Oregon Music News

A view of the Stage

My first expectation of the Lan Su Chinese Garden Concert series was multiple nights of foreign music I wouldn’t understand, presented in a small theater, impressive only to Chinese Art Historians.

OK – wrong, wrong and wrong.

My first mistake – the Lan Su Chinese Garden is a stale museum. Those of you better educated than I know this used to be the Portland Classical Chinese Gardens. Most of us know it as the “Chinese Gardens.” Regardless – it’s beautiful. Its romantic. And it’s a stunning place for a concert. An intimate stage that overlooks a reflecting pond, complete with Koi (aka “goldfish”) and the occasional visiting Heron (eating the Koi). The audience of 250 is seated on the surrounding walkways and pavilions around the pond. The sound is crystal clear, and the view is unobstructed. Over the walls of the garden, the city displays its most spectacular night-time reflection of sky and streetlights.

And – I’m wrong about the concerts. Vagabond Opera. Andrew Oliver Kora Band. Portland Cello Project. The Insomniacs.

The Insomniacs? Swing, Jazz? A rowdy bunch of American Rock and Rollers? Not what you’d expect from the Chinese Gardens. So let’s set aside our biases for a moment, get out your calendar, and see if we can’t find some time for the unexpected at the Lan Su Chinese Garden.

July 6 – Chinese Festival Night

OK – lets be honest. If you’re going to run a concert series in the Chinese Garden, you’d better have at least one Chinese Concert. But this is pretty cool. Used to be, only the ultra-upper-elite got to see these concerts in this kind of setting. Put Donald Trump or Barack Obama in Full Chinese Dress, then sit them down for a concert in the Ming-Dynasty Gardens of Suzhou. This is the concert they’d be at, and the music they’d be listening to. Now – you can be royalty too, and for not so much bucks as The Donald might have to put out.

The Portland Chinese Dance Troupe

The music is inspired by poetry and painting. For example, here’s “Horse Racing” as performed by the Portland Orchids and Bamboo Chinese Music Ensemble. Listen to this while you’re contemplating the painting above.

Song. Poetry. Music. They all inspire each other. Cool! It’s a multi-media presentation from the Ming Dynasty. Plus the evening includes the Portland Chinese Dance Troupe.

July 13 – The Insomniacs

Now. About those rowdy Americans. So much for the royal dignity and Ming Dynasty – July 13th sees The Insomniacs in the gardens. I saw these guys at The Cave (before it closed) and they are a hoot. R&B. R&R. Driving Groove. What ARE they doing in a Chinese Garden?

“We’ve discovered much more works here that what we originally thought,” admits Mia Nicholson, Concert Organizer and Local Jazz Vocalist in her own right. “The original concerts were acoustic. But we brought in Thara Memory’s Superband, and it worked great.”

The Insomniacs play well to small venues. Boisterous, but musical, with an understated dialog between the musicians that you’ll enjoy watching. These guys have fun.

July 20 – Portland Cello Project

“We’re pretty sure we can fit eight cellos on stage,” frets Nicholson. “But we’ll see…”

Which pretty much sums up the Portland Cello Project. They all play cello. Beyond that, you’ll just have to see. Each concert is custom fitted for the occasion, and giving PCP the stage at the Chinese Gardens is an obvious inspiration that they are sure to take to heart. Don’t forget your Air-Cello.”

July 27 – Andrew Oliver Kora Band

Andrew Oliver has been making the rounds with his Kora Band, and on July 27th, he appears at the Chinese Gardens. “One thing that’s been really cool about the development of the kora band,” mentions Oliver; “is its ability to ‘make sense’ in a variety of situations – we’re playing the following week at a louder concert, so that will be a cool dichotomy of venues and performance situations.”

The Kora is something between a blues guitar and a harp, with South African lineage. Twenty-one strings keep the musician busy, and not just when its being tuned. It produces a lyrical pedal, providing an exotic base for other instruments to play off. Andrew and his band members do an interesting job of combining it with Western Music.

“I think the garden gig will be a good opportunity to hear the subtleties and interaction going on within the band.” says Oliver. Even without the Kora, Oliver and his bandmates are worth hearing, and promise a worthwhile performance of their innovative works. Here’s one of them…

Aug 3 – Vagabond Opera

Booking Vagabond Opera into the Chinese Gardens is a glove-throwing challenge to the muses. It’s like giving Uncle Chuck a six-pack and a nose flute at the family reunion, then following him around with a video camera. Only good things can happen. Putting Vagabond Opera in the unusual setting afforded by the Chinese Gardens can only encourage them to step up their  game.

“We love playing the Chinese Gardens..Its’ a gorgeous venue with a fantastic listening audience.. .The setting is idylic and unique,” says Eric Stern, Operatic Tenor. “How often do you get to play on a giant exotic pond, surrounded by gorgeous flowers and ancient poetry?”

Indeed. Expect Bohemian.

Tickets, and how to make it a great evening

Concerts start at 7:30, but doors open at 6:45, which is the time you’ll want to show up to get a good selection of seats. If you want, bring a small camp stool, but chairs are provided. Don’t bring your bulky, overstuffed folding stadium chair – that’s just bad manners.

Tickets are available online at www.lansugarden.org or in the Garden Shop at the garden entrance. Individual tickets are $18 for garden members and $22 for non-members; series passes for all five concerts are $80 for members and $95 for non-members. Consider a membership if you’re going to attend four or more concerts – in addition to being able to visit during non-concert days, it also gets you in fifteen minutes earlier than general seating.

Food is available at the gardens

Don’t bring coolers or food. The Garden supplies food from Daily Cafe, wine from Rex Hil Winery and beer from Full Sail Brewing Company.

And by the way -  Stoel Rives and the Poster Garden shelled out some extra cash to make these concerts possible – it’s nice to know they support live music in Portland.

“Eat when you’re hungry. Sleep when you’re tired. Expect Nothing. Be ready for anything.” Deep thoughts for a darker time – but in this case, I’m expecting a great line-up in a great venue.