Montavilla Jazz

Montavilla Jazz The mission of Montavilla Jazz is to support and strengthen local music culture and enrich our community by showcasing the best of Portland jazz.
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TWO DAYS TO GO🎺Find transportation information, food vendor for each venue, and venue policies at the FAQ link in our bi...
09/02/2026

TWO DAYS TO GO🎺

Find transportation information, food vendor for each venue, and venue policies at the FAQ link in our bio. We love when you arrive by bike or plan your trip with TriMet!

Lock in your spot now! Pass and ticket prices go up after Thursday night!

09/01/2026

Thank you to Emily and Mia and the team at KOIN News AM Extra for having Lo Steele and greaterkind's Peter Knudsen on this morning!

We can't wait to see you at Mt. Tabor Park to hear them on Sunday, September 6th at 7:30 pm. Festival pass prices go up on Friday, so grab yours now!

09/01/2026

Wen'ipt exists to share indigenous artistry and bring awareness to the contributions native peoples had on jazz. Bringing together original compositions, cultural storytelling, and a jazz language, Wen’ipt is both a musical and communal offering—one that builds connection between Portland’s jazz scene and Indigenous presence, while opening space for reflection, learning, and celebration. Led by bari saxiphonist Orion White, Wen'ipt shares music Nez Perce, Dine, Ojibwe, Muscogee, Kaw, Abanaki, and Tlingit artists and always plays at least one tune by Portland legend Jim Pepper.
Catch them on Saturday, September 5th at the SoundsTruck NW Stage at Montavilla Plaza at 1 pm!
📷 Orion White by Hailey Asker
🎶"Blood Quantum" by Mali Obomsawin, performed by Wen'ipt

08/31/2026

Perks are brewing for festival pass holders at our Village Partners! Find reasons to slow down and ways to refuel all over the neighborhood during the festival.

We're proud to partner with
Montavilla Brew Works
Vino Veritas Wine Bar & Shop
Threshold Brewing & Blending
Replicant / Mudd Work Cafe
Montavilla Station
Academy Theater
Bipartisan Cafe
Tinker Tavern
East Glisan Pizza Lounge

Be sure to check out all of their offerings to passholders on our festival home page!.
🎶 "Big Moves" by Domo Branch (Catch him at Show Bar on Sept. 5th)
🎥 Kim Gumbel

"This may be the year of the woman at the Montavilla Jazz Festival," says Lynn Darroch. His preview for ArtsWatch went d...
08/30/2026

"This may be the year of the woman at the Montavilla Jazz Festival," says Lynn Darroch. His preview for ArtsWatch went deep into the projects of Lo Steele, Jessie Marquez, Shelly Rudolph, Rebecca Sanborn, Sherry Alves, and Idit Shner. And today (Sunday, August 30th) you can catch him exploring the interesting ties between these projects further during Bright Moments on KMHD Jazz Radio from 7-9pm PT.

"[T]hey all promise journeys deep within the psyche. Rebecca Sanborn uses the mythic structure of dreams to explore a “shadow self”; Shelly Rudolph presents a feminist re-writing of the Orpheus myth; Sherry Alves illuminates the genius of Nancy King by using King’s own phrasing in arrangements for four voices; Jessie Marquez sings of goddesses in the cross-cultural “Filin” style; Idit Shner’s suite for bass clarinet is based on a melody from her synagogue’s singing of the Torah, and its title is drawn from that spiritual tradition as well; and Lo Steele affirms the importance of cultural identity and community."

📷: Reed Ricker, Rachel Hadiashar, Anthony Pidgeon, Kathryn Elsesser Photography, Addie Mannan, Jesse Cloninger

On Sunday, September 6th, experience Unsound. The new project by Noah Simpson that brings together a quintet of longtime...
08/29/2026

On Sunday, September 6th, experience Unsound. The new project by Noah Simpson that brings together a quintet of longtime collaborators and the visual artists of Spoiler Room for an immersive live performance. Written specifically for Montavilla Jazz Festival, the music explores human creativity in an era of generative content, emphasizing improvisation, responsiveness, and live interaction. As the music unfolds, live camera work and analog visual effects evolve alongside it, creating a shared environment of discovery where sound and image shape one another in real time.
📷 by Kathryn Elsesser Photography

08/29/2026

We loved sitting down with Venezuelan vocalist, guitarist, and composer SOFI NAVA at Threshold Brewing & Blending earlier in the month to talk about her upcoming set at Montavilla Jazz Festival. She shared the story of receiving her first guitar, her relationship to jazz, and the music she's writing just for the festival!
Don't miss a very special set at the SoundsTruck NW Stage at Montavilla Plaza (right across the way from Threshold Brewing) on Sunday, September 6th at 11 am.
🎥 Fusion 5 Media, filmed by Sean Burke
🎶"Moliendo Cafe" written by Hugo Blanco, recorded at Blue Butler Studios
Studio footage by Roland Salas.

We caught up with drummer Domo Branch at the shared space of Mudd Works Cafe and Replicant Beer & Wine, and sat down to ...
08/26/2026

We caught up with drummer Domo Branch at the shared space of Mudd Works Cafe and Replicant Beer & Wine, and sat down to hear more in City Noise Records. Domo shared the mission of his music, the importance of community for the music, and took us back to his early encounters with Montavilla Jazz Festival.
Montavilla Jazz Festival 2026 is carrying forward the tradition of hosting up and coming student performers at Replicant/Mudd Works Cafe, Threshold Brewing and Blending, Vino Veritas, and Montavilla Brew Works! Find the full schedule at the link in our bio.
Be sure to catch the Domo Branch Quartet on a double bill with Grant Richard's Orbits Trio on Saturday, September 5th at Show Bar!
**Show Bar concerts require a separate ticket from festival passes.**

🎥 by Fusion 5 Media , filmed by Sean Burke
🎶 "Big Moves" by Domo Branch
2023 footage by 88.8 Film and Photography
2016 📷 by Kathryn Elsesser Photography

08/25/2026

Ayden Jay Allida kicks off the festival weekend at the SoundsTruck NW Stage at Montavilla Plaza exploring freedom. Bringing together a band whose members reflect intersecting q***r and BIPOC identities, his original music explores the journey of coming out as transgender. A TRANScendent Rebirth blends contemporary jazz with personal narrative, advocacy, and emotional openness. Allida hopes to remind listeners us that unity and compassion is the key to creating change in this world.
🎥 GMS Creative

Montavilla Jazz Festival is always local first, but we love when our artists bring a new sound back to the city! Saxopho...
08/25/2026

Montavilla Jazz Festival is always local first, but we love when our artists bring a new sound back to the city! Saxophonist, composer, and improviser Alden Hellmuth will join Noah Simpson's Unsound and Lo Steele and greaterkind during the festival.

Currently based in New York City, Alden is the recipient of the German Jazz Prize “Debut Album of the Year International” Award. She has performed and toured internationally with artists including Herbie Hancock and Dianne Reeves. Alden strives for expression through freedom, intuition, and a deep commitment to her craft, and we are delighted to have her joining Portland artists on our stages!

Address

Portland, OR

Opening Hours

Monday 1pm - 5pm
Tuesday 1pm - 5pm
Wednesday 1pm - 5pm
Thursday 1pm - 5pm
Friday 1pm - 5pm

Telephone

+19712206051

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