CBA Member Meetings
What’s on Tap for April 2012's General Membership Meeting . . ..
Melody Ballroom, 615 SE Alder St., Portland
Wednesday, April 4th, 7:00 pm
Members always Free – Non-members $3.00
Opening Acoustic Set – Ralph Bassinger
Second Electric Set – Deep Blue Soul Revue
They say that March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. Well if a lion means that things are jumping, then let’s not lay down with the lamb and keep things hopping with the blues here in town. A great way every month to do just that is by attending the monthly general membership meetings of the Cascade Blues Associaion. As those who attend regularly know, this is no business meeting, rather a gathering a friends to hear great blues music and to have a good time.
In April we are bringing back an old friend, pianist Ralph Bassinger. Ralph stepped away from performing a couple years back and has decided to end his hiatus, thinking that there is no better way to do so than by playing before those who appreciate him the most. Ralph is a tremendous keyboardist and has performed and recorded with noted blues artists, including Jimmy D. Lane who appeared on Ralph’s CD, Waiting For My Train. He also was the Cascade Blues Association’s solo representative at the International Blues Challenge in 2006. There are not a lot of people playing that authentic boogie and blues style that brings back to mind the likes of Otis Spann or Memphis Slim, but Ralph Bassinger can certainly do that. It’ll be good having him return.
If you attended the Sweetheart Dance in February, you know you’re not going to want to miss the second set of the night as Deep Blue Soul Revue will have you up smiling and dancing guaranteed. This outstanding outfit fronted by bassist Danny O’Brien and guitarist/keyboardist Ken Brewer delivers great renditions of classic soul and blues numbers and originals transforming any venue they perform into a jumping house party. There is a lot of sound out of just five pieces, with Michael G. Kelly on saxophone, Allan Kalik on trumpet and Dave Melyan on drums rounding out the band. Melissa Buchanan also guests as vocalist. Their sound is infectious, you will have a good time with Deep Blue Soul Revue.
Of course, hang around during the intermission between sets as we do our popular monthly ticket drawing where you can win CDs, concert tickets and anything else we may have on hand to give out. We’ll also have the $1 ticket drawing for your chance to win a multiple-CD package, winner takes all. Come out and join us for a great evening of music, and if you’re not a member, you can always join at the meeting. Hope to see you there.
Bookmark with:
What’s on Tap for March 2012’s General Membership Meeting
Melody Ballroom, 615 SE Alder St., Portland
Wednesday, March 7th, 7:00 pm
Members always Free – Non-members $3.00
Opening Acoustic Set – Mark Dove
Second Electric Set – Jerry Zybach & The Stagehogs
Well we’re back. We should have the majority of our board on hand for the March meeting after all the running around a good number of us were doing in February. A huge thanks goes out to Mary Maxson for taking charge of the meeting last month and also to Art Bullis, Fred Morgan and Bob Neuner for stepping in to assist. Not to forget Terry Currier who is always on the spot to help out when needed.
For March, we’re going to continue bringing top notch blues acts as we do all year long. To open the night, we will be presenting Mark Dove, who will be bringing offerings on resonator guitar, harmonica and keyboards. Mark toured with country-western acts in his twenties and since then has been exploring the sounds of country, blues and rock as a solo artist. He plans on opening his set with some classic Delta/country blues from the catalogues of the like of Robert Johnson and such, then moving toward a more electric sound. All blues tonight, as that is the music he is enjoying as of late. This will be his first time performing for the CBA, so give him your attention and welcome him to our group.
The electric portion of the meeting may look a little familiar. That is because band leader Jerry Zybach just performed in February backing Barbara Healy. This month, he brings his band The Stagehogs, who gave a dynamic performance last August at the CBA summer picnic. One of the finest musicians from the Eugene area, Jerry has performed with the I-5 Nine, Barbara Blue, Hawkeye Herman, Mark Hummel, Johnny Dyer among many others and has also toured as a sideman with Honeyboy Edwards. Expect him to play both fingerpicking and slide guitar and even a bit of cigar-box.
Remember to pick up your free ticket at the door for our giveaway drawings between sets and perhaps purchase a ticket or more for our winner take all multi-CD package which will be drawn in the second set. Come on out and see some wonderful blues and visit with good friends at the meeting. Hope to see you there.
Bookmark with:
Randy Hansen Brings His Hendrix Tribute Show Back To The Trail’s End, Feb 11, 2012
One of the most exciting shows to hit The Trail’s End this past year was Randy Hansen’s Jimi Hendrix Tribute show. With so many people asking for a return gig, Hansen has scheduled an encore performance at the venue on Saturday, February 11th. Officially recognized by the Hendrix family as perhaps the most authentic recreation of the guitar hero’s skills, Hansen knows how to electrify an audience with over the top guitar work. There are a lot of tribute acts, but none that meet what you receive from Randy Hansen. Hansen also writes his own music and has performed with people like Robert Cray, Steve Miller, Sammy Hager, Stevie Ray Vaughan and with former Hendrix sidemen Mitch Mitchell and Noel Redding. Truly a show for anybody who is a fan of Jimi Hendrix or classic rock.
The Trail’s End Saloon is located at 1320 Main Street in Oregon City. Show time is 9:00 pm. This is a CBA co-sponsored event, so show your membership card at the door and receive a $1 discount on admission. Then get ready to share in the Experience!
Bookmark with:
What’s on Tap for February 2012’s General Membership Meeting
Melody Ballroom, 615 SE Alder St., Portland
Wednesday, February 1st, 7:00 pm
Members always Free – Non-members $3.00
Opening Acoustic Set – Barbara Healy
Second Electric Set – Bottleneck Blues Band
February is looking to be quite the busy blues month in the City of Portland and there is no better way to jump start it all off than with our monthly membership meeting of the Cascade Blues Association. Always guaranteed to bring you a terrific night of fun and blues, we’ve put together a very cool evening for you this month.
Opening the night will be one of Eugene’s finest vocalists, Barbara Healy. We last saw Barbara play a CBA meeting not too long ago as part of the Oregon super blues group I-5 Nine. This time she will be coming back to delivery her own music with guitarist Jerry Zybach accompanying her. Heavily influenced by “all” the soul singers, with special notation toward Otis Redding, she learned to play guitar from Los Angeles blues great Bernie Pearl and has been thrilling Oregon audiences for a number of years leading her own bands and sitting in with notable Northwest players like Paul deLay, Bill Rhoades, Robert Cray, Lloyd Jones and Curtis Salgado, as well as touring artists like James Cotton, Matt “Guitar” Murphy, The Fabulous Thunderbirds and The Neville Brothers. She has also performed at the biggest musical festivals in the state inciting crowds with her fusion of R&B, funk, soul and blues and her infectious stage presence. So come out and see why the late Gavin Fox said, “Simply stated, Barbara Healy is loaded with soul!”
Making their first appearance for the CBA will be Bottleneck Blues Band in our second set of the evening. This Portland-based band brings a fresh, red-hot, funky perspective to the blues that will get you moving, grooving and shouting out for more. The members hail from all parts of the United States covering the classics and showcasing their own original numbers. The group is made up of Noah Bell on guitar & vocals, Devon Shazier on drums, Seth Zowader on organ and Dave Cushman on bass. Bottleneck Blues states that the blues is music of life, love, happiness and sorrow and everything that happens in between. Imagine Albert Collins meets Jimi Hendrix jamming with The Allman Brothers Band. Bottleneck Blues will pull you in and make you feel alive.
We will also have our free ticket drawing between sets, our $1 per ticket multi-CD package and announcements letting you know about the great happenings in the area for February, so do not miss out.
Please bear with us at this meeting, though, as we will be short-handed with Board Members running the show. Both myself and Jody Gunn will be in Memphis at the International Blues Challenge and Wendy Schumer will be on the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise. But Deborah DeSarah, Mary Maxson and Art Bullis will be on hand to help you out with anything you may need. Enjoy the night and the music, and I’ll see you next month at the March membership meeting.
Good blues to you all,
Greg
Bookmark with:
What’s On Tap for January 2012’s General Membership Meeting
Melody Ballroom, 615 SE Alder St., Portland
Wednesday, January 4th, 7:00 pm
Members always Free – Non-members $3.00
Opening Acoustic Set – Al Carson
Second Electric Set – Hot Tea Cold
After all the festivities of New Year’s Eve, it’s time to start up the New “Blues” Year at The Melody Ballroom on Wednesday, January 4th to kick off 2012 in the right fashion. You can always rely on the Cascade Blues Association to have your blues cravings in mind and this year will have a lot of fun-packed excitement in store for all as we start off the second quarter century of promoting, supporting and preserving the music that we love.
It has been far too many years since we last had the pleasure of Al Carson playing at our membership meetings and we’re glad to welcome him back. Al has been a long time performer and fan of country blues and believes it is part of American Heritage. Al devotes more time to the music and art he has loved ever since childhood and although he plays blues influenced by many of the people that made the music what it is, he does not copy or imitate these masters. He definitely has his own voice, guitar and harmonica style. He has been performing Delta and Piedmont blues as a soloist for many years and has taught the blues at the prestigious Puget Sound Guitar Workshop. Al has the ability to take the music on the road and share it, as well as to gain new influence from others. He has performed at the King Biscuit Blues Festival, BB King’s in Memphis and at the Rose City Blues Festival (now known as the Waterfront Blues Festival). And he’ll be sharing his talents with us this month at the meeting.
For the second set of music for the night we will offer the sensational young band Hot Tea Cold, who have been in existence since 2008 when guitarist Glen Hoover and bassist Brandon Hetu found a drummer who fit their style. Glen and Brandon first met at Clackamas Community College where they both studied music. After jamming together with other musicians the desire to become a band arose. Through several performances and line-up changes, they were still left without a drummer. Only by sheer luck did they find a posting for a drummer named Austin Early on Craigslist that sounded too good to be true. After several other drummers had auditioned, they were skeptical but hopeful and when they first jammed together they knew that fate had intervened. As it did again two years later when they met saxophone sensation Eric Rabe at a jam. Together the four create a fun and funky blend of many genres, with main components of blues, funk and rock. They are an exciting band that should really get your blood pumping at the meeting.
In between sets, we’ll hold our monthly free ticket drawing for great prizes and let you know about all the fun events coming up in January and beyond. Don’t forget to pick up one of the $1 raffle tickets also, for your chance to win the multi-CD pack we’ve put together just for the meeting. Hope to see you there as we kick off 2012 in the right way!
Bookmark with:
More Articles...
Page 1 of 8
