October 13, 2009

PDX Jazz, presenter of the Portland Jazz Festival, will announce today that it has brought on a new executive director - an announcement it almost didn't survive to make. Last year, after Qwest pulled out as title sponsor, the Festival almost folded. Nick joined with community leaders to help save the event and to put on a great lineup of acts across Portland.

As Don Lucoff moves into the executive director role, Bill Royston will transition to the role of artistic director for the organization. Lucoff's public relations firm has worked with jazz artists across the country, and Lucoff has experience with a variety of jazz festivals, national and international.

Lucoff has big plans for the Jazz Festival in 2010 and beyond: "If we can make this truly a citywide festival and reach a broader demographic," he told Ryan White in this morning's Oregonian, "we will be able to grow the festival for generations to come."