Jenna Leigh, 28, originally from New Bedford, MA, and have lived in PDX for 9 years.
I own a bakery in PDX and love love love music! I’ve been singing since I was a child, I started teaching myself guitar when I was 13, and started picking up other instruments as time went on. My whole life I’ve been exposed to music by family and extended family, every family gathering we were singing tunes and playing piano & guitar together.
Just a couple years ago I started really focusing on playing, writing, and recording my own music…teaching myself basic drums, piano, and bass. Im currently learning music theory, which is exciting as I’ve always just played by ear mostly. I’m currently playing keys in !mindparade, finishing an LP of my own songs, and really enjoying playing music with others and exploring that creative part of myself!
Machado Mijiga
Classically-trained, jazz-weathered, and eclectically inclined, multi-instrumentalist Mijiga left the proverbial creative “box” at a very early age, with access to many instruments and a diverse musical background brought about by an intercultural heritage.
A Portland native, Mijiga is a musical polymath; composer, producer, bandleader, educator, gear fanatic, and audio engineer, to name a few.
Mijiga studied classical and jazz saxophones at University of Puget Sound from 2012-13 and Washington State University from 2013-2017, with elective studies in Percussion at UPS in 2012 and, ensemble experience at Whitman College from 2008-2012.
Mijiga has shared the stage and/or collaborated with the likes of Benny Golson, Terence Blanchard, Brian McKnight, Charlie Hunter, Mark Giuliana, Bill Watrous, Tamir Hendelman, John Clayton, Eddie Palmieri, Fareed Haque, Darrell Grant, George Colligan, Damian Erskine, Thomas Marriott, Joe Kye
Ora Cogan, PDX All Stars, and many more.
Festival highlights include (but not limited to): Pickathon, PDX Jazz Festival, Vanport Jazz Festival, Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, San Jose Jazz Festival, PaseoFest, Montavilla Jazz Festival, Taco Tapes Festival, Ghost Carrot Festival
Mijiga currently tours with GRAMMY winning band Portugal.The Man playing saxophone, drums, keyboards, and electronics, and has played world-famous festivals and venues, such as Red Rocks, Radio City Music Hall, Hollywood Bowl, Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, Wonderbus, Edgefield, Triple Door, Metro, The Atlantis, Whalebone, Sherblues, and Racket NYC, as well as done virtual performances for KEXP and Taco Bell.
Mijiga serves as Artist-in-Residence at (Portland’s) Roosevelt High School, along with being a guest lecturer and workshop collaborator for Portland State University.
As a composer, Mijiga recently won the Portland Jazz “Composers Cook-Off” in 2020 and became one of Third Coast Percussion’s “Creative Currents” Partners in 2021.
As a producer and audio engineer, Mijiga currently has 12 records, 14 EPs, and 16 singles released under his name, with all but two of these releases self-produced.
Mijiga has also served as a freelance producer and engineer for artists such as Rob Araujo, Darrell Grant, and more.
Authenticity and uniquity assume the locus of Mijiga’s artistic identity — self-expression is the prime directive, and the medium of choice changes like the weather.
Cam Haskins
My name is Cam I’m from Chicago/ Southern Illinois and I’m a multi-percussionist / music producer. Currently attending PSU in the Sonic Arts program. My favorite thing in the world todo is listen intently to the black musical masters and creators that came before now and ones in the modern day like Jdilla, Herbie Hancock, 9th Wonder, Miles Davis, Mad-lib and so many more and connect their work to the overall African ancestral diaspora and to then draw inspiration from that. Whether when that’s I’m producing a new beat or when I’m performing live I try to channel that energy and be in the moment.
Pablo Riverola
As a composer and as a trumpet player, Pablo commands a resonant, warm, encompassing sound that reaches beyond the aesthetic of jazz while still remaining deeply rooted in the tradition. He is an artist by its truest definition and music is his medium. To him, the listener’s emotional experience is the highest priority as he carefully curates each piece inviting the listener to feel, and to feel intensely. Through his work, he demonstrates an unwavering commitment to that artistic vision. From the first note he plays you are captivated by his warm, voice-like sound that takes the listener on a journey while still being reminiscent of his heroes, Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard and Clifford Brown.
Bitter Camari
black trans enby rapper from the USA; based out of PDX. shoegazy, sometimes ambient trap/drill-esque vibes. cloud rap energy. been working since ~2014.
I was raised in NYC and absorbed New England and Caribbean culture from my parents; recently, this has turned my ear towards UK drill, Afrobeats, and music from all over the diaspora.
I’m a major fan of dub, ambient, sleep, tea, being alone, and spending time in-person with my close ones.
I was around when cloud rap was coming into prominence with Lil B, Xaiver Wulf, and Yung Lean; I fell in love with the sound and its been a major influence on my approach to music and writing since. I love writing. much of my focus falls there when making work.
graphic design, videography, producing, songwriting, and journaling are some of my passions. i’m a lover of anticolonial literature and work.
feel free to contact me at bittercamari@gmail.com or on instagram at @bittercamari
<3
Roman Norfleet
Roman Norfleet (1988 n. American born) is an interdisciplinary cultural producer, healer and mystic that uses sculpture, music composition, performance and social organizing as instruments in exploring his committed interest in spiritual and social development.
Originally hailing from Lockport, Illinois, Roman’s formative years were spent immersed in the vernacular traditions of the Baptist Church where his parents Mose Ella and Rev. Robert Norfleet attended and provided Roman the foundation to seek spiritual enlightenment on his own. His development journey led him to Los Angeles where he lived in an Gaudiya Vaishnava Ashram and studied Hindu/ Vedic Philosophies of Swamini Turiyasangitanada (Alice Coltrane) with her students. These years of deep immersion into his spiritual practices greatly influenced the way Norfleet approaches music and provided expansive insight into the sacred power of sound.
Norfleet has been surrounded by and involved in music and the arts since a child in his hometown, but has been further artistically cultivated by the visual art and music scenes of Chicago, IL, Los Angeles, CA, the DMV area and Portland, OR.
As Founder and creative director of “Be Present Art Group” Norfleet believes deeply in the power perception and persistence has on elevating one’s consciousness. He is currently devising a curriculum workbook that translates these teachings into practical applications and preparing to release an album with BPAG as bandleader.
From devotional recordings, to an instrumental beat tape, to an experimental album, he has released a range of expressive projects that address his ever evolving approaches to honoring the divinity of creation. Roman seeks to continue that artistic, expressive expansion by continuing to incorporate visual and performance art elements that challenges the status quo, encourages spiritual expansion and calls for audiences to be present in the now moment.
(Bio edited by Viktor Le Givens)
James Powers
Convention is something to be learned from, but not restrained by. This ethos comes across in the music of Portland based trombonist, guitarist, and composer James Powers. Largely self taught, and always in search of new methods of communication, James, a third generation musician, has been interested in non-literal expression since his first concert at 8 days old. As such, he jumps at new experiences; a practice which has seen him making a home in styles of music as varied as classical, ska, funk, and free improvisation, and performing with acts as renowned and diverse as Aceyalone, Blue Cranes, Jello Biafra, Chuck Isreals, Gordon Lee, Christopher Worth, and PJCE. More regularly, he can be heard leading his sludge jazz trio JP-3, rock trio REACTOR, and as a member of March Fourth, Buddy Jay’s Jamaican Jazz Band, and The Frank Irwin Quintet.
Dae Bryant
I’m an artist and love this music, and form of being. I’m from Harlem, NYC and have been playing music all my life, whether it was in the church, where I realized the true power of music as a medium of energy and love . The non attachment to an idea of one state of being but all states of art and existence. Love, transcendence , being. Grateful.
