Portlandia Brass Ensemble

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Portlandia Brass Ensemble is a well respected group that plays a sometimes unorthodox variety of music, with a high degree of musicianship. Their website says
“The Portlandia Brass Ensemble is a fun-loving group of active, professional musicians. PBE performs in a range of ensemble sizes, most commonly as a quintet.  We love to bring music up close and personal.  We perform in all kinds of venues, from in-home concerts to traditional concert halls.  Past performances include the University of Portland, Oregon Symphony Prelude, The Old Church Lunchtime Concerts, Reed College commencement, Willamette Ale & Cider House and Groupmuse.” Our music programs have ‘a little something for everyone’ – songs you know, and new ones to love; you might find yourself sitting with the band or playing an unusual rhythm instrument.   We look forward to getting to know you!”

After an exciting few years at the Eastman School of Music, Andy Taylor, PBE founder and bass trombone, detoured to earn his BS in Computer Science and Math and pursue a high tech career in computer science, winding up at Intel.  He says he has been mind-numbingly fortunate to perform with Vanessa Williams, Joe Morello, and Frank Foster as well as under the direction of Aaron Copland.  He was a performer at the 2017 Pokorny Seminar and principal bass trombone with the Salem Symphony. Today, you can also find him in Rose City Trombones, Oregon Symphonic Band, Big New Band, and Second Wind Jazz Combo.  Andy is a member of Oregon Music Educators Association and the International Trombone Association. He teaches privately in Portland and free-lances around town on bass and tenor trombone.

Jason Elliott, alto and tenor trombone, earned his bachelor’s degree in trombone performance from the University of California at Santa Barbara, where he studied with Bill Booth of the Los Angeles Opera and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. Jason is currently principal trombone with the Willamette Falls Symphony and enjoys an active freelance schedule in the classical, jazz and indie music arenas as well as teaching privately in his studio and in Portland Public Schools. He is an alumnus of the San Diego Civic Youth Orchestra.

Kelley Elliott, French horn, received her Master of Music at University of California at Santa. She attended the Barry Tuckwell Institute and toured Australia with the San Diego Civic Youth Orchestra. Kelley is principal horn with the Willamette Falls Symphony and the Oregon Mahler Festival. She also serves on the boards of directors for both groups. Kelley is a member of the International Horn Society.  She teaches privately at her studio in Oregon City.

John Dover, trumpet, is an endorsed artist and clinician for Bach Trumpets. As a professional musician, he has had the opportunity to work with some of the industry’s top talents, performing in genres of music from classical to rock to jazz. As a teller of stories through sound, John has also ventured into the world of writing, with his creation of “Johnny Scotch”, a series of comic books and story collections that has inspired its own Jazz Noir musical show composed by Thomas Barber and performed by John Dover. The Jazz Noir adventures that John shares through his stories tap into the dark and heroic nature of his music.

Yaphet Jones, trumpet, attended Southern Illinois University and performed as principal trumpet of the Chicago Symphonic Wind Ensemble. Yaphet is a graduate of the Armed Forces School of Music. He has studied with members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, National, Pacific, and San Diego symphonies.  As a United States Marine musician, Yaphet has performed in thousands of venues and has been a featured soloist. He was awarded the 2001 Non-Commissioned Officer Marine Musician of the Year. Yaphet performed as principal trumpet of the Inland Valley Symphony and with the Pacific Symphony, San Diego Chamber Brass, Westwind Brass, the National Orchestra of Honduras and the Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic. He has performed locally with the Vancouver Symphony, Big Horn Brass, Southwest Washington Wind Symphony and the Oregon Symphonic Band.