Charlie Brown Quartet At IFCC

Charlie Brown Quartet At IFCC

Charlie Brown III leads his quartet paying tribute to the music of Wayne Shorter! A key contributor to Greaterkind, MonoNeon & the Brown Branch Big Band, this rare performance goes down at Portland's historic home for Black arts & culture, the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center (IFCC). We thank Darrell Grant and the Friends Of IFCC for making space in IFCC's theater for this special performance.

featuring

Charlie Brown III - Keys

Machado Mijiga - Saxophone

Garrett Baxter - Double Bass

David Hagen - Drums

About Charlie Brown III

My practice is focused on music production, composition, and live performance. I like to curate ensembles in many musical styles. To me, music is more than just notes. It’s a complex art form that can be expressed in a variety of ways. I have developed this view through the following experiences on my journey:

I began my musical career at age 11, joining an advanced high school magnet academy, The American Music Program. Directed by a pioneering musical force in Albina, Dr. Thara Memory, AMP was a profoundly competitive training ground in the form of a jazz big band. We excelled under Dr. Memory’s instruction and as a result were nationally ranked among academies in our age group, competing and often winning jazz competitions throughout the United States. I was fortunate to be mentored by heavyweight jazz educators and musicians through this experience.

In 2015, I started my own group which has evolved to become the local music collective, Greaterkind. Among the community of musicians we’ve cultivated, our music celebrates the great lineage of jazz, r&b, fusion, and gospel music….with an improvisational spirit. We’ve supported a variety of national acts on their tours through Portland and have evolved as a staple in the regional festival circuit. We debuted our first album “Change Of Plans” in 2024, released through the Abina Music Trust label.

in 2021, I began collaboratingwith Domo Branch and Albina Music Trust putting on an annual Big Band event at Portland Center Stage. This involves a 15-piece jazz orchestra performing original compositions as well as those from the jazz big band tradition. The band is primarily composed of musicians from the Portland Metro area, many who have since moved onto to work in larger urban areas but return each holiday season to join the big band. It is a remarkable experience each year as audiences return to join us for this festive occasion.

In 2022, I began touring internationally with bass-phenom MonoNeon. The experience of travelling globally to perform has been eye-opening, to say the least. We have performed at Newport Jazz Festival, Montreaux Jazz Festival, New Orleans Jazz Festival, and Blue Note NYC to name just a few. Our travels have taken us to festivals throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa. We have recorded in faraway locales such as Iceland. It has been a delightful ride.

In 2025, my journey continues...please stay tuned.

Host or Publisher Albina Music Trust