On Friday, February 5, in celebration of Black History Month, the Trail Blazers partnered with the Urban League of Portland’s Northeast Multi-Cultural Senior Center to host a community event aimed at celebrating an important era in Portland’s rich musical history.
Trail Blazers forward Jeff Pendergraph with Paul Knauls, the unofficial Mayor of NE Portland and owner of Genevas Hair Salon.
The celebration of the jazz and jump music that enriched the post-World War II neighborhood featured a riveting performance by an All-Star band that was headlined by local Jazz legend “Sweet Baby James” Benton.
More than 100 jazz fans and party goers attended the event, including community elders and their families, senior center staff and Urban League executives. Also on hand were Trail Blazers Dante Cunningham and Jeff Pendergraph, as well as team legend Jerome Kersey.
Friday night’s musical celebration not only provided a chance to socialize, it allowed the Trail Blazers “JumpTown” project team to honor the musical contributions of the era and to capture primary accounts of what the neighborhood was truly like from people who enjoyed it first-hand.
"Sweet Baby James" Benton and his all-star band delivered music reminiscent of the post-WWII era.
The evening was part of an outreach effort to engage the community in conversation about the Trail Blazers’ proposed “JumpTown” district. a new, vibrant neighborhood that pays homage to the area’s cultural and jazz heritage, provides jobs and connects eastside neighborhoods.
Attendees on Friday experienced great music from local legends, but also had the opportunity to lend their voices to the conversation about how best to revitalize an important part of Portland’s eastside. Many thanks to those attendees, to our community partners, to the Urban League and to Sweet Baby James and his band for delivering an evening that won’t soon be forgotten by those in attendance.
