Taste for equity 2023 GALA
Talent
Experience a sample of our community’s rich visual and musical talent!
son de cuba
Son de Cuba is a sextet based in Portland and created by musicians from Chile, Mexico, the U.S. and Cuba. They play different kinds of genres such as Salsa, Timba, Son, Merengue, Boleros, Cumbia, Bachata, Latin Jazz, etc.
The band consists of: Vocals, piano and bass piano player, Nelson Morales; singer and minor percussion, Freddy Vilches; singer, Geisy Almanza; singer and percussionist; Sax, flute and vocals, Ramon Brizuela Martinez; American Drummer, Jackson Coffey, and percussionist, vocals and band manager Tony Gonzalez.
Son de Cuba has roots in Latin, African, and Jazz rhythms. They blend this vast knowledge of different beats together in classic and modern latin songs, exuding energy, happiness, and encouraging you to dance.
THE CHRISTOPHER BROWN QUARTET
As the youngest son to Portland Jazz legend and former Motown staff drummer, Mel Brown, Christopher Brown has managed to carve a similar niche for himself as a drummer, bandleader, and leader within the greater Portland Jazz scene.
And while Christopher also spent many years earning his stripes within the musical trenches of New York City, what separates him from his father is his 20 years of military service, two music degrees, teaching positions at two major colleges, and forays into television, movies, and music videos (most notably "American Gangster" starring Denzel Washington & Russell Crowe, as well as Beyonce's 2010 music video "Countdown").
Christopher serves not only as a professor within the PSU Jazz Studies department, but he serves as the director of the Metropolitan Youth Symphony's Jazz Program, in addition to being the communications-lead within Habitat for Humanity's Ambassador Council (Portland Metro East) as well as the artistic coordinator for TASTE.
Since 2017, the Christopher Brown Quartet has maintained a consistent performance schedule that has made them the busiest Jazz group in all of Portland.
When The Christopher Brown Quartet isn't performing at festivals, corporate events, and other special performances, they can be found every Wednesday night at The 1905 in NE Portland.
Drae Slapz
“Energetic” - “Rare” - Hard Hitting”
These are the phrases typically used to describe the soundscape of Drae Slapz.
Born in Portland Oregon, Slapz is typically holding it down as the live DJ for some of Portland's most exciting hip-hop acts--including Mic Capes, Brookfield Duece and Rare Vibe.
Slapz does this while maintaining his monthly event "The Kickback," DJing corporate events and performing his own music live.
His latest announcement finds the popular DJ getting from behind the boards once again and back into the booth with his full length project "NRG."
MOsley WOtta, Poet
Jason McNeal Graham, better known by his stage name MOsley WOtta/MOWO is an American Artist and Creative from Rogers Park, Chicago Illinois.
His move to Central Oregon in 1992 has continued to influence and inform the diversity of mediums and media he explores in his work traversing the ecology of conversation in his paintings, writings, and performances. His intentionally non-linear work blends with a clear and direct message, “what are we willing to risk to see each other’s humanity.” Every aspect of his work is a conversation whether in paint, prose, music, or with audiences - he is focusing on making positive connections between the negative space of perceived difference.
MOsley WOtta is an Art’s Beautification & Culture award recipient, Oregon Slam Poetry Champion 2008, Bend Oregon Creative Laureate, Oregon Humanities Conversation project leader, Fields Fellowship Cohort, and a Bridging Oregon (North Coast) Facilitator.