By Dixon Bledsoe
The fourth annual Silverton Wine and Jazz Festival is back in town May 8, and organizers say it will be better than ever.
“For $25, you get a commemorative wine glass, script for wine and appetizers and a walk through beautiful, charming and historic downtown Silverton, “ Jose de la Rosa, vice president of the festival, said. “For a net $15, event patrons get to stroll through our quaint little shops, drink fabulous wines, listen to some of the Northwest’s best jazz, and go to 35 shows! I went to a jazz show in Portland that was great, but it cost me $25 to get in the door, with wine and food extra. Here, you can see 12 hours of world-renowned jazz in 16 different venues within a two-block radius. That’s a remarkable value for this tough economy.”
May 8, beginning at noon
16 venues in downtown Silverton
Tickets, $25 for wine tastings, appetizers
and commemorative glass.
$15 for tastings and music venues only.
For a complete schedule including the full
complement of jazz artists,
venues, and other attractions,
check out the Web site –
www.silvertonwineandjazz.com
Shuttles to and from the downtown festival
will be located at Roth’s, Safeway, and
The Oregon Garden Resort.
The event starts at noon, kicking off at the Palace Theater with Abiqua Wind Vineyard’s wine offerings and Silverton High School Jazz Band. From 1-3 p.m., catch the well-known Tom Grant Trio in the same location.
Dan Balmer, voted Portland’s Best Guitarist in 1993, is one of many headliners, including vocal jazz artist Nancy King, Peter Piazza and Gut Feelings, Glen Moore (jazz bassist) and local favorites as well.
Tickets can be purchased on the festival’s Web site, www.silvertonwineandjazz.com, at participating wineries and venues, or on the day of the festival at Silverton Realty, 303 Oak St. The office also will have the souvenir shop and first aid station.
Between music sets, dancers from Silverton Ballet and Performing Arts Company, as well as the American Academy of Performing Arts will perform on High Street and at the Elks Lodge.
The Wine and Jazz Festival started with a small group of locals who love wine, jazz and their hometown. Eadie Anelli heads up the jazz and wine showcase. Board members include Jose de la Rosa, John Bateman, Chris Bradbury, Bruce Eich, Michelle Fenney, Howard Hinsdale, Lawrence Piper, Nick Mauson, Jeff DeSantis, Jaimie de la Rosa and Dan Schulte. More than 150 volunteers, including the Silverton High School Band and football team, have given their time and energy.
Thirty-five shows, dozens of jazz artists, local wines, appetizers and the charm of historic downtown Silverton, all for $25.
The Silverton Jazz and Wine Festival will feature a local award-winning band.
The Silverton High School Jazz Band, which took first place at the Pleasant Hill Jazz Festival on April 17, will perform noon-12:30 p.m. May 8 at the Palace Theater.
Band director Tim Duffy said this is the first time the Jazz Ensemble took first place at a festival since 1987.
“The Jazz Ensemble is a smaller group and contains the very best and most experienced musicians and instrumentalists we have,” Duffy said. “They were ready to show what they can do. We’ve got some very talented seniors that needed to see that victory before they graduated.”
Duffy said the win was a “wonderful way to show all the younger members what is possible and to keep working hard to be the best we can be.”
The Jazz Band’s performance at the Silverton Jazz Festival will be a warm-up as the members prepare to compete that afternoon at the Mount Hood Jazz Festival.
The SHS Jazz Band’s annual Big Band Dance is 8 to 11 p.m. May 22 at Willamette Valley Events Center in Mount Angel. For tickets or information call 503-939-2138.
