SoulJazz Collective Featuring Nick Milo

$30 TICKETS | ALL AGES

Kevin Deitz - bass

Nick Milo - piano/keys

Richard Smith - guitar

LaRhonda Steele - vocals

John Bishop - drums

Classics and originals from the Great American Soul Songbook.

Nick Milo's career has brought him into the role of long-time music director for

legendary musicians from Joe Cocker and Maria Muldaur to Tower of Power.

As a composer Nick has worked in film and television and has composed for

many top artists on the global R&B and soul scene, including Greg Adams and

East Bay Soul.

Richard Smith is a Los Angeles based recording artist and music professor at

USC. His last 3 singles (2021 and 2022) have landed him in the most-

played category on Sirius XM. His recordings feature Jeff Lorber, Kenny

G, Vinnie Coaliuta, Alex Acuna and members of Tower of Power. He is a

member of Greg Adams and East Bay Soul and helped pen the title cut of their

last CD ‘The Real’

LaRhonda Steele is a Blues and gospel singer and songwriter, is recognized as

one the region's best rhythm and blues vocalists. She has been dubbed "The

First Lady of Portland Blues”—a title of leadership that she lives up to as she

shares songs that carry forth directly from her soul and spiritual life-force.

She currently fronts the LaRhonda Steele band, is music director of the non profit

Portland Interfaith Gospel Choir, and is music director of Portland Center for

Spiritual Living. LaRhonda regularly lights up the stage at the Waterfront Blues

Festival, Alberta Rose Theatre, and clubs around town.

LaRhonda’s voice can be enjoyed on recordings of national and international

artists including Gino Vannelli, Curtis Salgado, Lloyd Jones, Mary Flower, and

Norman Sylvester, to name a few.

Kevin Deitz is an educator, a composer/arranger, and multi-instrumentalist who

has performed with the Portland Opera Company, Portland Chamber Orchestra,

Third Angle New Music Ensemble, Mose Allison, Frankie Avalon, Dave Brubeck,

Terrence Blanchard, Andrea Bocelli, Paquito D’Rivera, The Eagles, Kurt Elling,

Benny Golson, Ill Divo, The Moody Blues, Kenny Rankin and Brian Wilson

amongst many others. He is an artist/endorser for Conklin Basses and

Sidewinder strings and his album of original compositions, Skylines, is on the

Origin Arts label.

John Bishop: as a drummer, educator, record label owner, graphic designer,

and festival presenter, John Bishop has been one of the primary voices in

Northwest Jazz for 40 years. He has performed in concerts and clubs with Lee

Konitz, Slide Hampton, Benny Golson, Bobby Hutcherson, Ernestine Anderson,

Dr. Lonnie Smith, Sonny Fortune, Herb Ellis, Gary Peacock, Buddy DeFranco,Carla Bley, Steve Swallow, and countless others. He’s appeared on more than

100 albums, including sessions with Hal Galper, Larry Coryell, Ernie Watts, Mark

Murphy, Joe Locke, Bud Shank, George Cables, Ralph Towner, Teo Macero, and

Jerry Bergonzi. He was inducted into the Seattle Jazz Hall of Fame in 2008 and

was named a “Jazz Hero” by the Jazz Journalists Association in 2019.