Shows - Christo's

Dmitri Matheny Group | Louie! Louie! Louie!

Sat, Nov 14

Celebrating Louis Armstrong, Louis Jordan, & Louis Prima

Flugelhornist Dmitri Matheny and his all-star band celebrate the classic jazz, blues and jump swing of American music icons Louis Armstrong, Louis Jordan, and Louis Prima.

“Heroes!” Matheny says. “What a thrill to immerse ourselves in the sound and spirit of these three legendary recording artists and popular entertainers, known for delighting audiences worldwide with virtuosity and verve. This season's show promises to be lively, fun, and full of surprises!”

Matheny and friends will put a fresh spin on such familiar favorites as I’ve Got The World On A String, I Wanna Be Like You, Jump, Jive & Wail, Let The Good Times Roll, What A Wonderful World, and more!

Flugelhornist Dmitri Matheny has been lauded as “one of the most emotionally expressive improvisers of his generation” (International Review of Music). An honors graduate of Berklee College of Music, Dmitri Matheny vaulted onto the jazz scene in the 1990s as the protégé of jazz legend Art Farmer. Since then he has garnered critical acclaim and a loyal international following, releasing eleven CDs and touring extensively throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. The San Francisco Chronicle calls Matheny “one of the jazz world’s most talented horn players.”

The Dmitri Matheny Group is "an all-star jazz band featuring some of the most accomplished musicians in the western United States" (All About Jazz). Featuring Adam Harris on saxophones, Joe Bagg on keys, Eric Gruber on bass and Michael Raynor on drums.

The Carter Collective Sunday Jazz Jam

Sun, Nov 15

NO COVER CHARGE, SEATING IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVE (IGNORE THE "SOLD OUT" TICKET BUTTON)

Welcome to the Sunday Jazz Jams in our lounge!

The sessions will be hosted by Salem stalwart drummer and friend of Christo's Jason Carter, and he is joined by pianist Marcus Harbaugh and bassist Ken Anoe.

Jazz musicians of all skill levels are welcome to come and add their name to the sign up list to join the jam session!

Doors open to the Lounge at 5:00. Jam runs from 5:30-9. Full dinner service will be available.

The Jazz Nucleus ft. Randy Porter, Tim Gilson & Todd Strait

Thu, Nov 19

Three greats of the Oregon jazz scene join forces for The Jazz Nucleus! Grammy nominated pianist Randy Porter, bassist Tim Gilson and drummer Todd Strait!

Grammy-nominated jazz pianist Randy Porter has a refined understanding of improvisation and the spontaneous communication between musicians. As a Steinway Artist, Randy Porter draws from a rich palette of sonorities found within his imagination and the depths of the piano. Lynn Darroch of The Oregonian states, “Porter has built a reputation as a musician’s musician, a knowledgeable, inventive, and sophisticated player with a remarkable sense of time and gorgeous keyboard facility…”

Tim Gilson began studying music seriously at Mt Hood Community College and shortly thereafter began playing professionally in the Portland area. He traveled to Los Angeles to study John Clayton and in 1988 won 2nd place in the International Society of Bassists semi-annual competition in the Jazz Division.

Upon returning to Portland Tim began playing with many nationally acclaimed artists as they came to Portland including Mose Allison, Ritchie Cole, Bud Shank, Herb Ellis, Julian Priester, John Handy, Ernestine Anderson and many others. He toured Japan in 1993 with the Mel Brown Quintet with special guest artist Chuck Findley on trumpet. Tim also went back to school and earned a Bachelor of Music and a Masters degree from Portland State University in Double Bass performance with an emphasis in Composition. Tim returned to Portland in 2002 to direct the Mt Hood Community College String Ensemble and perform in a variety of settings including with the Oregon Symphony backing guest artists such as Dee Daniels, Byron Stripling and Herbie Hancock. He has also accompanied several guest artists including Wycliff Gordon, Antonio Hart, Matt Wilson and Ingrid Jensen when they came to the Northwest as guest artists. Tim continues to teach, perform, arrange and conduct as Director of the MHCC Orchestra and Adjunct faculty at PSU. Tim plays regularly with the Mel Brown Trio and the Mel Brown Septet.

Over Todd's 40 year career, he has spent 10 years in New York City playing with Marian McPartland, Tal Farlow, a brief tour with Woody Herman's Thundering Herd, followed by a relocation to Kansas City working with Interstring, PBT Trio among many others. During this time in Kansas City, Todd met Eldar, Karrin Allyson, and Kevin Mahagony leading to national and international travel with each over a 20 year period. His history and experience have brought forth over a 100 recordings as a sideman, most notably receiving two Grammy Nominations with Karrin Allyson, one with Eldar, and one with Randy Porter and Nancy King. In 2017, Todd released his debut album as a leader, "There'll Be Some Changes Made", featuring Bill Mays, Bob Bowman, and Danny Embrey.

Now based in Kansas City, Todd's schedule is focused locally with occasional tours. He can be found playing nightly in the Kansas City area with multiple groups.

Chris Stone Band

Sun, Nov 22

The smashing 5 piece Chris Stone Band will be bringing the funk on a Saturday night! Featuring Jose Luis on keys, Mike Renwick on percussion, Johnnie Lyn Russell on drums, Andrew Kallenberger on bass, all led by Chris Stone on sax. It's gonna be a party!

Caminhos Cruzados

Sat, Nov 28

Jazz guitar, Spanish flamenco, Brazilian bossa nova and West African polyrhythms cross paths in Portland-based trio Caminhos Cruzados, which means “cross roads” or “paths crossed” in Portuguese. Caminhos Cruzados is a collective that brings together Balmer’s electric guitar with flamenco guitarist Nat Hulskamp and master Ghanaian drummer/percussionist Israel Annoh. While each member brings a host of experiences and interests to the table, the sound they’ve developed has mainly coalesced around Brazilian music. “Between a flamenco guitarist, a jazz guitarist, and a West African drummer, it kind of makes sense, with the techniques that we use on nylon string guitar, Dan’s improvisations and really expressive melodies, and Israel’s deep polyrhythms,” Hulskamp says. “We all like each other a lot, and respect what’s different about each other’s approach to this music.” Dan Balmer, jazz guitar Dan has long been considered one of the finest guitarists, composers, and educators in the Northwest. In 2009 Dan became one of only five Oregonians to be honored with membership in both The Oregon Music Hall of Fame and the Jazz Society of Oregon Hall of Fame. He is the youngest person to be included in both Halls, and is hailed by the Los Angeles Times as, “the model of what a contemporary guitarist should be.” From 2005-2009 Dan toured and recorded with two time Grammy Winner Diane Schuur playing in over 15 countries and 60 cities. When not on the road with Ms. Schuur he leads his own groups and continues his long standing gigs with drummer Mel Brown, David Friesen, and others. Dan has performed with a long list of jazz greats including Joey DeFrancesco, Benny Green, Steve Smith. Airto, Bruce Forman, Houston Person, Jeff Hamilton, Bill Mays, Gerald Wilson, Eric Alexander, and Pat Martino among others. Dan’s playing and composing have won rave reviews from critics around the country. The Palm Beach Post wrote…”guitarist Dan Balmer’s fast fingered runs and twisting figures were arresting.” The Seattle Times proclaimed, “Balmer’s top fuel solos and tasty octave work…were most satisfying.” The Anchorage Daily News stated, “Balmer turned in a top notch unstinting performance.” Nat Hulskamp, flamenco guitar Nat was born in Portland, OR. He began studying guitar with guitarist/composer Paul Chasman at age seventeen. He was soon introduced to flamenco guitar by José Solano. His interest in the influence of Arabic music on flamenco led him to study oud in Morocco. After returning to the US, he moved to Seattle to study ethnomusicology at the University of Washington. There he worked with the groups Carmona Flamenco, The Rez Quartet and others ranging in style from Hungarian Csardas and Gypsy swing to flamenco. In 2000 he co-founded the Vancouver, BC based Arabic/ flamenco group Aire with ney player and singer Emad Armoush. He now resides in Portland, composing and performing with Shabava, the Nat Hulskamp Trio and Seffarine. Israel Annoh, percussion Israel is a renowned master percussionist originally from Ghana. He currently performs with Portland bands Caminhos Cruzados Border Crossing, Michael Allan Harrison and Thara Memory. His style has its roots in Ghanaian and other West African music as well as jazz greats such as Max Roach, Cosy Cole, & Elvin Jones. He's played at the BBC studios in London, traveled through Africa, Europe, and the US. He's played with Highlife pioneer E.T. Mensah, Obo Addy, and the Ghana Broadcasting Orchestra.

Christo's's Upcoming Shows