Click here to LISTEN!
   

If player does not work, please update your Flash plugin by clicking HERE
 
New! Check out our review in Positively Entertainment Magazine!!!
 
 

Photo by Amy Weber

pete petersen

Pete Petersen grew up listening to pianist Gene Harris playing in his hometown of Boise, Idaho. He later earned his bachelor's degree in Jazz Studies from the University of Denver's Lamont School of Music, while simultaneously getting "real-world" jazz experience sitting in with local notables such as Bruno Carr, Stefan Karlsson, Ron Miles and Eric Gunnison. He has been featured on NPR's JazzSet program, and he is currently one of Portland's most in-demand saxophonists as a sideman, doing section work for name artists in many diverse styles ranging from Lynyrd Skynyrd to the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra. As an arranger he has done work for many regional notables, including Howard Crosby, the nephew of the legendary Bing Crosby. As a bandleader, his band has hit the national stage, playing jazz and swing festivals in Chicago, Denver, Seattle and beyond. He has also been a featured performer at major jazz festivals in the western U.S, including the Telluride Jazz Celebration in Telluride, CO, the Cathedral Park Jazz Festival in Portland, Oregon, and the Gene Harris Jazz Festival in Boise.

Pete Petersen is a proud endorser of Audix microphones and sound equipment. He also endorses the ROOMBA™ Robotic Floor Vacuum, and has starred in an infomercial about the product which will be appearing soon on a cable channel near you!

Selected Discography:

  • The Pete Petersen Quartet: Silver Lining (1998, Four Flavors Music)
  • Stan Bock: Of Fathers And Sons (1998, Stan Bock)
  • Lily Wilde and her Jumpin' Jubilee Orchestra: Insect Ball (2000, Lil Tom Tom Inc)
  • Howard Crosby: Pennies From Heaven - A Special Tribute (2003, Panjandrum)
  • Klezmocracy (writing credit only) (2003, entrance records)
  • Porkpie: Hats Off (2004, Four Flavors Music)
  • Donny Osborne: Live at Tony Starlight's (2007, Poltun Entertainment)
  • Pete Petersen and the Porkpie Septet: Keep Your Hat On (2008, Pony Boy Records)
  • Ellen Whyte: Four Way Stop (Upcoming: 2008 release date TBA)
  • Solomon Douglas (upcoming live CD 2008 release date TBA)

 


Photo by Amy Weber

 

 

Past Performance Highlights

Past Performance Venues
Major Festivals

McMenamins Crystal Ballroom (Portland, OR)
Century Ballroom (Seattle, WA)
Seattle Center (Seattle, WA)
Viscount Ballroom (Portland, OR)
Norse Hall (Portland, OR)
Tony Starlight's Supper Club (Portland, OR)
Blue Monk (Portland, OR)
Jazz de Opus (Portland, OR)
Dazzle Supper Club (Denver, CO)
El Chapultepec (Denver, CO)
Jimmy Mak's (Portland, OR)
Pengilly's Saloon (Boise, ID)

 

 Gene Harris Jazz Festival (Boise, ID)
Chicago Swing Music Festival (Chicago, IL)
Denver Lindy Exchange (Denver, CO)
Portland Lindy Exchange (Portland, OR)
Seattle Lindy Exchange (Seattle, WA)
Swingout Northwest (Port Townsend, WA)
Telluride Jazz Celebration (Telluride, CO)
Cathedral Park Jazz Festival (Portland, OR)
Winter Park Jazz Festival (Winter Park, CO)
NW Festival of Wine and Jazz (Walla Walla, WA)
 
 

 

Reviews:

"Petersen's an accomplished player. He has a big, throaty tone and a blowzy, swashbuckling style with the conversational touch of old-time sax players." --- Paul de Barros, Seattle Times

"...swinging, down the center of the groove, well-paced, scintillating straight ahead jazz and bop from a Portland cat who writes and plays in the best of the tradition. ...Every [tune] rings out with the joy of playing the real deal." -- George Fendel, Jazz Society of Oregon writer/critic at large

"This group, their arrangements, and musical choices are a big band at its best."
--- Mary Burlingame-producer/host, HomeGrown Live
KMHD 89.1 The Jazz Station
www.kmhd.fm

Porkpie plays spirited, with enthusiasm and like they're having fun with it. Throwing in a novelty tune like "Hey Pete" just has to help the image. Their music book has some great stuff obviously. You can't go wrong with the Basie charts for sure. Their album is a must have in my collection. - Tim "Java Man" Taylor
KMHD 89.1 FM the Jazz Station

"You and your band were the highlight of my weekend! I walked into that place and instantly felt at home. My grandparents were both professional musicians, and I grew up singing and playing big band music. I can't wait to see you play again."
-- Shel "Charlie Girl" Bailey, Marketing/Promotion director, 97.1 Charlie FM

Pete and Band...I love your CD!!
Swing group, you've gotta get this one! I have listened to it many times and played it for friends who were amazed this great music was live here in town for our dancing pleasure !
Great selection of songs, incredible musicianship. I'm looking forward to many more from you.
cheers
-Linda, Portland, OR

"Porkpie" gave what I believe was the best performance of swing music I've heard in this town in a long time.
Thanks guys. It was a hellava party.
-Dan, Portland OR

No doubt - after last night they're EASILY my favorite band in the northwest. The amount of energy they put into that room was incredible. I've just never heard a band that good playing so many classic swing tunes..
-Kevin, Eugene, OR

Great fantastic stupendous show. Please please tell the rest of the guys how much we enjoyed the music. In case you couldn't tell, we REALLY enjoyed the music. REALLY!!!
-Amy, Seattle, WA

Now that I finally got myself to a computer. All I have to say is OMG! I don't claim to know much about music but these guys were by far the best band I've heard at the Viscount ever (and actually with a few exceptions anywhere else). I just wanted to DANCE.
-Barb, Portland, OR

  
View Porkpie's EPK
View Porkpie's EPK
FEATURED VENDOR
Portland, Oregon Musicians
Directory at Decidio.com
 
 
         
©2004 Pete Petersen and Four Flavors Music. All Rights Reserved