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Portland’s art galleries aren’t just for painting and sculpting anymore. "In Performance 2" made a strong case for breaking free of the usual venues and bringing live performance closer to the street. Though art hung below the brick arches of the Elizabeth Leach Gallery, no one was staring at the walls – their eyes were on performers Janice Scroggins, Lyndee Mah and Gregg Bielemeier.  Lyndee Mah, Janice Scroggins, Gregg Bielemeier Longtime cohorts, the trio developed this collaboration to showcase their favorite songs. Scroggins’ blues keyboards have earned her multiple Muddy Awards, and she has a Grammy-nominated recording of Scott Joplin ragtimes under her belt. This event proved that she’s as adept with Chopin and samba as she is with Stevie Wonder. Mah, a torch-song vocalist and a veteran of L.A. jazz clubs, squeezed pure honey from Scroggins’ songs. Dancer-choreographer Bielemeier navigated the eclectic musical selection – and the limited space – with improvised movement, shifting between smooth articulations and goofy irreverence with dexterity and aplomb. Perhaps In Performance 3 will take the concept still further and introduce even wider, more spacious movement into another small and unusual performance space. |