The 2008 Portland Jazz Fest kicks off Friday February 15th.

The fifth annual Portland Jazz Festival, presented by Qwest & The Oregonian A&E, will open with 2007 Pulitzer Prize and Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Ornette Coleman on Friday, February 15, 7:30 PM, at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. Tickets are selling fast. The legendary alto saxophonist, whose last Portland appearance was in 1983, will be celebrated through a series of performances, lectures, panel discussions, and workshops under the banner of The Shape of Jazz to Come.

Grab your tickets and then click here for your Portland Jazz Festival Hotel Package

I spent the day and night of December 22nd at the Columbia Gorge Hotel in Hood River, Oregon. The occasion was the wedding of the Dandy Warhols leader, Courtney Taylor and his sweetheart, Lockett Albritton. As you can see in the picture I took, Courtney and his male band mates were dressed in hand-tailored outfits reminiscent of 17th century French lieutenants replete with dazzling patent leather knee-high boots, while Dandys’ keyboard player Zia led us all from room to room as mistress of ceremonies. The fine Burgundy flowed by the case and kilos of lamb were consumed. There were literally hundreds of guests causing the rooms to overflow with people wherever the crowd surged. All in all it was a very fine and Dandy wedding.

Here’s a cut from one of Courtney’s favourite bands, The Black Angels - Black Grease [MP3]

The Ace hotel will be hosting an Art Yardsale this Saturday, September 8th “from noon ’till late.”  Music will begin at 7PM with The Forhorn Stringband and Paul Silveria who will play your favorite ol’ timey dance tunes. Doors at 6, $5. All ages. Beer and wine available for purchase.

Contributing artists include:

Art Chantry •  Tyler Stout • Jim Riswold • Modern Dog (Robynne Raye and Michael Strassburger) • MK Guth • Peter Wegner • Sarah McCarry • Nan Curtis + Marty Houston • Rashel Peddersen • Mike King • Justin Parker • Inge Bruggeman • Morgan Ritter • Jason Miranda • Margaret Richardson • Guy Burwell •  Danny Seim • Kristan Kennedy • Koichi Yamamoto • Tim McGrath • Jeral Tidwell (poster for Dr. Martens) • Cheyenne Sawyer • Ed King and a whole crew of crazy castaways.

Proceeds from the ART YARDSALE will benefit the Elizabeth Hawthorne Hunt Memorial Printmaking scholarship.

“This here is my festival” click to play.

At every festival talent is abundance and yet there are always one or two stand out artists. This year for me it’s been Alela Diane on two stages, Horse Feathers in the barn on Saturday afternoon and discovering the genius that is Langhorne Slim. But, and here’s the big but, however amazing they all were they pale when compared to the genius that is Dale Watson. It’s hard to explain what an electric and dynamic performer this man is and I’d be throwing out clichés if I were to try and describe it. On the main stage late Saturday afternoon he was amazing but much later in the night, in an absolutely packed barn, he completely destroyed. A man of his age in complete control showing the kids how it’s done. The video captures some of the energy but I recommend seeking out a show if he comes your way. Brilliant. And the Johnny Knoxville/Jackass connection? Apparently Jonny directed the video for Dale’s new single Hollywood Hillbilly which he wrote about Johnny. And Portland you are in luck - Dale plays the White Eagle on Monday night August 6th, be there.

Click to play.

Local photographer, Basil Childers has turned his hand and eye to movie making. Check out his look inside Portland’s Ace Hotel. Click the image to see the movie.

Related Post: Clyde Commons @ The Ace Hotel.