New series welcomes the ‘Godfather of Portland’s jazz scene’ back to Bend, with the Mel Brown Septet

 Mt. Bachelor Riverhouse Jazz kicks off its inaugural season October 28-29, welcoming back legendary drummer and bandleader Mel Brown to Bend after a two-year absence.

“We are especially pleased that Mel will be back in Bend, with his awesome septet, to launch our series,” said Executive Producer Marshall Glickman. “This band swings in the tradition of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, and was a crowd favorite during our shows back in the Oxford days.”

Mt. Bachelor Riverhouse Jazz will feature a combination of NW-based artists and international touring musicians, including pianist Benny Green (#6 on Gene Rizzo’s list of the 50 greatest jazz piano players of all-time), 7-time Grammy nominee Tierney Sutton, multi-Grammy winners Yellowjackets, and multi-saxophonist Ravi Coltrane (son of jazz legend John Coltrane). In addition to the Mel Brown Septet, the series will feature Portland-based Alan Jones Sextet (featuring Nicole Glover) and a special group assembled exclusively for Mt. Bachelor Riverhouse Jazz, the Portland Blues Review (featuring Louis Pain, Andy Stokes, Lisa Mann & LaRhonda Steele).

There will be two shows on one weekend each month, from October 2016 through April 2017, taking place on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm. Doors open at 6:00pm, with an opening set from a student all-star ensemble from 6:30-7:15.

Starting September 1st, Bend music lovers will be able to purchase single-show tickets for all seven weekends, via www.riverhouse.com/jazz. Series Subscriptions remain on sale through late October.

“Series subscription sales have been brisk since we went on sale in late June,” said Glickman. “Our series customers enjoy a nice price break, as well as other special benefits. At the same time, we want to make sure that people who prefer to purchase single-show tickets have the opportunity to reserve their seats early before we are sold out.”