Tuesday at 12: Kerry Politzer's Bossa PDX

Pianist Kerry Politzer leads Bossa PDX, a Portland-based bossa nova and Brazilian jazz band, with Ben Graves on guitar, Robert Rodriguez on bass, and George Colligan on drums. The group performs a mix of both obscure and well-known compositions from Brazilian icons such as Jobim, Edu Lobo, Chico Buarque, Jorge Ben, João Donato, Toninho Horta, Hermeto Pascoal, and others. Though they have a monthly residency at Portland's The 1905, Bossa PDX will be performing for free at CCC, offering an intimate and lively showcase of the timeless sounds of Brazil.

Kerry Politzer is a Portland-based jazz pianist, composer, and educator. She is on the music faculty of Portland State University and Clackamas Community College, and has also taught at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Swing University, the University of Portland, and the University of Manitoba.

Kerry received a Bachelor of Music from the New England Conservatory of Music, where she studied improvisation and composition with the late jazz guru Charlie Banacos, and a Master of Music from Rowan University.

Prior to her latest album Ruminations (PJCE Records), Kerry released seven jazz CDs as a leader, including Blue in Blue, which featured saxophonist Donny McCaslin and was termed a “first-rate jazz outing” by AllAboutJazz.com. She has also been a featured sideman on albums of George Colligan, Laura Dreyer, and the Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble (PJCE). Her commissions include works for the PJCE as well as a solo piano piece, “Microclimates,” for the pianist Andree-Ann Deschenes. This piece was featured on Modern Notebook with Tyler Kline.

In 2019, Kerry was awarded a Regional Arts and Culture Council Artistic Focus grant to explore the music of Brazilian composer Durval Ferreira. The project culminated in the August 2019 release of Diagonal: The Music of Durval Ferreira. Kerry continues to be inspired by Brazilian music.

The pianist has headlined the Montavilla Jazz Festival and performed at other festivals and venues including the 25th Annual Gene Harris Jazz Festival, the Black Dolphin, Jazz Forum, the Oregon Coast Jazz Party, Jazz in the Valley, Smalls, the Sound Room, and many others.

CCC's Tuesday at 12 Music Series brings guest performances to campus, free to students, the college community, and the public. Join us in the Niemeyer Center (N119) or online at www.youtube.com/clackamasmusic.

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