Founded in an effort to lure tourists to our fair city during the drizzliest of months, the Biamp PDX Jazz Festival has, over the past 16 years, blossomed into a premier showcase and a pitch-perfect celebration of Black History Month. The lineup for this year’s carnival of swing and improvisation includes more than 70 performances (many of them free) stretched across 12 days and populated by a stellar mix of local and international acts performing in venues across the city. Here are this year’s highlights: