Jazz legend Mel Brown describes Portland's Jazz Renaissance in the 70s while his son, Christopher, encourages the one now.
Starting Location
Duration
1 hour, 10 minutes
Description
Portland has been called the "Whitest City in America" but it was once home to a vibrant African American community called Albina where there was a jumping music scene. In fact, it was known as "Jumptown." So what happened? Where is the jazz music scene now and is there hope for the future?
Local jazz drummer, Christopher Brown, was born and raised here in Portland, Oregon. And his father, legendary Mel Brown, taught him everything he knows. Together they will show you a club where Sammy Davis Jr. once played and see a church where Martin Luther King Jr. spoke before he died. They'll take you to the backyard where Mel once jammed into the wee hours as a teen and bring you to what were once the most jumping spots in town.
And of course they'll let you listen to their personal collection, and show you where you can still catch some of the hottest jams in town. Can you dig it? Let's go!
Tips & Hours
Credits
Narrator
Mel Brown
Christopher Brown
Head of Content
Heather Schuster
Executive Producers
Stacey Book
Avi Glijansky
Producer
Samantha Lee
Associate Producer
Erika Kimpel
Jasmine McLaurin
Sound Design Supervisor
Julian Kwasneski
Music Supervisor
Mikael Sandgren
Music Clearance
Elizabeth Pepin Silva
Audio Post Production Services by Bay Area Sound
Costas Dafnis
Tyler Clausen
Image Credits
• Cover Photo: Michael Bryant
• Navigation Photos: Erika Kimpel
Archival Photographs Courtesy of:
• Paul Knauls
• City of Portland (OR) Archives, A2001-025.626
• City of Portland (OR) Archives, A1999-004.1138
• Oregon Historical Society, bb004106
Featured Voices
Adam Ciresi
Special Thanks:
Paul Knauls
Starting Locations of All Detours
