Mark your calendars for Sunday, November 24th to help support Ben Rice and his bandmates with their expenses to travel to the International Blues Challenge in Memphis this coming January. Ben has put together an all star line-up that will be playing starting at 2:00 pm at The Lehrer Pub & Eatery, 8775 SW Canyon Lane, Beaverton.
Not just one band going to Memphis will be involved, but three entries representing t Read more
Grammy Award winning roots musician Ben Harper will be bringing his special acoustic show featuring songs from his entire career that has been an eclectic mix of blues, reggae, soul, folk and rock music to Portland for a performance at The Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall on Sunday, November 10th. On the heels of his most recent recording, Get Up!, a collaboration with blues legend Charlie Musselwhite that debuted on Billboard’s blues charts at #1, Harper’s acoustic East Coast tour last year was sold out, including a much Read more
The Jim Mesi Band
Hey Kids!! We want to thank you for the great response to our new CD, I’m Ready, and a very heartfelt thank you to Greg “Slimlively” Johnson for the outstanding photo’s and also Mike Strickland for the great artwork. Hope to see you all soon and continue the great work you all do supporting live music. Thanx again.
The Jim Mesi Band
Tracey Fordice and the 8-Balls
Hi Everybody! Well, summer is over, but things are still heating up with Tracey Fordice and the 8-Balls! We had a lot of fun all summer long, playing throughout the Portland area and a small tour in Montana that took us to Great Falls, Kalispell, and Whitefish. While we were there we were able to take in some of the majestic scenery of Glacier National Park. If Read more
We recently posted this list on the CBA Facebook page. It received a thankful response from so many that we thought we would run it in the BluesNotes, too This list is a compilation of regional musicians who were nominated for the 2013 Muddy Awards. Though the final ballot is limited to only a few in each category, all of the following artists were recognized by our members in the ballots returned to us for nominations in the first round.
CONTEMPORARY BLUES ACT
Ben Rice Band
Kevin Selfe & The Tornadoes
The Strange Tones
R&B ACT
Curtis Salgado
Linda Hornbuckle
Sylvester Band
TRADITIONAL BLUES ACT
Ben Rice Band
Kevin Selfe & The Tornadoes
Tevis Hodge Jr.
NEW ACT
Beacon Street Titans
Roseland Hunters
Sonny Hess & Vicki Stevens Band
Tevis Hodge Jr.
REGIONAL ACT
Ben Rice Band
Hank Shreve Band
Randy Oxford Band
Tommy Hogan
“DUFFY BISHOP” FEMALE VOCALIST
LaRhonda Steele
Lisa Mann
Rae Gordon
“CURTIS SALGADO” MALE VOCALIST
Ben Rice
Kevin Selfe
Phil “Suburban Slim” Wagner
ELECTRIC GUITAR
Ben Rice
Kevin Selfe
Phil “Suburban Slim” Wagner
“TERRY ROBB” ACOUSTIC GUITAR
Alan Hager
Ben Rice
Mary Flower
Tevis Hodge Jr.
BASS
Allen Markel
Dave Kahl
Lisa Mann
DRUMS
Brian Foxworth
Dave Melyan
Jimi Bott
HARMONICA
Hank Shreve
Jim Wallace
Mitch Kashmar
KEYBOARDS
Dave Fleschner
DK Stewart
Steve Kerin
HORNS
Brad Ulrich
Joe McCarthy
Peter Moss
VENUE
Duff’s Garage
The Blue Diamond
Trail’s End Saloon
NW RECORDING
Hank Shreve Band – I’ve Had It
Kevin Selfe – Long Walk Home
Rae Gordon Band – Blue Lemonade
NATIONAL RECORDING
Candye Kane – Coming Out Swingin’
Kevin Selfe – Long Walk Home
Nikki Hill – Here’s Nikki Hill
Southern Hospitality – Easy Livin’
Too Slim & The Taildraggers – Blue Heart
Trampled Under Foot – Badlands
BEST PERFORMANCE
Ben Rice Band – Journey To Memphis Finals at Waterfront Blues Festival
Kevin Selfe & The Tornadoes Big Band – Waterfront Blues Festival
Nikki Hill – Waterfront Blues Festival
NW BLUES EVENT
Bronze, Blues & Brews
CBA Membership Picnic
Ilwaco Blues Festival
“HURLEY AWARD” For Behind the Scenes Stage Crew Achievement
Chris Culligan
Darren Mack
Steve Gross
BACK WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN AWARD
Dave Kahl
Joey Scruggs
Norman Sylvester
“PAUL DELAY” LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
DK Stewart
Jimi Bott
Norman Sylvester
Can’t Get Enough
429 Records
In a time that it seems that so-called “super groups” are emerging somewhat frequently, The Rides are one that mixes a couple of the originators of the concept with a young guitarist who is certainly accustomed to working with legendary musicians. Stephen Stills and Barry Goldberg are icons of the 1960s rock scene and were participants in arguably Read more
Dangerous
Delta Groove
Sugaray Rayford is a modern day blues shouter with a voice so strong it is hard to take your attention away when he sings. Like many people, I had my first exposure to Sugaray at the 2006 International Blues Challenge. As part of the second place winners Aunt Kizzy’s Boys from San Diego, Rayford took total command of the stage at the New Daisy Theater, gliding and dancing his way back and forth as he enchanted the audience with his fierce vocals and energy. He is a mighty presence indeed. Since that appearance, his career has been on an upward spiral. He joined the Delta Groove family as a member of The Mannish Boys, taking on the vocal role when their leader Finis Tasby took ill. He also did a stint as one of the lead characters in the play Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues when it did its run in Portland a year ago. Now, Delta Groove has given Rayford the chance to create his own Read more
Daddy Told Me
Blind Pig Records
With the passing of Morris Holt, better known to the world as Magic Slim, it left a huge void in the Chicago blues scene. These are big shoes to fill, but it appears that his son Shawn Holt is open and willing to take the challenge of pursuing his father’s legacy. Scott is an exceptional guitarist and vocalist who crafted his skills while working with his father and he has taken on the role of his daddy by leading his former Blues Music Award winning band The Teardrops, releasing their first disc under his leadership on Blind Pig Records titled Daddy Told Me. This recording definitely continues that great Chicago feel Read more
Roseland Hunters
Self Produced
Funky delicious! That about sums up the base of the Roseland Hunters. This hot band was the concept of guitarist and vocalist Michael Quinby who at one time was part of Joe Louis Walker’s touring band. He has amassed a phenomenal group of musicians to explore his vision of New Orleans inspired tunes blended with his feel for the blues. If you’re a fan of bands like The Meters, The Neville Brothers or Royal Southern Brotherhood, then the Roseland Hunters are going to be right up your alley.
It’s My Guitar
Self Produced
While running a stage at the International Blues Challenge for so many years, I have come across some acts that have really impressed me. This last year was no exception, with perhaps my absolute favorite being a 36-year-old guitarist from Vicksburg, Mississippi named Castro Coleman who plays under the moniker Mr. Sipp. Coleman has a long history playing in the gospel scene, having been a part of over 50 recordings. But he has always felt that the blues was where his heart was at. And listening to his debut album, It’s My Guitar, you know that heart was definitely in the right direction. This disc is sure to strike at anybody who has a liking for traditional electric Delta blues. Think of BB King or Little Milton and you’re in the right neighborhood.
The first thing you’ll notice is what a sensational guitarist Mr. Sipp is. Did I mention BB King? Listen to a song like “If Loving You Is Crazy” and you might find that same feeling you get from King’s “The Thrill Is Gone.” Or perhaps going to “Miss Jones;” now that opening guitar melody just screams BB. Guitar playing throughout the album is Read more