Machado Mijiga

Multi-instrumentalist and Portland native Machado Mijiga wears many hats, both literally and metaphorically.

Classically-trained, jazz-weathered, and eclectically inclined, Mijiga left the proverbial creative "box" at a very early age, with access to many instruments and a diverse musical background brought about by an intercultural heritage.

Mijiga is a musical polymath; composer, producer, bandleader, educator, gear fanatic, and audio engineer, to name a few.

Authenticity and uniquity assume the locus of Mijiga's artistic identity. Self-expression is the prime directive, and the medium of choice changes like the weather.

BrandonLee Cierley: Camaraderie

Read "Camaraderie" reviewed by Paul Rauch

by Paul Rauch
October 7, 2022

Camaraderie (Lofijazzsoul,2022) is BrandonLee Cierley's introduction to the jazz world, where he is a relative newcomer. A Tacoma, WA native who now works out of Portland, OR, Cierley clearly prioritizes original composition as much as he does spontaneous composition as a jazz tenor saxophonist. For a younger player, and as stated, a musician new to the jazz idiom, it is often the case. With the major shift in the recording industry over the past decade, more and more younger players ...

Album Review

Machado Mijiga: Gradient

by Paul Rauch
May 17, 2022

Machado Mijiga is a Portland born and raised multi- instrumentalist, producer, audio engineer and educator, still based in his city of origin. His 2022 release, Gradient, turns his focus to his creative strengths as a drummer and composer, taking in tunes written over the course of the past decade. Mijiga has mild synesthesia, hearing sounds as colors, shapes or more specifically, colors seen through the spectrum, or color groups. This is similar to the recently passed pianist, Jessica Williams, who ...

“I wish every composer I know would take notes from local maestro Machado Mijiga." -Matthew Andrews, Oregon ArtsWatch

“You hear the lineage in him like, ‘Oh, this person knows Elvin Jones’ music and Trane’s music.’ It’s ridiculous the stuff he’s doing.” - Darrell Grant (via Robert Ham), Oregon ArtsWatch