The Jazz Society of Oregon was established in 1973 to advance public acceptance of jazz music as a viable force in contemporary culture. The society’s founders attempted to incorporate their group as the Oregon Jazz Society, but that name was unavailable, so they chose Portland Jazz Society. In 1976, the board officially changed the name to the Jazz Society of Oregon to extend the organization's reach beyond the Portland metropolitan area. The group has promoted jazz through its sponsorship of scholarships, concerts, picnics, and other activities. Membership has expanded to include thousands of individuals from Oregon and other states. A Board of Trustees oversees the nonprofit organization. The group functions largely through the work of volunteers.
In 1973, the Jazz Society began to produce a monthly publication known as the
The Jazz Society's first sponsored event was a benefit performance by local musicians in May 1973. During the mid- to- late 1970s, the society co-sponsored the Jazz in the Bank concert series at the Oregon Bank in Lake Oswego. The Jazz Society also participated in or contributed to community cultural events, including Artquake, Cathedral Park, Neighborfair, and Jazz at the Zoo. The group occasionally used grants to fund its sponsorship of jazz events, including a concert by Thara Memory’s Creative Jazz Orchestra at the Civic Auditorium in January 1981.
The Jazz Society sponsored its first annual jazz picnic in August 1975. The first Sunday after New Year’s Party was also held in 1975, and this event later evolved into First Jazz. In 1978, the organization sponsored its first Otter Crest Jazz Weekend at the Inn at Otter Crest on the Oregon Coast. Several big-name jazz musicians performed during this three-day event, and although the festival was not a financial success, it raised the profile of the Jazz Society of Oregon. Subsequent festivals were more profitable, and the Otter Crest Jazz Weekend became the society's best-known event.
Since 1976, the society has sponsored the Andre Garand Memorial Scholarship for musicians who plan to study jazz music. The group also sponsors workshops on jazz performance and appreciation. Other educational programs include lectures, listening, films, and video presentations that are open to the public, frequently free of charge.
The collection documents Jazz Society of Oregon events, performers, performances, rehearsals, audiences, and venues. Color photographs of performers, performances, and scenery at the Otter Crest '78 Jazz Weekend, the first such event sponsored by the Society, comprise the bulk of the collection.
The collection includes blank-and-white photographs of a rehearsal and performance at the 1977 Jazz in the Bank concert at the Oregon Bank in Lake Oswego. Black-and-white photographs of performances at the Otter Crest '81 Jazz Weekend are also included in the collection. Color photographs of an unidentified performance at a shopping mall, color photographs from two unidentified performances at different venues, and black-and-white photographs of unidentified performers comprise the remainder of the collection.
The majority of the performers in the photographs of the Otter Crest '78 and '81 Jazz Weekends and the 1977 Jazz in the Bank concert have been identified. Photographer Rich Iwasaki produced the photographs of the Otter Crest '81 Jazz Weekend.
Identified performances have been arranged by folder in chronological order. Folders of unidentified performances and performers follow identified materials.
This collection is open to the public.
The Oregon Historical Society is the owner of the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from the Research Library before any reproduction use. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.
The permission of Rich Iwasaki is required to reproduce two black-and-white photographs from the collection.
Jazz Society of Oregon photographs, Org. Lot 560, Oregon Historical Society Research Library
Library accession no. 19111 (Photo accession no. 1988D201).
An album containing photographs from the 1977 Jazz in the Bank concert and the Otter Crest ’78 Jazz Weekend has been photocopied onto archival paper and disassembled and its contents stored in folders for preservation purposes. Photographs from Scrapbook 2, Jazz Society of Oregon Records, Mss 2808, have also been added to this collection.
The Oregon Historical Society Research Library also holds the Jazz Society of Oregon records, Mss 2808.
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
Black-and-white prints removed from album.
Identified performers: Gene Diamond, Anne Young, and Howard Young
Color prints removed from album. Inn at Otter Crest, Otter Rock, Or., vicinity.
Identified performers: Bill Anderson, Joey Baron, Mel Brown, Monty Budwig, Carl Fontana, Cathi Hayes, Plas Johnson, Dave Mackay, Blue Mitchell, Art Pepper, and Andy Simpkins
Color prints removed from Scrapbook 2, Mss 2808.
Identified performers: Bill Anderson, Joey Baron, Mel Brown, Monty Budwig, Carl Fontana, Cathi Hayes, Plas Johnson, Dave Mackay, Blue Mitchell, Art Pepper, and Andy Simpkins
Color prints removed from Scrapbook 2, Mss 2808.
Identified performers: Bill Anderson, Joey Baron, Mel Brown, Monty Budwig, Carl Fontana, Plas Johnson, Dave Mackay, Blue Mitchell, Art Pepper, and Andy Simpkins
Color prints removed from Scrapbook 2, Mss 2808.
Identified performers: Blue Mitchell and Art Pepper
Color prints removed from Scrapbook 2, Mss 2808. Inn at Otter Crest, Otter Rock, Or., vicinity.
Black-and-white prints by Rich Iwasaki.
Identified performers: Gene Harris, John Heard, and Jimmie Smith
Color prints of unidentified jazz group.
Color prints of unidentified jazz group.
Color prints of unidentified jazz group and audience members.
Identified performer: Shirley Nanette
Black-and-white prints of unidentified performers.