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What’s on Tap for May’s General Membership Meeting . . .
Melody Ballroom, 615 SE Alder St., Portland
Wednesday, May 2nd, 7:00 pm
Members always Free – Non-members $3.00
Opening Acoustic Set – Ben Rice
Second Electric Set – The Walter Guy Band
May is looking like another exciting month for blues in our area, not to mention a handful of our local artists heading to Memphis as nominees for the 2012 Blues Music Awards. Check the BluesNotes calendar and the co-sponsored events pages for the amazing number of happenings going on. But do not forget, the best way to always start out every month of the year is by attending the monthly general membership meeting of the Cascade Blues Association on the first Wednesday, where we will always treat you to two fantastic sets of music.
To prove that fact, you know you’ll never go wrong with the first performer we have for this month’s meeting, Ben Rice. We have watched Ben from a young age develop into one of the area’s finest blues performers, whether it is with a band or in a solo setting as we will see him at the meeting. Multiple Muddy Awards nominations, an International Blues Challenge representative for the CBA, college graduate and a road dog who has made several tours with Bay Area harper Phil Berkowitz and with his own band, Ben Rice is proving his status amongst the area’s best. If you have not seen Ben in a while, make it a special point to see him here. His guitar work and vocals are sensational!
For the second set we will be inviting back a long-time friend we have not had play at a CBA meeting or event for some time, The Walter Guy Band. They have been quietly working on returning to the stage after taking time off recuperating from a back injury suffered by Walter in 2008. The Walter Guy Band enjoyed some success a few years back performing at the time at blues venues in the metro area such as Trails End, Beale Street NW, and The C & I Club. They also performed at NW festivals such as the Waterfront Blues Festival (with Kenny ‘Blue’ Ray), The Katrina Blues Event, The Kalama Blues Festival and Stevenson’s Red Wine and Blues Fest and other local events. The newest incarnation of the Walter Guy Band includes band mates Terry Allen on bass guitar, Frank Weintraub on guitar and original drummer Danny Primmer. Lately, the band has been performing regularly in Vancouver at clubs such as Fat Tuesdays, The Top Shelf and Pig Heaven. They have plans to record a CD soon and hope to return to Portland area blues club stages soon. Keep an eye out for the Walter Guy Band at your favorite Blues venues. We’re glad to have them back!
Do not forget to pick up your free drawing ticket as you enter the venue. You could be a lucky winner of a new CD, a ticket to an upcoming event or other fun prizes we might have on hand. If you’re feeling really lucky, jump into the $1 ticket drawing for your chance to win a multi-CD package put together just for this month’s meeting. But then again, you’re already lucky because you live in one of the best blues cities anywhere and we’re lucky because you’re CBA members. See everybody at the meeting!!
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New Music To Note:
A listing of new music received at the CBA office or purchased personally this past month that should be noted:
Anders Osborne – Black Eye Galaxy (Alligator Records)
Curtis Salgado – Soul Shot (Alligator Records)
JW-Jones – Seventh Hour (Solid Blues)
Peter Karp & Sue Foley – Beyond The Crossroads (Blind Pig Records)
Pinetop Perkins – Heaven (Blind Pig Records)
The Satin Chaps – Might I Suggest (Self Produced)
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Gusto Brothers May 2012
Hi blues fans. Hope the spring (yay! it’s finally here) is treating you all well. Excited to hear all the good news on the scene and all the great blues the new season is bringing. Want to thank Duff's Garage for having us out last month. What a great venue, and we had a blast. We're looking forward to this months visit to north Portland's blues hangout, Mock Crest Tavern on May 25th. What a good way to start off the Memorial Day weekend, with a dose of Gusto.
Meanwhile...back at the Gusto Lair, we've had a small snafu with our forthcoming debut studio album, and must go back to the studio to re-track some parts. We're looking forward to getting it finished and out on the street, so we'll keep you posted. In more Gusto news, since the last time you may have seen us, the band has adopted a new brother into the drum seat. Sky Wescott has swooped in to keep the Gusto beat with exceptional skill, as well as belt out back up harmonies and occasional lead vocals with real soul. Even though he's been with us for over a year, the band proudly welcomes him.
Lastly, we'd like to direct you to our new website where you can get news and info on what's happening, as well as see videos of our newest visit to CCTV studios. They went over the top this time. Go to www.gustobrothers.com
Hope you enjoy, and that we get to see you at Mock Crest.
Gustos
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Might I Suggest
The Satin Chaps
Self-Produced
Okay, before anybody jumps on me and says that this is not really a blues album, lighten up. I hear a lot of influences from the likes of Booker T & The MGs or The Bar-Kays behind Portland’s The Satin Chaps on this debut release, Might I Suggest. And to me, that funky soulful Memphis sound with a bit of a hint of the classic Northwest garage bands certainly can be considered blues in its own right. And if you don’t think so, you have to admit you enjoy it for its dancability and groove.
Of course, The Satin Chaps are also not made up of your normal blues musicians either. Fronted by the trio of drummer Luke Strahota of The High Violets, keyboardist Peter Dean of Fast Computers and bassist Eric Hedford of The Dandy Warhols, The Satin Chaps present an old ‘60s instrumental soul approach to modern dance numbers. Rounding out the group are Colin Sheridan on guitar, Jon Clark on sax, Kyle Haverly on trombone and Pat Norris on trumpet. All of the ten tracks on the disc are original compositions by the band.
It’s funky. It’s soulful. It has a ton of groove. And it’s just plain fun. Give Might I Suggest a listen; these infectious instrumentals will definitely make you feel good
Total Time: 34:56
Catch On Quick / Wet Leather / Jump Shout Shake / Dry Rub / Cry Baby / Funky Matador / Lil’ Sweater / Cruiser / Hot Chocolate / Pigtail Park
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Dante’s Welcomes New Orleans Piano Man Jon Cleary & The Philthy Phew
In the hallowed ranks of New Orleans ‘piano professors,’ Jon Cleary is on the tenure track. Born in England and bred in New Orleans, Jon Cleary is a triple threat, combining soulful vocals, masterful piano skills, and a knack for composing infectious grooves with melodic hooks and sharp lyrics. He balances a career performing on solo piano, playing with noted funk band The Absolute Monster Gentlemen and his new power trio The Philthy Phew, with a career as a notorious hired gun for artists such as Bonnie Raitt and John Scofield. Bonnie Raitt states, "Jon Cleary is the ninth wonder in the world."
Jon Cleary & The Philthy Phew will be playing in Portland on Tuesday, April 17th, for a 9:00 pm show at Dante’s. Tickets are available through www.TicketsWest.com and are $15 in advance.
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More Articles...
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I don’t know how he does it, but Curtis Salgado has done what I thought would be impossible. He has created a new album that just very well may have outshined his last release, the Blues Music Award nominated Clean Getaway. The Alligator debut of the soulful blues singer, Soul Shot, is without doubt a masterpiece. There is no lull to be found anywhere on the disc. It all flows so smoothly, much like Curtis’ voice, and touches so many bases that encompass a history of blues and soul music.
