Portland musicians Rebecca Sanborn and Ji Tanzer have been weaving a rich tapestry of artistic and personal partnership since marrying in 2002. Longtime residents of Beaumont-Wilshire, their journey is one of music, trust, and shared vision.
Rebecca, a Portland native, began composing at age six. Ji, from White Salmon, Wash., was raised on folk tunes by his street-musician father but didn’t pick up drums until middle school — an unexpected turn that changed his life.
Their paths crossed at Suki’s Steak House in 2001, where Rebecca, a vocalist and keyboardist, had a weekly gig. Ji had just returned from living in the Sahara. “He thought I was rich,” Rebecca laughs. They bonded over Joni Mitchell and The Innocence Mission and talked for hours. Ji was so moved by her performance that he sold a used book to Powell’s just to raise the money to leave her a tip.
Their musical partnership soon blossomed. Performing under Rebecca’s name, Ji accompanied her with rhythms created from everyday objects. “Rebecca’s music was often rubato,” Ji says, “so I learned to play to her breath and phrasing.” This intuitive approach became a cornerstone of their collaboration.
Their creative synergy is rooted in deep listening, mutual respect, and emotional honesty. “Early feedback can shut a door,” Ji notes. “I wait until her ideas are fully formed.” Rebecca calls their partnership “a bridge between joy and sorrow,” especially after the deaths of her cousin and best friend. Songs like “Brighter” emerged from that grief, transforming pain into beauty.
Beyond their duo work, they play in two Portland bands. With Blue Cranes, they explore experimental jazz; with Swansea — a trio named after Dylan Thomas’s birthplace — they blend ’80s textures with modern pop. Rebecca also leads Shadow Work, a large-scale collaboration featuring 25 musicians and five arrangers.
Despite full-time jobs, they fiercely protect their creative time. They treasure Wilshire Park — where Rebecca wrote “Red Mittens” — and value their community, including Rigler Elementary and local venues like Mississippi Studios and Atlantis Lounge.
“We feel lucky to be in a place that supports the arts,” Rebecca says. For Rebecca and Ji, creativity isn’t just an outlet — it’s a way of life, sustained by love, trust, and the joy of making something together.
David Friedman, @friedart, is a visual artist specializing in papercutting, printmaking, and painting. He and his dog, Poppi @poppipdx, can be seen daily at Wilshire Park. His work is on display at the Alberta Street Gallery, daily 11-7.