October 2015 Band Stand

Lloyd Jones

Our busiest summer of all time! I tell you, been workin’ it like a rental car baby! Came home feeling strong and a little amazed to still be able to go non-stop in planes, trains and vans.

After several dates in Canada, and festivals in Salt Lake City, it was off to Europe. My friends in Denmark are a big help with booking, road managing and hangabillty. The trip ended in Luxembourg with pals from home–Dover Weinberg, Robert Cray, and Richard Cousins–had a moment for visiting.

Did some solo touring back in the U.S. and a tiny vacation.

Saturday, October 17, at Duffs Garage, we officially “Bring it On Home” to Portland with the “Full Band Extravaganza.”

We’re already planning two trips back to Europe next summer, so I hope to see our friends this winter. It’s wonderful to be home! Come on out to Duffs, baby! Fun starts at 9pm.

 Lloyd Jones

“Groove Merchant”

www.lloydjonesmusic.com

———————————————

Duffy Bishop and Chris Carlson

Greetings from Florida–

We’d like to send our love and thanks to everyone who made our summer in Portland and the West Coast so wonderful. All of the great musicians we were privileged to play with (I count at least 75!), the venues and festivals that welcomed us, and our friends that came out to see us, we thank you. Your support was overwhelming. While we are enjoying our new adventures

in Florida, there is not a day that goes by that we don’t miss you. We’ll never be away for too long, and we’ll see you in 2016.

We’re having a Portland night here in the Sunshine State! The Ben Rice/Lisa Mann Band with Dave Melyan will be joining The Duffy Bishop Band for a gig at the famous Bamboo Room in Lake Worth, Florida on October 22nd. Y’all come down and see us, y’hear?

Love, Duffy and Chris

———————————————

Dave Fleschner

Hello Fellow Blues Enthusiasts,

I’ve been working on a project called “The Blues Cabaret” now for over a year, and we are finally going to release a CD on November 7th.  This project has been a long time coming, and I’m looking forward to sharing it with you all.

We’re releasing our CD at the Alberta Rose Theatre on November 7th. We will be throwing a killer party, and I hope some of you can make it down.  This is all my original music featuring Earl Thomas, Jimmy Wilcox, Billy Mixer as well as myself on vocals, and we’ve got a great evening lined up for you.  You can find out more about us at www.bluescabaret.com or buy tickets at: https://www.albertarosetheatre.com/calendar.html

I produced this CD with help from Earl Thomas, and a special shout out to Bob Mensel and Dale Boss of the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus for their help in making it happen.  This CD has a who’s who of Portland musicians on it, and I’m proud to showcase their ability to make this music come to life.

I’ve been very lucky to have so many opportunities to perform with Portland’s greatest throughout the years, and I’m excited to bring to Portland something as unique and diverse as this amazing ensemble – performing music that comes straight from the heart.  Please welcome, The Blues Cabaret.

Thanks for all your support, CBA and it’s members,

-Dave Fleschner

Another Successful CBA Rummage Sale!

,

Well, you know that this past summer has been extremely hot with a record number of days 90 degrees and more. So it’s no surprise that we had more of the same type of weather on Saturday, September 12 for our fifth annual Cascade Blues Association Rummage Sale.

Once again we returned to the parking lot of The Bomber Restaurant, 13515 SE McLoughlin Boulevard in Milwaukie. From early in the morning until late in the afternoon, we offered some great bargains and entertainment. And none of it could’ve taken place without the support of our members for their kind donations and patronage of the event. Perhaps the most successful and popular items this year were the musical instruments donated generously by Tracey Fordice, Randy Yearout and Geoffrey Reece.

Even more, a huge tip of the hat to all of our volunteers throughout the day for their hard work setting up, running and breaking down the event. Thanks to The Bomber Restaurant for allowing us to use their parking lot and also to the musicians who volunteered their time to perform: James Clem, Sam Jimenez, Missi & Mr Baker, and Kivett Bednar.

Kudos to our volunteer team (please forgive me if I leave anybody out): Angelo Suran, Brenda Docken, Debby Espinor, Gary Jaskowiak, Judith Ellis, John Fromwiller, Lynn Wymore, Margaret Wise, Patricia Bowman, Patty Kadel, Randy Wright, Rhonda Graham, Shirley Sanders and Todd Ommert.

Thanks to Cascade Blues Association Board Members Greg Johnson and Barry Blackwell for their tireless efforts all day.

And most of all, our biggest thanks goes out to the Rummage Sale Team that brought everything together: Rae Gordon for chairing and collecting & storing items for the sale, Cherie Robbins for putting together the musical line-up (plus both Rae & Cherie worked the entire day at the event non-stop), and Richard LaChapelle though he could not make it himself due to family concerns still put together the volunteer base to make everything run smooth.

Thank you everybody for making this yet another successful year!

Shaun Murphy

Loretta
Vision Wall Records

Shaun Murphy CD coverSure, Shaun Murphy has worked with greats like Bob Seger and Eric Clapton, as well as her long-time stint as vocalist with Little Feat. But it is her solo recordings that have really placed her as an artist of note with her perfectly executed take on the blues. Loretta is her sixth solo disc and she shines brightly throughout. With emotional interludes that range from heartbreak to warnings, Murphy holds no punches and draws you within her lyrics to live the tales alongside her.

With an all-star cast of many of Nashville’s finest sidemen, that range from guitarists including former Allman Brothers Band’s Jack Pearson, Foghat’s Jimi Fiano and Bob Seger’s Silver Bullet Band’s Rob McNelly, to session drummer George Lilly and keyboard master Larry Van Loon, Murphy has a capable cast of artists that enhance her vocals to a tee.

Mostly the song selections are her own originals with a few choice covers like “I Pity The Fool,” “How Strong Is A Woman” and “Big Train Stops At Memphis.” There is plenty to find attractive about the tracks included. Highlighted material have to showcase numbers like “Kiss Me Like Whiskey” where she wants to savor your taste on her tongue like a fine whiskey; the foreboding of “Loretta” who as a married woman has a wandering eye that will be the demise of either herself or her husband if he should find out; there’s also her own cheating partner in “Should Be Hard To Love You” but it seems no matter how much he does her wrong, she always lets him return to her; and yet on “Go Away” maybe she has found the strength to just let him know that he’s no longer needed or welcome.

The only thing that I find alarming about Shaun Murphy’s latest recording is that I didn’t pick it up earlier. Released last spring I kick myself for not letting this fine album reach my player sooner. No fault of Murphy’s, because she has been consistently outstanding on all of her solo releases. And Loretta just may be the best to come from her to date. Great playing, great singing and great song selection. Okay, let’s just say overall this is a “great” disc!

Total Time: 47:09

Don’t Lie To Me / I Pity The Fool / Kiss Me Like Whiskey / Loretta / Strange Life / Hard Working Man / Big Train Stops At Memphis / Should Be Hard To Love You / Careful They Say / Go Away / 24 Hours From Memphis / How Strong Is A Woman

Kevin Selfe Buy My Soul Back CD Release Party – Oct. 16th

On Friday, October 16, Kevin Selfe is ready to release his brand new CD, Buy My Soul Back, to the public. A special CD release party will be happening at The Bossanova Ballroom, 722 E Burnside, starting at 8:00 pm.  The CD is Kevin’s first on the VizzTone label and he has a hefty assortment of friends helping out on the disc and at the party, too.

Joining Kevin for the celebration will be Jimi Bott, Allen Markel, James Pace, Steve Kerin, Joe McCarthy, Brad Ulrich, Chris Mercer, Don Shultz and Peter Moss, all who participated in the making of the album, too. And expect some surprise guests to show up also!

Tickets can be purchased in advance at kevinselfe.com for $15.00 advance, with VIP tickets available for $100.00 for two including table seating, signed copies of the CD and a limited edition Kevin Selfe “Bluenicorn” T-shirt. This is a Cascade Blues Association event and card carrying members can receive a $1.00 discount off the $18.00 price at the door. For those members purchasing their tickets online, members can be refunded the $1.00 discount at the venue day of show when showing their pre-purchased tickets along with their membership card.

Cherie’s Blues Highway Presents The King Of Portland Soul: Andy Stokes – Oct. 18th (Replaced with Karen Lovely)

Cherie’s Blues Highway gets a little soulful for October as she’ll be bringing Portland’s premier vocalist Andy Stokes and Friends to The Lehrer on Sunday, October 18. Stokes has charmed music lovers in the city since his days leading the band Cool’R, even garnering national recognition with the band and induction into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame. His style of funky and smooth as silk R&B leaves audiences breathless and dance floors filled. Aside from performing with his own band, he has sang with Curtis Salgado, George Clinton, Linda Hornbuckle, New Shooz, Michael Bolton, The Temptations and The Oregon Symphony amongst many others. Andy Stokes simply is THE MAN when it comes to vocalists, or as the Waterfront Blues Festival’s Peter Dammann told Vortex Magazine, “Andy Stokes is ‘infinitely better’ than all the other modern-day soul singers out there!”

Join Andy Stokes with a selection of his good friends as he takes the stage for a Sunday afternoon at The Lehrer, 8775 SW Canyon Lane, at 3:00 pm. This is an all ages event, so bring the family and be prepared to be funkified and have your soul come alive. Admission is $10.00.

Second Season Concert Series Is Back With Spectacular Line-Up For October 18th

After a short hiatus, Second Season Productions (SSP) will be returning with a new season of concerts beginning on Sunday, October 18. The brain child of Ellen Whyte and her partner in this series Craig Howard, she states, “it takes an audience to raise a musician.” The goal of SSP is to connect accomplished musicians with new audiences in a family friendly environment.

The new season opens with a heavy-weight trio of local favorites: the Norman Sylvester Band will bring their funky blend of traditional blues; Salem area blues trio Ivie Meziere Foss; and world-renowned acoustic guitarist Mary Flower.

The concert will take place at Estacada Auditorium, 500 NE Main Street, Estacada, Oregon, located at the Middle School. Show time is 4:00 pm. This is an all ages event, with advance tickets available at the Middle School, or at the door day of show for $15.00, $10.00 for children 12 and under. Doors open at 3:15.

As Craig Howard adds: “We have some of the finest musicians in the land, right here in Oregon. And you can’t beat this lineup, the location, the time of day, and the price. Come out and join the celebration!”

Blind Boy Paxton Recreates The Music Of The Past – Oct. 23rd

,
Tintype of Jerron Paxton by Bill Steber ©2014

Tintype of Jerron Paxton by Bill Steber ©2014

Los Angeles-based bluesman Jerron “Blind Boy” Paxton is well versed in the music from the 1920s and ‘30s, influenced deeply by musicians like Blind Lemon Jefferson, Fats Waller, Bessie Smith and Lonnie Johnson. A multi-instrumentalist, he plays a variety of instruments such as guitar, banjo, piano, harmonica, fiddle and accordion, as well as being a first-rate vocalist and storyteller. Though only in his 20s, Paxton is perhaps one of the finest young artists delivering truly authentic American music, ranging from ragtime, hokum, old-time, French reels, Appalachian mountain music and blues. Completely capable of taking an audience hypnotically into the music of the past, his performances are engaging and fun.

Blind Boy Paxton will be returning to Duff’s Garage, 2530 NE 82nd, on Friday, October 23 for a 9:00 pm show. Opening the night will be Portland’s own acoustic master Lauren Sheehan. This is a Cascade Blues Association co-sponsored event. Show your current membership card at the door and receive a $1.00 discount on admission.