Edited by Randi Bjornstad

Long known for its summer production called the Oregon Festival of American Music, The Shedd Institute now presents its second-annual Oregon Festival of American Music 2023 Winter.

The entire OFAM Winter festival, which runs Jan. 18-22, offers four evening and two matinee concerts, plus films, talks, a community sing-along and a Sunday afternoon jazz party.

Opening night is at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 18, with Lazy Bones, a celebration of the music of Hoagy Carmichael and Johnny Mercer, who collaborated not only on that hit but also numbers such as Star Dust,  Skylark, How Little We Knew, Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive, Heart And Soul, and In The Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening.

That performance will be repeated at a matinee at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 21.

The cast for those two opening concerts includes bandleader Chuck Redd and his festival jazz group (Ehud Asherie, piano; Paul Keller, bass; Kevin Kanner, drums; Randy Napoleon, guitar; Scott Silbert, reeds; Marty Nau, reeds; Tim Clarke, trumpet; and Redd himself on vibes. Vocalists are Lynnea Barry, Evynne Hollens, and Bill Hulings.

But as “they” are fond of saying, that’s not all folks. Following is a list of all of the OFAM Winter 2023 events, along with ticket information, followed by a complete cast list for the series.

Note: Concerts take place in the Jaqua Concert Hall, talks and films in the Sheffer Recital Hall, 6 p.m. pre-concert meals availabale before evening performances, evenings, in the Warren Court.

 

Events list: Oregon Festival of American Music Winter 2023

Wednesday, Jan. 18

  • 9:30 a.m. film — To Have and Have Not (1944); free
  • 5 p.m. talk — Johnny and Hoagy in the 1940s, with Jim Ralph; free
  • 7:30 p.m. concert: Lazy Bones (repeated 1:30 p.m. on Jan. 21)

Thursday, Jan. 19

  • 9:30 a.m. film — You Were Never Lovelier (1942)
  • 1:30 p.m. Community Sing-Along, with Amy Adams
  • 5 p.m. talk — 2023 Winter Film Series Overview, with Howard Schuman; free
  • 7:30 p.m. concert — Flying Home

Friday, Jan. 20

  • 9:30 a.m. film — Cabin in the Sky (1943), with Howard Schuman; free
  • 1:30 p.m. concert — Fine and Mellow (also at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 21)
  • 5 p.m. talk, Bebop & Cool Jazz, with Carl Woideck; free
  • 7:30 p.m. concert — Groovin High

Saturday, Jan. 21

  • 9:30 a.m. film — Blues in the Night (1941), with Howard Schuman
  • 1:30 p.m. concert — Lazy Bones (also Wednesday, Jan. 18)
  • 5 p.m. talk —  Billie Holiday, with Jim Ralph
  • 7:30 p.m. concert — Fine and Mellow (also Friday, Jan. 20)

Sunday, Jan. 22

  • 4 p.m. Jazz Party — Hot House (cabaret-style seating)

Tickets: $25 to $39 (special prices for students, package purhases, and group discounts); available at the ticket office, 541-434-7000 or 868 High St.; online at theshedd.org

Festival dinners at 6: Available before evening concerts by reservation; $25.75 for adults, $19.75 for children 9 years and younger; includes tea/coffee, salad, rolls, entree (vegetarian and other dietary needs by prior arrangement), dessert. Wine, soft drinks and other beverages available for purchase. See menus and reserve online or call 541-434-7000.

OFAM Winter 2023 cast list

Music director: Chuck Redd

Guest director: Siri Vik

Vocals: Lynnea Barry, Vanessa Greenway, Evynne Hollens, Siri Vik, Bill Hulings

Orchestra: 

  • Piano — Ehud Asherie, Vicki Brabham
  • Bass — Paul Keller, Aleandre Pabst
  • Drums — Kevin Kanner, Donald Inglese, Chuck Redd (also vibes)
  • Guitar — Randy Napoleon
  • Reeds — Matthew Taylor, Marty Nau, Scott Silbert
  • Trombone — Glenn Griffith
  • Trumpet — Tim Clarke, Devin Perez

Speakers: Howard Schuman (also host for film showings), Jim Ralph, Carl Woidek