PORT TOWNSEND — Some 250 jazz musicians from across the continent are in town this week for the Pacific Northwest’s longest-running jazz festival: Jazz Port Townsend, in seven downtown and uptown venues plus Fort Worden State Park.
The event, presented by the nonprofit Centrum Foundation, starts with workshops for 225 jazz students led by teachers including trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, trumpeter Terell Stafford, pianist George Cables and vocalist Rene Marie.
They’re among the veterans of Jazz PT, which began in 1976.
Then there are six first-timers, including trumpeter Bria Skonberg, who will step up Thursday night for a “Jazz in the Clubs” gig.
The festival also brings a “free Fridays at the Fort” concert outdoors on Fort Worden’s Nora Porter Commons.
A big band composed of jworkshop participants will strike up at noon for a no-charge, hourlong show.
Skonberg, 29, who grew up in Chilliwack, B.C., is one of the festival’s younger teachers.
She lives in Brooklyn, N.Y., when not traveling as a player and bandleader. She calls her fellow faculty “amazing.”
“It’s going to be a learning experience for me,” she added.
Skonberg will teach and perform beside luminaries of the jazz world and hopes to mix in some of her originals, like “Have a Little Heart,” and “So Is the Day” from her latest album.
Jazz in the Clubs, an annual tradition, goes on for three nights straight starting Thursday.
That evening has Skonberg, alongside alto saxophonist Jeff Clayton, clarinetist Anat Cohen, trombonist Gordon, guitarist Anthony Wilson, drummer Matt Wilson and pianist Gerald Clayton at the Public House, 1038 Water St.
A $25 pass gets the jazz lover in to the Public House and to Thursday’s other club shows from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.: at the American Legion, 209 Monroe St., featuring singer Rene Marie; and the Northwest Maritime Center, 431 Water St., with various Jazz PT combos.
On late Friday and Saturday night, more Jazz in the Clubs will spread to additional venues.
Khu Larb Thai, the Rose Theatre, the Key City Playhouse and Manresa Castle will all have performances from 10 p.m. till 1 a.m. both nights.
Meanwhile, the festival features concerts at McCurdy Pavilion, the big venue at Fort Worden State Park, 200 Battery Way.
The Friday evening show there stars the Bria Skonberg Sextet and the Anat Cohen Quartet at 7:30, with tickets ranging from $20 to $42.
Cohen and Skonberg are two of the fastest-rising women in jazz, said Centrum executive director Robert Birman. Jazz PT, he believes, “rivals any major assembly of jazz musicians in the world.”
On Saturday, the festival’s final day, offers two McCurdy Pavilion events.
The afternoon concert includes a “Salute to Quincy Jones,” the Centrum All-Star Big Band, the Clayton Brothers with Stefon Harris and the Sachal Vasandani Quintet with Rene Marie.
Tickets to the 1:30 p.m. show are $25 to $39.
The Saturday evening concert at McCurdy stars vocalist Cyrille Aimee, Brazilian guitarist Diego Figueiredo and the Anthony Wilson Nonet. Tickets go from $20 to $42 for the 7:30 p.m. performance.
For information about Jazz Port Townsend, Jazz in the Clubs and who’s playing where, see www.Centrum.org.
Jazz in the Clubs passes are available each night at participating venues, while Fort Worden concert tickets will be available an hour before each show at McCurdy Pavilion.
For advance reservations, see the Centrum website or phone the Centrum box office at 800-746-1982.
Features Editor Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5062, or at diane.urbani@peninsuladailynews.com.
