“I always knew that I would be part of the arts.” —Sherry Alves
The “jazz immigrants” of Portland arrived here to work. Two of the most prominent are presented in this 2019 interview with Montavilla Jazz, a pre-eminent non-profit that supports the arts and produces jazz festivals.
Portland has been blessed with national-class musicians for decades, and while the vibrancy of the scene varies, and the center of its gravity shifts, it remains a US city that hits well above its weight class. In this interview featuring Sherry and her colleague at Portland State University, George Colligan, get a sense of how they view the scene and the opportunities.