'Round Midnight showcases locals
Posted by:
Sentinel News Service
on
May 06, 2009
~ Sean Farrell
[POD: Music sample from album Organic Journey]
On April 18, a weekly late night concert series, ’Round Midnight, kicked off at the Curious Comedy Club on Martin Luther King Boulevard. The event featured pianist and jazz composer David Ornette Cherry with special guest drummer Ron Steen.
Cherry first came to Portland in 2007.
“I got off the plane and said, ‘I’m gonna move here,’” recalls Cherry. “There’s just something in the air.”
Cherry came back for the Portland Jazz Festival 2008 and finally moved to town this year. Since then he has organized ’Round Midnight as a way of helping to promote the local jazz scene. “I’m just trying to promote folks who are all ready here.”
Although now a veteran musician and composer, Cherry is originally from the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles. He studied jazz and world music at Bishop College in Dallas and at CalArts in California, eventually honing his skills by playing with greats like his godfather, Ornette Coleman, and his father, reputed trumpeter Don Cherry.
Cherry’s desire to create a late night musical outlet for musicians and music fans in Portland spurred him to create the concert series.
“In LA there are so many places to see late night music,” said Cherry. “When I was first running around Portland, I realized that every club that had live music was just closing down around 11:30 p.m., except for the bars.”
The goal of ’Round Midnight is not only to create a venue to see great late night music, but also to create a positive place for the community to come together.
“I would like this event to generate community conversations,” said Cherry. “I want people from all genres to come in, hear a good show and stimulate some good conversation.”
’Round Midnight will donate a portion of their proceeds to Jefferson High School’s music program. Cherry, who currently teaches a music workshop at Jefferson, feels the donations will help expose all kinds of students to music, not just those who are already pursuing it.
’Round Midnight is scheduled for a three-month test run from April through June 20. If successful, it could become a Portland mainstay.
“Ideally this will become an institution,” said Cherry. “I’m just looking to put our niche in the city.”
’Round Midnight 11:30 p.m. at Curious Comedy Theater, 5225 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Admission is $8. www.roundmidnightpdx.com
POD Sample, songs from David Ornette Cherry's albumn Organic Journey: on the right path
Song 1:Pick up my life/one way ticket: David Ornette Cherry, saxophone-Devin Phillips, Vocals by Langston Hughes
Song 2: On to the next riff: David Ornette Cherry, Vocals by Dwight Trible
Song 3: Tribute to Tarinith Rao: David Ornette Cherry, saxophone- Devin Phillips, raven flute-Tah Rei
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