Jazz Dodges a Bullet

FROM THE FEST: Last Saturday in Portland (Oregon), a celebratory triple whammy was under way. On the intimate, Hallmark Card-fueled front, it was Valentine’s Day, and the official Sesquicentennial birthday of this fine, soggy, beautiful state. Then there was a case of cultural resurrection. The Portland Jazz Festival, a strapping young fest attaining great heights of appreciation in its six years, faced premature extinction last fall when a major donor pulled out-and this, even before the economic meltdown made everyone cautious and nervous. The news was grim, until Alaska/Horizon Airlines (which has a SBA footprint) offered a heap of support, literally saving the festival, for at least two years.

With last weekend’s program, a hearty and heady tribute to Blue Note Records at age 70, the festival, steered by founding director Bill Royston, amply demonstrated why it is a precious cultural resource worth celebrating. Its rousing program tilled from the Blue Note roster, past and present.

Santa Barbara got a good taste of the past-meeting-present Blue Note spirit when the Blue Note 7 played Campbell Hall in January. For any jazz fan, this is a milestone birthday worth genuflecting towards.