Darrell Grant & The Territory

Dmae Roberts explores history with Portland composer/pianist Darrell Grant with his new composition. Inspired by Pacific Northwest history and geography, Grant’s ‘The Territory’ focuses on important times including the Nez Perce surrender, Minidoka Internment Camp, Chinese miners massacre and the Golden West Hotel, the second largest African-American hotel west of the Mississippi. Grant unveils this new work at Chamber Music Northwest. And in the latter part of the show, we’ll hear a feature story on what makes Woodburn the most diverse town in Oregon.

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Darrell Grant, performer, composer and PSU professor, has built an international reputation as a stellar pianist and versatile musician. A gifted artist whose four previous recordings have topped jazz charts, Darrell explores the lyricism and soul of songs with beauty, joy and passion. He has appeared on major concert stages from the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall to the Monterey, Telluride and San Francisco Jazz Festivals. He has been a guest on Marian McPartland’s “Piano Jazz” on NPR and toured internationally with many jazz legends.

The 9 parts of the composition features music inspired by the history and geography of:

• The surrender of the Nez perce with excerpts of Chief Joseph’s famous speech
• Daybreak at Fort Rock about Central Oregon’s monolithic landmark dating 9000 BP
• Rivers of the Pacific Northwest
• Minidoka Internment Camp that housed people forced to concentration camp conditions in Idaho.
• Sundays at the Golden West based on the Golden West Hotel, the second largest African-American hotel west of the Mississippi.
• Chinese gold miners who were massacred in Hell’s Canyon in 1887.
• New Land, the final movement, focuses on the powerful ‘vibe’ and hope of the Pacific Northwest.

  

“The Territory” debuts as part of Chamber Music Northwests concert titled “A Sense of Place” for two performances: 8pm, July 6th at Reed College and 4pm, July 7th at St. Mary’s Academy.

For more info or tickets, visit: cmnw.org  And you can also see some videos on the creation of ‘The Territory.’

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And in the last part of the show, we’ll hear a feature on the town of Woodburn. With near 60 percent Latino and a mix of Russian, Asian and Somali residents, it’s perhaps the most diverse town in Oregon.

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