Scene Heard: A swingin’ night with Portage Fill

Published 1:30 am Thursday, December 14, 2023

Islanders showed up in force to celebrate the season and contribute to a good cause when Vashon’s legendary Portage Fill band closed out its 50th year on Vashon with a concert at Vashon Theatre last Sunday.

The concert — boasting jazzy renditions of “Jingle Bells,” “The First Noel,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and many more, benefited Vashon’s Interfaith Council to Prevent Homelessness (see “Interfaith Council seeks help to keep Vashon housed,” page 1) and its work to provide a safety net for islanders in need.

Vashon Island Community Church presented the concert for a suggested donation of $10, coming close to filling Vashon’s historic, 300-seat single-screen movie theater for the occasion.

For generations, Portage Fill has entertained and inspired islanders to get up and dance to tunes from the great American songbook. Remarkably, the band is still going strong.

According to trumpet player Lou Engels, the group’s first practice took place in his home. The year, “the best we can remember,” he said, was 1973.

Originally a small combo started by Engels’ neighbor, pianist Bill DeGleria, the group was christened the Portage Fill-Harmonic. It later transformed into a big band under Seattle trumpet player and Vashon music store owner Monte Sewell.

The band’s popularity stems from its ability to get people of all ages up and dancing — and sometimes swooning over the skill of its instrumentalists and the smooth sounds of its two singers, Maggie Laird and Lou Mangione.

“When Lou and Maggie get up there, it is almost like you are stepping back in time,” said one fan of the band. “It’s just beautiful. They’re crooners.”