MHCC’S JAZZ FESTIVAL IS ON

From the 1920s to the 1940s, jazz music arguably was the most played genre in the United States. Since then, it has gotten somewhat lost between the folds of newer and more common music of the generations that have come since.

However, Mt. Hood has done an incredible job keeping the jazz culture alive, with its strong student jazz band history and the jazz focus of affiliated radio station KMHD-FM.

And never more is this the case than every spring, when MHCC hosts its three-day Mt. Hood Jazz Festival, which comes again May 5-7 to the Gresham college campus, along with a few off-campus locations.

Originating in 1982, the Festival grew quickly as a major event and would have up to 30,000 attendees some years. The numbers have gone down since due to COVID and other factors, but that doesn’t take away from the amazing and well-established artists who will perform.

One featured performer is Ignacio Berroa, recognized as one of the greatest jazz drummers of our time. His Ignacio Berroa Trio will play in the College Theatre at 7 p.m. on Friday, the opening day.

At 5 p.m. on Friday, the Esthesis Quartet will perform its unique style in the Yoshida Events Center (gymnasium).

That’s only a small sample of the scheduled performances – everything from visiting high school jazz bands, Mt. Hood’s own talented student jazz ensembles, to other amazing, recognized professional artists.

For more details, see: https://www.mhcc.edu/Mt-Hood-Jazz-Festival/