JAM Concert Series: PINK Marlena and Open Jam Session

Marlena Boedigheimer is a saxophonist and composer from Duluth. She graduated from the University of Minnesota-Duluth with a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies in 2022, and in that same year, formed her first group as a bandleader under the name “Pink Marlena.” They released their first project in November of 2022, a three song EP entitled “Primaries” where all three tunes were completely improvised and done in single takes.

Marlena aims to combine the spirit of free jazz with the groove and feel of hip hop and funk using simple modal harmonies to allow for the musical space to “paint a picture.” For the Duluth JAM festival, the group will feature Tommy Kishida on drums, Emanuel Eisele on bass, Analise Levesque on keys, Beck Fulin on trumpet, and Marlena Boedigheimer on saxophone.

The JAM Concert Series is held during the month of April because April is Jazz Appreciation Month. Concerts are held twice a week at various venues around Duluth. One concert features a small jazz ensemble that will play a 50 min set and then a jam session commences where everyone is invited to play, especially students. The other concert consists of a local high school’s big band, followed by either a collegiate big band or a jazz combo, and then the night concludes with a local professional Big Band.