The final curtain has drawn on the 2019 Biamp PDX Jazz Festival.  

Since 2004, PDX Jazz, “a nonprofit cultural arts organization dedicated to curating jazz in Portland,” has assembled Grammy-winning international acts and hometown artists alike every February. This year’s festival, held February 20 through March 3, featured 12 full days of performances, a testament to both PDX Jazz’s commitment and the amazing support of Rose City audiences. Biamp has proudly served as the event’s main sponsor since 2016.

The festival kicked off with trumpeter (and Grammy nominee) Christian Scott. Through his music, Scott addressed complex issues of social and political realities, leaving his audience spellbound. Another festival highlight was jazz singer Veronica Swift’s incredible performance, featuring the Benny Green Trio, held at Portland’s historic music venue, The Old Church.  

“This is a powerful musical event that is vital for the Portland arts community,” said Joe Andrulis, executive vice president of corporate development at Biamp. “As the chief sponsor, we are proud to contribute to an organization bringing this level of talent to our city that truly connects people through extraordinary audio experiences.” 

While the festival may be over for the year, PDX Jazz’s mission to “develop future jazz audiences for generations to come” continues with initiatives like Jazz in the Schools, a program that strives to support youth music and arts education.

Celebrating the rich heritage of jazz is a wonderful way to encourage diversity and unification. Nothing brings people together quite like music, which is a message we at Biamp can always get behind. 

Visit https://pdxjazz.com/donate/ to learn how you can get involved.