Portland Live Music Worthy Of Musicians

Local Bands For Dancing

• Cubaneo : Latin, including Salsa and related.
• Pepe and the Bottle Blondes: Latin, Swing ballroom mix
• Jujuba : Afrobeat, jam band. Mainly freestyle dancing.
• Kafana Klub : Balkan dance music, mostly associated with instructor taught dances (correlating well with Balkanalia). Mostly older traditional Balkan music.
• Balkan And Beyond: Highly energetic Balkan, Gypsy Jazz and some near, middle and farther eastern (among other) music thrown in for spice. Usually good if you like a workout when you dance. Covers traditional and more modern Balkan, usually something new each time.
• Krebsic Orkestar : Cocek ("Chochek") Serbian Centric Balkan brass based dance music.
• The Underscore Orkestra: a variable cast (Jorge & Willow @ core) of musicians playing traditional and original tunes in"a blend of Balkan, Klezmer, Gypsy Jazz and Swing" genres. When there's a critical mass of dancers that can handle this mix they are very fun to dance to.
• The Mora plays much of the same tunes as Kafana Klub and in addition, some tunes from the near and middle east. They are fun to dance to. For listening, they tend to lack the traditional ornamentation and other spice I tend to like.
• Vagabond Opera: Kind of mix of "Bohemian vaudvillany" with swing, Eastern European, etc. The last year or two the tunes haven't changed much from what I've seen, but still it's hard to tell what the setlist will be, so be prepared to dance to things other than what you might prefer....usually very energetic.
• Boka Marimba : Marimba jam band that folks tend to free-style dance, but some ballroom dance to the music.
• Three Leg Torso : Tango, though maybe this is a stretch?
• Also check out portlanddancing.com. It has current listings of dancing with both live and recorded music. Live music is often highlighted: Pick styles and dates from a large menu and click on "print" to get details.

Live Jazz, Smoke-Free

• Jimmy Mak's: since the Pearl district has had its face lift, this place has tried to be more NYC style, with one expensive show and then you're thrown out. The acts are about the same as before. On the other hand, they have survived for years during a period where other long standing and recent jazz clubs have disappeared.
• ???Monteaux's Public House sometimes has "background" mellow jazz: 503.439.9942 info@monteauxs.com. 16165 SW Regatta Lane • #1000 • Beaverton • OR • 97006
• There are many others that occasionally have jazz. Check related links below.

Live Guitar, Smoke-Free

• Portland Guitar Society meets the first Monday of each month at 7:00PM @ The Community Music Center 3350 SE Francis Portland, OR 97202 503-823-3177. Teachers, students and other guitar enthusiasts, often dominated by classical or at least accoustic players but others are welcome. Often you'll get to hear a wide variety of talent and skill levels followed by a "featured" performer.
• Balkan And Beyond: Highly energetic Balkan, Gypsy Jazz and some near, middle and farther eastern (among other) music thrown in for spice. Usually good if you like a workout when you dance. Covers traditional and more modern Balkan, usually something new each time.

Live Jazz, Smokey

• Tugboat's gone...
• There are many others that occasionally have jazz. Check related links below.

Related Links

• Northwest-Balkan-Events includes Balkand dancing from Eugene to Portland to Seattle. Often includes live music, usually with interesting rhythms, scales, etc.
• The Portland Mercury: Live Music Lisings
• Willamette Week
• Willamette Week: Head Out
• Jazz Society Of Oregon