JAZZ Disjecta presents…The Rob Scheps Big Band w/ Hilary Gardner

Saxophonist/Band Leader Rob Scheps loves to add nuance to his eponymous Big Band. And this time, he’s really created a spark. Scheps brings extraordinary vocalist Hilary Gardner to Portland for a “return of the big band singer” showcase at the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center on Tuesday, March 11. Hilary joins Scheps’ hand-chosen sixteen-piece musical treasure to offer a special one night only performance as they open their songbook like never before with nods to Sinatra, Holiday and Vaughan. Meet the band at its sexy, Basie-est best!

Scheps has assembled an impressive coterie of Northwest musicians to give the jazz scene a raucous, swingin’ shot in the arm and the group succeeds marvelously, shifting between Duke Ellington and James Brown, Coltrane and Strayhorn, losing their heads but not their cool. Look forward to two invigorating sets with arrangements by Scheps and the vocal machinations of Hilary Gardner. Plus, a special intermission set by Ethos music students!

Disjecta @ IFCC / 5340 N Interstate / In Partnership with Ethos, Inc.

Classically trained from the age of 12, vocalist Hilary Gardner began her jazz journey in the hinterland of Wasilla, Alaska, where she became enamored of jazz greats such as Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Carmen McRae and modern stylists as Patsy Cline, Joni Mitchell and even the throaty Tom Waits, whose “love affair with melancholy” made a deep impression. Since her arrival in New York in April 2003, Hilary has garnered critical acclaim for her vocal contributions to Oasis, the latest release by the New York State of the Art Jazz Ensemble, led by Mike Longo, and has performed in many of New York’s top venues, such as Iridium, Birdland, Sweet Rhythm, the Jazz Standard, and the Allen Room at Lincoln Center.

In October 2005 Hilary performed with trumpet star and Jazz Messenger Valery Ponomarev, headlining a concert at the Moscow Philharmonic’s Tchaikovsky Hall in Moscow, Russia. Hilary has just released a new CD celebrating the music of Kurt Weill in collaboration with pianist/producer Frank Ponzio, bassist Peter Donovan, and drummer Vito Lesczak.

“Scheps’ appeal lies in his deep understanding of art’s heroic impulse, the immediacy and urgency of the music. Musical from top to bottom, Scheps is a marvel slashing at melodic spaces, worrying notes, and exciting silence with the oceanic force of Jackson Pollock ripping the door off the Cedar Tavern. While he’s earnest and self-effacing at times, he makes no apologies, suffers no fools and above all, takes no prisoners.”—Tim DuRoche for Willamette Week

Saxophones: ROB SCHEPS; GARY HARRIS; SCOTT HALL ; WILLIE MATHEIS; KIRT PETERSON
Trombones: STAN BOCK (lead); TOM HILL; DAVID BRYAN (bass) / Tuba: JÁTtIK CLARK
Trumpets: RICH COOPER (lead); GARNER PRUITT; GREG GARRETT; SPECIAL GUEST
Piano/Keyboards: RAMSEY EMBICK / Basses: TIM GILSON / Drums: WARD GRIFFITHS

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About Disjecta / Hilary Gardner / Rob Scheps