The Vestal Storytelling Project is a collaboration between Montavilla Jazz, The Artist as Citizen Initiative at Portland State University, and Vestal Elementary (a Portland Public School). It’s made possible by a Metro Community Placemaking Grant and with support from the City of Portland. Interviews were conducted by Portland State University Capstone students in April and May of 2022.

The Vestal Storytelling Project is produced by Erica Thomas of Works Progress Agency. Executive Producers are Sabrina Flamoe, Darrell Grant, Suzanne Savaria, and Neil Mattson. Voice narration by Marcia Hocker. Field Recordings, Mixing and Editing by Erica Thomas. Interviews conducted by: Linh Le, Noah Gardner, Devon Scofield, Tommy Sepulveda, Kyle Rodgers, Judy Turnauer, Rick Riley-Loy, Tiana Gadd, Amelia Weesies, Matthew Staples, William Tang, Sarah Wallach, and Vanessa Zmolek.

“A Mother’s Hunger” was composed and performed by Denzel Mendoza with Sebastian Owens. Music was recorded and mixed by Machado Mijiga. 

“Cambuulo after Dark,” “Samira’s Interlude,” and “Baasta and Suugo” were composed and performed by Mary-Sue Tobin with Edwin Coleman III, Brian L. Davis, Eric Gruber, Mike Horsfall, and John Savage. Music was recorded and mixed by the Portland State University Sonic Arts & Music Production Department.

“The Serpent,” “The Primrose,” “The Viscount,” and “The Alcove” were composed, performed by Machado Mijiga, with Dylan Hayes and Andrew Jones. Music was recorded and mixed by Andrew Jones.

“Vestal is Socially Just” was written and performed by Kyle “Coach C” Connelly. 

Special thanks to: Enrique “Ricky” Lopez Brioues, Nancy Manchusa, Samira Mohamed, Matthias, Hunter, Zulia, Saedie, Remiliano, Oliver, Maxwell, Loan, Boruto, Principal Flamoe, Evan Williams, Kyle Connelly, Michael True, Leah Jacobsen, Janell Wetherbee, Gloria Gilbert, Maya Lomanto, Kim Gumbel, Ryan McMahon, Anwyn Cavill Willette, Lydia Barnhart, Brandon Burke, Vestal Parent and Teachers Association, Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO), The Yard at Montavilla, Friends of Noise, City of Portland, and the Metro Community Placemaking Grant which made this project possible.

For more information about the project or to listen again please visit montavillajazz.org

Vestal Storytelling Project - 2022

A couple of weeks ago composer/guitarist Ryan Meagher was here to talk about his latest recording, AftEarth a collaboration with artist Tina Granzo. If you heard it you realize that it had a profound impact on me.
It is such a close collaboration that I felt we had to hear from the other half of the creators.
So with me in the Café at Artichoke Music is Tina Granzo who’s drawings along with Ryan’s music have made this such an evocative work.
Whether you think it’s about climate change or a document evoking those years we were quarantined, it is a remarkable work.
So closing the circle, meet Tina Granzo.

Tina Granzo 2023 FINAL

“The Serpent” was composed, performed by Machado Mijiga, with Dylan Hayes and Andrew Jones. Music was recorded and mixed by Andrew Jones.

The Vestal Storytelling Project is a collaboration between Montavilla Jazz, The Artist as Citizen Initiative at Portland State University, and Vestal Elementary (a Portland Public School). It’s made possible by a Metro Community Placemaking Grant and with support from the City of Portland.

I - The Serpent - Machado Mijiga

“The Primrose” was composed, performed by Machado Mijiga, with Dylan Hayes and Andrew Jones. Music was recorded and mixed by Andrew Jones.

The Vestal Storytelling Project is a collaboration between Montavilla Jazz, The Artist as Citizen Initiative at Portland State University, and Vestal Elementary (a Portland Public School). It’s made possible by a Metro Community Placemaking Grant and with support from the City of Portland.

II - The Primrose - Machado Mijiga

Vestal Storytelling Project is a podcast in three parts highlighting three jazz musicians, three food cart owners, and the community celebration centered around a school for social justice.

In part one we find out what it means to be a school for social justice. We’ll hear the voices of educators, parents, and students from Vestal Elementary, a school located on Northeast 82nd Avenue in Portland, Oregon.

The Vestal Storytelling Project is a collaboration between Montavilla Jazz, The Artist as Citizen Initiative at Portland State University, and Vestal Elementary (a Portland Public School). It’s made possible by a Metro Community Placemaking Grant and with support from the City of Portland. Interviews were conducted by Portland State University Capstone students in April and May of 2022.

Vestal Storytelling Project Part 1: A School For Social Justice

Vestal Storytelling Project is a podcast in three parts highlighting three jazz musicians, three food cart owners, and the community celebration centered around a school for social justice.

In Part 2 we meet Denzel Mendoza, Mary Sue Tobin, and Machado Mijiga, three local jazz musicians who wrote music inspired by three immigrant food cart owners who do business across Northeast 82nd Avenue from Vestal.

Part Two of the Vestal Storytelling Project features original music, “A Mother’s Hunger” by Denzel Mendoza, [pause] “Cambuulo after Dark,” “Samira’s Interlude,” and “Baasta and Suugo” by Mary-Sue Tobin, and “The Serpent,” “The Primrose,” “The Viscount,” and “The Alcove” by Machado Mijiga. The complete recordings are available at montvillajazz.org.

The Vestal Storytelling Project is a collaboration between Montavilla Jazz, The Artist as Citizen Initiative at Portland State University, and Vestal Elementary (a Portland Public School). It’s made possible by a Metro Community Placemaking Grant and with support from the City of Portland. Interviews were conducted by Portland State University Capstone students in April and May of 2022.

Vestal Storytelling Project Part 2: The Composers

Vestal Storytelling Project is a podcast in three parts highlighting three jazz musicians, three food cart owners, and the community celebration centered around a school for social justice.

In part three we’ll meet Nancy Manchusa, Samira Mohamed, and Ricky Lopez owners of Bai Yok Thai, Mira’s East African Cuisine and Ricky’s Sushi. Their stories inspired the new music created by the Montavilla Jazz artists featured in Part Two. 

The Vestal Storytelling Project is a collaboration between Montavilla Jazz, The Artist as Citizen Initiative at Portland State University, and Vestal Elementary (a Portland Public School). It’s made possible by a Metro Community Placemaking Grant and with support from the City of Portland. Interviews were conducted by Portland State University Capstone students in April and May of 2022.

Vestal Storytelling Project Part 3: Social Justice Night

Montavilla Jazz Festival started as a neighborhood project founded by two jazz musicians, a graphic designer, and a community activist, whose collective mission was to build an audience for jazz in their community by putting on a festival that would attract local artists of the highest distinction and excite the most sophisticated jazz fans, and in turn enhance and enrich the lives of Montavilla residents.
Montavilla Jazz is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization made up of people who believe that the diverse art form known as jazz, as a tradition and a practice, is relevant and necessary to the lives of all people as a positive force for community-building and education.

Our organization represents a diverse community of jazz artists, student musicians, music lovers, neighbors, business owners, students, teachers, and administrators from within the neighborhood of Montavilla, and from a larger family of jazz supporters and practitioners far and wide, from different backgrounds, ethnicity, race, socioeconomic status, gender, exceptionalities, language, religion, and sexual orientation. Montavilla Jazz brings together people who love jazz, love Montavilla, or both!

Vestal Storytelling Project Part 2: The Composers

MontavillaJazz

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