dr�� elijah

Andrés Elijah is a multi-instrumentalist performer and composer originally from Walla Walla, Washington and currently based in Los Angeles, California. Performing under the name, dré elijah, he attributes much of his musical influence to his Guatemalan, Colombian, and Pacific Northwest roots and family heritage cultivated from four generations of musicians. Andrés’ approach to sound is heavily influenced both by the music he grew up with but also his unique experience, being born deaf in one ear. As a deaf musician, he places emphasis on the vibration and rhythm his sounds create, and he is known for dancing on stage when he’s behind a piano, microphone, or playing trumpet

Wen'��pt

Wen'ípt (Songs) is an Indigenous led contemporary jazz combo that highlights Indigenous artistry through jazz. Wen'ípt showcases the largely forgotten, but significant, contributions to the art form by native peoples through performance of indigenous works from multiple eras, story telling, and by simply taking up space on the scene. Wen'ípt seeks to honor and carry on a long standing tradition of indigenous peoples in jazz, from Charlie Parker (Choctaw), to Jim Pepper (Kaw/Mvskoke), and even contemporary artists such as Julia Keefe (Nimiipuu), Delbert Anderson (Navajo), and Mali Obomsawin (Abenaki).

Orion White

Born: November 23, 1999

Orion White is an Indigenous (Nez Perce and Ottawa of Oklahoma) Baritone Saxophone specialist and music educator based in Portland, OR bringing together jazz, rock, house, and funk sensibilities to create a style of playing all his own.
Orion earned his undergraduate degree at the Lionel Hampton School of Music at the University of Idaho and soon became a founding member of the Julia Keefe Indigenous Big Band as well as joined No Soap, Radio, a jazz-funk-metal-whatever-feels-right-fusion group.
Orion's career may just be starting but it has already taken him to massive stages, including the Kennedy Center and the Washington Center for the Performing Arts, festivals such as the Monterey Jazz Festival and Juneau Blues and Classics, and has allowed him the chance to rub elbows with masters of the craft, such as Marc Carry and Esperanza Spalding.
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Mike Prigodich

Born: March 16, 1970

Mike Prigodich: Pianist, Composer, and Band Leader

Mike Prigodich is a trailblazing jazz fusion pianist, composer, and bandleader whose music defies genre boundaries and embraces complexity with unflinching clarity. Based in Oregon, Prigodich draws inspiration from artists like Chick Corea, Dave Grusin, Yellowjackets, and others, but his sound is unmistakably his own—melding jazz with Latin, rock, and global influences to create emotionally rich, rhythmically daring compositions.

Prigodich made his mark with the release of his acclaimed 2011 debut album, A Stitch in Time, featuring an all-star lineup including Damian Erskine, Reinhardt Melz, and John Nastos. Funded through a successful Kickstarter campaign following a life-altering cancer diagnosis in 2008, the album was both a personal and artistic milestone. His story—of transformation through adversity—has become part of the music’s emotional DNA.

Chris Lee

Rivkah Ross

Rivkah Ross is a jazz drummer-composer-bandleader based in Portland, Oregon. Rivkah is poised to carve her own trail with the release of her debut album, Dare to Hope. This bold offering gives a glimpse into a world that's both deeply personal and informed by the language of giants like John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, and Steve Swallow.

Rivkah isn't merely channeling her heroes; she's using their vocabulary to craft a singular artistic statement that shows a path to new territory. Her compositions demonstrate technical prowess, and harmonic acuity. But they are also sonic narratives that grapple with themes of acceptance, resilience, and the unwavering human spirit. 

Linda Lee Michelet

Linda has received rave reviews from the Oregonian, and The Portland Tribune. She was also featured in MORE Magazine. Her TV appearances include OPB’s ArtBeat, nationally syndicated Better TV, and AM Northwest. Linda Lee Michelet is well known in the Portland jazz scene for her shows created with Joe Millward focused on a performer or style of music including: “An Evening with Peggy Lee and Frank Sinatra”, “A Tribute to the Icon - George Shearing”, “Latin ala Lee”, “Peggy Lee”, and “What’s New Pussycat: the Music of Burt Bacharach”.

BrandonLee Cierley

Born: May 20, 1994

BrandonLee Cierley is a saxophonist/composer in the South Puget Sound area, along with being the founder of the known group called 322 that has been together for 5 years before embarking on his new journey in Portland, OR. BrandonLee Cierley took classical lessons from Fred Winkler and Eric Steighner and then ventured to pursue jazz further with professional saxophonist Tracy Knoop. BrandonLee has also been recently been taking lessons with Braxton Cook, up and coming jazz saxophonist based out of the New York area. Both teachers have been able to provide both spectrums of jazz music that influences BrandonLee’s playing. BrandonLee has played at various jazz venues around Seatlle & his new home in Portland which include; The Royal Room, The Triple Door’s Musicquarium, KNKX Live Studio Sessions, Jack London Revue, Vermillion, The 1905 & Holocene to name a few. He has also participated in music festivals such as; Tacoma’s First Annual Jazz Walk, NW Folklife, Paradiso 2018 & recently played in the horn section for world reknowned Saxophonist Mike Phillips as a part of Portland's Juneteenth Celebration Festival.

Leonard Maxson

Leonard Maxson (Drummer-based in rudimental drumming) Toured the USA, Canada, & Mexico backing many groups and bands doing show work, jazz, rock, blues, pop, & country then did the Nevada - California casino circuit for 6 years backing all styles of music in several bands. After many years of this settled in the Portland area forming the group Lisa & The Persons Three (Lisa Gale, Larry Adair, Ken Lomax,Leonard Maxson) lasting 5 years. Obtained a BA in Music Education and became a public high school band director teaching in Oregon for15 years. Presently returned to performance first backing shows, with jazz sets in between, on the cruise ship The Columbia Queen for a season; on the road was part of Magic Jerry and The Mojo Men, The Frantic Mystics, Take Three, Linda Leigh and The Lads, Southside Jazz Band, Susan and The Sound System, The Tokyo Playmates, Diamond Lil Show, The Riverboat Gamblers, and others.

Ryan Meagher

Born: August 18, 1981

As with all the best jazz musicians, guitarist Ryan Meagher (pronounced Marr) refuses to sit still. The Portland-based composer and player maintains a steady stream of activity, whether that’s teaching at various schools throughout the Northwest, performing regular gigs around his hometown, or writing thoughtful music that spans the vast spectrum of jazz music, from post-bop to Latin to avant-garde.

Meagher’s forward momentum was fomented early, during his teen years growing up in San Jose, California, where he split his time between taking baseball practice and working out his guitar chops in a series of youthful garage bands. From there, he began his most serious music studies, both in the classrooms and rehearsal halls of San Diego State University, and, starting in 2003, the clubs and venues of New York City. That combination of academic inquiry and the make-or-break proving ground of one of the country’s brightest artistic centers brought about Meagher’s thoughtful compositional style and a curiosity that has allowed him to move between musical worlds with ease.