In that spirit, Riffs features new compositions by three outstanding jazz artists that Portland calls its own, including saxophonist Rob Scheps, guitarist Dan Balmer, and pianist Gordon Lee. The program also includes John Zorn's modern masterpiece, Cat O'Nine Tails, described by the composer as "Tex Avery directs the Marquis de Sade".

Riffs is a musical outreach; an attempt to show how the balance between structure and improvisation is a shared value between jazz and classical music, and to challenge everyone on stage to stretch beyond their comfort zones to create exciting musical works.

Post concert talk with Ron Scheps, Dan Balmer, and Gordon Lee.