Events

Cowboy Jazz is a folk/country inspired jazz collective based out of Portland, Oregon. Members of the quartet, comprised of alto saxophonist Bryan Smith, guitarist Ryan Meagher, bassist Shao Way Wu, and drummer Jonas Oglesbee, have collaborated over the past several years with the aim to diversify their musical approach and reach new audiences. Examples include folk and country stylings such as travis picking, singable melodies, and slide guitar, with a mix of complex harmony, high-flying solos, and modern jazz sensibilities. Willamette Week says Cowboy Jazz “allows listeners to either take their name and their sound at face value or, in the pioneer spirit, join them as they explore new pathways.” In 2024, Cowboy Jazz released an EP of original music and a full length album of reimagined American Folk songs, the latter supported by the Regional Arts and Culture Council. Through the blending of folk, country and jazz, Cowboy Jazz strives to create a deeper connection with audiences in both urban and rural communities.

Rich Swanger is a folk and Americana musician whose songs embody the spirit of back roads, slow rivers, and lanterns swinging in the dark. Raised in the Appalachian hills of Pennsylvania and now rooted in Oregon, his music carries the warmth of old hymns, the grit of country-blues, and the quiet wonder of the natural world. With a voice both tender and weathered, Swanger writes with a reverence for life’s mysteries—love, longing, hope, and time. When performing he invites listeners into a space where melody meets meaning, and where every song feels like home.

Gabe Hess is a singer/songwriter, composer, and arranger based out of the Pacific Northwest. Gabe first began working in the music industry during his college years, performing in clubs in Boise Idaho with several different bands and collaborations. After college, Gabe moved to New York City where he spent a year training with the improvisational school, The Upright Citizen’s Brigade. Gabe attended classes by day and made ends meet by playing music in a variety of settings each night. New York provided the perfect backdrop for a young musician, cutting his teeth by busking in the subways of Manhattan and he eventually began performing in clubs and coffee houses all over the city, where they had indoor heat.