Music Best of the Portland Jazz Fest this week
Chris Brown With Mel Brown Quartet, Wednesday, Feb. 18 @ Jimmy Mak's
Mel's son, able New Jersey drummer/saxophonist Chris Brown, joins his pops' quartet at Jimmy Mak's for some friendly father-son one-upping.
Portland Jazz Orchestra, Thursday, Feb. 19 @ the Old Church
The house band of the Portland Jazz fest—a surprisingly ...   More

Music Our favorite Magic Marker Records releases
1. Fred Thomas - Flood
A gorgeous, stripped-down effort from the ex-Portlander, Saturday Looks Good to Me frontman and king of sad acoustic pop. Turns of phrase and breaks of heart abound.
2. Dear Nora - Mountain Rock
Mountain Rock finds Dear Nora's Katy Davidson exploring a myriad of melodic ideas. In the thick of it she somet...   More

Music
James Low The Blackguard's Waltz
(self-released)

When singer-songwriter James Low quit cigarettes several years back, the upper register of his voice cleared up and started issuing amazingly angelic tones. Shortly thereafter, though, Low practically swore off singing itself—abandoning his longtime LaurelThirst happy hour, gigging only sparsely and issuing no rec...   More

Music What can we say? We love lists.

We asked a handful of freelancers to revisit their favorite shows of 2008, and to look into their crystal ball for 2009. Here are a few highlights.
Our Favorite Shows of 2008
Rush at Clark County Amphitheater, June 1
“Be cool or be cast out,” sings Geddy Lee in the crushing chorus of “Subdivisions.” Rush ma...   More

Music Who needs an intro. Our whole flock of freelancers were out last night, and they've got all sorts of stories to share with you. Contributors are: Michael Mannheimer, Brandon Seifert, Whitney Hawke, Jim Sandberg, Robert Ham, AP Kryza, Kelly Clarke, Byron Beck, Mark Stock, Nilina Mason-Ca...   More