In mid-October a group of Board Members gathered at the Cascade Blues Association office to listen to the eight CDs submitted to us for
consideration of being selected as our entry in The Blues Foundation’s Best Self-Produced CD competition. Each of the discs were judged on the same categories that they will be scored on by committees in Memphis: blues content, talent – instrumentation & vocals, sound quality, liner notes and art work. The eight entries we received were: Ashbolt Stewart – Beats Workin’, David Pinsky & Phil Newton – Over The Moon, Gabriel Cox –Gabriel Cox, Lisa Mann – Move On, McFadden Planet – Stories, Robbie Laws – Between The Lines, Tess Barr – Do What You Want, Tommy Hogan – Howl Like The Wind. The scoring was very close, but in the end the committee selected Lisa Mann’s – Move On. Copies of Lisa’s disc were sent to Memphis where it will face a series of up to three panels of judging to potentially reach the final five discs, with the overall winning CD being announced at the finals of the International Blues Challenge in The Orpheum Theatre on January 24th.
December 5th at 8:00pm at The Lehrer – will now be a fundraiser to help Tracey Fordice & the 8 balls get to Memphis to compete in the IBC on behalf of the Ashland Blues Society. Playing that evening will also be Kenny Koflar & The Third Power as well as Missy and Mr. Baker. A $10 donation is suggested at the door.
On Friday, December 5th, The Lehrer will present Blues Wonderland, A Christmas Special helping to usher in the holiday season with an all-star blues extravaganza. Performing at this event will be Cascade Blues Association and Oregon Music Hall of Fame member Lloyd Jones. Also appearing will be vocalists Karen Lovely and Lucy Hammond and all the artists will be backed by the 2014 Muddy Award winning Best New Act Tracey Fordice & The 8 Balls.
A real bargain at $15.00 for admission. An even bigger bargain if you come with your sweetheart and receive the couple’s admission rate of $20.00. It all starts at 7:00 pm and runs until midnight. The Lehrer is located at 8775 SW Canyon Lane.
A listing of new music received at the CBA office or purchased personally that should be noted:
Annika Chambers & The Houston All Stars – Making My Music (Montrose Records)
Austin Walkin’ Cane – One Heart Walkin’ (Lazy Eye Records)
Benny Turner – Journey (NOLA Blue)
Big Harp George – Chromaticism (Blues Mountain Records)
Brent Johnson – Set The World On Fire (Justin Time)
Bruce Katz Band – Homecoming (American Homeplace Music)
Catfish & The Hollywood Hound Dogs – Rite On! Rite Now! (Self Produced)
Chaz DePaolo – One Night Live In Iona (Rojer Records)
Deak Harp – Clarksdale Breakdown (Self Produced)
Empire Roots Band – Music From The Film Harlem Street Singer (Acoustic Sessions Recordings)
In The Pocket – I Got News! (Self Produced)
Jerry Lee Gingrey & The Juju Kings – Southside Of Nowhere (Mojo Palace Records)
Jimmy Carpenter – Walk Away (VizzTone)
Jimmy Thackery – Extra Jimmies (Blind Pig)
John Mayall – A Special Life (Forty Below Records)
Kaye Bohler – Handle The Curves (Self Produced)
Kyle Jester – After All This (Self Produced)
Magic Slim & The Teardrops – Pure Magic (Wolf Records)
Mark Hummel – The Hustle Is Really On (Electro-Fi)
McFadden Planet – Stories (Self Produced)
Mikey Junior – Traveling South (VizzTone)
Missi & Mister Baker – Where Black Ravens Flew (Self Produced)
Nathan James – Hear Me Calling/Natural Born That Way (Sacred Cat Recordings)
Randy Cate – A Different Kind Of Same (Self Produced)
Rip Lee Pryor – Nobody But Me (Electro-Fi)
RJ Mischo – Everything I Need (Self Produced)
Rob Stone – Gotta Keep Rollin’ (VizzTone)
S.E. Willis – Turtle Dove Bounce/Live At The Poor House(Self Produced)
Skyla Burrell Band – Blues Scars (VizzTone)
Spirit Level – Kolossi Blues (Self Produced)
Steve Krase – Buckle Up (Connor Bay Music)
Sunny Lowdown – The Blues Volume Low (Coolstreme)
Terry Gillespie – Bluesoul (Self Produced)
Uncle Wiggly’s Hot Shoes Blues Band – Still Burnin’ It Up (Mister Deluxe Music)
Guitar Lightnin’ Lee, a multi-talented rhythm and blues purist, has defied all rational logic by assembling his band with a bunch of veteran rock and rollers half his age. His talent, lyrics, powerful voice, and boisterous personality match perfectly with the energetic drive of his backing band. Thus creating a supercharged blown out style of New Orleans rock and roll and blues.
Born in New Orleans, Lightnin’ had music all around him. Originally taught by New Orleans bluesman, Boogie Bill Webb, he also mentored under the legendary Jimmy Reed in Chicago, who passed on his style of Delta Blues via electrified Chicago. Back in New Orleans he played with greats like Fats Domino, Earl King, Ernie K-Doe, and Little Freddie King, absorbing everything he heard.
Guitar Lightnin’ Lee will be making a rare trip to Portland for a show at Duff’s Garage on Thursday, December 18th for a 9:00 pm show. Remember to bring your current CBA membership card as this is a Cascade Blues Association co-sponsored event.
After All This
Self Produced
West Coast Guitar player Kyle Jester has certainly made his mark over the past fifteen-plus years working with a number of renowned artists in California. From 1999 to 2001 he fronted a power trio
called The Tri-Tones alongside former Paladins drummer Thomas Yearsley. The band played consistently around the San Diego area and even spent a few months backing Earl Thomas on tour and on an album called The Elector Studio Sessions. Following his time with The Tri-Tones, Jester took on the guitar position in another popular Southern California outfit, The Freddie Brooks Band and then spent several years touring the world as bandleader for the Candye Kane Band. In 2004 he recorded an album as the self-named Kyle Jester Blues Band, titled Ain’t No Way, receiving high praise from many blues reviewers.
Nowadays, Kyle Jester is located in the San Francisco Bay Area where he is once again performing with a power blues trio. This last fall he went to Kid Andersen’s Greaseland Studios in San Jose and laid down fourteen tracks for a new release titled After All This. Joining Jester in the studio were Bay Area stalwarts Sid Morris on keys, Aki Kumar on harmonica, drummer Brian “Nucci” Cantrell and Kid Andersen taking on the bass.
This disc is filled with good time West Coast blues, with plenty of great jump numbers. Mostly a collection of cover songs, Jester did compose a couple tracks, including the title song “After All This” and the “Big Fat Wallet.” The covers include fine renditions of songs like the O.V. Wright classic “Ace Of Spades,” Professor Longhair’s “Hadacol Boogie,” Snooks Eaglin’s “Drive It Home” and Jerry McCain’s “Turn Your Damper Down.”
After All This is an album that will have your toes tappin’ from start to finish, especially if you love that high-paced West Coast energy. There is a lot to like about this album, it’s got great vocals, songwriting and instrumentation. But most of all, it’s just an outright fun listen that’ll keep drawing you back again and again.
Total Time: 53:04
You’ll Always Have A Home / Whatcha Gonna Do / Drive It Home / Hadacol Bounce / Big Fat Wallet / You Tried To Ruin Me / Ace of Spades / Knocks Me Out / Number Nine Train / How Can You Be So Mean / After All This / BB Boogie / No Fightin’ / Turn Your Damper Down
Portland Oregon junkbox blues duo Hillstomp is infamous for digging through the dumps and forgotten backwoods of American music, recycling traditional elements into a refreshing and distinctive brand of do-it-yourself hill country blues stomp. North Mississippi trance blues, a bit of Appalachia, and a dash of punkabilly come clanging and tumbling from assorted buckets, cans and BBQ lids, all drenched in rambunctious slide guitar. “Hillstomp sounds like the best kinds of music from the hills have come down from said hills, into town, and tried to make nice, but instead decided to stomp you with awesome, crunchy blues licks.” –OregonLive
Although they may be based in Portland, Hillstomp is consistently touring and local shows only happen now and then. Well, they’ll be headlining a big-time show on December 12th at the Wonder Ballroom, 128 N Russell Street. Along with Hillstomp will be California-based The Good Luck Thrift Store Outfit who embrace roots and Americana music, but, as one recent convert put it, “the rest of America needs to hear this noise;” and Portland songwriting folk musician Jeffrey Martin. Tickets are available through TicketFly.com, for $10.00-$12.00. Showtime is 8:00 pm. This is a 21 & over show only.