Event

Portland Jazz Violin Summit

Portland's own Stumptown Swing hosts an evening of jazz and swing violin magic featuring three local masters of the form, Ben Blechman, Annie Staninec and James Mason.

Stumptown Swing (Tim Connell, mandolin & voice; Mike Burdette, guitar; Ben Blechman, violin & Keith Brush, upright bass) have honed their craft performing for the myriad swing dance soirees that have sprung up in Portland over the past few years.

The group pulls equally from 1920's-30's American jazz and from French Gypsy Jazz of the same era. Bandleader/mandolinist Tim Connell and violin wizard Ben Blechman engage in an ensemble improvisational style that propels the tunes forward. Keith Brush and Mike Burdette are a favorite rhythm section in Portland's swing dance community, with a rock solid groove and a bounce that satisfies those talented terpsichores.

The evening will feature a short opening set by Stumptown Swing, and a feature set by each of our two guests, followed by some creative mixing and matching and full group finale.