Billie Eidson

Name: Billie Eidson
Start: 2024-09-20T19:30:00-07:00
End: 2024-09-20T22:00:00-07:00
Location: 124 W Broadway, Eugene, OR, United States, Oregon 97401

Schedule

Fri Sep 20 2024 at 07:30 pm to 10:00 pm

UTC-07:00

Location

124 W Broadway, Eugene, OR, United States, Oregon 97401 | Eugene, OR

Vocalist Billie Eidson delivers the music of Duke Ellington, George and Ira Gershwin, Johnny Mercer, Thelonious Monk, Cole Porter and others with the region's very best jazz musicians.

Billie Eidson vocals
Greg Goebel piano
Joe Manis saxophone
Ed Bennett bass
Todd Strait drums

7:30 PM - 10:00 PM | $20
Billie Eidson
https://www.billieeidsonmusic.com/

Billie Eidson enjoys a career as a trial lawyer, arguing cases of great import, winning those cases with the power of her words. When it came time to plan her mother’s life celebration, however, prior to her passing, her mother requested that Billie sing “Amazing Grace.” Growing up in the Baptist church, Billie’s first experience singing in front of a large audience was with her mother accompanying her on the piano while she sang “Because He Lives” for their congregation. These two songs would later serve as bookends holding up Billie’s most precious life defining stories. Billie’s mother intimated that she may have spoken too much at her father’s life celebration (a few years earlier), and asked, “Rather than talk, would you just sing at mine.” So. When the time came, Billie honored her mother’s wish by singing the hymn they both knew and loved. Amazing Grace. And in that moment, Billie discovered that her voice was meant for more than just the courtroom, more than just winning adversarial arguments. In that moment, Billie knew that her voice was meant to indiscriminately connect hearts, minds and souls.

Billie had always loved singing and knew the Great American Songbook through her love of jazz. But suddenly her desire to sing took on a white-hot heat, because of the gift of grace given to her at her mother’s life celebration. As a close colleague of hers says, “Billie’s book of songs grows weekly, her mentors are the region’s best, her supporters surround her with love and applause. Not simply because Billie is showing up for her passion. People follow Billie because of her careful attention to the music, her impeccable selection of fellow artists for her bandstand, her focus on creating the moment when the sweet sound of our humanity, told in stories of love, loss, desire, and humor, saves us all.”

Billie actively works throughout the region to apply her musical, legal, and promotional toolbox to elevate fellow musicians.

“I have been very much enjoying vocalist Billie Eidson’s wonderful rendition of the Lerner and Loewe classic, “I’ve Grown Accustomed to [His] Face. The intimate duo setting with pianist Greg Goebel couldn’t be more perfect.”

— Ben Wolfe, Bassist & Composer whose career includes Grammy award winning, platinum-selling collaborations with both Harry Connick Jr., and Diana Krall, as well as ongoing collaborations with Wynton Marsalis and performances with jazz luminaries such as Joe Henderson, Doc, Jon Hendricks, Harry "Sweets” Edison, and Billy Higgins, among many others.

“Billie is blessed with a gorgeous natural sultry sexy voice that lends itself beautifully to just about any jazz/pop standard I can think of. She is a pure pleasure to accompany on piano!”
— Tom Grant, master instrumentalist, vocalist

“Billie is an up-and-coming jazz singer with style. A lovely timbre and tone.”
— Greta Matassa, Seattle Jazz Hall of Fame, vocalist, educator

“Billie’s is a delight to listen to. Her voice is a combination of Sarah Vaughan’s sultriness and Rosemary Clooney’s sweet lyricism.”
— Phil Baker, internationally renowned upright bass player, composer, Pink Martini veteran since 2003

“Billie’s voice has an atmospheric beauty and haunting charm.”
— Ron Steen, drummer, Portland’s Jazz Jam Master

“Billie is a throwback with a contemporary flair.”
— Christopher Brown, drummer, pianist, saxophonist, business leader

Greg Goebel
https://www.greggoebelmusic.com

From straight ahead jazz, funk and pop, to the avant garde, Greg Goebel is considered one of the Northwest's first call pianists.

Praised by critics for "manifesting his ideas with the immediacy and sureness of a master craftsman" (Jazz Times) and as "a force that is stretching known boundaries and moving the music into new territory" (Larry Koonse), pianist Greg Goebel shows himself as firmly rooted in tradition while simultaneously proving to be a unique voice among a new generation.

“Greg has personally done more to elevate the performance level of our students than any other person, graduate or undergraduate, who has attended the University of Oregon in at least the last fifteen years,” said the school upon his graduation.
Since school, Goebel has recorded and toured extensively in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, South America, and Asia.

Touring, recording and co-producing with singer Gino Vannelli for over 12 years, his contributions can be heard on the CD, The Best and Beyond,the DVD, Live in L.A., as well as the most recent Wilderness Road.

A long time member of David Friesen's Circle 3 Trio, his work can be heard on Friesen’s 2009 CD, Five and Three, the 2011 CD, Circle of Three, the 2013 release, Brilliant Heart, 2014’s Where the Light Falls and Triple Exposure released in 2016.
In 2013, Greg’s first album as a leader, Rainy City, was released to critical acclaim.

“Goebel deserves all the praise hereabouts. He’s a burner!" (George Fendell/JSO)
"Greg Goebel is one of about half a dozen pianists that are redefining the instrument, the literature and the useful purpose of the piano and doing it with the skills of a master. 5 Stars!" (Brent Black/@CriticalJazz)

In addition to keeping a busy schedule in Portland, Goebel has had the pleasure of performing with notable musicians such as John Handy, Antonio Hart, Dick Oatts, Terrell Stafford, Dave Pietro, Larry Koonse, Houston Person, Byron Stripling, Pete Christlieb, Ken Peplowski, Ben Wendel, Allison Miller, Eric Marienthal, Steve Wilson, Ingrid Jensen, Seamus Blake and many others.

When not touring, Greg enjoys performing locally with a wide variety of artists and teaching motivated students of all experience levels.

Ed Bennett
edbennett.net

Ed Bennett has long been considered one of the West Coast's premiere string bass players. Living in Portland, Oregon since 1990, Ed's work has taken him virtually everywhere in the world. He has worked with, toured internationally, or recorded with many legendary jazz figures, including: Dizzy Gillespie, Curtis Fuller, Terell Stafford, Claudio Roditi, Jeremy Pelt, Joe Henderson, Sonny Stitt, Benny Golson, Frank Morgan, Richie Cole, Pete Christlieb, Bud Shank, Charles McPherson, Hadley Caliman, Bobby Watson, Harry Allen, Pete Jolly, Don Abney, Joe Albany, Dave Frishberg, James Williams, Mike Wofford, Pete Malinverni, Bill Mays, Dick Berk, Lawrence Marable, Frank Butler, Gene Stone, Joey Baron, Chuck Redd, Carmen McRae, Jimmy Witherspoon, Anita O'Day, Nancy King, Ernistine Anderson, Marlena Shaw, Karrin Allyson, Mary Stallings, Dee Daniels, Bill Henderson, The Modernaires, Toshiko Akiyoshi-Lew Tabakin Big Band and the Gerald Wilson Orchestra.

Joe Manis
https://joemanis.com/

Originally from Dexter, Oregon, SteepleChase recording artist Joe Manis is noted for the strength of his "intense, updated take on the glorious Rollins-'Trane tradition." (Willamette Week) Manis was the recipient of a 2013 Oregon Arts Commission Individual Artist Fellowship. His album for SteepleChase Records, The Golden Mean, features George Colligan on organ, Kevin Congleton on drums, and Lillie Manis on viola and was released in 2015. North By Northwest was released by SteepleChase Records in 2013.

He released his debut album Evidence in 2009 features Manis on tenor saxophone, Kevin Congleton on drums, and Portland luminary Dave Captein on bass: the Willamette Week called the album "explosive,” and said “(Manis) makes Pink Floyd's 'Money' sound like something a young John Coltrane might have played"; the Eugene Weekly said: "Fabulous... Will thrill fans of Monk, Rollins."

The Joe Manis Trio was featured at Rontoms during the 2010 PDX Jazz Festival, a high-energy performance that was a featured Willamette Week "Pick" and received praise from local music critics and bloggers; the Trio returned to the Festival in 2011, 2013 and 2020. Recent Joe Manis Trio appearances include Fat Cat NYC, the Shedd Institute’s jazz series, Jimmy Mak's, Tula's, the Cathedral Park Jazz Festival, and the Montavilla Jazz Festival.

Manis has toured Europe as a duo and in a trio with David Friesen, where they recorded Structures, a live album. He currently plays with Friesen's Trio. He also appears on Risky Notion (Four stars & Best Albums of 2015, DownBeat Magazine) on Origin Records with George Colligan's Theoretical Planets. Manis has played with Thomas Mapfumo and the Blacks Unlimited, including a performance at Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall, and appears on their album Rise Up! on Real World Records. He has also performed with the George Colligan Quartet, the Chuck Israels Jazz Orchestra, the Ken Schaphorst Big Band, “Weird Al” Yankovic, Johnny Mathis, the Temptations, comedian Bob Newhart, Wayne Newton, the Oregon Symphony with Gladys Knight, the Oregon Bach Festival Orchestra, the Portland Opera, the Sunriver Music Festival Orchestra, the Eugene Symphony, and the Eugene Opera. Manis has performed on NPR’s Jazz Night In America, hosted by Christian McBride.

Manis has presented jazz masterclasses across the country, including at University of Nevada, Reno, California State University, Northridge, Whitman College, University of Texas at Arlington, University of Oregon, Ferris State University, Central Washington University, Willamette University, Portland State University, Southern Oregon University, Oregon State University, Western Oregon University, Pacific University, Lower Columbia College and Mesa, Glendale, Portland, Spokane Falls, Mt. Hood, Clackamas and Lane Community Colleges. He received a Master of Music in Jazz Studies-Performance with Academic Honor from the New England Conservatory and a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of Oregon. Additional studies were at the Eastman School of Music. He is a current faculty member at the University of Oregon and Lane Community College and a former music faculty member at Portland State University and Umpqua Community College. Manis is the Director of the Oregon Jazz Workshop in Eugene. His article "Rhythmic Analysis: Jeff 'Tain' Watts - 'Housed From Edward'" was published in the March 2012 edition of JAZZed Magazine. Manis also has written for the Jazz Society of Oregon's Jazzscene. He is married to violinist/violist/educator Lillie Manis, with whom he has a son, Ellery.

Todd Strait
https://www.toddstraitdrums.com

Over Todd's 40 year career, he has spent 10 years in New York City playing with Marian McPartland, Tal Farlow, a brief tour with Woody Herman's Thundering Herd, followed by a relocation to Kansas City working with Interstring, PBT Trio among many others. During this time in Kansas City, Todd met Eldar, Karrin Allyson, and Kevin Mahagony leading to national and international travel with each over a 20 year period. His history and experience have brought forth over a 100 recordings as a sideman, most notably receiving two Grammy Nominations with Karrin Allyson, one with Eldar, and one with Randy Porter and Nancy King. In 2017, Todd released his debut album as a leader, "There'll Be Some Changes Made", featuring Bill Mays, Bob Bowman, and Danny Embrey.

Now based in Portland, Todd's schedule is focused locally with occasional tours. He can be found spending the majority of his time with his brilliant 14 year old son, making music, learning new languages, and re-discovering the joys of nurturing an insatiably curious undaunted creative mind.

Click the link below to buy tickets
https://thejazzstation.org/get-tickets/upcoming-shows/#!event/register/2024/9/20/billie-eidson-norton
Online ticket purchases close one hour before showtime. If the show is NOT sold out, and tickets remain, they can be purchased directly at the box office door.