Join saxophonist Joe Manis and his quartet for an evening of jazz standards and original compositions. A SteepleChase recording artist, Manis is known for his "intense, updated take on the glorious Rollins-'Trane tradition" (Willamette Week) and has received a 2013 Oregon Arts Commission Individual Artist Fellowship. With a career that includes performances with top jazz ensembles and renowned artists, Manis has toured internationally and released multiple acclaimed albums, including The Golden Mean and North by Northwest.

Joe Manis saxophone
Paul Krueger trumpet
Keith Brown organ
Charlie Doggett drums

Originally from Dexter, Oregon, SteepleChase recording artist Joe Manis is noted for the strength of his "intense, updated take on the glorious Rollins-'Trane tradition." (Willamette Week) Manis was the recipient of a 2013 Oregon Arts Commission Individual Artist Fellowship. His album for SteepleChase Records, The Golden Mean, features George Colligan on organ, Kevin Congleton on drums, and Lillie Manis on viola and was released in 2015. North By Northwest was released by SteepleChase Records in 2013.

He released his debut album Evidence in 2009 features Manis on tenor saxophone, Kevin Congleton on drums, and Portland luminary Dave Captein on bass: the Willamette Week called the album "explosive,” and said “(Manis) makes Pink Floyd's 'Money' sound like something a young John Coltrane might have played"; the Eugene Weekly said: "Fabulous... Will thrill fans of Monk, Rollins."

The Joe Manis Trio was featured at Rontoms during the 2010 PDX Jazz Festival, a high-energy performance that was a featured Willamette Week "Pick" and received praise from local music critics and bloggers; the Trio returned to the Festival in 2011, 2013 and 2020. Recent Joe Manis Trio appearances include Fat Cat NYC, the Shedd Institute’s jazz series, Jimmy Mak's, Tula's, the Cathedral Park Jazz Festival, and the Montavilla Jazz Festival.

Manis has toured Europe as a duo and in a trio with David Friesen, where they recorded Structures, a live album. He currently plays with Friesen's Trio. He also appears on Risky Notion (Four stars & Best Albums of 2015, DownBeat Magazine) on Origin Records with George Colligan's Theoretical Planets. Manis has played with Thomas Mapfumo and the Blacks Unlimited, including a performance at Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall, and appears on their album Rise Up! on Real World Records. He has also performed with the George Colligan Quartet, the Chuck Israels Jazz Orchestra, the Ken Schaphorst Big Band, “Weird Al” Yankovic, Johnny Mathis, the Temptations, comedian Bob Newhart, Wayne Newton, the Oregon Symphony with Gladys Knight, the Oregon Bach Festival Orchestra, the Portland Opera, the Sunriver Music Festival Orchestra, the Eugene Symphony, and the Eugene Opera. Manis has performed on NPR’s Jazz Night In America, hosted by Christian McBride.

Manis has presented jazz masterclasses across the country, including at University of Nevada, Reno, California State University, Northridge, Whitman College, University of Texas at Arlington, University of Oregon, Ferris State University, Central Washington University, Willamette University, Portland State University, Southern Oregon University, Oregon State University, Western Oregon University, Pacific University, Lower Columbia College and Mesa, Glendale, Portland, Spokane Falls, Mt. Hood, Clackamas and Lane Community Colleges. He received a Master of Music in Jazz Studies-Performance with Academic Honor from the New England Conservatory and a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of Oregon. Additional studies were at the Eastman School of Music. He is a current faculty member at the University of Oregon and Lane Community College and a former music faculty member at Portland State University and Umpqua Community College. Manis is the Director of the Oregon Jazz Workshop in Eugene. His article "Rhythmic Analysis: Jeff 'Tain' Watts - 'Housed From Edward'" was published in the March 2012 edition of JAZZed Magazine. Manis also has written for the Jazz Society of Oregon's Jazzscene. He is married to violinist/violist/educator Lillie Manis, with whom he has a son, Ellery.

Paul Krueger is a trumpeter, composer, arranger, and educator, and the newly appointed Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Oregon School of Music and Dance. He is the director of the Oregon Jazz Ensemble and teaches courses in jazz pedagogy and jazz arranging, as well as lessons in jazz trumpet, improvisation, and composition/arranging.

A versatile trumpeter and improviser, Krueger has also published numerous works for large jazz ensemble. A three-time winner of a Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award, his music for large jazz ensemble has been performed internationally by artists such as Steve Wilson, Kendrick Scott, and Eric Alexander. He performs frequently in the Pacific Northwest with artists such as Joe Manis, Roger Woods, Keith Brown, and more.

Inspired to pursue a career in music education by his parents–both music teachers–Krueger brings a wealth of expertise and a dynamic approach to his teaching. Outside of his academic commitments, he is dedicated to engaging with students in the community and fostering a love for jazz and improvisation among youth. He is highly sought-after as a clinician and holds key roles such as the director of the UO Summer Jazz Improvisation Camp, co-director of the Oregon Jazz Festival, and director of the UO Day of Improvisation, an annual, free one-day workshop tailored for high school students.

Before his appointment at the University of Oregon, Krueger served as trumpet instructor at Willamette University and music instructor at Lane Community College. Under his direction, the Lane Jazz Ensemble was recognized as the community college winner in the large jazz ensemble category of the Downbeat Student Music Awards. Krueger holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and a Master of Music degree in Jazz Studies from the University of Oregon.

Keith L. Brown is an accomplished composer, educator, and pianist, who has established himself as one of the most sought-after pianists in contemporary jazz. He was born in Memphis, TN, and raised in Knoxville, TN, where he began playing piano and bass at a young age. Keith grew up in a musically inclined family, where both his parents were musicians, and many of his aunts and uncles possessed exceptional musical talent. His father, Donald Brown, is a world-renowned jazz pianist, composer, and educator who was a part of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers and has performed with many greats. His mother Dorothy is also a pianist who plays various woodwind instruments. Keith is currently the Assistant Professor of Jazz and Contemporary Piano at The University of Oregon.

Keith's musical journey began by learning to play the songs of R&B artists like Stevie Wonder by ear. He then started taking classical piano lessons at the age of eight. His father played a pivotal role in nurturing Keith's musical ambitions by teaching him how to play his original compositions and jazz standards. Keith and his brothers, Kenneth and Donald Jr., were deeply into hip-hop music during their formative years. However, Keith began to study jazz seriously after graduating from high school. It was during this time that he was significantly influenced by other great Memphis pianists such as Phineas Newborn Jr., James Williams, and Mulgrew Miller.

Since he began seriously playing at the age of 18, Brown has performed and recorded with a who’s-who of jazz luminaries. He currently tours as the pianist for Kenny Garrett. His tours and performances with artists such as Stefon Harris, Russell Gunn, Jazzmeia Horn, George Coleman, Greg Tardy, Camille Thurman, Terreon Gully, Willie Jones III, Endea Owens, Charles Tolliver, Buster Williams, Lenny White, Steve Turre, John Clayton, and more have captivated audiences worldwide. Drawing on his roots in R&B, Funk, Classical, Jazz, and Hip-Hop, Brown's unique composition and piano style seamlessly integrates these influences. He possesses an exceptional understanding of the language of jazz piano masters and can effortlessly transition between hard swing, funk, and free styles, while also showcasing his own distinct voice. With his innovative approach to jazz piano and his ability to seamlessly blend different musical styles, Keith L. Brown is a true standout in the world of contemporary jazz.

Charlie Doggett, drummer/percussionist, is one of the most enigmatic drummers in the Portland and the greater Northwest music scene. He is a creative and versatile musician that makes himself heard.

Mr. Doggett earned a BA in Music from the University of Oregon, where he studied with Charles Dowd and Gary Versace.

He has played with David Friesen, Darrell Grant, John Gross, Doc Holliday, David Frishberg, Gary Versace, Greg Coghen, John Stowell, Jerry Hahn, Randy Porter, Titos Sompa,Obo Addy, Rob Sheps,and the Eugene Symphony Orchestra. He has performed at British Columbia's du Maurier International Jazz Festival, the Medicine Hat Jazz Festival, Alberta, Canada, and the Mt. Hood Festival of Jazz, which was featured on Branford Marsalis's NPR Jazz Set Program.