The Sixth Annual Brown Branch Big Band Holiday Show
Celebrate this holiday season with the Brown Branch Big Band Jazz at Portland Center Stage. Now in its sixth season, this two-night celebration features directors Domo Branch and Charlie Brown III guiding a heavy 15-piece lineup of regional and national musicians. With their signature blend of original compositions and reimagined classics, the group is keeping our city's big band tradition alive.
This year's featured vocalist is LaRhonda Steele. The big band's lineup includes saxophonists Hailey Niswanger, Nicole McCabe, Max Roark, Leon Cotter, and Mieke Bruggeman; trombonists Kyle Molitor, James Powers, and Adriana Wagner; trumpeters Noah Simpson, Abner Deitle, Austin Ford, and Justin Copeland; bassist Finn Jones; as well as band directors Domo Branch on drums; and Charlie Brown III on piano.
A Portland native, Charlie Brown III is a musical director, producer, and keyboardist whose work has gained international renown in recent years. Brown has gained wider exposure when producing for mainstream rap artist, Aminé, and has since become a fixture in the tight-knit live unit supporting Memphis-based bass guitar prodigy, MonoNeon. Pushing the boundaries of jazz and new music, Brown does so with a unique knack for both composition and improvisation in the studio. He currently splits time producing and performing with his group Greaterkind in Portland, as well as hitting the international touring circuit with a variety of acts.
A Portland native now hailing from Manhattan, Domo Branch is a drummer, composer, and educator alum from the Manhattan School of Music. He has quickly established himself as one of the world’s top up-and-coming drummers, having performed with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Sean Jones, Stefon Harris, Catherine Russell, Terance Blanchard, and Taylor Eigsti. He has performed at Carnegie Hall, Konzerthaus Berlin, Monterey Jazz Festival, Caramoor Jazz Festival, Rose Hall Jazz at Lincoln Center, Blue Note New York, Angra Jazz Festival, Ronnie Scott's, Moda Center and more. He has provided jazz workshops and instruction for students of all ages from around the world.
LaRhonda Steele is a blues and gospel singer, songwriter, and one of Portland’s most celebrated rhythm and blues vocalists. Known as the “First Lady of Portland Blues,” Steele has performed on stages throughout the region and beyond. She currently serves as music director of the Portland Interfaith Gospel Choir and Portland Center for Spiritual Living. A longtime presence in Portland’s music community, Steele was inducted into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame in 2020 and the Cascade Blues Association Hall of Fame in 2018.
Albina Music Trust is the only full service community archive in the United States, dedicated to the restoration of a Black community's historic musical culture. Our programs amplify the legacy of Albina's musicians through intergenerational community-building that expands access to the arts. The Albina Community Archive preserves Albina’s arts and culture legacy, serving as a living resource for education and creative engagement.
KMHD Jazz Radio has been a staple of the Portland music scene since 1984. KMHD celebrates a diverse array of the rich history of recorded jazz and its related sub-genres, ensuring that this uniquely American art form continues to thrive in our region and beyond.
Current & Upcoming
Miss Coco Peru Presents: FUCQ THIS SH!T!
A benefit performance featuring Miss Coco Peru's signature mix of storytelling and song, with proceeds supporting CAP Northwest's work in the community.
PCS Movie Night: Pride & Prejudice (2005)
Join us in the Ellen Bye Studio on September 22nd for a screening of Joe Wright's Pride & Prejudice. This screening is FREE, just RSVP! Oh..and the candy's free too :)
Foundations of Improvisation
Looking to expand your knowledge and skills of improvisation? Whether you did theater in high school and want to jump back in, are looking to find creative connections with others, or are a theater professional looking to deepen your training, this course is perfect for you!
Grand Gesture Books Presents: LJ Andrews & P.C. Cast
Grand Gesture Books is so excited to partner with Portland Center Stage to welcome USA Today and Sunday Times bestselling author LJ Andrews for the next book in the continuation of the Ever Seas series, The Stolen Crown! She will be joined in conversation by New York Times bestselling author P.C. Cast.
COMMUNION by Matthew LaBanca
Fired by the Catholic Church for marrying his husband, Matthew LaBanca transforms his true story into a powerful evening of music, humor, and hope.
Encore! Emerald Anniversary
Join us for an unforgettable evening celebrating 20 years at The Armory.
Portland Center Stage is committed to identifying & interrupting instances of racism & all forms of oppression, through the principles of inclusion, diversity, equity, & accessibility (IDEA).