Just east of Portland, Oregon, Mt Hood Community College annually hosted a jazz festival. Taking place usually on the first weekend of August, it drew talent and fans from all over the world. The festival supported Mt Hood College's highly successful jazz music program and the local chamber of commerce. It ran for around 20 years, the list of performers was awesome!

Rick Braun, Greg Vail, Patrick Lamb, Peter White
Chris Botti

Related Links, Performers
Fourplay group member
1998 performers
Bob James
1997 performer Boney James
1998 performer Chris Botti
1998 performer David Benoit
Fourplay group site
1998 performers
Fourplay
Guitars & Saxes
group member, 1998
Jonathan Butler
1997 performer Joyce Cooling
Guitars & Saxes
group member, 1998
Kirk Whalum
Mt Hood College
jazz radio station
KMHD Radio
1998 performer Patrick Lamb
1998 performer Peter White
1997 & 1998 performer Rick Braun
1997 performers The Rippingtons
1996 performers Spyro Gyra
annual performer Tom Grant
Joyce Cooling

You are probably asking why I have devoted some space of my personal site to this page. I have attended musical events of many sizes and ranging over many musical tastes. Virtually all of these events treated patrons like "the enemy" and there always seemed such a distance between patrons and performers. The people who ran the Mt Hood Jazz Festival had done much to create a family atmosphere - relaxed, open and friendly. Some of the above pictures show performers walking through the audience and signing autographs. Being a former performer myself, I know I would never leave the stage and walk into the audience unless I was comfortable and felt safe and secure in doing so. Each year, I eagerly looked forward to the festival for it always felt like a family coming together for three days of music and fun. In that regard, I think you may understand why I made this page...to show the world what is possible when we all treat each other with respect and consideration!
John Menzano

Home Page photos by Jane Pietras and Paul Johnson, page design by Paul Johnson

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Sir PJ is not affiliated with the Mt. Hood Jazz Festival nor is this page authorized or approved by the Mt. Hood Jazz Festival people