So excited to have the fantastic guitarist Chance Hayden and his Desert Room All Stars band with special guest vocalist & pianist John Gilmore! Featuring Ross Garlow on bass and Brent Follis on drums! Always on the move as one of Portland’s most trusted string-slingers, guitarist Chance Hayden has performed avidly since the mid 00s throughout the pacific northwest and beyond as both a bandleader and sideman to diverse acclaimed artists including Jarrod Lawson, Farnell Newton, Darrell Grant, Devin Phillips, Shelly Rudolph, Lloyd Jones, LaRhonda Steele, Mel Brown and many more. Hayden's latest album Baritone Gold spotlights a guitar rarity and a dozen 1960s inspired originals which yield vibrant echoes of surf, soul, blues and classic film scores in an inventive spin of the jazz organ trio. "Several pieces can almost feel like old under-the-radar 45s that somehow were never heard before, but with production that is thoroughly modern and a cooking playfulness that is always timeless" (All About Jazz). Hayden's newest project, the Desert Room All Stars, has taken shape through a monthly appearance at McMenamins Al’s Den with the intention of evoking the venue’s storied past in the 50s and 60s as the Desert Room. Formerly a high-class hang for Portland’s underworld where anything desired was obtainable, burlesque and jazz were showcased nightly with a long-term house band led by New Orleans native saxophonist Charlie Gabriel who attracted notable guests such as Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway and Sammy Davis Jr. In a similar format, Hayden has spotlighted many of the city's finest jazz and blues vocalists with a mid-century repertoire of both favored standards and uncovered gems. Hayden’s guitar stylings are rooted deeply at the intersection of these genres, yielding an "adventurous, no-holds-barred sensibility with both bluesy grit and modern-jazz finesse” (Jazz Society Of Oregon). John Gilmore is a vocalist and pianist whose musical career spans almost 50 years. Originally from Los Angeles, he comes from a musical family, his father having been a record producer and Vice President of Capitol Records and my mother, a big-band vocalist. While majoring in music at UCLA, he won First Prize in the Frank Sinatra Awards, Pop Vocal category. John worked in the Los Angeles area from 1974 through 1991 as an entertainer and band leader at such venues as The Beverly Hills Hotel, The Beverly Wilshire Hotel, The Hotel Bel-Air and many others. As a solo act, he appeared at the world-renowned Jimmy's Restaurant in Beverly Hills, a six-year engagement where he performed regularly for such notable customers as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Stevie Wonder, Cher, Natalie Cole and many others. From 1991 through 1995, John starred in a television commercial for Henry Weinhard beer, playing the character “Tex Velvet.” Since moving to Portland in 1992, John has performed solo and in group settings at such venues as the Benson Hotel, Portland City Grill, Wilf's Restaurant, Arrivederci, Tony Starlight's, Allison Inn, Riverview Restaurant and at numerous social events and corporate functions throughout the pacific northwest. John’s debut album “For My Father & Frank” is a tribute to Frank Sinatra and his father, Voyle Gilmore, who was Sinatra's record producer from 1953 to 1958. 

David Friesen and his Circle 3 Trio return to the lounge! David has performed and recorded with countless jazz legends, including Stan Getz, Dexter Gordon, Joe Henderson, Dizzy Gillespie, Art Farmer, Chick Corea, and Philly Joe Jones, to name a few. And lest we forget the two other incredible players in this trio, powerhouse drummer Charlie Doggett and explosive saxophonist Joe Manis. Also as a special guest guitarist John Stowell will be joining them! Great musicians, terrific original compositions and unique arrangements! David and John first met in New York City in 1976, and they formed a duo that recorded and toured prolifically for seven years, with performances in the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia. Their 1978 collaborative album "Through the Listening Glass" was chosen as one of the "Ten Best Jazz Albums of the Decade" by the Los Angeles Examiner. "It’s been said of David Friesen that he does for the art of bass playing what Pythagoras did for the triangles." Patrick Hinely/Jazz Times "In the age of mediocrity and clones, John Stowell's uniqueness and originality are a breath of fresh air." Paul Horn 

Award winning trumpeter, composer, and educator Jun Iida is known for his dynamic and versatile contributions to the jazz and contemporary music scenes. With an impressive array of performances at renowned venues and festivals across the world, Iida has built a reputation as a skilled performer and a dedicated educator. Originally from St. Louis, Missouri as the son of Japanese immigrants, Iida was immersed in a broad range of musical influences during his upbringing in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Iida’s musical journey has taken him from Los Angeles to Seattle, and he is currently an active figure in the New York music scene. His performance credits include Jazz at Lincoln Center (Shanghai), Pit Inn (Tokyo), 100BAN Hall (Kobe), Smalls Jazz Club, Nublu, and Soapbox Gallery (NYC), as well as a number of prestigious venues in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle, such as Sam First, Blue Whale, The Baked Potato, Gold Diggers, SFJazz, Black Cat, Benaroya Hall, and The Triple Door. He has also performed internationally, with notable tours in Canada, the US, and China. As a bandleader, Iida leads the Jun Iida Group (Los Angeles/NYC), and has been a part of successful ensembles such as FADE Quintet (Seattle), Salt Petal (Los Angeles) and Todo Mundo/WITHIN (San Diego). He has performed at renowned festivals including SXSW, PDX Jazz Fest, and Earshot Jazz Festival. Over the years, he has shared the stage with a range of acclaimed musicians, including Deltron 3030, Mike Phillips, Takuya Kuroda, Anat Cohen, and Skerik. A recipient of multiple awards and grants, Iida’s artistry has been recognized by the greater music community, earning him several Golden Ear Awards nominations and a spot on the 2025 Jack Straw Artist Support Program. His debut album as a leader, Evergreen (OA2 Records), was released in January 2024 to great acclaim, showcasing his evolving voice as a composer and performer. Fluent in both English and Japanese with strong connections to both Japanese and American cultures, Iida continues to push the boundaries of jazz performance and education, fostering a deeper appreciation for the genre while engaging with diverse audiences worldwide. His passion for both performance and mentorship solidifies his place as one of the emerging voices in contemporary jazz. “All compositions are reflective of both his Japanese heritage and his command and fluency in jazz composition and stylings, the two worlds being complementary and mutually enriching on this showing. The diversity of mood and style, not to mention thoughtful programming of tracks, is a real strength of this album. All in all, there is a great deal to enjoy here.” – London Jazz News Featuring Chris McCarthy on keys, JK Kim on drums, Giulio Xavier Cetto on bass, Masami Kuroki on guitar. 

On tour from NYC, guitarist Yoav Eshed joins forces with Oregon locals Garrett Baxter on bass & Ken Mastrogiovanni on drums! Yoav Eshed started to play the piano at the age of 3 and became a child prodigy playing classical recitals by Haydn, Bach and Mendelssohn at the age of 5. He picked up the guitar at the age of 13 and found his unique way of playing the guitar with a pianist approach. After winning competitions worldwide and receiving the presidential scholarship to study at Berklee, Yoav moved to Boston to finish his studies and shortly after to NYC where he is considered one of the city's most unique guitarists. Yoav recorded 5 albums as a bandleader and leads his own quartet ‘Guitar Hearts', touring worldwide, recording and collaborating with Erik Truffaz, Shai Maestro, Ari Hoenig, Omer Avital, Dayna Stephens, Tivon Pennicott. “Gifted musician with emotional depth and brilliant technical abilities” - Mick Goodrick 

On tour from Chicago for the first time at Christo's, the Affinity Trio featuring trumpeter Eric Jacobsen, pianist Pamela York and bassist Clay Schaub! Equipped with an arsenal of standards from the Great American Songbook, as well as Latin jazz, bebop, and original compositions, Affinity Trio creates an intimate ambience while still possessing a strong rhythmic drive. "Jacobson, York, and Schaub are masters of sound, touch and feel. This outing showcases them in a drumless trio format which allows for all three of their gorgeous sounds to be heard with clarity. It's a swinging record that will keep you on the edge of your seat." - Dan Nimmer, pianist with Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra led by Wynton Marsalis.