Ramblings On My Mind

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ramblings201306BNGreg Johnson / CBA President

You know the one thing I truly hate about summertime in Portland? There is just too much happening in town and around the region to keep up trying to see it all. There is just no way that can happen, physically and financially. But I have to get out there as often as I can to see what I can. Thankfully, summer is coming to a close and things will lighten up . . . not a chance. This is Portland after all and we have been blessed with such a great scene for the blues and music. It never lets up. Just check out the upcoming events and the CBA calendar.

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Don’t Forget to Return Your Muddy Award Ballots

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Watch your mail boxes this month for your first-round ballot for the Muddy Awards. Ballots will be sent to CBA members, giving you the opportunity to nominate your favorite performers, venues, recordings and events in 20 categories. Please remember that these awards are meant to recognize local artists for their work from September 1st, 2012 through August 31st, 2013. There are categories open for national performers, too. You may select up to three nominations in each category. You are not required to give three nominations, but if you put down more than three your selections will be voided in that category. All first round ballots must be received no later than September 14th; those arriving after that date will not be counted. The top three vote getters in each category will Read more

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New Home For The Cascade Blues Association

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On August 2nd, the Cascade Blues Association physically moved our office space from the UFCW Building in Tigard to our new space at 2020 SE 7th in Portland. This is actually the building that we had space in prior to our move to Tigard five years ago, so it is somewhat of a home-coming for us with our old landlord Curt Davis. Unlike our former space at the UFCW, we can actually use this new location as a working office if we’d like, with a separate room for storage and one for our monthly board meetings.

We would like to thank the UFCW for allowing us to use their location rent-free the past five years and also to give a huge thanks to everybody who offered us space in their Read more

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Muddy Awards Considerations – Performances and Events

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Performance  Date Location
(Events are noted for   consideration in event category)
September
Billy T Band September 6th Duff’s Garage
Bonnie Raitt & Mavis Staples September 7th Edgefield
Duffy Bishop & Friends (event) September 7th Alberta Rose Theatre   Read more
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Cee Cee James & Lisa Mann, The Ladies Take On Duff’s Garage Sept. 26th

Cee Cee James photo by Greg Johnson

Cee Cee James (photo by Greg Johnson)

Lisa Mann

Lisa Mann

Two of Oregon’s finest blues ladies bring their respective bands to Duff’s Garage for a big-time double-header event. Both are award winners and have competed in the International Blues Challenge, making them fan favorites wherever they play. Cee Cee James returns to Portland from her home in Southern Oregon. She has been busy on the touring circuit across the country this summer and was also nominated for a Blues Blast Music Award for song of the year for her number “I Have A Right To Sing The Blues.” Joining Cee Cee for this event will be Lisa Mann & Her Really Good Band. Lisa is a multiple CBA Muddy Award recipient for the Duffy Bishop female vocalist award and a Hall of Fame inductee as bassist. The band was also the winners of the Portland Music Awards.

This huge double bill happens at Duff’s Garage, 1635 SE 7th, September 26th. Showtime is 9:00 pm and admission is $10.00. Bring your current CBA membership card to receive a $1.00 discount at the door. This is one show that’ll be shakin’ the rafters for sure, do not miss out.

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Muddy Awards – NW Recording Considerations

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Artist Title Release Date Label
Barbara Healy & Her Groove Too Band Shades Of Blue March McKenna Records Company
CD Woodbury Band Monday Night! June Wide Willie Productions
Coyote Kings & Mush Nasty Habits & Dirty Little Secrets April Twin Lion
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Another local act, Tevis Hodge Jr., will compete at the IBC in Memphis

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Tevis Hodge Jr.

By Laurie Morrisey

At a recent CBA monthly meeting, I could have sworn I was sitting at one of the many amazing bars along Beale Street in Memphis. Honestly, I closed my eyes and I thought I was there. The amazing bluesy sound coming from the stage was mesmerizing. I opened my eyes and in front of me was Tevis Hodge Jr. I found out he is headed to Memphis to compete at the International Blues Competition and I knew I had to find out more about this young man.

Where were you born and raised?

I was born Michael Tevis Hodge Jr. , son of Melody Hodge and Michael Tevis Hodge, in Woodbridge, Va. As a young child, we (my mother and I) moved to American Fork, Utah, where she could pursue an education while living with her dad (my grandpa). I lived there until I was a young teenager. At that point, my mother and I moved to Portland where I have lived since high school age.

How long have you been performing professionally?

Well it kinda depends on what you mean by “professionally.” I’ve been performing since I was about 12 at various open mics and gatherings, but I’ve been focused on getting paid Read more

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Jeff Jensen

Jeff Jensen CD coverRoad Worn And Ragged
Swing Suit Records

Jeff Jensen has gone through a lot of trials and tribulations since his last release, the outstanding I’m Coming Home in 2009. His life has gone through major changes and not always the most pleasant. And that is all reflected in his newest CD Road Worn And Ragged; a very personal and revealing disc that takes him through heartbreak and frustration to new found happiness.

Jeff was quite successful in California, playing over 200 shows a year, competing three times in the International Blues Challenge, opening shows for BB King and co-founding the Santa Clarita Blues Society. But he moved to Portland, Oregon for love. And unfortunately things do not always turn out. Nearly broke and emotionally spent, Jeff moved to Memphis, Tennessee seeking new beginnings. Meeting up with harmonica ace Read more

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After Hours with The Robert Randolph Family Band

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by Wendy Schumer

jeffree_robert-randolph_6_ZOOMSaturday night after enjoying an hour or so of the great jam at Hotel 50 we strolled over to the Marriott to enjoy the RRFB.  The room was pleasantly full, not too crowded, and the music was great, as expected.  What wasn’t expected was the surprise performance by a random musician in the audience. About ¾’s of the way through the show Robert picked up one of the many guitars on the stage and held it out to the crowd.  This was immediately following the hip-shaking of about 20 women dancing on stage so needless to say the security guards were nervous about more audience participation.  To everyone’s surprise the guy who took the guitar from Robert could REALLY play.  Robert then invited him up on stage and even got up from his pedal slide to play with him.  So who was this random musician?  I had to find out.

I had the pleasure of meeting Jeffree White after the show and today spent some time chatting with him to find out more. Jeffree came to the after hours show in hopes of being Read more

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Thank you Imperial Bottle Shop & Taproom

When we were readying for the picnic, we realized we needed ice to keep the beer kegs cold since the keg place wasn’t open on Sunday. But then we had nowhere to store the ice except in the rental truck and it was hot out!  The new Imperial Bottle Shop and Taproom came to the rescue.  Not only did they help us in storing the kegs in their new walk-in cooler, but they assisted in helping us to save money in securing the beer and the wine for us.  In exchange, we promised to give them a little boost in the paper.  SE Division’s Imperial Bottle Shop opened in late July inside the D-Street Village building 3090 SE Division.  Owners Alex Kurnellas and Shawn Stackpoole’s taproom/bottleshop offers 16 Read more

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