro-beat, Gypsy brass, acrobats, stilt-walkers, costumes, and joy. Friday’s show also opens with Sepiatonic’s debut EP release show, featuring M4 trombonist/composer Anthony Meade, a winning combination of Dan Hicks, March 4, and old-school electronica.
Michael Seregow
March 3
Beall Concert Hall, University of Oregon
The pianist plays 19th century music by Faure, Scriabin, Chopin and more.
In Mulieribus performs March 4-6.
“Horae – A Musical Book of Hours”
In Mulieribus, March 4 at Mt. Angel Abbey Church, Saint Benedict; March 5 at St. Philip Neri Church, 2408 SE 16th Avenue, Portland, March 6 at Proto-Cathedral of St. James, Vancouver, WA.
Read my Willamette Week preview of the vocal octet’s video-enhanced performance of Medieval and Renaissance music.
AnyWhen Ensemble performs March 2 in Corvallis and March 6 in Portland.
45th parallel
March 4
Old Church, 1422 SW 11th Ave, Portland
Local chamber ensemble plays music by JS Bach, Schumann, Janacek, and Ysaye, with the gripping Portland theater artist Beth Thompson reading selections from Tolstoy’s “The Kreutzer Sonata” between movements of Janacek’s quartet.
Ensemble Primo Seicento
March 5
Central Lutheran Church, 18th and Potter, Eugene
In this free concert, historically informed performers play early 17th century music for Baroque trombone and violin, cornetto, keyboards and voice by Cesare, Hammerschmidt, Riccio, Legrenzi, Marini, Neri, and Cima.
Portland Youth Philharmonic
March 5
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland
Read Susan Pickett’s ArtsWatch preview of the winter concert featuring music by Vaughan Williams, Rachmaninoff and 20th century Oregon composer Marion Bauer.
Viva Viols
March 5
Unitarian Church, 13th and Chambers, Eugene
The strings and recorders trio plays Renaissance music by Dufay, East, Byrd, Morley and more.
Portland Chamber Music
March 5
Community Music Center, 3350 SE Francis St. Portland
Community musicians play music by African American women including Undine Smith Moore and Margaret Bonds.
Michelle DeYoung
March 6
Lincoln Performance Hall, Portland State University
Accompanied by Kevin Murphy, the acclaimed mezzo soprano, a three time Grammy winner, sings music by Brahms, Strauss, Elgar, Marx, and Falla’s gorgeous <i>Seven Popular Spanish Songs in this Friends of Chamber Music recital.
Consonare Chorale
March 6, First Presbyterian Church Roseburg, and March 12, First Congregational United Church of Christ, 1126 SW Park Ave, Portland
The Portland choir celebrates its first decade with music by Samuel Barber (Agnus Dei, his setting of his famous string Adagio for chorus), Oregon composer Jason Heald (a Shakespeare sonnet setting for harp and choir), and more music by Ola Gjeilo (Tundra for women’s voices and string quartet), Hildegard of Bingen, and others.
Igudesman and Joo perform Sunday with the Oregon Symphony. Photo: © Julia Wesely.
“BIG Nightmare Music”
March 6
Igudesman & Joo, Oregon Symphony, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland
The successors to PDQ Bach and Victor Borge, classical music’s funniest, family friendly duo — who also happen to be superb musicians on violin and piano — return for their second Portland show in the past year, this one featuring the Oregon Symphony. Read ArtsWatch’s preview.
St. Lawrence String Quartet
March 6
Beall Concert Hall, University of Oregon
The Stanford University quartet plays Haydn’s most famous quartet (the so-called “Emperor”) and another by Schumann.
Classical Revolution PDX
March 6
Vie de Boheme, 1530 SE 7th Ave. Portland
After more than four years at northeast Portland’s Waypost, the indie classical organization’s increasingly popular chamber jams have outgrown the space, necessitating a move to larger venue — the southeast Portland wine bar. The open mike jams for classical musicians (also popular with classical ensembles showcasing previews of their upcoming performances) will continue on the first Sunday of each month starting at 7 pm, with this month featuring Northwest Piano Trio performing selections from their upcoming Living, Local concert.
Ton Koopman and Tini Mathot
March 7
First Baptist Church, 1110 SW Taylor St. Portland.
Portland Baroque Orchestra’s first artistic director, the legendary Dutch conductor and keyboard master Ton Koopman, who transformed historically informed Baroque performance in the 1980s with his Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, joins his wife (the renowned harpsichordist Mathot) and his PBO successor (and protege) Monica Huggett in music for two harpsichords by Mozart, JS Bach, and more, along with one of Bach’s great violin sonatas.
José González and yMusic
March 7
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway, Portland
The popular Swedish folk singer, sort of a latter day James Taylor, joins the New York chamber sextet that’s worked with everyone from Nico Muhly to Ben Folds.
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