Soul Cookin’

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A lot of folks are talking about Blackwell’s, 1815 N.E. 41st Avenue (across from the Hollywood Theater), but especially about Wednesday nights, when Lloyd Jones, Carlton Jackson, Dover Weinberg, and Dave Kahl put together something they call Soul Cookin’. Apparently, the talk is working. Some good crowds have been showing up. Maybe it’s because of the early hours, 8:30-11:30 pm; maybe it’s the central location, or the ample parking, or even the fact that there’s still no cover. We’d like to think it’s about the music and the whole vibe, something that is more akin to Chicago’s South Side than Portland’s northeast.

The fact is that you will most definitely hear some world-class music and probably a good measure of laughs in the process.

Dover Weinberg Quartet

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As many of you know, the Dover Weinberg Quartet has had some tremendous times on Tuesday nights at Duff’s Garage over the past few years, making good music, good times, and great memories. While we’re not certain what the long term will look like, we are sure of one thing – the month of May will still have us holding down the fort, awaiting your much appreciated presence. From 9 pm to Midnight, Dover, Chris Carlson, Kelly Dunn, and Dave Kahl will be playing whatever moves them at the moment.

As if anything we do weren’t enough – from blues to bop, swing to rock, classic tunes to twisted arrangements – the addition of any special guests only makes the night more open to pleasant surprises. A great venue, friendly staff, large dance floor, and warm welcome await you.

Duff’s Garage is located at 1635 S.E. 7th Avenue, on the corner of Market Street. Cover is just $3.00.

Billy D and the Hoodoos

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Noticed some of the bands in Puddletown are going on the road this Spring/Summer season. Just stoppin’ by to say we’ll be takin’ our Bluzrock Original Tunes to Texas the beginning of May. Playing an event at Tarrant Co College to raise funds for the old Jubilee Theater in Ft Worth on Thursday May 2nd.

The Jubilee has been the home of many blues and jazz musicals for decades. It’s truly an honor to be asked.

Then we’ll be at a good sized rockin’ honkytonk, called Keys Lounge, also in Ft Worth, on Saturday, May 4th—promising all here we will do our best to represent the great music town of Portland and the Cascade Blues Association with everything we have !!!

Thanx for all the support and for all the great music in this city that inspires us all to create, honor and keep the blues alive. Hope we’ll have some cool Texas tales to tell when we return!!! Keep Rockin’!!!

Billy D

 

Franco Paletta and The Stingers

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Hey Everybody,

Nice seein’ you again! Spring has sprung, so things must become new. And in keeping with that theme, Franco Paletta and The Stingers will be having a release party for their latest CD, I Like It Just Like That, on Friday, May 10th, at the Muddy Award winning Trail’s End Saloon!!!

It’s gonna be a blast, with swing dancers, a raffle for prizes and CD’s, food and drink specials, and to top it off, you may just get yourself into the video the band is shooting of the show.

Be sure to mark your calendars and join us for this fun event…Franco and his lovely wife, Jeri, will even be celebrating their May birthdays. We can celebrate yours, too!

As always, thanks for supporting the band and be sure to hit the clubs and “SUPPORT LIVE BLUES MUSIC!”

Franco says,”CATCH A BLUES BUZZ!!!”

Franco Paletta
francopalettaandthestingers.com

Drummerboy

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Hey everyone! I’ve been doing these “Drummerboy feat” nights on the 1st Wednesday of every month for almost two years at The Highway 99 Blues Club in Seattle. The goal is to feature the best in the Pacific Northwest roots music (and give me a chance to play drums with them). In that time I’ve showcased many of Oregon’s best musicians. A partial list would include Peter Dammann, Ben Rice, Miss Rae Gordon, Gaddis Cavenah, Franck Léonard Goldwasser, James Miller, Steve Kerin, Alan Hager, Franco Paletta, Madman Sam, and more.

These have all been weeknight shows so I had little expectation that I’d see many of my Oregon brother and sisters in attendance. But on Saturday, June 8th I’m bringing back Jim, Ben, and the Madman for a special weekend show at The Highway 99 called “Drummerboy presents a One Night Only Revolution In Roots Music”.

This one-night-only show will feature The Seattle Firefighters Pipes and Drums (yes ladies…kilts!), The Muddy Sons, my country soul band The Modern Relics, and an all-star blues band with the Fabulous Mark Dufresne (formerly of Roomful of Blues) fronting us.

If you haven’t been to Seattle or The Highway 99 Blues Club in a while, this is an excellent opportunity! I normally offer up my house to out of towners, but I’ll be full up with Portland musicians for the night. So if you need a hotel recommendation, please let me know. I will help out in any way that I can to make your trip to this gig as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. Okay now, no excuses. See you there!

 

Peace,

 

Jeff “DRUMMERBOY” Hayes

 

What’s on Tap for May’s General Membership Meeting . . .

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Melody Ballroom, 615 SE Alder St., Portland
Wednesday, May 1st, 7:00 pm
Members always Free – Non-members $3.00
Opening Acoustic Set – Still Water Vibes
Second Electric Set – Tree Top Tribe

The year keeps rolling along and we are more than blessed with such quality musicians on-hand in our region. We continually try to bring some of the best to you to start each month out at our General Membership Meeting. I mean, what a surprise April was! Lucy Hammond brought in a huge line-up of class A players and knocked our socks off; only to be followed by a stand-out set from Tracey Fordice & The 8-Balls. Well, we’re not going to let up now or anytime during the year, so we have yet another great pair of acts for you in May.

“More than meets the eye” is definitely a great way to describe Still Water Vibes who will be playing the opening set. Starting from the front, you’ll never guess that those incredible vocals came from Nick Wixom. At first glance he is a young, small, red-headed kid that probably has no business in a band let alone in front of a blues band. But give him 5 minutes and a soulful rendition of a classic BB King tune or a funky original song and he’ll sit you down in your chair and have you focused all night. Nick is one step away from becoming a household name in the Willamette Valley. Remember not to let your eyes deceive you, if you see a short red-head take the microphone, you’ll be in for a treat.

But the fun doesn’t stop at the vocals. One of the most important factors in a good blues band is the lead guitar. Brandon Logan fills that all important role with ease. Great tone and the smarts to know when to go overboard and when to sit back and groove, Brandon’s guitar playing is the kind that gives you goose bumps and has you begging for one more song.

What good are a great singer and an incredible guitar player if they don’t have a solid foundation? Jarred Venti on Bass and Brian Wixom on drums fill out the lineup with one of the best young rhythm sections anyone could ask for. With backgrounds in funk and rock and roll, they give Still Water Vibes an edge over the competition. Fans everywhere will certainly agree that if you don’t have a tight bottom end and skilled percussion then dancing is nearly impossible. So it’s no secret that when they put together the rhythm section they didn’t hold back and got some of the most talented young players the area had to offer.

Still Water Vibes doesn’t have the look of your traditional blues band, but that’s one of the best parts of the band. A great band sounds great when your eyes are closed, when they can take your attention away from the physical and bring out emotions with their music. Still Water Vibes is a great band.

After Still Water Vibes, we will take a short break to conduct our monthly announcements of blues events coming to town as well as having our free ticket drawing for your chance to win CDs, tickets and other fun items. Do not forget to get your drawing ticket at the door when you enter the venue.

For the second half of the night we will feature Tree Top Tribe, who performed for us before for our acoustic set at a meeting. This time, they will be throwing down with a bit of electricity. Led by guitarist Mick Schafer and violinist Tom Esch, with different supporting casts, Tree Top Tribe has been performing locally since 2005. Their album, Blackberry Jam Sessions has gotten local radio airplay and made it to Pandora.

Over the past year, the band got a sizable boost from a new rhythm section, bass player Brian Link and drummer Joe Howard. Brian Link has been a professional musician since high school in Virginia. Introduced to the band through their previous drummer, Matt Ramsdell and it didn’t take long before Brian sat in and blew everybody away. Mick and Tom heard Joe Howard play for the first time on a really good jazz demo and later Mick heard him live at Coyote’s jazz jam. The acid test was putting Joe and Brian together. That sealed it.

Tree Top Tribe’s keyboard player is Colin Hogan, who also fronts her own band, the Colin Trio. Here’s an interesting story from her feistyfolk.com site: “In January 2006 her demo found its way into the hands of New Orleans legend Dr. John, who was so captivated by her rendition of Bill Withers “Ain’t No Sunshine” that he requested that Colin join him onstage during his Hampton, VA show. The impromptu duo sang a memorable rendition of the classic “Makin Whoopee.”

Tree Top Tribe is a fine amalgamation of talented musicians. Mick Schafer was once approached by keyboardist Tim Doyle one night at Coyote’s and stated, “You guys are really good. Where do you find these amazing young musicians?” Mick told him…… for a non religious person, he prays a lot. Well you won’t need to do any praying at the meeting, but you just mind yourself giving thanks for the great talent we have in town.

Hope to see you all there.

Greg Johnson

President, Cascade Blues Association

Blues Royalty, Shemekia Copeland at Jimmy Mak’s

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At a recent Chicago Blues Festival, following the passing of Koko Taylor, Shemekia Copeland was proclaimed the new “Queen of the Blues.” With her passion and energy that she gives forth with every performance, there can be no question that she well deserves the title.

Born as a legacy of the blues, the daughter of the late guitarist Johnny Copeland, Shemekia found herself gracing stages at a young age with her father. She learned her skills by a baptism of fire on these stages and she learned quite well as she has been graced with many awards over the years, including Blues Music Award and Grammy nominations. There is a lot of power with her vocals that come from deep within her, one listen and she will make you a believer as well.

Shemekia Copeland is currently touring on the merits of her latest CD, 33 1/3 and will be returning to Portland for a night at Jimmy Mak’s (221 NW 10th) on Friday, May 3rd for an 8:00 pm show. Tickets are $18 for advance reserved seating and $15 general admission. Tickets can be purchased www.tickettomato.com.

Franco Paletta & The Stingers Celebrate New CD

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Franco Paletta and The Stingers will be having a release party for their latest album, I Like It Just Like That, on Friday, May 10th, at the Muddy Award winning Trail’s End Saloon, 1320 Main Street in Oregon City. You will have a chance to hear some of the fantastic music they took with them to compete at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis and to be able to take it home with you, too. There will be a raffle for prizes and CDs and the venue will have specials on selected food and drinks. Plus, you have a chance to be a part of the live video the band will be recording that night.

The cover for admission to this incredible night is only $8.00. But wait, if you are a current CBA member just show your membership card at the door for a $1.00 discount as this is a CBA co-sponsored event. Showtime is 9:00 pm. As Franco and the band say, “Catch a Blues Buzz.” Coming out to celebrate their new disc at The Trails End is the perfect way to do so!

Duff’s Garage Welcomes The Soul Of John Black

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The Soul of John Black press photoJohn “J.B.” Bingham has a fairly diverse background having worked with bands like Everlast, Fishbone and jazz great Miles Davis. Influenced by the soul-blues and doo-wop he heard as a child growing up in Chicago, then hearing the guitar power of Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin, and combining the grooves of Miles Davis and John Lee Hooker, Bingham has created his own unique funky blend of blues, soul, rock and hip-hop. It is visionary music combining everything he loves that he performs under the name of The Soul of John Black. Aside from being a guitarist of merit, Bingham is also a skilled songwriter and performer.

Touring in support of his latest Yellow Dog Records release, A Sunshine State Of Mind, The Soul Of John Black will be appearing in Portland at Duff’s Garage (1635 SE 7th) on Friday, May 10th for a 9:00 pm show. This is a Cascade Blues Association co-sponsored event, so make sure you show your current membership card at the door to receive a $1.00 discount on admission.

East Coast Favorites, The Love Dogs Coming To Duff’s Garage

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Take one red-hot horn section – we’re talkin’ alto, tenor, baritone saxes and trombone – down and dirty. Add liberal amounts of barrelhouse boogie-woogie piano and stinging Fender guitar. Pour over a funky and swinging rhythm section that Blues Review magazine called “the best in the business”, and top it all off with a crazy and charismatic front man, Eddie Scheer, with one of the biggest blues voices around. Season with a few years on the road tearing up juke joints, festivals and concert halls across the U.S. and Canada and on both sides of the Atlantic. Sound tasty? It’s a recipe for music and mayhem, for intensity and irreverence; it’s The Love Dogs.

Based out of Boston, this hard blowing septet just celebrated its sixteenth year wowing audiences and critics alike with their combination of great musicianship and pure fun. The Dogs combine elements of jump blues, New Orleans R&B and early rock ‘n’ roll into their own powerhouse sound. FMQB magazine called Love Dogs’ concerts “the stuff of legend” where “soulful vocals, killer grooves, unpredictability and pure entertainment play equal parts”.

It has been about five years since The Love Dogs last played in the Portland area and they’re just itching to head back. The Love Dogs will be appearing at Duff’s Garage (1635 SE 7th) on Sunday, May 12th. Don’t forget to bring your CBA membership card to receive a $1.00 discount at the door as this is a co-sponsored event. Get ready to have some fun; you do not want to miss out on this one!