December 09 General Membership Meeting
Written by Administrator Monday, 16 November 2009 23:30
Melody Ballroom, 615 SE Alder St., Portland
Wednesday, December 2nd, 7:00 pm
FREE ~ ALL AGES WELCOME
Opening Acoustic Set: Steve Rodin & Da Good Guys
Second Electric Set: Woodbrain
Important Reminder: The December Membership Meeting is the night we hold elections to decide who will lead the Cascade Blues Association for the following year. Positions being voted on include President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary and Membership Secretary. Please remember to bring your up-to-date membership card to receive a ballot. [Candidate bios and intros.]
For our December meeting, we’re going to open with a little larger set than you may be used to seeing. Not simply a solo or duo performer, but a quartet. Steve Rodin returns to perform at our meeting for the first time in a few years and he is bringing in his friends, known as Da Good Guys. Made up of Rodin on guitar along with guitarists Tony Lahaina (who also plays harmonica) and Alberto Pomar, plus percussionist Paul Love. This past summer the band released their latest CD, Independent Man, featuring eleven original songs by Steve. Expect to hear many of these as well as great acoustic flavored rock, blues and folk favorites. With Da Good Guys, there’s always a level of energy that keeps the crowd involved.
The second set of the night will present one of the most popular bands in the Portland area, Woodbrain. Led by guitarist Joe McMurrian on guitar/banjo/vocals, the group includes harmonica ace David Lipkind, bassist Jason Hnol and world-renowned drummer Jimi Bott. This last year saw them signed to Yellow Dog Records and their first national release Swimming In Turpentine came out in July. An extremely innovative band with an approach all their own; they have taken the classic sounds of the Delta and interpreted it in their own manner. An infectious, hynoptic blast of energy that continues to bring in new fans with every performance.
Of course, between sets will do our standard ticket give-aways and announce up-coming events for December. We’ll also have a multi-CD raffle and before the night is over, we will announce your new Board Officers. Come out and make your voice heard for your leadership and to enjoy a spectacular night of blues and friends.
CBA Membership Holiday Party - Dec 13, 09
Written by Administrator Monday, 16 November 2009 23:21
This year’s Cascade Blues Association Membership Holiday Party will be held on Sunday, December 13th at The Refectory, 1618 NE 122nd, Portland, from 1:00 – 6:00 pm. This event is for members only, but you may purchase a membership at the event. Hopefully this year we will not have a repeat performance from Mother Nature with a snow storm that kept most people away. For those who didn’t make it, we missed you terribly last year. Food will be available from The Refectory’s menu, but members may feel free to bring baked goodies to share. We will also be collecting canned food for the Oregon Food Bank, because we want to remember those less fortunate than ourselves during the holiday season.Entertainment for this year’s party will feature in order of appearance: Bolt Upright, Kenny Lavitz Kombo, Lloyd Jones and the debut performance of Michael Osborn & The Drivers (with Dave Mathis, K.G. Jackson and Johnny Moore). Of course, since this is at The Refectory, you’re all welcome to stay for the evening for Kevin Selfe & The Tornadoes regular Sunday night jam that will follow immediately at the end of the party.
What a wonderful way to celebrate the holidays and good friendships in the blues community. Hope to see you all there!
Tab Benoit at Peter’s Room - Dec 9, 09
Written by Administrator Monday, 16 November 2009 23:32
With all the makings of an American music icon, Tab Benoit has become one of the premiere roots stylist of the century. Tab has paid his dues as a road troubadour playing 250 nights a year performing at venues across North America, honing his guitar chops and becoming part of Louisiana folklore and legend.At 42 years of age, Tab Benoit has proven himself to be one of the modern masters of the blues, building a reputation with his fiery blend of Cajun-styled rock firmly rooted in the blues. An award-winning artist with eleven CD under his belt, including his most recent Night Train To Nashville, and the main force behind the Voice of the Wetlands effort to help save Louisiana’s bayou regions, Benoit is an exciting and engaging performer, who brings fans out to his shows in droves and has long enjoyed a very strong fan base in our area, so expect his show in Portland to be a dance-crazed full house.
Tab Benoit will return to Portland on Wednesday, December 9th at Peter’s Room at The Roseland Theater (10 NW 6th Avenue, Portland) for an 8:00 pm show. 21 & older only. Tickets are available through TicketWest.com (503) 224-TIXX.
Thank You For Showing Your Love For The CBA
Written by Administrator Monday, 16 November 2009 23:26
Since the fundraising show for the CBA held at The Refectory back in October took place after the BluesNotes deadline for November, we wanted to take this opportunity to thank everybody who participated and showed up for such a wonderful event. Another full house at The Refectory; this time with expanded space and extra staff to make everything run very comfortable and smooth. We got off to a late start (45 minutes), but that was no fault of the people putting together the sound as they could not accomplish this until the football regulars who have the room in the earlier part of the day were finished. But the wait was more than worth it and in the long run we ran almost two hours past the planned end time.
As is the case with any event like this, there are always surprises in who shows up to perform besides those scheduled. And this was no exception. Far too many to name them all here, but we’ll touch on those who led their sets here: Kevin Selfe & The Tornadoes, Robbie Laws Trio, John-Alex Mason, Murtle Brown’s Destiny, Rick Welter Band, and Jimmy Lloyd Rea & The Switchmasters.
To everybody who donated items for our silent auction and those who purchased them a big thanks. Kudos also to Jan Bisconer and the staff at The Refectory for helping put on a terrific event. And to Rich Lantz for handling the sound, not easy when changing from a one-man band one moment to a large multi-piece R&B band the next. And I want to extend a personal atta-boy to the CBA Board of Directors and our volunteers for a job well done.
Greg Johnson
Show Your Love For The CBA chairperson
[See our many photos here.]
Help Cee Cee James Get To Memphis - Dec 11, 09
Written by Administrator Monday, 16 November 2009 23:22
Get out your calendar right now and mark off Friday, December 11th for a night out on the town. That’s the night that Cee Cee James will be in concert at The Trail’s End Saloon (1320 Main Street, Oregon City) for an 8:00 pm show to help raise funds to cover her band’s traveling expenses to Memphis. Cee Cee was recently selected by the Klamath Blues Society to represent their organization at the International Blues Challenge in January. This is your chance to witness her “Janis-esque” raw and low-down blues while supporting her dream of participating in the competition.There will be raffle tickets for very special prizes and you’ll also want to pick up a copy from Cee Cee of her latest CD Low Down Where The Snakes Crawl, which has just recently been selected as a Top 10 “Pick to Click” on XM Satellite Radio’s B.B. King’s Bluesville. And if all of that was not incentive enough to attend this event, there will also be a visit from Santa who will give out prizes and will be available for photo opportunities.
Admission is $8 at the door and this is a CBA co-sponsored event, so show your current membership card for a $1 discount at the door. If you cannot make the show and would still like to assist Cee Cee in their fundraising, you can find out more information on how to do so by visiting her website at www.ceeceejames.com. Come on out and show some support for our Northwest representatives going to Memphis!
Kelly Joe Phelps at Mississippi Studios - Dec 5, 09
Written by Administrator Monday, 16 November 2009 23:18
Over the years, there have certainly been a good number of blues artists that have hit the national limelight originating out of Portland. One of the finest and most consistent of these musicians would have to be guitarist Kelly Joe Phelps. Unfortunately, the price of fame creates fewer appearances in one’s hometown, so when Kelly Joe comes back to town, it is always a night that is welcomed and should be seen and heard.There has been a lot of praise for Kelly Joe Phelps over the years, but perhaps this statement from roots artist Steve Earle best describes him:
"Kelly Joe Phelps plays, sings, and writes the blues. HOLD UP before you lock that in - forget about songs in a twelve bar three chord progression with a two line repeat and answer rhyme structure - though he can certainly do that when he wants to. I'm talking about a feeling, a smoky, lonesome, painful - yet somehow comforting groove that lets you know that you are not alone - even when you're blue. Play on brother."
With nine discs to his credit, including his most recent Western Bell and the reissued Burnside Records release Lead Me On, Phelps has been an innovative leader in modern acoustic blues as a songwriter, a lap slide player and as a fingerpicking stylist. Kelly Joe returns home for a night of entertainment at Mississippi Studios (3939 N Mississippi, Portland) on Saturday, December 5th. Showtime is 9:00 pm with an opening set by Portland folk artist Krista Herring. Tickets are $17 advance / $20 day of show and are available on-line at www.mississippistudios.com. This is a CBA co-sponsored event, so make sure to bring your current membership card and receive a $1 discount at the door.
Jim Kweskin & Geoff Muldaur Together Again! - Dec 13, 09
Written by Administrator Monday, 16 November 2009 23:13
On Sunday, December 13th, make your way over to Mississippi Studios (3939 N Mississippi, Portland) for an intimate evening with acoustic folk blues heavyweights Jim Kweskin and Geoff Muldaur. As leaders of the folk scene of the 1960s in the Jim Kweskin Jug Band, they helped pave the path for the emerging popular music of the time, reminiscing the feel-good sound first heard from jug bands in the South in the 1920s and 30s. After a lengthy separation from performing together, Kweskin and Muldaur first played together at Portland’s Waterfront Blues Festival after nearly twenty years apart. The magic between them was still very much alive and that set at the festival was one of the all-time highlights of the events twenty-plus year history. Now here’s a chance to witness the fun and excitement once again as they perform at one of Portland’s premier acoustic venues.This is a seated show, with tickets available on-line at www.mississippistudios.com $22.50 advance and $25 day of show. This is a CBA co-sponsored event, so you can obtain a $1 discount at the door by presenting your current membership card Showtime is 8:00 pm.
Muddy Awards: A Night To Remember (2009)
Written by Administrator Monday, 16 November 2009 23:08
After 21 years of the Cascade Blues Association presenting the annual Muddy Awards show, honoring those artists, venues and events that truly made a difference over the past year, one thing is very apparent: it just keeps getting better in presentation every year. Very little glitches this time, which made the night run quite smoothly. And the performances . . . well, they were just out of this world! Fantastic!!
The night opened with an outstanding set from this year’s Journey To Memphis winners, The Karen Lovely Band, who drove all day from Ashland to take part in the festivities. Following the actual naming of this year’s recipients, the all-star set of past and present Muddy nominees, pieced together by this year’s hosts The Strange Tones, proved to be one of the best hour-and-a-half of live music ever showcased at the awards show. If this set had happened anytime else, it’d probably have been nominated for best performance in itself. Just a run-through the guests involved is incredible on paper alone: (in order of appearance) Bill Rhoades, Norman Sylvester, Ty Curtis, Hank Shreve, Boogie Bone’s Jake Johnson and Steven Dee Williams, Rae Gordon, Jim Wallace, Rick Welter, Kevin Selfe, The Troublemakers’ Rich Layton and Lisa Mann. Wow!!
The Muddy Awards themselves saw a lot of familiar faces and also some first time winners, which is always nice. The night’s big winners were Curtis Salgado, Lisa Mann and the Karen Lovely Band, all winning two categories each. Duff’s Garage was also a big winner, taking home their third straight prize landing themselves in the Muddy Awards Hall of Fame for Venue of the Year. Congratulations to all those nominated and winners alike. A big thanks go out to The Melody Ballroom, David Grafe, Terry Allan and all the CBA Board of Directors for another great year of helping to put on a sensational event. And to all of our friends who helped announce the winners and each of you who attended. We’re all winners with the great blues talent and community we have in our area!
The NW Women In Rhythm & Blues 11th Annual Christmas Concert '09
Written by Administrator Monday, 16 November 2009 23:05
Now here’s a great tradition that just keeps getting better every year. Over the past ten years, Sonny Hess and the NW Women in Rhythm & Blues have been delivering outstanding holiday shows featuring many of the most amazing female blues musicians the Northwest has to offer. For the 11th year, however, the event is stepping up and beyond previous years by extending to two nights. And if the people involved were not enough, consider the well-deserving beneficiary from these concerts, Candlelighters For Children With Cancer.Did you know that for every school day there are 46 children diagnosed with cancer? One in 330 children will develop cancer by the age of 20 and one quarter of those will die within five years of being diagnosed. Cancer remains the number one disease killer of America’s children today, more than Cystic Fibrosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Asthma and AIDS combined. There are currently more than 270,000 childhood cancer survivors in the United States today and with the efforts of groups like the Candlighters we hope to see those surviving numbers climb.
So to offer a little help yourself this holiday season, plan on attending one or maybe both nights of the NW Women In Rhythm & Blues Christmas Concerts. They will be held at The Chelsea Ballroom (1510 SE Hawthorne) on Wednesday, December 16th and Thursday, December 17th. There will be dinners available and a silent auction will also occur. Doors open at 6:00 pm, dinner at 6:30 pm. Tickets are available through www.ticketsoregon.com. For more information, call 503-319-1333. For further information about the Candlelighters, check out their website at www.candlelighters.org.
Both nights will feature a core band with Sonny Hess on guitar, Lisa Mann on bass and Kelly Pierce on drums. Here are the guest performers who you will see if you attend:
Wednesday night: LaRhonda Steele, Janice Scroggins, Megan James, Nayibe Rojas, Claudia Knauer and Kimberly Hall.
Thursday night: Lady Kat, Rae Gordon, Ellen Whyte, Leah Hinchcliff, Mary Sue Tobin and Bonnie Lee Bluestone.
Muddy Awards - General Membership Meeting - Nov 5, 2009
Written by Greg Johnson Thursday, 15 October 2009 19:36
Grand Ballroom at The Melody
(615 SE Alder Street, Portland)
Thursday, November 5th, 6:30 pm
Yes. It’s that time of year again for the Cascade Blues Association’s members to gather and celebrate the best of our Blues community. The Muddy Awards are celebrating their 21st anniversary and we’re inviting everybody to come down and see why this event has endured for so long. Heck, the Muddy Awards is even older than a number of those nominated this year!Annually we send out ballots to our members and ask for them to select those artists, venues and events that they feel made an impact in our region during the preceding year in 20 different categories. Two other awards are also presented, The Back What You Believe In Award chosen by the CBA Board of Directors and The Hurley Award given to a worthy stage crew member who consistently goes beyond the call of duty to help produce a terrific event.
Besides the awards, there is also plenty of music to keep everybody happy. Opening the night will be the winners of this year’s Journey To Memphis competition, The Karen Lovely Band. Karen has been seeing quite a lot of attention this past year, including reaching the #1 spot on XM’s BB King’s Bluesville for “Picks to Click” and also debuting in the Living Blues magazine’s charts at #13. While preparing to represent the Cascade Blues Association in Memphis for the International Blues Challenge, Karen has also been working on a follow-up to her outstanding debut CD, Lucky Girl.
Read more: Muddy Awards - General Membership Meeting - Nov 5, 2009
Strange Tones release new Blazer Theme video
Written by Administrator Monday, 26 October 2009 14:46
Portland's favorite Crime-a-Billy blues band the Strange Tones released their own video version of the Portland Trailblazers' theme music. Here's what the Strange Tones had to say about their recent video.
In Portland Oregon people love their Blazer basketball and their Crime-A-Billy music. Playing in a band or on a basketball team requires similar skills and dedication. From fitness to teamwork, from sharing a seat on an airplane to sharing a seat in an Astro Van, out here it's all about that pioneering Northwest spirit. Leave the basketball to the Trail Blazers and the Crime-A-Billy music to The Strange Tones. This video of the Blazer Theme is not officially approved, licensed, sponsored or endorsed by the Portland Trail Blazers. The Crime-A-Billy sound is officially approved, licensed, sponsored or endorsed by The Strange Tones.
Rough Dried Woman
Written by Administrator Friday, 23 October 2009 19:57
Magic Slim & The Teardrops
Wolf RecordsEuropean label Wolf Records focuses heavily on recordings of blues artists, primarily those from Chicago and the Delta; many who do not see the type of attention they probably deserve in their own country. Magic Slim & The Teardrops certainly have seen their share of American releases that have garnered attention, but they have also had numerous sessions working with Wolf that have generated some exceptional tracks as well. This latest release featuring Magic Slim collects many of the finest selections from the band offered by that label. And as is expected with Slim and the guys, it includes stunning guitar work and some of the best ensemble work Chicago’s modern day players has to offer.
All of these tracks involve what may have been Slim’s all-time best band that included his late brother, bass player Nick Holt and a superb guitarist in his own right John Primer, with drums filled in by Jerry Porter, Nathan Applewhite, Michael Scott or Earl Howell, depending on which session is involved. Even Wolf notes this, by placing right on the sleeve the statement “The best blues band on the planet.” Hefty words, but arguably it may just be a fact.
Selections on the CD are almost completely covers, with the lone exception being Slim’s “Tell Me What Make A Woman Treat A Good Man So Bad.” But in the hands of Magic Slim, these sometimes all too familiar numbers breathe sparks that will ignite even the most die-hard blues purist. It seems that everybody may have recorded “Match Box Blues,” “You Can’t Lose What You Never Had” or “Mama Talk To Your Daughter,” for example, but Slim captures them as they were meant to be. There is nothing in a Magic Slim performance that is going to find him jumping around the stage with all kinds of hysterics and antics. It’s just pure blues. Guitar and band at it’s utmost collective best. And that is precisely what you’ll find on any of his recordings. But if you’re after a sampling of what Magic Slim & The Teardrops is all about, you certainly cannot go wrong with Rough Dried Woman. Guaranteed pure Chicago blues worthy of a long life on your player!
Total Time: 70:32
Rough Dried Woman / Match Box Blues / Tell Me What Make A Woman Treat A Good Man So Bad / Spider In My Stew / I’m Good / Bad Avenue / Mama Talk To Your Daughter / Ain’t It Nice / Before You Accuse Me / You Can’t Lose What You Never Had / Bad Boy / Blues At Sunrise / Stranded On The Highway / Hard Luck Blues
Corn Flakes & Gin
Written by Administrator Friday, 23 October 2009 19:52
David Brothers
Self-Produced
Corn Flakes and Gin is the latest self-produced release by Portland guitarist David Brothers. A former recipient of the Cascade Blues Association’s Christopher Mesi Scholarship who has also studied directly under the guidance of both Robbie Laws and Terry Robb as well as being a member of the band H.B. Groove. He is an outstanding young player who is certainly coming into his own, which this fine recording bears witness to that fact immensely.
The guitar work is masterful and precise. Songwriting is brilliant with almost all of the tracks having Brothers’ hand in their penning, and his flair for arranging displayed on all. Two of the tracks included were previously available on Brothers’ 2006 release November’s Mistress ( “Dishpan Hands” and the title cut “Corn Flakes & Gin”), but fit in nicely again here. The traditional number “In Christ There Is No East Or West” David Brothers captures the song’s beauty to perfection, sounding a lot like Leo Kottke or John Fahey in the presentation. No matter which direction he takes on the selections, whether as a blues number, a jazzy bouncing riff, or a classical guitar approach, Brothers handles each with grace and inspiration.
Terry Robb helmed the production of this release at Falcon Studios and he also accompanies Brothers on four of the tracks. Other outstanding local artists who appear include keyboardists Janice Scroggins and Mario Carboni, guitarist Chazz Hamilton, rhythm section Dave Captein on bass and Kaci Anderson on drums, and nice mandolin work by Josh Cole.
In a city filled with exceptional acoustic guitar players, David Brothers can stand amongst the finest and is a name that should be watched closely, because we should be hearing quite a bit of accolades for this exceptional musician. Deservedly so!
Total Time: 42:16
My Old Man / Middle of the Afternoon / Better Days / I Feel Like Hank Williams Tonight / Corn Flakes & Gin / Sunny & The Wine-O / Betty / In Christ There is No East Or West / Miles Behind Me / Wednesday Blues / Friday Night / Playa Del Rey / Dishpan Hands
Nathan Paulsen - 2009 Christopher Mesi Scholarship Winner
Written by Administrator Friday, 23 October 2009 19:42
At the September Monthly Meeting, the Cascade Blues Association was proud to announce Nathan Paulsen as their 2009 Christopher Mesi Scholarship winner. Nathan, a recent graduate of Beaverton High School, played a significant role in his school’s music department. While there, he performed in the Wind Ensemble on euphonium, horn, and trumpet, and performed in the Concert Band on trombone and tuba. He was also a member of the Marching Band, played in the Pit Orchestra for three spring musicals, the Jazz Band, Brass Ensemble, and the school Pep Band. Beaverton High’s Director of Bands, Josh Head, described Nathan as a leader with raw talent and a drive to succeed. He wrote of his “natural ability as a teacher, and has, on many occasions, lead groups of younger students through difficult passages of music with patience and maturity beyond his years”. Nathan’s tutelage and vision transformed the schools brass ensemble “from a fledgling group to a frequent performer at community events, school events, and on local radio”. As a senior, Nathan developed, and directed, The Beaver Band, a student-directed band to play at assemblies and other venues not covered by the regular school bands. He would organize gigs, schedule practices, and was in charge of getting the equipment in place. The band will continue on, so Nathan has left his imprint on the school’s music department.
Nathan described the school’s new band director as “the single most influential person in my life. Lots of people make fun of me for this, but I wish to emulate him in as many ways as possible”. He further said, “to him, teaching music isn’t a job, it’s his calling, a way of life. And through him I have realized that I have that same calling and wish to follow in his footsteps”. As for Nathan’s future in music? With his $ 500 scholarship, he will be attending the University of Oregon’s School of Music. His goal is to be a high school band director and “teach and help instill in other young people a love for music” like he has developed. We wish him well as he carries on the mission of the CBA, which is preserving, supporting and promoting music.
-- Merry Larsen
Waterfront Blues Fest Ethos/Workshop Stage TV Schedule
Written by Administrator Thursday, 22 October 2009 22:24
For cable-TV subscribers in the Portland area, videos of presentations on the FedEx Workshop Stage at last summer's Waterfront Blues Festival, recorded by Ethos, Inc., will start airing in October. The production values on these recordings are quite good, and the performances are often spectacular.
-Peter Dammann, Talent Coordinator, Waterfront Blues Festival
Cigarbox Guitars : Jerry Zybach
Oct 24th (Sat) 9:30PM Channel 22
Oct 26th (Mon) 5:00PM Channel 23
Oct 28th (Wed) Noon Channel 11
J.P. Soars & the Red Hots
Oct 31st (Sat) 9:30PM Channel 22
Nov 2nd (Mon) 5:00PM Channel 23
Nov 4th (Wed) Noon Channel 11
Ryan Harder
Nov 7th (Sat) 9:30PM Channel 22
Nov 9th (Mon) 5:00PM Channel 23
Nov 11th (Wed) Noon Channel 11
Blues Photography Presentation : Dick Waterman
Nov 14th (Sat) 9:30PM Channel 22
Nov 16th (Mon) 5:00PM Channel 23
Nov 18th (Wed) Noon Channel 11
Read more: Waterfront Blues Fest Ethos/Workshop Stage TV Schedule
Day of the Dead Meets Delta Blues - Nov 1, 09
Written by Administrator Thursday, 22 October 2009 21:50
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:Josh Coen
(541) 338-9338
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Master fingerpickers bring spirits of the greats to life to help fund Blues in the Schools and collect cans for Food for Lane County at November 1 Ghosts of the Delta event.
EUGENE, OR — In true Day of the Dead tradition, some of the area’s finest blues finger-style guitarists will resurrect songs, spirits, and stories of the early Delta Blues legends from the midst of a graveyard on Sunday, November 1, 2009 at Cozmic Pizza (199 W 8th, Eugene, OR).Called Ghosts of the Delta, the all-ages event, from 4:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m., features Al Rivers, Jerry Zybach, Walker T. Ryan, and Adam Scramstad, who will honor more than a dozen departed masters, from Charley Patton and Son House to Muddy Waters and Mississippi John Hurt. KRVM DJ, Jivin’ Johnny Etheredge will emcee in costume to fit the theme.
The event raises money for the Rainy Day Blues Society’s Blues in the Schools program, which provides music programs to Lane County public schools free of charge. Admission is a suggested donation of $4-$8. Kids under 12 are free.
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