On August 20th, SoundsTruck NW will roll its new mobile stage to the summit of Mount Tabor for a free concert titled Mount Immigration. Performances will feature Illegal Son with Matthew Holmes and Joe Kye with Cory Limuaco starting at 1 p.m. The Sunday event is part of a site-inspired, cross-cultural summer concert series.
The free Mt. Tabor Park performance features trombonist and composer Illegal Son (Denzel Mendoza), followed by the award-winning musician, storyteller, and 2023 Oregon Arts Commission Fellow Joe Kye. The ensemble of accomplished musicians will draw on the movements of Mt. Tabor’s landscape to examine the nature of migration and immigration. Composed using personal experiences, the music and sounds capture an emotional interpretation of life labeled as an immigrant.
SoundsTruck NW created this public concert in partnership with the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) and Montavilla Jazz. The 90-minute event takes place atop Mt. Tabor at SE Harvey Scott Circle. People can access the site via the SE 69th Avenue stairs or a paved access road. Nearby parking is limited, so plan for some walking.
Images in this article provided by SoundsTruck NW
“Musician and storyteller Joe Kye draws inspiration from the natural movements of Mt. Tabor’s lush, urban, mountain landscape. Joined by percussionist Cory Limuaco, he’ll perform original songs while weaving in improvisational moments, interacting with the audience and the park setting to create new sonic environments. Focusing on creativity, community, and identity, Kye’s work taps into an inner core, inspiring audiences to compassion and empathy. Drawing upon his immigrant upbringing, Kye weaves together electronic and acoustic textures, catchy melodies, and vocals to uplift and empower listeners. Trombonist and composer Denzel Mendoza is Illegal Son, and opens for Joe with bassist Matthew Holmes. A Filipino National born in Singapore, raised in Las Vegas, NV; studied in NYC, NY, and based in Portland, OR; Mendoza has lived in the United States for the majority of his life but yet, he continues to chase the American Dream. Since 2004, Mendoza has been an Undocumented Immigrant. Illegal Son is quite simply his emotional and vulnerable interpretation of life as Undocumented through sound and music.” – SoundsTruck NW –