Moonlight Over the Gorge
October 23 @ 7:00 pm
The Columbia Gorge Orchestra Association
Moonlight Over the Gorge
Jazz Collective Big Band
Friday, October 23, 2026 – 7pm
Gorge Pavilion, Cascade Locks
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
18-Piece Big Band Brings a Night of Swing to Cascade Locks
Cascade Locks, OR – The Columbia Gorge Orchestra Association’s Jazz Collective Big Band presents “Moonlight Over the Gorge,” a night of big band dance music on Friday, October 23, from 7:00 to 9:00 PM at the Gorge Pavilion in Cascade Locks. Bring your dancing shoes and let the horns carry you along the Columbia. The full band, backed by a full rhythm section, will play in an indoor room with space to cut a rug.
Known as “the Columbia Gorge’s Best Kept Secret,” the Jazz Collective’s set list runs from swing-era classics to Latin, shuffle, and pop-flavored charts. Dancers can expect Glenn Miller’s “In the Mood” and “Little Brown Jug,” Count Basie’s “One O’Clock Jump,” and the Latin heat of “Besame Mucho,” “Brazil,” and “The Girl from Ipanema.” The band will also play Henry Mancini’s “Theme from The Pink Panther,” Jimmy Smith’s “Back at the Chicken Shack,” “Cold Duck Time,” “That Old Black Magic,” and Hank Williams’ “Hey Good Lookin’.” The saxophone section steps into the spotlight on “Easy to Love,” and the full band digs into the Stray Cats’ “Stray Cat Strut.”
“This is a night made for dancing, and this band is built for it,” said Michael Paul, Jazz Collective Director. “Swing, shuffle, Latin, a little funk. There’s something for every kind of dancer, and for anyone who just wants to sit back and feel 18 players hit a downbeat together.”
Whether you’re a seasoned swing dancer, a first-timer, or a devoted jazz fan, this is a chance to hear the full power of a big band in an intimate venue in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge.
Event Details:
What: Moonlight Over the Gorge
Who: Jazz Collective Big Band
When: Friday, October 23, 7–9 PM, doors at 6:30 PM
Where: Gorge Pavilion, 395 SW Portage Road, Cascade Locks, Oregon (indoor venue)
Format: Concert and dance, with big band dance music including swing, shuffle, Latin, and jazz standards
Tickets are available at gorgeorchestra.org or at the door. Adults $15, CGOA members $10, students/youth FREE (HS & college students show ID at the door). Also, $5 tickets are available at the door for SNAP card holders through the Arts for All program.
About the Jazz Collective Big Band and CGOA:
Part of the Columbia Gorge Orchestra Association (CGOA), the Jazz Collective Big Band represents the finest jazz talent in the Hood River area. Under the direction of Michael Paul, who joined as Lead Trumpet in 2017 and took the podium in 2021, the ensemble has grown into a regional powerhouse. Paul brings over 15 years of professional experience as a trumpet player and Musical Director with major cruise lines, along with training at the University of North Texas. He also performs with the Southwest Washington Symphony and with the NoPo Big Band, forming a direct musical bridge between the two ensembles on this bill. The Jazz Collective continues CGOA’s mission to “Connect, Inspire, and Create” through the power of live music.
The Columbia Gorge Orchestra Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and presenting musical performances of the highest quality in the Columbia River Gorge region. With a commitment to artistic excellence and education, CGOA brings the joy of music to audiences of all ages.
