The Eternal Waltz
The Alberta Rose and The JWF are keeping the music and magic alive – 47 years after The Band said goodbye in its epic concert, The Last Waltz. Portland’s annual event, The Next Waltz, showcases fabulous Oregon musicians recreating the original performance and reminding us how extraordinary it was.
Mark Bowden, Arietta Ward, Greg Hyatt and Jesse Lee Young rock “Further on up the Road” (Eric Clapton) at the 10th annual The Next Waltz, happening again this year November 24, 25, and 26, at Alberta Rose Theatre. Tickets Available Now
Since 2011, Adam East and Jeff Rosenberg have organized and performed in The Next Waltz- at The Alberta Rose Theater. For Adam, the film version of The Last Waltz was a touchstone that brought his musical community together when he was first performing in Los Angeles more than 30 years ago. What made the film so remarkable was the presence of so many iconic performers – from Bob Dylan and Neil Young to Dr. John and the Staple Singers and Joni Mitchell and so many more in a single concert.
The show was important to Jeff as well, who describes watching the film of The Last Waltz on a public broadcasting station with his dad, who “perked up while watching it,” Jeff said. “The colorful characters and the virtuosic performances came across even to him, although he wasn’t normally someone disposed to rock music.”
Jeff Rosenberg performs at The Next Waltz
Genesis of The Next Waltz. The idea of a live version of The Last Waltz had been germinating in Jeff’s brain since around the turn of the millennium, when he attended a tribute to Willie Nelson. Seeing all the great local performers singing Willie’s music kickstarted a concept: “That country singer/songwriter could be Emmylou Harris. And this electric blues guitarist is like Eric Clapton.”
In his mind, Jeff was populating the cast of The Next Waltz.
In 2011, about 35 years after the concert, The Alberta Rose Theatre was newly opened in Northeast Portland. And the Jeremy Wilson Foundation was getting off the ground. Jeff, who had interviewed Jeremy about his new project, thought the stars were aligning. It was time to bring The Next Waltz to life as a way to support the JWF.
Jeff said, “It was almost like a pipe dream at first, to gather 50 or 60 musicians and learn these complex arrangements. But I thought if people knew they were doing it for a good cause for their fellow musicians, they would be more willing to jump in.”
Jeff approached Adam, booking manager of the Alberta Rose, with the idea of recreating the concert, “and also with the idea that Adam would play the Neil Diamond role. And he bought it immediately.”
Adam East performs Neil Diamond.
Every year since, outside of the COVID shutdown, a cool-looking Adam has donned a baby blue polyester suit and shades and sung “Dry Your Eyes.” (“It’s such a great combination of serious and funny,” Adam says. “Maybe because Robbie Robertson wrote it with Neil Diamond, there’s something that keeps it from going over the edge to complete schlock.”)
And every year Jeff belts out Van Morrison’s “Caravan,” launching people out of their seats as they sing along. He is proud of his accompanying soccer kicks.
The cast of The Next Waltz perform “I Shall Be Released” (Bob Dylan)
The JWF is central to that community. “Musicians get asked often to help raise money for causes,” Adam said. “But for us, The Jeremy Wilson Foundation may be the best cause to perform for, because it’s really for the musicians. It’s something that we all feel like we can support 100 percent.”
He said, “We all love and trust Jeremy, and we know the story of the foundation. And we’re really happy to be a small part of that story.”
Every year, a portion of ticket prices go directly to The JWF’s Musician Health & Services Program. Additionally, The Next Waltz is an important way to spread the word about the program, to attract donors and volunteers – and expand the network of musicians who may need the foundation’s help.
Kris Deelane leads The Band a/k/a Berthaline
The show continues to evolve. The producers and band members continue to push for change while preserving the energy and meaning of the songs as performed in the original show.
Like The Last Waltz concert, Adam said of The Next Waltz, “At first it was just one dude after another dude after another dude . . . and then more dudes. So, we’ve really tried to open it up to more women. And it’s funny, because the music itself is not the most malleable, we’ve had to work hard to expand the reach.”
And it works. The audience is thrilled to hear a trio of women singing “Rag Mama Rag,” or a female blues artist interpreting “It Makes No Difference,” both iconic Band songs.
“Boogie Cat” Norman Sylvester brings the house down every year!
This year’s concerts will be particularly poignant. Robbie Robertson, the member of The Band who coordinated The Last Waltz production and worked closely with Martin Scorsese on the film, died earlier this year. Robertson, a stunningly talented musician and composer, remained active in the music world for decades after The Band’s breakup.
His energy and vision has always guided The Next Waltz productions. In 2019, he generously donated two signed guitars to The JWF in recognition of the ongoing Thanksgiving shows as well as the foundation's great work.
For Adam and Jeff, The Next Waltz is a labor of love, with a triple emphasis on love, Adam said, “So many wonderful aspects come together that give this show a greater meaning for us all.”
