Jessie Marquez and Clay Giberson play at Vino Veritas

An innovative voice in the contemporary jazz scene of the Pacific Northwest, pianist and composer Clay Giberson is part of a new generation that is redefining jazz.  Emotionally compelling, the music grooves as much as it dazzles with harmony, lyricism and rhythmic intricacy. Giberson’s performances convey a deep appreciation of structure and form but pay equal tribute to the pulse and sonic landscape that frame his musical ideas.  Clay’s musical personality owes something to his childhood spent on a farm in Woodland, Washington.  His mother, a classical piano teacher, infused his early life with music and he grew up both in the fields and at the piano.  He studied jazz piano at the University of Miami and later established himself in New York where he also earned a Master’s degree in music technology.  He has performed throughout Europe, Scandinavia, the Mediterranean, the South Pacific, Caribbean and Japan. Clay currently resides in Portland, Oregon where he teaches, records, produces and performs.

Latin jazz vocalist Jessie Marquez blends Cuban, Brazilian, jazz and pop sounds for music with lush harmonies and cool grooves. While her themes revolve around love and longing, her soothing vocals are a balm for any heart. Marquez got on-the-job training in Havana, where she recorded with members of the Afro Cuban Allstars. Sana Locura (2004) reached the top of Latin jazz and Salsa charts in the US and Europe. A frequent visitor to the island, she has appeared on Cuban television and radio and has performed throughout the country.