The Montavilla Jazz Festival kicks off its 2025 performances on August 29th with ticketed events throughout the neighborhood and in various locations around Portland’s Eastside. However, the music celebration is not limited to indoor and outdoor music venues. The group worked with Montavilla businesses to create “Village Partner Events” in Montavilla’s Historic Downtown and along NE Glisan Street. People can visit those establishments all three weekend nights to take in Jazz without a festival ticket.
On Friday, August 29th, the Academy Theater will play Spike Lee’s 1990 movie “Mo’ Better Blues” at 4 p.m. Then Replicant Beer & Wine PDX will feature performances by Edad del Pavo at 6 p.m. and DJ Joe Ball at 7 p.m. Saturday, August 30th, Replicant Beer & Wine PDX will feature a Clackamas CC Duo at noon, with the Spy Mohr Trio on stage at 5:30 p.m. and DJ Papa Warrior at 7:30 p.m. Threshold Brewing & Blending will start hosting performances at 3 p.m. with Shiloh Rush. Then they feature Swingin’ Sounds Jam at 5 p.m. People can continue the fun by visiting Montavilla Brew Works at 6 p.m. to hear MHCC Hogan Street Combo, and then hop over to Vino Veritas Wine Bar and Bottle Shop for a 7 p.m. show from a PSU Student Combo.
The Academy Theater will offer repeat showings of “Mo’ Better Blues” at 1 p.m. on the weekend and then on Sunday, August 31st, Replicant Beer & Wine PDX will host another Clackamas CC Duo at noon. Starting up again at 4 p.m. that evening, they will feature Thilo Kluth Trio, followed by DJ Sanjo at 6 p.m. Threshold Brewing & Blending has Eli Amundson performing at 1 and 3 p.m., followed by Swingin’ Sounds Jam at 5 p.m. Montavilla Brew Works will host the MHCC Kane Street Combo at 6 p.m. and at 7 p.m., a second PSU Student Combo will play at Vino Veritas Wine Bar and Bottle Shop.
Event organizers hope that anyone interested in enjoying the Montavilla Jazz Festival will have the opportunity to find a performance that suits their schedule and preferred venue. People should visit montavillajazz.org to view detailed information or to purchase tickets.
The 11th annual Montavilla Jazz Festival (MJF) will begin at the end of August with a weekend full of music events in the neighborhood and locations across Portland’s Eastside. The three-day celebration of local artistry starts on Friday, August 30th, and runs through Sunday, September 1st, with free and ticketed events. Each year, MJF brings music fans of all ages to the neighborhood and expands the general appreciation for jazz.
The yearly late summer music programming spans outdoor locations such as Mt. Tabor Park and Montavilla’s SE 79th Avenue Street Plaza. Neighborhood businesses will also become venues during the festival, including BoneJax, Montavilla Brew Works, Vino Veritas, Beer Brats & Beats, Portland Metro Arts, Threshold Brewing & Blending, and Beer Bunker’s patio. The MJF website has a detailed list of event locations, times, and links to secure tickets or reservations when necessary. Area businesses Yaowarat, Vino Veritas, Threshold Brewing, and The Observatory will offer nightly food and drink specials and entertainment during the three-day event. The Academy Movie Theater will participate in the celebration through special showings of the 1958 film noir classic “Elevator to the Gallows,” featuring a jazz-rich score by Miles Davis. Beyond the Montavilla area, Strum, The 1905, and Alberta Rose Theatre will host additional MJF performances.
Thanks to Prosper Portland’s Scale Up Grant for summer 2024, MJF can offer more than twice the number of performances than the previous year. It is the only Portland festival focused on original music from the city’s jazz artists. Preferences will feature the rising stars and creative artists connected to Portland. The 29 events include free concerts, three student stages, and a return to Mt. Tabor Park’s Caldera Amphitheater for two free concerts on Friday, August 30th.
Lynn Darroch, photo by Brenda Moseley and provided courtesy MJF
For the second year, MJF honors the late Portland City Commissioner Nick Fish’s contribution to the city’s jazz community by presenting an award in his name. On August 31st, presenters will deliver this year’s Nick Fish Jazz Community Award to writer, broadcaster, and performer Lynn Darroch. The jazz radio host on KMH is also an author and recording artist with an in-depth perspective on the local musicians who shape the regional jazz sound.
With added free events and more Montavilla locations, this is an excellent year to explore Montavilla Jazz’s contribution to the music community and discover a new appreciation for a foundational style of American music. People interested in attending should look at the event schedule now to find out if they need reservations or tickets to particular shows. Everyone should plan for a busier weekend around event locations starting on August 30th and consider visiting local businesses with MJF specials for unique menu options.
Vino Veritas changed ownership this week, moving from one group of dedicated wine specialists to an equally knowledgeable and passionate partnership of family and friends. The three new owners intend to build on the successes of this renowned Portland wine bar and bottle shop at 7835 SE Stark Street with subtle enhancements and expanded offerings.
Vino Veritas opened in April 2017 to a receptive customer base, winning the Willamette Week Reader’s Choice award for Best Portland Wine Bar in 2018. The shop continued to win accolades through 2022, becoming a fixture for wine enthusiasts in the region. Dana Cofer left the group of original owners in 2020. The remaining partners, Sami Khawaja, Trevor Gorham, Manuel Mederle, and Neil Mattson, continued building Vino Veritas through the pandemic, maintaining high standards in a challenging environment. After six and a half years embedded in the community, the ownership group had to make the difficult decision to find new leadership for the bar. Manuel Mederle has decided to return to his roots in northern Italy to be among family and friends. Trevor Gorham also feels it is time to move on from Vino Veritas with the perspective that it is “good for a business to have a fresh pair of eyes and new ideas.” On September 22nd, the owners finalized the sale and began gracefully bringing the new owners into the business.
Nick Ferreira (left) Andrew King (right)
Friends Andrew King, Nick Ferreira, and Cristiano Ferreira knew they wanted to start a wine bar together. Instead of opening one from scratch, they searched for an existing business with an established reputation they could use as a foundation for their aspirations. After reviewing several options, they were ecstatic to find Vino Veritas. Nick Ferreira has worked as a sommelier for the last decade and knows the bar well. Unlike other options, this space was close to what they wanted to build.
The new owners are looking to expand on Vino Veritas’ existing brand while maintaining what people already love. “I think they’ve laid a lot of the groundwork for things that we would want to do with a wine shop. For us, it’s really just expanding a little bit on the legacy. We’ve talked about expanding the by-the-glass selection and bringing in more food options,” explained King. Nick Ferreira has worked in places that offer 600 by-the-glass options and found that to be an invaluable tool in exploring a customer’s tastes. Although Vino Veritas will not have that level of selection, they do hope to offer customers an experience that covers wine’s flavorful variations across the world. Expanding the food menu will take more time and some kitchen upgrades. They will develop that part of the business after they have time to settle into operations and see what type of food service is possible.
Wine education is a large component of what they want to offer patrons at Vino Veritas. Nick Ferreira is working towards becoming a Master Sommelier. When he passes his fourth and final test, Ferreira will join a group of 273 professionals worldwide and become Portland’s only title holder. Currently, he is one of four advanced sommeliers in the area. Andrew King met Ferreira through work and became good friends. Kings’ relationship with wine came later in life compared to Ferreira. “It started out as a hobby that I discovered during the pandemic and just quickly grew into a full-on second career for me,” said King.
All the new owners intend to work at Vino Veritas. Nick Ferreira will be in the shop the most, acting as the buyer, bartender, and wine expert. King will split his time between this new venture and his existing job. Nick Ferreira’s brother, Cristiano, is the third owner. He works full-time at Meta, keeping him out of the bar during the week. However, the friends expect to be at the shop constantly. “We picked a spot like this because it’s where we want to spend all our time. That was a big thing for us, making sure that we continue the owner-operator model. My favorite businesses to go to are the ones where the people building the business are actually inside the business,” said King. This type of work is a calling for Nick Ferreira, and he knows he will become a fixture in the place. “I love selling wine; it’s my favorite thing,” said Ferreira. “I could pass it off eventually when we find somebody to help out, but I don’t see a situation where we’re not going to be behind the bar.”
As passionate as they are about wine, they know it is vital to remain a place where people can casually drink and listen to music after a long day. “We also want to be a great place to take a date,” remarked Ferreira. People interested in meeting the new owners can visit any day between 4 and 10 p.m. Jazz fans will continue to enjoy music programming supervised by Montavilla Jazz Executive Director Neil Mattson. The departing owners are proud to have created a meaningful space for a community that has supported them for many years. They look forward to seeing how Vino Veritas will continue that legacy under new stewardship.
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The 10th Annual Montavilla Jazz Festival begins this Friday, September 1st, and runs through the 3rd. This weekend’s music celebration expands beyond the neighborhood’s borders with five venues and a livestream. For the first time in its ten years, the festival will feature two free outdoor concerts in the Mt. Tabor Park Caldera Amphitheater, starting at 6 p.m. on opening night.
The 2023 Montavilla Jazz Festival starts with the Portland Youth Jazz Orchestra Vanguard Combo at Vino Veritas Wine Bar & Bottle Shop. This all-ages show starts at 4 p.m. and features Youth Jazz Orchestra alums, professionals, band directors, and college students alongside accomplished high school musicians. Festivities shift up the mountain to hear Vestal Stories with the Mary-Sue Tobin Sextet in the Caldera Amphitheater. This first free concert in the Mt. Tabor Park series features Montavilla Jazz’s Artist In Residence at Vestal Elementary School Mary-Sue Tobin.
Following that performance, the second park concert begins at 7:30 p.m. with Views of an Urban Volcano. Composers Cyrus Nabipoor, Kirsten Volness, and James Powers will premiere jazz inspired by Portland’s unique formerly volcanic natural space, Mt. Tabor Park. The 12-member Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble will perform the new works based on a year of research and community engagement.
The Montavilla Jazz Festival continues after that with an already sold-out 11:30 p.m. show at The 1905 jazz club. A donation-based livestream is still available. People interested in reserving a spot at the free shows or purchasing tickets to the other events should visit the Montavilla Jazz website, montavillajazz.org, or look for links at the bottom of this article.
4:00PM – Portland Youth Jazz Orchestra Vanguard Combo
MJF Student Stage at Vino Veritas Wine Bar & Bottle Shop – Make all-ages reservations here. Breakout student performers take center stage. Read more.
6:00PM – Vestal Stories: Mary-Sue Tobin Sextet
Mt. Tabor Park Caldera Amphitheater – FREE! (RSVP) ADA parking and accessible seating available, email accessibility@montavillajazz.org to reserve. Celebrating where we come from and the joy around us, this project is the culmination of a collaboration between Montavilla Jazz, Portland State University’s Artist as Citizen Initiative, and Vestal Elementary. Read more. ASL interpretation provided.
7:30PM – Views of an Urban Volcano with Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble
Mt. Tabor Park Caldera Amphitheater – FREE! (RSVP) ASL interpretation provided. ADA parking and accessible seating available, email accessibility@montavillajazz.org to reserve. Composers Cyrus Nabipoor, Kirstin Volness, and James Powers premiere new jazz inspired by Portland’s beloved greenspace and extinct cinder cone, Mt. Tabor Park, performed by Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble’s 12-member band. Read more.
11:30PM – Charlie 3rown Quartet
The 1905 – Tickets $15-20SOLD OUT! – LIVESTREAM Riding the edge of multiple genres, the Charlie 3rown Quartet’s creations use their diverse experiences and influences to take listeners to the brink. Read more.
Saturday September 2nd
2:00PM – George Colligan: The Phyllis Wheatley Project featuring Zyanna
Portland Metro Arts – Tickets $5-30 – LIVESTREAM ADA parking and accessible seating available, email accessibility@montavillajazz.org to reserve. Phyllis Wheatley was the first African American poet to be published in the United States. George Colligan sets her poetry to music. Read more.
5:00PM – Ryan Meagher, Ralph Alessi, Peter Epstein, and Mark Ferber
Portland Metro Arts – Tickets $5-30 – LIVESTREAM ADA parking and accessible seating available, email accessibility@montavillajazz.org to reserve. Prominent Portland guitarist Ryan Meagher assembles a team of eminent improvisers to mine their decade-long creative relationships. Read more.
6:00PM – Mt. Hood Community College Student Combo
MJF Student Stage at Vino Veritas Wine Bar & Bottle Shop – Make all-ages reservations here. Breakout student performers take center stage. Read more.
8:00PM – Darrell Grant’s Piano in the Dark with special guest Billy Childs
Alberta Rose Theatre – Tickets $5-45 Accessible seating available, email accessibility@montavillajazz.org to reserve. Chasing the magic of the unexpected, Darrell Grant curates ephemeral encounters at and beyond the keyboard melding tradition and innovation. Read more.
11:30PM – Nicole McCabe Quartet
The 1905 – Tickets $15-20 – LIVESTREAM McCabe’s Los Angeles-based band plays music from her recent album Landscapes released on the Spanish label Fresh Sounds New Talent. Read more.
Sunday September 3rd
2:00PM – Domo Branch and Branchin’ Out
Portland Metro Arts – Tickets $5-30 – LIVESTREAM ADA parking and accessible seating available, email accessibility@montavillajazz.org to reserve. Branch and company are on a mission to heal, motivate, and inspire through the trance of original and arranged music. Read more.
4:00PM – Jam Session Hosted by Alan Jones Academy of Music
The 1905 – Tickets $15-20 Local artist hone their craft in the traditional jam session format hosted by AJAM instructors. Read more.
5:00PM – Tim Willcox Quartet featuring Chuck Israels
Portland Metro Arts – Tickets $5-30 – LIVESTREAM ADA parking and accessible seating available, email accessibility@montavillajazz.org to reserve. Tim Willcox’s saxophone “sings and, at times, broods passionately and inventively” into the original works of his ensemble of local heavyweights. Read more.
6:00PM – Portland State University Combos
MJF Student Stage at Vino Veritas Wine Bar & Bottle Shop – Make all-ages reservations here. Breakout student performers take center stage. Read more.
8:00PM – Alan Jones Quartet featuring Tivon Pennicott, Kevin Hays and Joe Martin
Alberta Rose Theatre – Ticket $5-45 Accessible seating available, email accessibility@montavillajazz.org to reserve. Festival headliner Alan Jones assembles a dream team of award-winning talent for a concert of original music designed to inspire and challenge. Read more.
11:00PM – Frank Irwin’s Aurora Septet
The 1905 – Tickets $15-20 – LIVESTREAM Blending chamber orchestration with improvisation and modal groove, Aurora Septet paints a beautiful landscape of self-discovery. Read more.
Two events will attract visitors to Montavilla’s commercial corridors this Saturday evening. Winter Wassail along NE Glisan Street features festive beverages, snacks, carolers, and holiday lighting. Participating stores and restaurants between 82nd and 68th Avenues will remain open for last-minute holiday gifts and festivities. People are invited to Wassail (Go from location to location caroling and/or drinking in merriment) on Glisan from 4 to 8 p.m. this December 17th.
Promotional image provide by event coordinators
That same night, SE Stark Street businesses will host the Montavilla Soiree & Pub Crawl from 6 to 9 p.m. The Montavilla East Tabor Business Association (METBA) organized this winter celebration in the historic downtown to support neighborhood businesses as they enjoy the best parts of the colder months.
Promotional image provide by event coordinators
Drinkers, shoppers, and anyone looking for a fun Saturday night can explore the collection of holiday-themed cocktails, food specials, live music, and late-night last-minute shopping in one big evening event. No matter where you reside, some part of Montavilla will have an activity to warm your spirit on a cold night.
These are some of the participating businesses on Glisan Street:
Starting this Friday, August 19th, the annual Montavilla Jazz Festival returns with in-person music performances. The three-day festival showcases emerging and established Portland jazz artists in four venues. Tickets are on sale now, with select shows live-streamed from the Portland Metro Arts stage.
Venue tickets range from $5-35 per concert, sold through tickettomato.com. Event organizers offer discounts for advance purchases, students, and Arts for All eligible patrons. However, reduced pricing is only available for some concerts. A limited quantity of day passes for Portland Metro Arts performances on Saturday and Sunday cost $50-60, and all-access festival passes are available for $155-185. Event staff will stream the six concerts at Portland Metro Arts for free on the montavillajazz.org website with a suggested donation amount.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Montavilla Jazz relies on local business support, donors, and volunteers. Those contributions, along with ticket sales and support from other organizations, make the annual arts event possible. The Montavilla Jazz Festival is presented this year by OnPoint Community Credit Union, Mr. Plywood, and The Skanner News.
This weekend’s shows will provide a unique opportunity to experience some of Portland’s favorite jazz musicians. This exhibition continues to grow each year, working towards a large celebration in 2023. A recent investment of $18,730 from the Oregon Cultural Trust will support a considerable portion of next year’s event, including the Montavilla Jazz Festival’s 10th-anniversary concert at Mt Tabor park. Participating in this year’s concerts will help grow the organization and ensure the 10th anniversary is a huge success.
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As Montavilla restaurants and bars continue to reopen, Parking Plazas are now appearing on SE Stark Street. Businesses are converting parking spaces to extensions of their regular indoor seating.
Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) offers Healthy Businesses permits, enabling the closure of curbside parking and streets. These spaces allow business to distance customers from one-another, without sacrificing too much seating. Plazas like these are part of the PBOT Safe Streets Initiative and the hope is it will be a safer way to visit local businesses.
Vino Veritas, at 7835 SE Stark Street, was the first along Stark Street to open their Parking Plaza. Vino Veritas is a wine bar with a select offering of food items. Between 4PM and 9:30PM, the Parking Plaza is decorated with colorful umbrellas. They provide shade over a handful of tables, that are placed within the wine barrel parameter.
Redwood restaurant will open their Parking Plaza Wednesday, June 24th. This is the first day since the COVID-19 closure, that Redwood has opened for dine in and take out. Redwoods’ Parking Plaza is the most elaborate in Montavilla to date. They have constructed a double sided Shadow Box fence around the area, where others have just used rope or chain. Redwood is located at 7915 SE Stark Street.
Each business is using Parking Plaza in a method that matched their business. Threshold Brewing & Blending has their own take on a Parking Plazas, just around the corner from these two. While the weather is nice, these should be a good aid to deal with the challenges of reopening. Patrons can already be spotted making use of these outdoor venues, to the relief of many business owners.
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