2025 Grammy winner and Portland Opera’s Artistic Ambassador Karen Slack brings her celebration of historic African Queens to The Reser. New works by acclaimed composers Jasmine Barnes, Jessie Montgomery, Shawn Okpebholo, Dave Ragland, Carlos Simon, Joel Thompson, and Portland Opera’s Music Director Damien Geter thrill alongside carefully selected pieces from the traditional repertoire in this…
A native of the Bronx, Samara Joy became entranced by classic R&B as a child and cut her teeth as a singer in her church’s gospel choir. And while her family history is deeply musical—her grandparents helmed the Philadelphia gospel group the Savettes, and her father, the musician and songwriter Antonio McLendon, has produced, composed…
ONN launches the season with a vibrant exploration of musical wit and transformation across time. Portland’s own Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Caroline Shaw opens the program with Entr’acte, a work inspired by the elegant and surprising turns of Haydn’s string quartets. Next, Anna Clyne’s Sound and Fury draws from the same Haydn source and Shakespeare’s Macbeth,…
The Reser’s debut of Worlds of Song brings together three extraordinary soloists who are reshaping musical boundaries. The show consists of short solo sets from each player alongside duets and trios for a true ‘one time only’ experience. The inaugural Worlds of Song event showcases the dazzling artistry of Brazil’s Badi Assad, the alternative folk…
Multiple award-winning actress and singer Lea Salonga is renown across the world for her powerful voice and perfect pitch. Lea most recently starred in the new musical Here Lies Love at the Broadway Theater and headlined Old Friends (alongside Bernadette Peters) on London’s West End. Her latest album, Sounding Joy | The Holiday Album, was…
Noam Pikelny is widely recognized as the preeminent banjoist of his generation. Hailed by the Chicago Tribune as the “pros top banjo picker,” Noam is a founding member of Punch Brothers, a string ensemble which The Boston Globe calls “a virtuosic revelation” and The New Yorker describes as “wide- ranging and restlessly imaginative.” Pikelny was…
Since their debut in 1993, Life in the Fast Lane has earned their place in the music industry as “America’s Most Authentic” Eagles Tribute Band. Performed with enthusiasm, style and conviction, Life in the Fast Lane brilliantly re-creates the harmonic sounds of the legendary Eagles. Blending 5 part harmonies & 3 guitars, Life in the…
In 2017, Grammy-nominated artist Joan Osborne released the critically acclaimed album, Songs of Bob Dylan. Her artistic and soulful reinterpretations of the selection of Dylan songs was an eye-opening moment in an already celebrated career. Eight years after milestone recording, Osborne will release the stunning Dylanology Live on April 25th. The captivating recording finds the…
“LaRussell’s show really isn’t like any concert I’ve seen before — not just because it’s a rap show with a harp, a flute and a seven-person choir. People are quick to throw around the word “intimate” when describing concerts, to the point where it loses its meaning. But with LaRussell, there’s no other word. The…
At this upcoming OKPA performance, audiences will experience a dynamic percussion showcase featuring a variety of traditional Korean drums, including janggu, buk, and kkwaenggwari. In addition, a renowned talchum (mask dance drama) troupe from Korea—recognized as part of Korea’s official cultural heritage—will present a vibrant performance that reflects the humor, struggles, and spirit of ordinary people. This special event promises…
Successfully dodging even the most valiant attempts at genre classification, this multi-instrumental quartet (violin, banjo, viola, mandolin, cello, vocals) encompasses musical traditions from across America, while composer-performer Clarice Assad’s unique vocal stylings and use of piano and electronics are in a class of its own.
Aside from being one of the principal innovators of modern jazz guitar, John Scofield is a creative artist of an even rarer sort: a stylistic chameleon who has forged a consistent, rock-solid aesthetic identity. Looking to commemorate his 73rd year, Scofield has penned a collection of new compositions and re-formed the swinging group – formerly…