Vanessa Jump Nelson |
Eclectic Music for interesting people |
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| Vanessa Jump Nelson, born and raised in Portland, has served as vocal soloist at aviation-related events since she was a teenager, performing for NWAAC hangar parties and at the North/South Airpark in Vancouver, where her parents moved shortly after she graduated from high school. In his new abode, her dad washed his plane in the driveway, and the neighbors included biplane pilots, airline pilots, aerobatic performers, and a professional airshow clown. Vanessa was awarded a music scholarship to Mt. Hood Community College (MHCC), where she studied music and aviation, soloed at 19, got her private pilot license at age 20, performed with Hal Malcolm's highly acclaimed Vocal Jazz Ensemble, and met Mark Simon, who was pianist in the rhythm section. Mark first played for Vanessa at aviation parties in Vancouver 30 years ago. |
Vanessa Jump Nelson
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Vanessa sang in jam sessions in the heyday of The Jazz Quarry of Portland with Eddie Wied & the Sky Trio, with the "Sue Harris Octet," and appeared with the Walter Bridges Big Band and the Dick Schwary Big Band as a member of "Clazz," and "The Sound Sensations." She has been Featured Jazz Vocal Artist at the Westside Jazz Jam, was featured entertainer on the Portland Spirit for the Oregon Music Teachers Association 2008 State Conference, and in August 2008 was featured vocalist with Too Grand, an 8-hand piano group, in their 88th performance. As featured soloist with the Oregon Symphony Pops with guest conductor Skitch Henderson, one night she went to talk to Skitch in his dressing room after the show. She found not one, but two former Tonight Show Band Leaders, as Skitch was talking with Doc Severinson, who had been in the audience, and who shook her hand, complimenting her singing. (Doc is a native Oregonian and licensed pilot.) |
| She has been involved in multiple commercial music projects, most recently singing and directing group vocals for the Intel volunteers ad "One More Pair of Hands" which aired on KGW TV and radio, performing it live with the band "One Moment" in Pioneer Courthouse Square. She is a founding member of Duelin' Sopranos vocal duo, which has performed in Paris, France, and received critical acclaim for its award winning 19th Century duet album "Under Her Spell: The Viardot Effect," sung entirely in French. Vanessa holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Portland State University, is a member of the adjunct voice faculty at MHCC and Portland Community College; and maintains a busy private voice studio in the Bethany area. She is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, Mu Phi Epsilon Alumni Association, and serves on the Oregon Music Teachers Association's Collaborative Artists Committee. She is a member of The Ninety-Nines, and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. She and her husband are the editors of the Northwest Antique Airplane Club Newsletter and proud owners of a 1946 Piper J-3 Cub. |
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Born in Chicago, jazz pianist
Mark Simon
has been delighting Northwest jazz
audiences for over three decades now. His versatile touch combined with
musical depth and soul gives people of all musical backgrounds something
to appreciate.
Mark has worked extensively with Leroy Vinnegar and Hadley Caliman, played in concert with Bud Shank, Jeff Clayton, Joshua Breakstone and Julie Kelly and played on jam sessions with many notable artists, including guitarist Herb Ellis and saxophonists Red Holloway and Teddy Edwards. Mark won critical acclaim and heavy airplay with his 1995 CD release PORTLAND NIGHTS. The CD features eight Simon originals performed by musicians who collectively have performed with the likes of Stan Kenton, Woody Herman, Rosemary Clooney, Mose Allison, and Tower of Power. |
 Mark Simon |
 Craig Snazelle |
Craig Snazelle's jazz education includes lessons/study with SF Bay
Area bassist Chuck Sher, (John Hendricks), Los Angeles bassist and former
Portlander Jamie Faunt (Chick Corea, John Klemmer), and since moving to
Oregon, with bassists John Clayton, Glen Moore (Oregon), Tom Wakeling
and Larry Zgonc, (Principal Bass, Portland Opera Company).
Notable Portland players Craig has worked with include; Pianists Gordon Lee, Bill Beach, Phil Goldberg, and George Mitchell. Singers Shirley Nannette, Karla Harris, and Victoria Corrigan. Saxophonists Bob Hernandez, Lee Wuthenow, and Pete Peterson. He works frequently with vibes player/pianist Mike Horsfall. He has performed locally at the Mt. Hood Jazz Festival, Newport Coast Jazz Festival, and Cathedral Park Jazz Festival. |
| Ronnie Lagrone is presently a percussion arranger and caption head for the Colt Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps from Dubuque, Iowa. He served as consultant, percussion arranger, and caption head of percussion with the award-winning Westview High School Percussion Ensemble (5th place in scholastic A division at the 2007 WGI Finals) and the award-winning Oregon Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps from 2003-2005 (2004 Division 3 Champions). He has also worked with groups such as Grenada High School, Tupelo High School, Vicksburg High School, Southridge High School, the University of Mississippi Drumline, The Northern Lights Summer Marching Band and Oregon State University Percussion. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1995 from the University of Mississippi where he majored in Percussion Performance and attended the University of Oregon Graduate School for further studies in music education and percussion performance. Ron plays professionally in the Portland metro area and is the director of bands in Banks, OR. He is also a Remo and Pro-Mark artist. |
 Ronnie Lagrone |