Portland fans gather to preserve vinyl records and honor Sun Ra legacy

A conflict between the durability of physical media and the convenience of digital files drives a new event in Beaverton. The third annual Save the LP Record Show opens on November 14 at the Patricia Reser Center for the Arts. The event is structured to mirror a vinyl record, with distinct daytime and nighttime components.

During the day, more than 50 vendors will set up booths at the venue. Analog audiophiles can browse rare vinyl records and other vintage music merchandise. The marketplace serves as a hub for collectors seeking specific pressings and historical artifacts from the music industry.

That evening, the focus shifts to performance in the Reser’s theater. KMHD co-presents a concert featuring Los Angeles vocalist and producer Jimetta Rose. Rose will perform her album MettaSun, a musical tribute to the jazz visionary Sun Ra. The album serves as a homage to Ra’s experimental approach to composition and instrumentation.

Portland-based The Cosmic Tones Research Trio will join Rose on stage. The group will collaborate with Rose to reimagined the Afrofuturism aesthetic found in Ra’s work. The performance aims to explore the sonic spiritual dimensions of the original music while introducing it to a contemporary audience.

Meg Samples, general manager of member-supported KMHD Jazz Radio, discussed the event on the daily radio program Think Out Loud. The show airs live at noon and rebroadcasts at 8 p.m. Samples noted the importance of community engagement for jazz enthusiasts in the Portland area.

The event runs through the day and into the night on November 14. Attendees can visit the vendor booths during daylight hours and attend the theater concert after dark. The Patricia Reser Center for the Arts hosts both components of the program in Beaverton.