Desert Room All Stars perform at Al's Den

Guitarist,composer and producer Chance Hayden presents the Desert Room All Stars, a monthly series every Last Sunday atMcMenamins Al’s Den evoking the venue’sstoried past in the 50s and 60s as the Desert Room. Formerly a high-class hang for Portland’s underworld where anything desiredwas obtainable, burlesque and jazzwere showcased nightly with a long-term house band led by New Orleans native saxophonist Charlie Gabriel who attractednotable guests such as Duke Ellington,Cab Calloway and Sammy Davis Jr. In a similar format, Hayden leads a trio plus various guests performing two sets ofmid-century jazz, blues and original worksinspired by that period. 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” (JazzSociety Of Oregon). Though thebuilding has undergone numerous changes through the years and become more of a singer-songwriter hub under McMenaminsownership, vibes of the Desert Roomera remain highly palpable and Hayden will reveal that Al’s Den stands as one of one of the city’s most iconic rooms for jazz.