Ben Woodman (guitar and host)

Ben Woodman is a jazz guitarist, trumpet player, and composer living in Portland, OR. He has self-produced 10 albums, ranging from solo guitar works to collaborative efforts. Longtime projects include his trio with Marcus Rudolph on drums and Marshall Peterson on bass, Idle Hands Quartet (an acoustic guitar centered group pulling from the languages of gypsy jazz, bluegrass, and other acoustic languages), and Strange Rotation (future-jazz trio featuring trumpet/fx, drums, and electric bass). His latest release “Pathless” is a suite of compositions for baritone guitar, hollowbody guitar, and trumpet. Ben’s primary aim is to move the language of the guitar forward via composition and improvisation, in solo and group contexts.

Lisa Lipton (clarinet)

Clarinetist and arts leader Lisa Lipton is the Executive Director of both 45th Parallel Universe and Opera Theater Oregon, and is a Co-founder/Co-owner of Mendelssohn’s, Portland’s first classical music-themed bar (named one of Esquire Magazine’s “Best Bars in America” in 2023). Lisa previously was executive director of the Newport Symphony Orchestra. A versatile instrumentalist, her appearances include performances with the Decibel festival, TBA festival, PDX Pop Now!, MusicfestNW, Astoria Music Festival, Salem Orchestra, Oregon Ballet Theater, Portland Opera, and in jazz trio Fredson the Jeffy alongside pianist and composer George Colligan and drummer Micah Hummel. A prominently featured soloist on the soundtrack for Golden Globe-nominated Sony Pictures Film French Exit featuring Michelle Pfeiffer, her discography also includes albums by Luz Elena (Y La Bamba), Kelli Schaefer, Stealth Ulvang (The Lumineers) and Jim Brunberg. Lisa was host of the radio program Arts Talk on KNPT/KYTE-FM for 2 years. Arts Talk had been on air 17 years prior to Lisa assuming the host role and was a pillar for the local arts community in Newport and Lincoln County. Lisa is now an on air host and producer with All Classical Radio where she also really enjoys giving the pre concert talks at the Oregon Symphony, Vancouver Symphony, and other public engagements. You can find her Arts Blog posts and other fun things at her “Lisa Lipton Explores” page.

Chang Park (trumpet)

Chang Park is a trumpet player and music educator based in Portland, Oregon. After earning a degree in Music Education from Portland State University, Chang has performed with a wide range of musicians across the Portland area, bringing versatility and skill to many different genres. Known for adapting to different styles and musical settings, Chang continues to collaborate and grow as a performer.

Brent Carmer (upright bass)

Brent Carmer is an upright bass player in Portland, OR. He has collaborated with a range of musicians in the realms of jazz, ambient, and freely improvised music. His latest project, “Imaginary Rooms”, is an ambient duo record with baritone guitarist Jake Soffer released on Projekt Records. The same year, he released the jazz trio record “Coming / Going” with pianist Tracy Larvenz and drummer Sam Berrett.

Paris Butler (keys)

Founder of Blue Butler Studios, Paris Butler utilizes sonic textures to create musical catastrophes with moments of melodic relief. Primarily a pianist, for this performance he will construct a mothership of synthesis to send the audience into dangerous territory, embracing inevitable doom. Enjoy the ride!

Sam Berrett (drums) 

Sam Berrett is a Portland based drummer/multi-instrumentalist that leans into improv-heavy music. He has toured nationally with acts such as Scott Pemberton Trio, Eleven Eyes, Reeble Jar, Amadan, & The Healthy Dose. He is an active member of the jazz/avant-garde scene in Portland and frequently delves into odd times, free playing, as well as straight ahead jazz.

Kyra Jorgenson (voice)

Born and raised in North Kingstown Rhode Island, 22 year old Kyra Jorgensen moved to Portland Oregon to study jazz vocal performance at Lewis and Clark college. Today, Kyra performs jazz standards along with her original compositions across Portland. Released on June 30th 2026, her second album and senior degree capstone titled “The Tower”  utilizes the 7 church modes and archetypes from the Tarot to, like many of her pieces, explore themes of personal deconstruction and rebirth.

Wyck Malloy (sax)

Wyckliffe Malloy (Wyck) is a born and raised Portland Oregon saxophone player with a Bachelors in Jazz Performance from Portland State University. He can be seen around town playing straight ahead jazz and free improvisation.

Judith Berkson (voice, keys, electronics)

Judith Berkson is a composer, vocalist, and pianist. Her research centers around tuning and microtonality as they relate to memory and perception, exploring the small spaces between similarity and difference. She cites influences ranging from cantorial chant to jazz standards, and lieder from composers such as Schubert and Schumann. Her music offers a contemplative, spare space for the reworking of traditional structures within contemporary sonic modes and techniques. Collaborations have included work with Kronos Quartet, Laurie Anderson, JACK Quartet, Vijay Iyer, Alvin Lucier, Mivos Quartet, Wet Ink and Yarn/Wire. Recordings on ECM Records, Fresh Sound, Pi, and Notice Recordings. Film music presented at Venice Biennale, SXSW and Outfest LA. Festival appearances: Angel City Jazz Festival, Picasso Museum Malaga, National Sawdust, Women from Space Festival, and Bang on a Can. 

Mark Orton ( guitars )

Mark Orton is a composer working in the mediums of film scoring, concert music, and radio/podcast. He is both a multi-instrumentalist and a collector of antique and unusual instruments, performing on all manner (and era) of guitars, keyboards, and percussion. He is the co-founder of Tin Hat, an internationally renowned composer/improviser collective with seven critically acclaimed albums. Mark has written scores for 80+ films – documentary, narrative feature, and fine art – and composes music for modern dance, theater, experimental radio, video/art installation, podcast, circuses, and concert halls.

Noah Simpson ( trumpet via streaming video)

Noah Simpson is a trumpet player, composer, and producer currently based in the PNW. Originally from Phoenix, Noah started his music education at Scottsdale Community College, and would finish at Portland State University. Simpson’s modern approach to trumpet playing and improvisation is described as energetic, dynamic, and attentive. While currently teaching at Reed College, he frequently collaborates with artists like George Colligan, Alan Jones, Domo Branch, and other PNW natives. He’s also worked with artists like George Benson, Maggie Rogers, Amos Lee, Bernard Purdie, Alex Acuna, and Ron Artis II.

MLTZR ( DJing after the round robin)

MLTZR is a beatmaker, producer, and bassist known for his background straddling jazz and creative electronic music. His transition from jazz to electronic production began in college after discovering the SP-404 sampler. He takes the improvisational and collaborative aspects of jazz to his electronic performances, which range from beat cyphers to movie livescores at Portland’s historical theaters. As the Creative Coordinator for the Ext.606 recording studio, he leads programming in-studio and in the field, including a partnership with Multnomah County Libraries providing classes and production resources for Portland’s youth. MLTZR has opened or performed with such artists as Knower, Carrtoons, Taylor McFerrin, Gogo Penguin, Baths, Alan Jones Abacus, and many more.