Art in the Pearl, Montavilla Jazz Fest, and ‘The Tina Turner Musical’: 10 things to do this week

Montavilla Jazz’s 10th Annual Festival will run Sept. 1-3, and includes performances by Darrell Grant. (Kathryn Elsesser )

Labor Day weekend is upon us, and if you’ve not already filled your dance card with family barbecues, hikes in the wilderness, or prepping your yard for fall, we’ve got a selection events that include the 10th anniversary of the Montavilla Jazz Festival, Labor Day weekend’s traditional Art in the Pearl, and the Portland premiere of Broadway Across America’s “Tina – The Tina Turner Musical.”

Montavilla Jazz Festival

Venues across the city host the 10th season of the festival that highlights jazz in all its forms. The festival begins with the world premiere of “Views of an Urban Volcano,” a commissioned work inspired by Mount Tabor. Spend the weekend soaking in original works by world-class musicians incluing Cyrus Nabipoor, Kirsten Volness, Darrell Grant, and Alan Jones. Venues include the Alberta Rose Theatre, The 1905, several outdoor spaces, and Portland Metro Arts. Check the website for a complete schedule.

Various times and locations Friday-Sunday, Sept. 1-3; ticket prices vary, and some concerts are free but require RSVP; montavillajazz.org/festival.

“Northwest Legacies”

SoundsTruck NW hosts the Palatine Piano Trio as it shares performances of engaging music, both classic and new. The trio features violinist Inés Voglar Belgique, cellist and composer Nancy Ives, and pianist Susan DeWitt Smith. Grab a blanket or a lawn chair and enjoy some late summer music outdoors on the campus of Lewis & Clark College.

5:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 1, in the Quad near Evans Music Center; $15 donation requested; soundstrucknw.org/summer-series.

“I Put a Spell on You”

LaRhonda Steele brings the amazing talent of Nina Simone to the stage during this tribute concert. Enjoy Simone’s timeless songs backed by the Adrian Martin Sextet. Minors allowed when accompanied by a parent or guardian.

8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 1, Alberta Rose Theatre, 3000 N.E. Alberta St.; tickets $24 in advance, $29 at door; etix.com/ticket.

Art in the Pearl included paintings by Lyn Sedlak-Ford in 2020. Oregonian file photo. (Art in the Pearl/Courtesy of Art in the Pearl)

Art in the Pearl

This annual Labor Day weekend show is held in the tree-covered North Park Blocks near the Pearl District and features the artwork of about 100 juried visual artists selected by an independent panel. The show includes regional and nation-wide artists who are currently working and professionals. It hosts about 85,000 estimated attendees yearly. Visitors can watch art demonstrations, listen to live music, shop, and take in a variety of live stage entertainment.

10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 2-4, on the Park Blocks between northwest Flanders and Davis streets; free admission; artinthepearl.com.

Pier Pressure Party Cruise

It’s your last weekend to legally wear white (just joking) and this cruise gives you just the excuse to send off the summer in style. Three decks, three DJs, two floors of music are all set against the Portland skyline. Portland’s top DJs provide plenty of bass-thumping beats on this two-hour party cruise along the Willamette River on the Portland Spirit. Cocktail attire required.

10 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 3, boarding at Salmon Street Springs dock, 1010 S.W. Naito Parkway; tickets $22-$29; vipnightlife.com/events.

Chuck Palahniuk will talk about his new novel Tuesday, Sept. 5, at Revolution Hall. Oregonian file photo. (Mark Graves/The Oregonian)

Chuck Palahniuk

The bestselling author of “Fight Club,” crosses the river to visit Portland and talk about his newest novel “Not Forever, But for Now” a horror satire story about a family of professional killers, responsible for the most atrocious events in history, and the young brothers pressured to step up and take over the family “business.” Tickets include admission to the event and a hardcover copy of the new book

7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 5, Revolution Hall, 1300 S.E. Stark St.; tickets $36.99; www.etix.com/ticket.

“Inspired Instructors” exhibit

Hillsboro’s Walters Cultural Art Center hosts a show of work by teaching artists that offer classes at the center. View work in landscape paintings, pastels, photography, ceramics, watercolor, and other media. Meet the instructors during the First Tuesday art walk, or view the work anytime during gallery hours through September 22.

Art Walk 5-8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 5, Walters Art Center, 527 E. Main St., Hillsboro; free; hillsboro-oregon.gov.

Naomi Rodgers performs "What's Love Got To Do With It" as Tina Turner in the touring production of "Tina - The Tina Turner Musical." Photo by Matthew Murphy (Matthew Murphy)

“Tina – The Tina Turner Musical”

The world lost a musical icon in 2023, and it’s not just her powerhouse vocals or her electrifying stage presence that will be missed. The world lost a woman whose light could not be dimmed, and whose resilience was an inspiration. The North American touring cast of this Broadway Across America performance includes Naomi Rodgers and Zurin Villanueva, who will share the role of Tina Turner in rotation.

Opens 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 5, and continues 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 6-10, Keller Auditorium, 222 S.W. Clay St.; tickets start at $34.75; /portland.broadway.com/shows.

“Secret Poems” Jeff Reznikoff

This fine art solo exhibition features abstract-surrealist work by Reznikoff that explores the subconscious and the playful nature of reality and existence. The work is primarily in large charcoal drawings.

Artist reception 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 6, continues during gallery hours through Sept. 30, Arrowood, 5846 N.E. Sandy Blvd.; free; jeffreznikoff.com.

"Fort Snelling Winter" is part of the George Tsutakawa exhibit at the Japanese American Museum of Oregon this September. (Tsutakawa Family/Courtesy of the Tsutakawa Family)

(Updated) “A Sense of Place: The Art of George Tsutakawa”

The Japanese American Museum of Oregon welcomes a career-spanning exhibition of Seattle artist George Tsutakawa (1910-1997). His work was inspired by his life in the Pacific Northwest and his Japanese heritage and focuses on natural forms and aesthetics. He’s most known for his fountains and public sculptures. In this first ever Portland exhibit visitors will see works in watercolor, sumi, sculpture, and fountain design.

Opens 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 7. The exhibit remains on view during museum hours 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursdays-Sundays through Dec. 31, JAMO, 411 N.W. Flanders St.; admission $5-$8; jamo.org/exhibits/tsutakawa.

- If you have events you’d like to see highlighted at OregonLive.com or in the weekly printed A&E section of The Oregonian, please email submissions to [email protected] at least three weeks prior to the start of your event. Digital images or links to videos are helpful.

— Rosemarie Stein

503-221-4376, [email protected]; @trafficportland

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