Sunday National Act
2:15 - 3:15 PM | Halie Loren
Halie Loren is an international, award-winning jazz singer/songwriter. She brings a fresh and original perspective to time-honored musical paths, channeling her innate understanding of connectedness across musical boundaries to forge bonds with diverse audiences in North America, Asia, and Europe. Her multi-genre and multi-lingual musical blend across her ten albums to-date has earned several national and international awards in multiple genres as well as significant critical and chart success along the way, with her albums consistently reaching #1 on the Billboard Japan, iTunes (Canada and Japan) and Amazon jazz charts.
Gates open
@ 11 AM
Sunday National Act
5:30 - 6:45 PM | Shemekia Copeland
Shemekia Copeland possesses one of the most instantly recognizable and deeply soulful roots music voices of our time. The multi-GRAMMY nominee is beloved and honored worldwide for the fearlessness, honesty and humor of her revelatory songs, as well as for her winning, engaging personality. The Chicago Tribune says, “Copeland is the greatest female blues vocalist working today. There’s no mistaking the majesty of her instrument, nor the ferocity of her delivery.” Born and raised in Harlem in 1979, Shemekia Copeland first stepped on stage with her famous father at New York’s Cotton Club when she was eight. Upon release of her Alligator Records debut Turn The Heat Up in 1998 when she was only 18, Copeland instantly became a blues and R&B force to be reckoned with. The late John Prine paid her a huge compliment when he said, "She simply doesn’t sound like anybody else." And none other than Copeland’s friend, the legendary Mavis Staples, announced, “I am so happy Shemekia is delivering these songs that the world needs to hear. Her voice is strong and soulful, and her message comes from her heart.”
“. . .Shemekia Copeland is the greatest blues singer of her generation. . .” – The Washington Post
Gates open
@ 11 AM
Saturday National Act
4:45 - 6:00 PM | Stanley Jordan
Be it bold reinventions of classical masterpieces or soulful explorations through pop-rock hits, to blazing straight ahead jazz forays and ultramodern improvisational works, Stanley Jordan can always be counted on to take listeners on breathless journeys into the unexpected. Jordan came to prominence with his 1985 album Magic Touch, a revolutionary project that placed him at the forefront of re-launching legendary Blue Note Records into a contemporary entity in jazz. Magic Touch was at the top of Billboard's jazz chart for a stunning and record-breaking 51 weeks. The album became a gold-seller (over 500,000 sold in the U.S. alone) - outstanding for any jazz or instrumental CD. Jordan performs as a soloist and with the Dave Matthews Band, the String Cheese Incident, Phil Lesh, Moe, and Umphrey's McGee. Jordan has received four GRAMMY nominations.
“…Genius is a word often tossed around in musical circles, but it has been rightfully applied to Stanley Jordan...” – LA Times Jazz Critic Leonard Feather
Website: CLICK HERE | Video: CLICK HERE Video: CLICK HERE
Gates open
@ 3:30 PM
Sat | Aug 23, 2025
Sunday Headline Artist
7:15 - 8:30 PM | Take 6
Take 6 (Claude McKnight, Mark Kibble, Joel Kibble, Dave Thomas, Alvin Chea and Khristian Dentley) is the most awarded a cappella group in history. With 10 Grammy Awards, 10 Dove Awards, a Soul Train Award, and Members of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, this musical phenomenon has six virtuosic voices united in crystal clear harmony, against a backdrop of syncopated rhythms, innovative arrangements, and funky grooves that bubble into an intoxicating brew of gospel, jazz, R&B, and pop.
Take 6 has collaborations and praise from such luminaries as Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Brian Wilson, Ella Fitzgerald, and Whitney Houston. Take 6 has crossed most musical genres, from straight-ahead Jazz to Pop to adult R&B, doo wop to blues. Like a fine-tuned vocal orchestra, the group continues to push the boundaries of creativity and musical genius with every new release, and with their ever-evolving live performances. The multi-platinum selling sextet has toured across the globe, and is recognized as the pre-eminent a cappella group in the world.
“. . . the baddest vocal cats on the planet!" – Quincy Jones
Saturday National Act
3:00 - 4:15 PM | Greta Matassa
Over her 40-year career, Greta Matassa has become established as one of the great jazz singers of her time, and has worked with top jazz musicians in Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, and her native Seattle. Greta has been voted Best Jazz Vocalist 8 times by Seattle jazz magazine Earshot. She was inducted into the Seattle Jazz Hall of Fame in 2014. For the last 20 years Greta has become one of the most unique and respected jazz educators, teaching and mentoring up-and-coming jazz singers from Seattle to Japan, Alaska to Kauai, and Chicago to New York. She will be performing with her quintet which includes: trumpeter Paul Mazzio, bassist Clipper Anderson, guitarist Christopher Woitach, and drummer Mark Ivester.
“Matassa’s performance was a marvel of virtuosity.” – LOS ANGELES TIMES
Website: CLICK HERE | Video: CLICK HERE | Video: CLICK HERE
Saturday National Act
6:30 - 7:45 PM | The Rumba Kings
The Rumba Kings is a band that defies musical boundaries. Influenced by diverse musical genres ranging from the Spanish-guitar influence of The Gipsy Kings to the Mediterranean-inspired instrumental melodies of Yanni, The Rumba Kings captivate audiences with their diverse and romantic blend of Jazz, Latin, Pop, and Mediterranean music. Formed by George Stevens (bouzouki & Spanish guitar) and Johnny Bacolas (bassist & songwriter), since 2018 they have gained a steady following on the west coast and nationally through the support of social media, fan engagement, and airplay on jazz stations like Seattle jazz station KNKX FM. While their name suggests a focus on rumba, their style and musical repertoire is expansive and encompasses a myriad of musical influences, creating a rich and dynamic sound combined with a powerful 12-piece live stage show featuring guitars, bouzouki, mandolin, bass, Latin percussion, keyboards, strings, singers, saxophones, and dancers. The Rumba Kings is more than a concert - it's a musical experience!
Sun | Aug 24, 2025
Saturday Best of the Northwest Band
1:30 – 2:45 PM | Jasnam Daya Singh Trio
Brazilian-born pianist and composer Jasnam Daya Singh now makes the Pacific Northwest his home. His impeccable technique and introspective playing endear him to audiences and musicians alike. Singh’s Ekta: The Unity Project, was commissioned by Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble for the 2017 Montavilla Jazz Festival. It is a multi-movement suite that incorporates a wide-range of tributaries of the jazz stylistic river—Brazilian choro and samba of Singh’s country of birth, expansive European jazz and classical styles, and high-energy straight-ahead jazz. Since 1991, he has made constant appearances at the Monterey Jazz Festival. He has recorded and performed with great luminaries such as Paul McCandless, Ali Ryerson, Kenny Stahl, Claudia Villela, Charles Loos, Marcia Maria, Alex Acuna, and Alphonso Johnson. In 2009, Jasnam Daya Singh’s CD Live at Caramoor with Jovino Santos Neto, received a Latin Grammy nomination for Best Instrumental Album.
Friday - National Act
7:00 - 8:00 PM | Northwest Blues Legend - Norman Sylvester
Oregon Music Hall of Fame bluesman Norman Sylvester is a guitarist, singer, and composer beloved by fans and fellow musicians alike. For the past 40 years, the Norman Sylvester Band has performed throughout the Pacific Northwest & US, sharing the stage with BB King, Buddy Guy, James Cotton, Junior Wells, Otis Clay, Tower of Power, Blind Boys of Alabama, Peter Frampton, and others. Influenced by his Southern Baptist early years and the Gospel Quartet led by his father, Norman was born in 1945 in Bonita Louisiana. In addition to his thousands of performances, Norman has mentored many young musicians in Northwest – including Taylor Newville who appears at the Festival this year. He teaches “A History of American Music” in local schools. Norman has released 12 critically acclaimed recordings including his most recent - “Blues Stains on my Hands” – which features 10 original songs and is a tribute to all the Pioneers of early Blues.
Friday - National Act
5:30 - 6:30 PM | Ben Rice & The PDX Hustle
Ben Rice might be described as quiet and unassuming – until he picks up a guitar. That stealthy quality has earned him the moniker “blues ninja,” evidenced in his vocal chops and songcraft as well as his guitar playing. While Ben started in traditional blues, over the years he’s built upon that foundation with soul, R&B, folk, and country to fashion a welcoming front porch where everybody wants to hang out into the wee hours. Since his large-stage debut at the International Blues Challenge in 2014, Ben has made the leap from Northwest act to national and international touring artist, featuring at festivals and stages far and wide.
“…an exceptionally talented member of a new generation of blues artists…” - Blues Blast Magazine
Sunday National Act
3:45: - 5:00 PM | David Benoit
For four decades, the GRAMMY®-nominated pianist/composer/ arranger David Benoit has reigned supreme as one the founding fathers of contemporary jazz. David’s career as a contemporary jazz pianist began in 1977 and includes 40 solo recordings. Many of these, including his 1987 GRP Records debut “Freedom at Midnight” and its Grammy nominated 1988 follow-up “Every Step Of The Way”, are considered influential classics in the genre. Currently, David is topping the jazz charts with guitarist Marc Antoine with their CD recording, “So Nice” and hit single “Caminando.” He has served as conductor of major symphony orchestras including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, Dresden Philharmonic, London Symphony, Nuremberg Symphony, Philippine Philharmonic, and National Symphony Orchestra. Benoit’s most notable film score is The Stars Fell on Henrietta, produced by Clint Eastwood. In collaboration with lyricist Mark Winkler, David completed his first Broadway musical, Something’s Got To Give about the life and times of Marilyn Monroe.
Website: CLICK HERE | Video: CLICK HERE | Video: CLICK HERE
Friday Headline Artist
8:30 - 9:45 PM | Rick Estrin & The Nightcats
San Francisco Bay-area blues band Rick Estrin and The Nightcats have been nominated for The Blues Foundation for Contemporary Blues Album of the Year, 2024 Living Blues Award, Band of the Year, and Best Harmonica Player. Their dynamic concerts and stage shows have endeared them with fans at festivals and clubs throughout the United States. With Estrin's harmonica virtuosity and sly soulful vocals, Christoffer Kid Andersen's wildly inventive guitar, Lorenzo Farrell's masterful keyboards and Derrick “D’Mar” Martin's funky, creative drumming, the band takes Estrin’s ingenious, original songs to new and unexpected places, as they continue to reinvent traditional blues styles.
"Hugely entertaining, intelligently conceived and executed roots rock with a wickedly cool and otherworldly twist on tradition. Estrin’s harp work is masterful." –Living Blues
Fri | Aug 22, 2025
Sunday Best of the Northwest Band
11:30 AM- 12:30 PM | Strange Pilgrims
Without a doubt truly one of the BEST of the Northwest bands is Dan Schulte’s Strange Pilgrims. The quintet comprised of Dan Schulte (bass), Clay Giberson (piano), Pete Petersen (sax, flute, clarinet), Chris Lee (drums), and John Moak (trombone) is a band of veteran Northwest jazz artists, composers, arrangers, soloists, and sidemen. Separately, they perform hundreds of concerts and gigs regionally and nationally, and have performed on dozens of recordings projects. As a band, they comprise an AMAZING jazz ensemble that performs jazz standards with a unique flair, and contemporary jazz originals.
Friday - Best of the Northwest Band
4:00 - 5:00 PM | Taylor Newville & The Riders
Rising young artist and guitarist Taylor Newville is a native of Portland, Oregon. She started playing music at age six, and was a student of Ethos, School of Rock, and Rock & Roll Camp for Girls. Her band Taylor Newville and the Riders were finalists for The Journey to Memphis Blues competition at the 2023 Waterfront Blues Festival in Portland. She was nominated for the Cascade Blues Association 2023 and 2024 Muddy Awards, and Best New Artist 2023-2024, Contemporary Blues Act. She was awarded Performance of the Year - Sail on Sisters at the 2024 Waterfront Blues Festival. Her third album is being released in the summer of 2025, just in time for the Vancouver Wine & Jazz Festival. Taylor can be heard on Spotify, Apple music, Pandora, and Amazon Music.
Sunday Best of the Northwest Band
1:00 - 2:00 PM | Christopher Brown
Upon Christopher Brown’s arrival in Portland – preceded by 13 years performing in bands in New York and 4 years in the Marine Corps Band – his quartet has become one of the most visible Jazz groups in the Northwest. Since 2017, his quartet has created a home at the famed 1905 Jazz club in Portland. Through their regular performances, they’ve not only helped to raise the profile of the venue to one of the world’s "Top 100 Jazz Clubs" according to Down Beat Magazine, but of Jazz itself in Portland. With its powerful, polished, identifiable sound, the Christopher Brown Quartet succeeds as being one of, if not the BEST, jazz ensembles in the Pacific Northwest.
2025 Festival | August 22, 23, 24
25th Anniversary | Esther Short Park | Vancouver, WAshington, USA
Saturday Headline Artist
8:15 - 9:30 PM | Arturo Sandoval
Arturo Sandoval’s extraordinary contributions to jazz have earned him international acclaim and an impressive collection of accolades – including the 2024 Kennedy Center Lifetime Achievement Award, 10 GRAMMY Awards, and 22 GRAMMY nominations. Sandoval’s ability to effortlessly traverse genres and styles, showcasing his mastery of Latin jazz, bebop, and beyond, has garnered him widespread recognition as a versatile and trailblazing musician. Sandoval’s musical explorations have extended beyond traditional jazz, leading him to be a pioneer in the realm of Latin jazz. As a composer and performer, he has fused elements of Afro-Cuban rhythms, Latin melodies, and jazz harmonies, creating a captivating and distinctive sound. His collaborations with prominent artists from various genres, including Dizzy Gillespie, Tony Bennett, Josh Groban, and Alicia Keys, highlights his versatility and ability to bridge musical boundaries.
“Arturo Sandoval continues to bridge cultures with his intoxicating blend of Afro Cuban rhythms and modern jazz.” – Kennedy Center Lifetime Achievment Award
Website: CLICK HERE | Video: CLICK HERE | Video: CLICK HERE
Vancouver Wine & Jazz Festival
Saturday Best of the Northwest Band
12:00 - 1:00 PM | Bridgetown Sextet - Vintage Hot Jazz
Founded in 2008, The Bridgetown Sextet performs authentic 1920’s and 30’s jazz, stomp, blues, and swing with a trademark sound evoking Creole New Orleans, prohibition era Chicago, raucous 1920s Kansas City, and the swing of depression era Manhattan. They perform music by icons of early jazz such as Jelly Roll Morton, Duke Ellington, and Bix Beiderbecke. The band has performed at the Portland Jazz Festival, Seaside Jazz Festival, and major area clubs including the Jack London Revue, The 1905, Jimmy Mak’s, The Blue Monk, and Duff’s Garage. The Bridgetown Sextet has cemented its reputation as a favorite among both audiences and dancers in the Pacific Northwest.