Jon Deschler Jazz will perform for the Powder River Music Review concert July 31 in Baker City.

BAKER CITY — When the pandemic stole Jon Deshler’s weekly music gigs in March 2020, he took up his trumpet, lashed a piano into the bed of his Ford truck, and hit the road.

“That’s why Tune Tours was born,” the Portland-based musician said. “I put a piano in my truck and went to play for the people.”

He wanted to deliver music to those who were staying home. His first foray into music on the road was at the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm near Woodburn.

“I made a video in the middle of the tulips,” he said.

Then he played at Mount Angel Abbey, and on a street in Silverton, and on the Alvord Desert. He recorded music in 25 locations during 2020, accompanied by seven different piano players. He was often joined by his son, Nate Deshler, who also found himself off work from his job playing music on Bourbon Street in New Orleans.

This weekend he is bringing the music to Baker City, along with Nate Deshler on piano, Neal Grandstaff on guitar, and Justin Schepige on bass.

“We’re like a mini orchestra,” Jon Deshler said. “We play almost anything.”

His group will play Saturday, Sept. 11, at 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. at the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, on Highway 86 east of Baker City.

They will play a third show at 5 p.m. Sept. 11 at Geiser-Pollman Park in Baker City.

Admission is free to all performances.

He describes their sound as “jazzy,” and said the band will play songs across 150 years of American history.

“We’re expanding our repertoire,” he said.

Deshler will return for repeat shows on Saturday, Sept. 25. Times will again be 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. at NHOTIC and 5 p.m. at Geiser-Pollman Park.

During his visits to Eastern Oregon, Deshler plans to record videos at more locations. He’s also hoping to schedule more performances. For updates, visit www.jondeshlermusic.com or find Tune Tours on Facebook. His recordings from 2020 can be found on YouTube.

About the musician

Deshler grew up in Southern California and fostered a love of both photography and jazz.

“I started out as a kid jazz photographer in Los Angeles,” he said.

He moved to Portland in 1988 and worked as a commercial photographer. He later returned to California and joined several bands, then moved back to Portland about 10 years ago.

“Over recent years, I started playing more and more,” he said. “And I ended up being a late-blooming working musician.”