This is a fan website, not an official website and not affiliated with the venue.
Click here to visit the official venue website.
The below photos and videos are only from performances that I personally attended.
There are also photos of myself, Steve Grande, my wife, Barbara Cepinko, and friends
as these photos and videos were lifted from my own personal "Check-In" website at
SteveGrande.com/check-in.
Tristan Weitkamp - tenor saxophone, Mike Meskel - baritone saxophone, Dave Keckes-Chartrey - trumpet, Tim Wells - trumpet, Bryce Robertson - trumpet, Luke Brockman - trombone, David Conditt - trombone, Tim Heichelheim - sousaphone, Ian Fuller - drums/percussion, Amy DeVall - percussion
Located in Portland, OR and Vancouver, WA, River City Riot! Brass Band formed in 2016. In addition to being performers, most of River City Riot's members are music educators in the Portland, OR and Vancouver, WA area.
River City Riot has performed around the Portland metro area to include Portland Mardi Gras events, annual performances at Portland's Waterfront Blues Festival, Portland Winter Light Festival, performances at Portland's premier jazz club The 1905, the Mississippi Street Fair, the Portland Rose Festival, and various other private events.
Ali Jackson - drums, George Colligan - piano, Kareem Kandi - sax, Greg Feingold - bass
A native of the Pacific Northwest, saxophonist Kareem Kandi is a performer, composer, and educator, in high demand for his talents both on and off the stage.
Kareem is a versatile saxophonist and composer with strong roots in the traditions of Jazz, Blues, Classical and Funk, and has been performing throughout the U.S. and abroad for years, gaining attention from critics and audiences alike. While staying true to musical styles of the past, he also keeps an eye towards the future by composing original music as well as new arrangements of timeless songs from the great American songbook.
Award-winning musician, composer, arranger, educator, and percussionist Ali Jackson developed his talent at an early age. A virtuoso, Ali has contributed significant musical works as a composer and arranger and he holds the distinction of being the first percussionist to perform and create music across the entire spectrum of musical styles.
Ali has performed and recorded with a multitude of artists including Wynton Marsalis, Jon Batiste, Willie Nelson, Tony Bennett, Faith Hill, Bobby McFerrin, Buster Williams, Norah Jones, Eric Clapton, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Aretha Franklin, George Benson, Harry Connick, Jr., KRS-1, Marcus Roberts, Kenny Garrett, Joshua Redman, Vinx, Seito Kinen, Seiji Ozawa, Diana Krall, Gerald Albright, Michael Heise, Russell Gunn, James Morrison, Craig Handy, Jacky Terrasson, Kurt Rosenwinkel, and the New York City Ballet.
A distinctive voice both on the horn and in his songwriting, Cyrus' singular sound has garnered him international acclaim. He has been a featured festival artist at PDX Jazz, Cathedral Park, Montavilla Jazz, New Orleans French Quarter, and Chicago Instigation. To date, he has released 2 albums under his own name, and collaborated on numerous more. In addition to his self-titled work, Cyrus runs the Puddletown Stompers, is a member of Reb & The Good News, and remains active as a sideman.
An in-demand composer/arranger, Cyrus has had several works commissioned by Portland Jazz Composer's Ensemble. Cyrus has produced horn tracks for major artists including Nicky Youre, Grace Enger, Maggie Koerner, Peach Tree Rascals, and David Hugo. He has had the pleasure of sharing the stage with a wide variety of artists including Jamison Ross, Elle King, Tarriona "Tank" Ball, Wess "Warmdaddy" Anderson, James Singleton, Jason Marsalis, Steve Masakowski, Mike Dillon, Stanton Moore, Amina Scott & Nicole McCabe. Cyrus has served on faculty at Loyola University New Orleans. He is an artist-in-residence at multiple Portland Public Schools, and runs a private trumpet studio.
Born and raised in Portland OR, Cyrus began his studies with Derek Sims & Alan Jones. He holds a B.M. from Loyola University New Orleans, where he graduated magna cum laude and was awarded outstanding undergraduate in both Jazz and Brass. While at Loyola, he studied with Nick Volz, Tony Dagradi and Jimbo Walsh. In 2015, Cyrus was awarded the International Trumpet Guild Jazz Scholarship.
This is the first time Barbara and I ever just dropped in at The 1905 without tickets. We just wanted to sit out on the patio where there is no ticket charge and enjoy some pizza and wine while listening to jazz.
From coffee house gigs at fifteen to chart-topping success with the Tom Grant Band in the 90s, world tours with two-time Grammy Award winner Diane Schuur and contemporary jam-bands, Dan Balmer brings fire and heart every time he plays the guitar. His playing spans nearly one hundred CDs including twelve as a leader from which his original works have appeared internationally in television, film and radio. An in-demand educator, Dan maintains a busy schedule of private lessons, group clinics and master classes throughout the US and abroad. He adjudicates student jazz band competitions at events such as the Monterey Next Generation Festival and Reno Jazz Festival along with being a long-term teacher at the Centrum Jazz Workshop. He is the director of jazz combos at Lewis And Clark College while also on faculty at virtually every other college in the greater Portland, Oregon area. Dan has performed or toured with Joey DeFrancesco, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Les McCann, Javon Jackson and Karrin Allyson, Benny Golson, Jeff Hamilton, Gerald Clayton, John Clayton, Terell Stafford, Ingrid Jensen, Duduka da Fonseca, Kendrick Scott, Taylor Eigsti, Buddy De Franco, Bruce Forman and countless others. Dan's love of guitar and making music combined with discipline, technique and restless curiosity provide an ever-deepening experience for himself and his listeners. In every performance he finds himself in the middle of the path, amidst a continuous and compelling process of discovery.
Saxophonist Brian Myers grew up between Washington and Oregon, immersed in the rich traditions of Northwest jazz. He studied with respected artists like Rob Scheps, David Valdez, Glen Moore, Dave Storrs, and Neal Grandstaff, and developed his voice through formative programs including the Mel Brown Jazz Camps and the Western International Band Clinic.
Brian Myers brings a lively set of saxophone trio music to the 1905's 10pm lab. Featuring two of Portland's rhythm section greats - Eric Gruber on bass and Michael Raynor on drums, this evening of music will swing, excite and soothe with deep cut standards, fresh originals and some favorite compositions by local composters.
Brian Myers grew up in the area moving to Portland in 2005. Early studies with local greats lead to performing with numerous local jazz groups, as well as pick up work with groups like The Temptations and Four Tops, The Modern Gentlemen, The Ultimate Elvis Experience and others. He regularly performs straight ahead, avant-garde, big band, traditional jazz and blues as well as popular and theater music as a pit musician. He is an active instructor with a large studio of students.
Eric Gruber is one of the city's finest bassists performing regularly with many of Portlands top musicians including Darell Grant, Rob Scheps, Devin Phillips, Marilyn Keller, and Dimitri Matheny. He is a first call for many great acts coming through town.
Michael Raynor spent 20 years performing with Von Freeman, toured and recorded with Kurt Elling and has worked with legends like Freddie Hubbard, Steve Coleman, Eric Alexander, Gary Bartz and Johnny Griffin to name but a few.
Superjazzers is a Portland-based jazz quartet featuring saxophonist Tim Willcox, pianist David Goldblatt, bassist Bill Athens, and drummer Charlie Doggett. They blend diverse influences, including Ornette Coleman, Elliott Smith, Keith Jarrett, and The Beatles, creating a unique sound that mixes classic jazz with modern improvisation. Their decade-long collaboration has resulted in a rich, emotional sound and a large catalog of original compositions.
Nick is touring his "New America" project, which weaves personal tales of beauty and discovery into overarching themes of love, respect, and tolerance - a spiritually musical effort to combat the rising tide of division within the United States.
"This acorn seems to have dropped from something other than the traditional alto tree. Biello goes his own way, and has the chops to back it up. The result is an individual, identifiable sound of his own, something close to unattainable at this point of the jazz lineage." - Paul Rauch, AllAboutJazz.com
Nick has shared the stage with world-class artists, such as Slide Hampton, Cedar Walton, the Jimmy Heath Big Band, and John Benitez. He has performed at the Pescara and Bussi Jazz Festivals in Italy, as well as the Taipei and Taichung Jazz Festivals in Taiwan, and other festivals across the globe. Nick's saxophone has been heard in notable NYC venues such as Birdland, Blue Note, Dizzy's, Lincoln Center, Cellar Dog, Smalls, Mezzrow, Smoke, Zinc Bar, The Kitano, Joe's Pub at the Public Theater, and Sony Hall.
Nick has recorded on hundreds of albums, from his own original projects to his work as a sideman for other artists. His debut album, "Vagabond Soul," released in 2017 on the Truth Revolution Recording Collective, features Phil Markowitz, John Benitez, Clarence Penn, Paul Jones, Andrew Renfroe, and Vincent Lionti. "Between Light and Shadow", a collection of original compositions for the chordless trio format, was released in May of 2024 on La Reserve Records and features Biello's working trio of Alex Tremblay on bass and Peter Kronreif on drums. His third album as a leader, "New America", combines the rhythm team of Tremblay and Kronreif and adds the formidable musicianship of trumpet virtuoso Charlie Porter and the eminent pianist George Colligan.
Nick teaches Saxophone at The New School and New Jersey City University, is the Artistic Director of the Blaine Harbor Music Festival in Washington.
"If this band appeared in New York City, they'd be a sensation!" That was guitar great--and one-time Mel Brown bandmate-- George Benson's reaction after hearing the Mel Brown B-3 Organ Group open for him back in September, 2003 at Oregon's prestigious Britt Festival.
In fact, this true all-star band--each member is widely viewed as tops in the Northwest on his instrument--has been a sensation for a long while now. With a collective resume that reads like a "Who's Who" of jazz, blues, and soul (all four members are Oregon Music Hall of Fame inductees), this group has the talent and confidence to be completely spontaneous--from their blistering solos to their improvised arrangements and segues. No wonder they've thrilled audiences wherever they've played.
Adriana and Olivia grew up playing together in the Portland scene. After meeting as teenagers, Olivia and Adriana bonded as close friends and musical collaborators throughout the past ten years. Their unique voices merge together to create a wide pallet of colors and emotions, giving vibrancy to their original compositions. Adriana and Olivia have both made tremendous growth in their individual careers and are honored to come together again as co-leaders with a spectacular quintet at The 1905.
Olivia Bio:
Olivia Fields is a saxophonist, teacher, and student from Portland. Oregon. Honored to join a deep legacy of Portland-grown women in jazz, Olivia hopes to expand this lineage with her own inimitable voice.
During the past year, Olivia has begun a transformative journey to deepen her knowledge and connection to both music and the saxophone. This journey has challenged her to reconstruct her relationship to rhythm, harmony, and storytelling in a way that facilitates radically honest and captivating performances.
Olivia works and plays with her quintet, which has been described as "a living organism", due to the band's organic and spontaneous approach to performance and improvisation. In addition to this quintet, Olivia performs regularly as both a leader and side-person at various local venues.
Adriana Bio:
Adriana Wagner is an emerging trombonist, bandleader, educator, and composer based in Portland, Oregon. Wagner earned a Bachelor of
Music in Jazz Studies at Portland State University, studying with George Colligan and Darrell Grant.
Adriana formed her quartet in 2022 and has performed at the Portland Literary Arts Festival with PDX Jazz (2022), PDX Jazz Festival (2023), Vancouver Wine & Jazz Festival (2023), Creative Music Guild Festival (2023), Seaside Jazz and Blues (2024) Festival, Montavilla Jazz Festival (2024), and Portland's most popular jazz clubs like The 1905, and the Jack London Revue. She formed her quartet in 2022 performing entirely her original compositions. Her originals invite the listener on a visual storytelling journey through captivating melodies that can resonate above or become immersed within the composition's harmonic structures. The compositions are written from perspectives of heartbreak, struggle, beauty, and resilience. Influenced by many different music genres, she weaves styles together under a distinct jazz banner.
Wagner was recently named one of the inaugural recipients of the Music Oregon Echo Fund grant to help create her debut album. Her album "She Sleeps, She Wakes" was released on PJCE Records featuring her original compositions. The album was featured on Best Jazz on Bandcamp 2024.
She has worked with Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble, Pleasure, George Colligan, Randy Porter, Domo Branch, Wayne Horvitz, Dolphin Hyperspace, Nicole McCabe, Brown Branch Big Band, Pleasure, PDX Jazz Presents: The American Refrain, Orquestra Pacifico Tropical, Cambalache Orquestra and Pura Vida Orchestra, Reb & The Good News, Lily Sheers, and March Fourth.
Greg Goebel - piano, Garrett Baxter - bass, Chris - drums Upon Christopher Brown's return to Portland in 2012 - which was preceded by 13 years in the NYC area, as well as four years in the Marine Corps - the assemblage of his quartet quickly became one of note. And by 2017 his quartet had officially become the most visible Jazz group in all of Portland, with a steady weekly cadence of 3-4 performances, which was maintained until the start of the global pandemic. And even then, it took them no more than three months to return to a similar weekly performance schedule.
Since 2017, the quartet has created a home for themselves at the famed 1905 Jazz club in Portland. And through their regular performances, they've not only helped to raise the profile of the venue to one of the world's top 100 Jazz clubs according to Down Beat Magazine, but of Jazz itself in Portland. So in a market where it's difficult to maintain group's with the same personnel, it's arguable that the Christopher Brown Quartet succeeds as being one of, if not the best, Jazz "groups" in all of Portland--which in turn is what gives them such a powerful, polished, and identifiable sound.
One of the best kept secrets of the Northwest jazz scene, flutist/vocalist/pianist, Cheryl Alex has been central among the region's jazz community for over twenty years. Cheryl's original compositions reflect a deep harmonic sense with memorable melodies and Latin influences. Ed Bennett has long been considered one of the West Coast's premiere string bass players. Living in Portland, Oregon since 1990, Ed's work has taken him virtually everywhere in the world. He has worked with, toured internationally, or recorded with many legendary jazz figures.
Kerry Politzer - piano, Olivia Fields - sax, Artie Adams- bass, George Colligan - drums. The band will be doing Kerry's original compositions and a few by Olivia that she has featured before at The 1905, as well. Pianist/composer Kerry Politzer has released eight albums as a leader, the most recent of which is "Ruminations" (PJCE Records, 2024). She currently serves on the music faculty at Portland State University and Clackamas Community College, and is a graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music. Olivia Fields is a saxophonist from Portland, Oregon. While growing up in the Portland jazz community, Olivia studied with jazz legends John Nastos and Alan Jones, who encouraged her to develop the fiery tone and interactive playing she has come to be known for. Olivia recently completed her Master's degree in Jazz Studies at the University of Oregon, where she studied with world-renowned musicians Idit Shner, Joe Manis, Steve Owen, and Keith Brown. Kerry performs and gives clinics around the country with recent performances at Sam First, Mezzrow, Mr. Tipples, and the 25th Annual Gene Harris Festival.
Mel Brown - Drums, Renato Caranto - Tenor Saxophone, Dan Balmer - Guitar (There was a substitute guitar player tonight), Louis "King Louis" Pain - Hammond B3. "If this band appeared in New York City, they'd be a sensation!" That was guitar great--and one-time Mel Brown bandmate-- George Benson's reaction after hearing the Mel Brown B-3 Organ Group back in 2003. In fact, this true all-star band has been a sensation going back to 1997, when they began a 20-year run on Thursdays at Portland's legendary "Jimmy Mak's" music venue (The Oregonian dubbed them "Jimmy Mak's signature group"). With a collective resume that reads like a "Who's Who" of NW jazz, blues, and soul, this group has the talent and confidence to be completely spontaneous--from their blistering solos to their improvised arrangements and segues. No wonder they've thrilled audiences wherever they've played.
Normally we order pizza by the slice, but it appears The 1905 has declared Sunday to be "Pasta Night" and had several different kinds of pasta on the menu instead of pizza.
Saxophonist/multi-instrumentalist and composer Nick Biello brings a quartet to The 1905 featuring longtime musical collaborator and NYC bassist Alex Tremblay. Together, they will be presenting a program of new music, supported by George Colligan on piano and Chris Brown on drums. Nick has shared the stage with world-class artists, such as Slide Hampton, Cedar Walton, the Jimmy Heath Big Band, Orrin Evans and the Captain Black Big Band, Clarence Penn, and John Benitez. 2024 saw his trio project release, "Between Light and Shadow", available on La Reserve Recordings, which received critical acclaim. His new album, "New America", featuring Charlie Porter and George Colligan, will be available in May.
Xylyn Hathaway. Portland, Oregon. Xylyn Hathaway has become a conduit of vulgar-beauty-jazz music that sinks teeth into the space it fills. They paint canvas into composition and wield an upright bass like bazookas, exploding hearts open peeled backwards into one bouquet of manic laughter from the pit of your chest.
