The Portland Cello Project profile picture

The Portland Cello Project

Portland's Indie Cello Orchestra

About Me

“Independent” and “Orchestra” are not two words you often hear in the same breath.
Nevertheless, that’s exactly what The Portland Cello Project is: an “indie cello orchestra”
The somewhat intimidating 8-16 cello ensemble, The Portland Cello Project (or, PCP, as their fans affectionately call them), has had a meteoric rise in the vibrant Portland music scene. The group has a deep-rooted philosophy of building a stronger music community – a belief that collaboration is the ironic cornerstone of independent musicianship -- that has led them to collaborative performances with a veritable “who’s who” list of Portland musicians, from Laura Gibson and Horse Feathers to The Dandy Warhols and The Builders and The Butchers.
PCP performances are unique and eclectic, as likely to mix a Salt N Pepa cover with Bach and follow the medley with something sublime by Arvo Pärt or WEINLAND, as they are to enlist beatbox/comedian/playwright Reggie Watts to collaborate on-stage with them in front of 700 people with no rehearsal to cover a Britney Spears song.
In keeping with this philosophy and the spirit of their eclectic live performances, the group has independently produced an LP available nationally August 12, 2008. Featured on this recording are collaborations with Laura Gibson, WEINLAND, Loch Lomond, 3 Leg Torso, a cover of Toxic, Manuel De Falla’s Ritual Fire Dance, and… a few more surprises.
"From contemporary classical pieces to 80’s hair covers to movie themes to answering many bands’ question, “what would happen if we added cello?” (and really, what band doesn’t ask that question?), this evening had a bit of everything. "--mel.opho.be Live Review
"A compelling listen, the cellos sounding like genius crickets in their organic metronome regularity and alacrity for counter-point harmony. Wonderfully quirky, in both composition and lyrical content.”--Stereo Subversion
“Known for their lush, immaculately-arranged covers, the band is equally adept at bringing classical compositions to life."--Large Hearted Boy
“To say that this is not your father’s cello ensemble is a vast understatement. Though classically trained, members of the Portland Cello Project have managed to stray far beyond their roots, even incorporating a little Outkast into their repertoire. "--Portland Tribune
“The majority of the evening… was filled with many quiet songs, given the extra touch of gushing beauty that only 12 cellos can provide. The performances were on the whole impeccable, and the second half of the show featured some moments of truly breathless wonder, thanks to the surfeit of singer/songwriter talent on display."--Oregon Live reviews The Portland Cello Project's show at the Aladdin Theatre, 8/8/2008
"Tackling Spears' "Toxic" or Outkast's "Hey Ya" with every bit as much ferocity and passion as they use on Beethoven’s 7th Symphony or Strauss' Also Sprach Zarathustra, PCP basically covers all the musical territory one could possibly imagine - and they do it all (mostly) with cellos.”--Everybody Cares, Everybody Understands


A brief excerpt of our repertoire list:
* Beethoven, Ludwig Van. Allegretto From The Seventh Symphony. Arr. Douglas Jenkins (4 or 8 cellos)
* Britney Spears. Toxic. (8 cellos, 1 soloists.)
* Bright Red Paper. One December, D is for Dead Sea, and Cm (4-12 cellos) and Viscount (8 cellos)
* De Falla, Manuel. Danza Del Fuego. Arr. Douglas Jenkins (6 cellos)
* Elgar, Edward. Concerto for Cello and Orchesra (First Movement). Arr. Jenkins (8 celli and soloist) * Freudmann, Gideon. Robin Hood Changes his Oil (4-6 cellos)
* Fritz, Anna. Stay. (8 celli)
* Laura Gibson. Hands in Pockets. Arr. Jenkins (5 celli)
* Jaina, Nick. Red Queen. (Arr. Ali Ippolito 8 celli)
* Musée Mecanique. Under Glass (Arr. Sean Ogilvie (5 celli, guitar, vibes)
* Nintendo. The Super Mario Brothers Theme Song (3 Cellos, Arr. Jackson)
* Outkast. Hey Ya. (3 cellos)
* Pärt, Arvo. Fratres. (4 celli)
* Ravel, Maurice. Le Jardin Féerique arr. Noah Sykes (4 cellos)
* Rogers, Tony and McIntyre, Amy. Various works by The Ahs. (many cellos, tenor and soprano voice and banjo.)
* Salt N Pepa. Push It. (3 cellos)
* Shearer, Adam (John Weinland). Gold. (Arr. Jenkins)
* Shorter, Wayne. Footprints (Arr. Von Kuske)
* Strauss, Richard. Also Sprach Zarathustra. (4 celli, performed by as a many as 12.)
* Villa Lobos, Heitor. Bachianas Brasilieras Number 5. (8 cellos and soprano)
* Villa Lobos, Heitor. Bachianas Brasilieras Number 1. (8 cellos)
* Von Kuske, Skip. Lament. (Cello Orchestra.)
* Waller, Holcombe. Literally The End of The World. (8 celli)
Or, click here for a more complete repertoire list.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 8/24/2006
Band Website: portlandcelloproject.com
Band Members: Have included or include: Tony Rogers, Douglas Jenkins, Skip Von Kuske, Justin Kagan, Gideon Freudman, Galen Cohen, Kevin Jackson, Allegra M, Sonja Myklebust, Anna Fritz, Noah Seitz, Jessie Dettwiler, Jenette Mackie, Heather Broderick, Amanda Lawrence, Brian Bruner, Pamela Cameron-Snyder, Rob Brooks, Erin Winemiller, Samantha Kushnick, Ivy Lin and Catherine Odell.

Publicity
PR at portlandcelloproject.com

Influences: Lionel Ritchie. Yo-Yo Ma.
Sounds Like:
Buy the PCP debut CD:

From CD Baby:

From the Cello Project website:



Or from Amazon.com

Watch lo-fi videos:

Builders and The Butchers with The Portland Cello Project: "Bottom of the Lake" from Douglas Jenkins on Vimeo .
With The Builders and The Butchers, Live in front of a sold-out crowd at the Aladdin Theater, Portland, Oregon, April 11, 2008.

Heather Woods and The Portland Cello Project: "Finding Comforts" from Douglas Jenkins on Vimeo .

Live with Stephanie Schneiderman at The Aladdin Theater. "Stone China"

Weinland and The Portland Cello Project: "God Here I Come" from Douglas Jenkins on Vimeo .
With Weinland playing "God Here I Come" at that same April 2008 sold-out show at the Aladdin.
Record Label: Who needs one anymore when you have a credit card?
Type of Label: None

My Blog

The PCP Holiday Sweater Spectacular!

December 5 at the Aladdin Theater, 8pm! All-ages -- seated!Tickets on Sale Now! And more info!Press release:If there is one thing Portland loves more than ironic mustaches and cellos its bad bad bad h...
Posted by The Portland Cello Project on Wed, 22 Oct 2008 11:30:00 PST

Tacoma! This week!

So here is a last-minute show announcement. Sorry for the late notice!Thursday Oct 16 in Tacoma as part of the Squeak and Squawk Festival!We'll have a superstar quartet playing at:The New Frontier301 ...
Posted by The Portland Cello Project on Tue, 14 Oct 2008 06:23:00 PST

Cell0bama this week in Portland! With members of the Oregon Symphony...?

And another last-minute show announcement:This Friday October 17 at The Someday Lounge, we'll jump on stage for a 40 minute set at their Barack Obama benefit. I think all the money goes to Ohio campai...
Posted by The Portland Cello Project on Tue, 14 Oct 2008 06:24:00 PST

Oct 9 @ the Doug Fir Lounge

I just learned that the cheapest way to get advance tickets for our Doug Fir shows is to go to Jackpot Records and purchase the advance tickets there! There is still a way to beat service charges in t...
Posted by The Portland Cello Project on Sun, 28 Sep 2008 12:38:00 PST

Show Announcements!

Greetings Cello Friends and Fiends,We have a couple of show announcements for you.First, this weekend in Eugene, The Portland Cello Project will be playing on Sunday at 3pm on the Broadway Stage of th...
Posted by The Portland Cello Project on Fri, 12 Sep 2008 10:06:00 PST

Amazonian Gold Medal! And Live Wire! Radio!

Thanks to all of you for supporting us in such a wonderful month of music by coming to our CD Release shows in the NW, our funny outdoor festivals celebrating running and food, as well as our rockin' ...
Posted by The Portland Cello Project on Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:05:00 PST

Portland Cello Project on NPR’s All Songs Considered Today!

Along with great commentary, Ra Ra Riot (who have a cellist themselves) Juana Molina and many other wonderful people on NPR's All Song's Considered today!http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?s...
Posted by The Portland Cello Project on Tue, 26 Aug 2008 05:29:00 PST

PCP to play two songs with The Dandy Warhols on Livewire! Radio

The Portland Cello Project will be playing on Livewire! Radio, which is being taped at the Gerding Theater in the PCS Armory next Saturday 8/23. We were invited to play two songs with The Dandy Warhol...
Posted by The Portland Cello Project on Fri, 15 Aug 2008 04:51:00 PST

CD out nationally today!

At long last, the Portland Cello Project debut CD is out nationally today! Look for it in your local record stores! And you can now purchase it on our website: http://portlandcelloproject.com/shop and...
Posted by The Portland Cello Project on Tue, 12 Aug 2008 08:48:00 PST

Press for Friday’s CD release

Thanks Willamette Week and Mercury for the wonderful coverage this week. We're speechless that [CELLOS!] is at long last an acceptable genre in Portland all by itself!And we're grateful for Alison Hal...
Posted by The Portland Cello Project on Thu, 07 Aug 2008 11:39:00 PST