Top Five Free Portland Jazz Festival Events

By Casey Jarman

Jazz Conversation: Roy Nathanson & Curtis Fowlkes with Marty Hughley, Sunday, Feb. 19, at ArtBar

These Jazz Passengers know an awful lot about the New York scene, and hopefully they've got some good Debbie Harry stories. 5 pm.

Youth Jazz Showcase, Monday, Feb. 20, at Jimmy Mak’s

This 3 pm showcase features saxophonist Charles McPherson and other players alongside young players from various programs.

Jazz Conversation: Mel Brown and Roy Haynes, Friday, Feb. 24, at PSU’s Lincoln Hall (room 75)

Two legendary jazz drummers chat it up about the creative spark, playing with the greats, and living forever. Hope someone has a video camera handy.

Trio Subtonic, Friday, Feb. 24, at ArtBar

The funky Portland group debuts its new disc,

I’ll Meet You There Tomorrow

, this week. You can see it free. 9:30 pm.

Midnight Jam Session,

Saturday Feb. 24, at

Mission Theater

The folks behind PDX Jazz Fest will tell you that this is what the thing is all about: bigshots and locals tearing the roof off the place together at the end of the night.

SEE IT: Go to pdxjazz.com to see times, addresses and more events.

WWeek 2015

Casey Jarman

Casey Jarman

Casey Jarman is a freelance editor and writer based in East Portland, Oregon. He has served as Music Editor at Willamette Week and Managing Editor at The Believer magazine, where he remains a contributing editor. He is currently working on his first book. It's about death.

Willamette Week’s reporting has real-life impact that changes laws, forces action by civic leaders, and drives compromised politicians from public office.

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