THE FENIX RISING BAND
The Fenix Rising Band
Formerly known as The Fenix Project, is a Dynamic, soulful rhythm & Blues band led by Saxophonist/vocalist Fenix. The band has held court in Portland’s most venerable Juke Joint The Blue Diamond, weekly for over 20 years. He is backed by a smooth & well oiled rhythm section.
Jason Thomas
Lead Guitar/ Vocalist: Jason Thomas is a Portland based guitarist that has played with the Fenix Rising band for over 12 years. Together they have held court weekly at the Blue Diamond as one of the longest continuous running, weekly blues shows in Portland. Jason has risen through the ranks to become one of the most in demand local guitarists, playing with many others, including two time Blues Music Award winner Lisa Mann.
Pat McDougall
Keys/Vocals: Pat McDougall has performed with a long list of bands and artists, including his own blues/R&B outfits Runaway Train and Tall Static. He was the musical director for the Portland-based band supporting Tony Coleman (B.B. King’s drummer for many years), and a member of the Muddy Award-winning lineup of Bill Rhoades & The Party Kings. Pat was the keyboardist and musical director for the Rae Gordon Band for two years, helping to create their acclaimed and award-winning CDs “Better Than I Was” and “Wrong Kind Of Love” and coordinating the band's appearances at the Waterfront Blues Festival, Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival, Big Blues Bender in Las Vegas, Bronze Blues & Brews Festival, Bonita Blues Festival in Florida and many others. These days Pat can be heard playing with his own band Tall Static, Ben Rice & The PDX Hustle, Fenix Rising, the Kivett Bednar Band, Lisa Mann and others. Pat has composed music for commercials, independent films, theatrical productions and corporate presentations; his compositions have won recognition from the Portland Music Association and Keyboard magazine. In April 2023 Pat released his all-original album “In The Key Of Sorry,” featuring his own songs and the talents of his Tall Static bandmates, along with several notable guest artists.
Jim Solberg
Electric & Standup Bass and Vocals: Jim has most currently become the bassist with "The Fenix Rising Band" an exciting band that plays funky, soul music at a local club called the Blue Diamond & freelances to play locally with many bands in the Portland area. Lately he’s played at several nightclubs with The Robbie Laws Band, Ed Neumann, Ken Brewer, Marty and the Murder Hornets, Jim and guitar player Ray Davis have also hooked up to form an acoustic Jazzy/Pop Duo that plays at local wineries in the Vancouver /Portland area.
Brian Foxworth
Drum/Vocals: As both a leader of multiple bands and sideman for national artists, Brian Foxworth has toured extensively and received critical acclaim for his performance. Brian has won multiple Cascade Blues Association awards for Best Drummer and was inducted into the Oregon Music Hall Of Fame in 2015. Brian is often the first call for studio sessions and has recorded with many local and national artists and is on eight separate albums that will be released in 2019, including a commercial for Oregon Department of Transportation. A partial list of performers Brian has collaborated with or shared the stage include Pleasure, Paul Gilbert, Curtis Salgado, The Drifters, Linda Hornbuckle, Paul DeLay, Chaz Shepherd, Jazmin Ghent and Peewee Ellis, to name a few.