Applications Now Being Accepted For 2015 Journey To Memphis

The Journey To Memphis is the Cascade Blues Association’s regional competition to select the acts that will represent our organization and region in the next year’s International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN that will be held in early 2016. Up to 250 acts from around the world converge on Beale Street to perform before the music industry looking for new talent, with the chance to win recognition and prizes that include major festival performances and more. But the only way an act may participate is to win a regional competition held by one of The Blues Foundation’s affiliated societies like the Cascade Blues Association.

The Journey To Memphis will be held in two rounds. The opening round will take place over two nights at The Lehrer on Friday, June 5th and Saturday, June 6th. Acts are scored by a trio of judges selected for their backgrounds and knowledge of the blues. The two highest scoring acts each night advance to the finals held at the Waterfront Blues Festival on July 4th.

Applications to participate in the competition will be accepted now until Wednesday, April 1st at the Cascade Blues Association membership meeting. No late applications will be accepted. All eligible acts that meet our criteria as described below will be able to compete. We will adjust the time schedule to ensure all are included. Each act will perform either Friday or Saturday and are scheduled as drawn at random, so we request that you do not schedule other gigs until you know which night you are scheduled.

Here’s what you need to do to enter:

  • Entry fee is $25.00 (This is an increase from last year and is the first time we have raised the fee in more than ten years. This is to stay consistent with what other societies have been charging – though still less than many – and all fees collected go to the prize money to the competition’s winners to help cover travel expenses.)
  • Each act must have at least one person in the band who is a member of the Cascade Blues Association.
  • Only acts located within the region of Oregon, Washington or Idaho are allowed to enter the Journey To Memphis.
  • Any act that has been nominated for or received a Blues Music Awards from The Blues Foundation are ineligible to compete.
  • Any act that has competed in the International Blues Challenge two consecutive years, regardless whether with the same society or as a solo/duo or band act, must sit out a year before being allowed to compete again.
  • Along with your $25.00 application fee, send an up-to-date band bio including names of all members, a 300 dpi photo of the band, full song samples of the band’s music (this may be used on a radio broadcast to promote the event), and we need to be made aware of any band member who may be under 21 years of age at the time of the competition so the venue is aware ahead of time for Oregon Liquor Commission laws.
  • We require that any act that moves forward in the competition must use the same band members that they won the rounds with. In other words, if you won with a certain bass player or drummer at the Waterfront Blues Festival, that bassist and drummer must be in your band to compete in Memphis. Exceptions will made in rare circumstances when not under control of the act, such as health issues.
  • We do not prevent acts competing with the Cascade Blues Association from doing so with other societies. All that we ask is that if you win another group’s competition before ours is held, or if you win ours before theirs, then you remove yourself from further competitions to allow other acts the chance to win the right to go to Memphis.

Applications can be sent to Journey To Memphis c/o Cascade Blues Association, PO Box 6566, Portland, Oregon 97228-6566. All entries must be received no later than April 1.

The Aladdin Theater Welcomes Eclectic Guitars Featuring Eric Johnson & Mike Stern- Feb 6th

Eric Johnson & Mike Stern - press photoTwo of the world’s most adept guitarist players are joining forces for a show that is certain to amaze both fans and players alike. Eric Johnson is able to mesh the sounds of country, blues, pop, rock and jazz and has collaborated with the likes of Sonny Landreth, Jimmie Vaughan, Jonny Lang and Steve Miller. He has also won a Grammy Award along with ten nominations. Mike Stern is a jazz and fusion guitar master with three decades of performances behind him with six Grammy nominations of his own. With the two of them on stage together, expect to be treated to a show that will expand all boundaries possible on guitar.

Eric Johnson and Mike Stern will be performing at The Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie Ave., on Friday, February 6th. Show time is 8:00 pm and minors are welcome when accompanied by a parent or guardian. Tickets are $35.00 advance/day of show and may be purchased at either the Aladdin Theater box office or through www.TicketFly.com.

Valentine’s Day Double Header: Aryon Jones / Rich Layton & The Troublemakers At White Eagle- Feb 14th

McMenamins White Eagle Saloon will be throwing a terrific Valentine’s Day show, Saturday, February 14th, that’ll feature two of the Northwest hottest acts, Ayron Jones & The Way and Rich Layton & The Troublemakers.Ayron Jones & The Way - press photo

Seattle blues rockers Ayron Jones & The Way have become one of Seattle’s hottest up-and-coming acts with their hybrid style of guitar playing pioneered by Jimi Hendrix, in which the chord and solo are played at the same time, and infused the raw energy of punk with the inner-city attitude of Hip-Hop. The result is a soulful reincarnation of that iconic Seattle sound. Think Stevie Ray Vaughan meets Nirvana.

Rich Layton & The Troublemakers are Portland’s premier purveyors of classic Gulf Coast music that covers both familiar music from Texas and Louisiana alongside their own rockin’ originals that Layton describes as “Rich crafts sharply drawn songs of good times and bad choices, big dreams and bad timing. Hope may hang by a thread, but it’s never out of reach.”

The White Eagle is located at 836 N Russell Street. Admission is $8.00 advance and day of show. 21 & over only. Advance tickets may be purchased at www.cascadetickets.com.

Bill Rhoades’ Harmonica Summit Celebrates Twenty Years- Feb 21

summit20“We’re Back”! The 20th Annual Blues Harmonica Summit” will be held on Saturday February 21st at The Melody Ballroom, 615 SE Alder St, from 8:00 pm to 12:00 midnight. $10.00 cover at the door. 21 and over only (sorry). Hard to believe that it’s been going for 20 years, but we’ve managed with all the great support from our harmonica fans.

This year’s show will feature one of the world’s greatest women blues harmonica players, Lynnann Hyde! Coming over the mountains from Bend, OR, Lynnann got a lot of attention and turned some heads the last time she was at the Summit!

Though he’s been very ill from cancer treatments, Mike Moothart can still blow the harp better that most players out there and he will be at the Summit ready to prove that.

Making the trek down south from Seattle will be the great Kim Field. If you ever get the chance to read the book “Harp Blowers & Heavy Breathers,” Kim wrote that excellent book about many of the great harmonica players. One of the best from Seattle!

One of our great and eclectic harp men from here in Portland, Johnny Ward will also be on the bill. I say it every time that Johnny plays, you never know what he’s going to come up with and it’s a harp lesson to hear what he does.

Another veteran player from here in Portland, Dave Mathis is appearing at the Summit. Dave currently plays with Michael Osborn and the Drivers and if we’re lucky he’ll bring Michael along for some stinging guitar licks.

And last is your host and harp player, Bill Rhoades, a multiple Muddy Award winner and long-time Northwest Bluesman. Bill brings a vast knowledge of blues music and can wrestle with the blues harp himself!

Backing up all of our featured harp players will be an All Star House Band. If you like blues guitar, three of the Northwest’s finest will be on the bill. From Eugene, OR, Sir Henry Cooper and his unique slide guitar; originally from Austin, Texas, Newel C Briggs and his beautiful fretwork; and “The Orca” Chuck Laiti from here in Portland, with his slashing style!

On drums will be “Sweet” Jolie Clausen, another Northwest Vet. And on bass will be Katey May Angel.  All Blues All The Time!

Don’t miss this Harmonica Party / Show Down / Harp Slingers / Harp Bash / Harp Throw Down / Harmonica Armageddon! No matter what you call it, this is the First, Original and One and Only “Blues Harmonica Summit”! Don’t miss it! I don’t know if we have another 20 years in us. See it while you can!

Jimbo Mathus & The Tri-State Coalition At The White Eagle- Feb 6th

Jimbo Mathus - press photoMississippi rocker Jimbo Mathus, perhaps best known as the frontman for The Squirrel Nut Zippers, has a long association with the blues as an artist and studio wizard, having worked with musicians like Buddy Guy and as a member of the South Memphis String Band alongside Alvin Youngblood-Hart and The North Mississippi All Stars’ Luther Dickinson. Jimbo Mathus & The Tri-State Coalition will be returning to Portland on Friday, February 6th at The White Eagle for a 9:30 pm show. His latest recording, Dark Night Of The Soul on the Fat Possum label releases just days after his appearance in Portland, so expect a nice sampling of newer music combined with old favorites. The new album is a hodge-podge of all things Southern, with bits of Southern rock, funky pieces, swampy blues and other roots forms.

McMenamins White Eagle Saloon is located at 836 N Russell St. This is a 21 & over only show. Tickets can be purchased in advance through www.cascadetickets.com for $10.00 general admission. Portland renowned roots musician Lewi Longmire will open the show.

Liz Mandeville

Heart O’ Chicago
Blue Kitty Records

Liz Mandeville has long been a figure on the Chicago blues scene and with her latest release Heart O’ Chicago she pays tribute to the city and its music that she loves. This is her second album on her own Blue Kitty label, following her well received Clarksdale from 2012. Prior to that she had a handful of discs that had come out on Earwig. Liz Mandeville CD cover

Great listening here, as Mandeville delivers with her smooth vocals and is backed by an incredible band of Chicago blues veterans, including Blues Hall of Fame inductee Eddie Shaw on sax for a couple numbers and the always sensational Billy Branch offering harmonica on a couple more. The core band includes Mandeville on guitar alongside Minoru Maruyama, Daryl Wright on bass,Jermiah Thomas on drums and Joan Gand on keys. Terrific horn work provided by trumpeter Wade Baker, trombonist Eric Campbell and saxophonist Oz Landesberg. Also, aside from Billy Branch, Dizzy Bolinski adds harmonica on one track, making his debut recording.

On “Quit Me On A Voice Mail” Mandeville emotes her best Etta James-like phrasing, just one of her on the money singing approaches. There is truly a lot of vocal highlights throughout the album provided by Mandeville, and two of those of note are the duets with Charlie Love on “Don’t Doubt My Love” and “Smart Women Foolish Choices.” The first is just soulful bliss as the two share the spotlight. With a funky guitar riff and snappy horns, Mandeville gives a new original reading behind BB King’s theme on “Why Would A Woman Sing The Blues,” while detailing how since day one in the garden of Eden and throughout history she’s still paying her dues. Throw  in a couple of stinging guitar solos and this song takes off. It’s obvious that Mandeville has a knack for writing clever and fun lyrics, such as her ode to quitting smoking “every silver lining has a black cloud” stated on the song “Silver Lining (Shirley’s Blues).”

Heart O’ Chicago is a tremendous album, full of the variety of blues, soul and R&B that make up the musical textures of the city. And Liz Mandeville gets it right every time on these eleven prime tracks that showcase her abilities to make you take note that she is a force to reckon with. Very much recommended.

Total time: 49:12

Cloud Of Love / These Blues / Don’t Doubt My Love / So Called Best Friend / Quit Me On A Voice Mail / Party At The End Of Time / Silver Lining (Shirley’s Blues) / Tic Tok / Why Would A Woman Sing The Blues / Smart Women Foolish Choices / (Life Is Like A) Wave

Naomi T To Compete In 2015 American Idol

The Cascade Blues Association would like to say congratulations and good luck to Portland’s own Naomi Tatsuoka, who works locally under the name Naomi T, for being selected as one of this year’s contestants on American Idol. Naomi travelled to Kansas City a few months back to take part in the audition process and was sworn to keep the results under her hat until the show was Naomi-Tatsuoka-press photobroadcast in early January. The song that she sang in the audition was Adele’s “Someone Like You,” impressing the three judges, Harry Connick, Jr, Jennifer Lopez and Keith Urban. The next step will take her to Hollywood, California to continue the competition which airs on the Fox Network.

Locally Naomi T works in a variety of projects that she fronts, including Soul Provider, The Diva Project, and August In Blue. She recently released her debut album, Flight Of  The Dragon and also appeared on the compilation Shari’s 3am Sessions.

PDX Jazz Festival Welcomes Lucky Peterson- Mar. 1st

Lucky Peterson - photo by Greg JohnsonLucky Peterson has been amazing audiences since he was discovered as a child prodigy at the age of three by Willie Dixon. The son of blues man James Peterson, Lucky grew up surrounded by the blues and has shown his adeptness at guitar and keyboards, as well as his outstanding vocals and songwriting, for more than four decades. His music fuses the blues with soul, gospel, R&B and rock, he is a versatile musician whose talents have been termed as mind-boggling.

Touring on the recent release of his latest album, The Son Of A Bluesman, Lucky Peterson brings his electrifying performance to The Aladdin Theater for one night only on Sunday, March 1st as part of the PDX Jazz Festival. Show time is 8:00 pm and The Aladdin is located at 3017 SE Milwaukie Ave. Minors are welcome when accompanied by a parent or guardian. Tickets are available at The Aladdin Theater box office or through www.TicketFly.com for $30.00 advance, $35.00 day of show.

Lucinda Williams Comes To Portland For Two Nights- Feb 8 & 9

Lucinda Williams - press photoSince recording her first albums in the late 1970s, Lucinda Williams has been one of the country’s most favored cross over artists. Starting out her career blending country and blues, she has since been able to draw attention from the folk, rock and Americana genres, too. With three Grammy Awards and another five nominations, Williams latest release is a double-album titled Down Where The Spirit Meets The Bone that has been described as “leaving no emotional crevice left unexplored, drinking deeply from a well of inspiration that culminates with an offering that overflows with delta-infused country soul.”

Lucinda Williams will be returning to Portland for a two-night stand at The Aladdin Theater, Sunday, February 8th and Monday, February 9th. Show time is 8:00 pm each night and Monday’s show is open to all ages when minors are accompanied by a parent or guardian. Tickets are $42.50 in advance, $45.00 day of show, available at The Aladdin Theater box office or through www.TicketFly.com.

Missy Andersen

In the Moment
Main Squeeze Records

Missy Andersen CD coverMissy Andersen has released a delicious sophomore recording with In The Moment. Based in San Diego, by way of Detroit and New York, she has built a reputation that is well deserved for her soulful and powerful voice that has been featured in the past working with Earl Thomas and backing at times people like Ray Charles, Cissy Houston and BB King.

A truly exciting band including husband Heine Andersen on guitar, Hammond master Ben Moore, and one of California’s premier rhythm section in drummer Marty Dodson and Bill Stuve on bass. The sound also receives a lot of power from the horns of Robbie Smith on trumpet and saxmen Gerald Nolan and Bob Mathes. Other guests of note are James Harman blowing harp on “Better Or Worse,” Nathan James on guitar for a couple tracks and pianist Sue Palmer who also wrote the number “Ladies Shoes.”

The album bursts out of the gates with the lively “Rent Party” which sets the jumping theme for the disc. Missy tells us all that she is proficient as a “Night Stalker,” able to catch a cheating man. There are eleven tracks on this superb disc including eight originals, five that Missy co-penned with Heine. The remaining three offer exceptional takes on Snooks Eaglin’s “I’ve Been Walkin’” with Sue Palmer’s burning keyboards, Benny Clark’s aforementioned “Rent Party” and “Same Things Make You Laugh Will Make You Cry” from Sly & The Family Stone’s repertoire comes across with that perfect sense of soul groove. Tracks like “Reach Out” and “More Than Enough” also bring about that feeling of classic 60s/70s soul.

Missy Andersen is a natural talent, full of passion in her singing and a seeming ease with her presentation. This is an artist to keep a watch on. She certainly has a winning disc with In The Moment that should be a cross-over delight for fans of blues, soul and jazz.

Total Time: 50:17

Rent Party / Whole Lotta Nuthin’ / Night Stalker / More Than Enough / Better Or Worse / No Regrets / Same Things Make You Laugh Will Make You Cry / Reach Out / Ladies Shoes / Hey Now / I’ve Been Walkin’