All That Jazz

On Saturday, McMenamins Crystal Ballroom will play host to the creation of the historic “A Great Day in Portland” photograph recognizing the living history of Portland’s jazz community. Organized by Portland State University’s Leroy Vinnegar Jazz Institute (LVJI), with the generous support of McMenamins, “A Great Day in Portland” is inspired by the famous 1958 portrait “A Great Day in Harlem” and is the first project of its kind to document Portland’s jazz history. The photo will contain over 100 local musicians and the shoot is a private event.
Paying homage to Portland’s legacy as a vibrant jazz city, recognizing living members of Portland’s jazz family, and honoring those historic figures who made the creation of this valuable heritage their life’s work, the “A Great Day in Portland” photograph will be turned into an exhibit quality poster, available to the public, that will support the education and outreach programs of LVJI. The photograph and poster will be unveiled during Leroy Vinnegar Jazz Week May 1–7, 2005.