WBF poster 2015The 4th annual Winter Blues Festival will be returning on Saturday, March 14th for a one-day event taking place at the Elk’s Lodge, 13121 SE McLoughlin Blvd, in Milwaukie. This year’s entertainment will include Smokin’ Joe Kubek & Bnois King, Ben Rice & Lucy Hammond, JR Sims & Texas Blues Special, Junkyard Jane, Bottleneck Blues Band, Jason Johnson featuring Mary Bond, a special encore performance from the United By Music Band with special guests and more to be announced. Please check the event’s website at www.winterbluesfest.net for upcoming information regarding advance tickets and more.

The Get Ahead - promo photoThe Get Ahead is a Portland-based band with an old soul. Drawing from the roots of rhythm and blues, soul, jazz, and rock n’ roll, The Get Ahead can send you to the dance floor before your feet even tell you where you are headed, transporting you to a whole new kind of juke joint where you can jump, moan, laugh, and grab hold of some sweet company. You are bound to get your groove on with The Get Ahead, so bring your dancing shoes, unbutton that top few, and come get loose!

On Tuesday, February 10th, The Get Ahead will be releasing their first full-length album titled Volcano with a CD release show at Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi Avenue. It’s an 8:00 pm show, 21 & over only. Admission is $10.00 and available in advance through www.ticketfly.com. Volcano features Juliet Howard’s Alison Moyet meets Etta James vocals start dueling with funky guitarist Nathan Earle’s passionate tenor, Steve Johnson’s punchy Memphis-influenced sax and the inventive rhythms of Sean Farrell’s bass and Phil Medina’s drums. This band lights up the stage and that power carries over to every track on Volcano.

With 18 Blues Music Awards and 30 nominations, 5 Grammy Awards and 15 nominations, millions of record sales worldwide, and thousands of sold out performances, rock blues icon Robert Cray is considered “one of the greatest guitarists of his generation.” robert-cray[1]Rolling Stone Magazine credits Cray with reinventing the blues with his “distinct razor sharp guitar playing” that “introduced a new generation of mainstream rock fans to the language and form of the blues” with the release of his Strong Persuader album in 1986.

Since then, Cray has gone on to record fifteen Billboard charting studio albums and has written or performed with everyone from Eric Clapton to Stevie Ray Vaughan, from Bonnie Raitt to John Lee Hooker. Recently inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame at the age of 57, he is one of the youngest living legends to receive the prestigious honor. And while he can look back over an astonishing three-decade career punctuated by his trademark sound and distinct playing style, Robert Cray is too busy moving forward on an amazing journey that has him releasing his sixteenth studio album and embarking on yet another world tour.

The Robert Cray Band will return to Portland for a night at The Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie Ave., on Friday, February 20th for an 8:00 pm show in support of their latest album, In My Soul. The band will feature long-time bassist Richard Cousins, drummer Les Falconer and Portland’s own Dover Weinberg on keys. The show is open to all ages, minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Tickets are $42.50 advance, $45.00 day of show.

Tim Too Slim Langford - photo by Dean DavisFor the past thirty years, Tim “Too Slim” Langford has been electrifying audiences at venues and festivals around the country with his ferocious slide guitar and well-crafted songwriting with his band, Too Slim & The Taildraggers. The ultimate power trio when it comes to rock-fueled blues, Langford is not just a one-trick pony. His music encompasses everything that may be described as Americana or roots nowadays, be it swampy, Delta-infused, rock or jazz, Langford dips his pen into whatever form of music appeals to him at any given minute. And there is certainly no questioning whether his fans appreciate his taste, Langford is a member of three blues society’s Hall of Fames in the Northwest, has won a plethora of awards from those societies and has even received nominations from The Blues Foundation for their elite Blues Music Awards.

Recently, as we reported in last month’s BluesNotes, Langford underwent cancer surgery in Nashville in early December. Hopefully the cancer has been removed, along with his lymph nodes, but as a musician, he can use our help in making ends meet with medical expenses and to be a little prepared should more surgery prove necessary.

To help make things a bit easier on Too Slim, three concerts have been scheduled, all happening on the same night, Sunday, February 15th. Friends and fans will gather in Spokane, Seattle and Portland as many of the finest artists in the Northwest will  pay tribute to Langford by giving their performances to help raise funds.

Portland’s show will happen at the Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside, starting at 5:00 pm, doors open at 4:00 pm. This is a 21 & over only show with tickets available now through www.etix.com, $15.00 advance / $18.00 day of show.

The friends of Tim “Too Slim” Langford coming out to perform at the Portland show is mighty impressive, including:

Curtis Salgado All Star Jam
Big Monti & Robbie Laws Guitar Summit
DK Stewart Trio + One
Lloyd Jones Struggle
Pin & The Hornits Reunion Show
Women In Blues featuring Sonny Hess, Vicki Stevens, Rae Gordon, Lady Kat & Lisa Mann
Norman Sylvester Band with Tevis Hodge Jr.
An Acoustic Set with Mary Flower, Joe McMurrian & Terry Robb
Ty Curtis & Kevin Selfe with Steve Kerin

With a sensational line-up such as this, how could you possibly think of being anywhere else? And knowing that it’s all to help out one of the Northwest’s all time favorite musicians just makes it all that much better. But if you’re unable to attend the Too Slim Cancer Benefit, you can still help out by making donations at www.giveforward.com and enter Tim “Too Slim” Langford’s Cancer Fund.

Melody Ballroom, 615 SE Alder St., Portland
Wednesday, February 4th, 7:00 pm
Members always Free – Non-members $3.00
Opening Acoustic Set – Tim Connor
Second Electric Set – J.T. Wise Band

You can always expect another fun-filled night of great blues music when you come to The Melody Ballroom for the Cascade Blues Association’s monthly meetings. And February is certainly going to carry that traditionTim Connor - photo by Greg JohnsonOpening the night will be Tim Connor who fell in love with the down-home blues when he saw Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup at the Ann Arbor Blues Festival when he was 15. “He was this big guy with this big, blond Kay guitar, and he wasn’t the greatest player but his energy blew me away.” He went on to explore the blues of Lightning Hopkins, Big Bill Broonzy, Brownie McGhee, and others, with a special interest in the Piedmont blues style. He plays fingerstyle, and, as Rob Cullivan observed in his article about last year’s Journey to Memphis competition, “Connor picks the guitar with the precision of a harpist plucking strings, creating clearly defined melodic lines.” He has played around the Portland area for several years, and has performed and presented workshops on blues guitar styles at Northwest Folklife in Seattle and the Spokane Fall Folk Festival.

Tim is a songwriter who tries to extend the blues tradition while staying true to the roots. “The blues isn’t just a chord progression, it’s a sound and a feeling—one person with a story. I’ve always thought of myself primarily as a songwriter. I’m not a traditional musician really, but American songwriting is a tradition in its own right, and the blues is at the heart of it.” Tim has been somewhat sidelined recently with a bout of carpal tunnel syndrome, but he’s recovered and ready to bring the blues to anybody who wants to listen, and he will be doing so for us at the February meeting.

For the second set of the night we will present the J.T. Wise Band. Wise is a singer/songwriter who brings a signature guitar sound to the band and he’s a graduate of The Musicians Institute with many years performing in bands throughout the NW. For their set, JT Wise Band - press photothe J.T. Wise Band have prepared a mix of original rockin’ blues mixed in with some old favorites. Rounding out the band members is singer songwriter and bassist Margaret Wise; as well as James Stein, a seasoned pro and 30-year musical partner of the Wise family, who is a stellar vocalist and plays rhythm and slide guitars; and drummer Ken Woodside from Shorty and the Mustangs.

At the break between sets we will announce the great events happening in the area for the month and have our popular free ticket drawing for CDs, concert tickets and more. We will also have another winner-take-all multi-CD package for only a $1.00 a ticket chance to take home this great collection of music. Don’t miss out. The CBA monthly meeting is always a great place to hear the blues and to spend time with good friends. See you there.

Cascade Zydeco

Greetings Blues Friends,
On behalf of the board of Cascade Zydeco, Happy New Year! Cascade Zydeco is happy to be a new member of CBA. Like CBA, Cascade Zydeco is a non-profit 501(c) (3) and like CBA, entirely run by volunteers. Zydeco is the kissing cousin of the blues and our connections to the blues in the Portland Metro area run deep; we are there with you and other blues fans from all over the country every summer at the Portland Waterfront Blues Festival, filling the dance floor in front of the Front Porch Stage at the annual ‘Swamp Romp’ and the Cascade Zydeco booth (like CBA) greets hundreds of visitors from all over the country each year during the best party on the west coast! We have an exciting new partnership with Brad Lehrer and the Lehrer Pub; hosting two Sunday afternoon gigs with the Too Loose Zydeco/Cajun Band in November and December and like they say in Louisiana, everyone ‘passed a good time’! We invite blues fans to check out our weekly CD zydeco dance lessons and DJ dance parties and come around when we host a live band; next up is Curley Taylor and Zydeco Trouble at the Lehrer on Wednesday evening January 28. Check out our website at www.cascadezydeco.com and like us on Facebook!
Et toi!
Chere Weiss
Cascade Zydeco President

AC Porter
First things first: A shout out and big ‘Thank You!’ to Steve and Beverly at The Blue Diamond for keeping the music rolling SEVEN nights a week in a town with a bazillion musicians and only a handful or three of cool clubs out there bringin’ on the Blues!
So, on that flatted 5th note, I’m extremely happy and humbled to be hosting Blue Tuesdays there EVERY week!
I am so spoiled to get killer guest musicians I rarely if EVER get a chance to play with otherwise, and January is LOOKIN’ GOOD (as Magic Sam might say…)
On Tuesday 1/6, it’s my band, The LIVEWIRES kickin’ off the New Year. Then, 1/13 will feature the greasy, soulful Keys of DAVE FLESCHNER…1/20 has my very good friend KEVIN SELFE and I trading T-Bone Walker and Guitar Slim licks, and to round out the Cool Blues of January, 1/27 will feature a certain PETER DAMMANN schooling me on the fine art of playing matching Gibson ES-330’s on stage…
Now do y’all see why I’m so spoiled? Big thanks to all these fine musicians for saying ‘Yes’ when they coulda said otherwise! All shows are from 8:30 to 11:30pm, every Tuesday at The Blue Diamond, and NO COVER.
And one last-but-definitely-not-least thing— I know the ‘big’ party nights are the weekends, so head on down to HALIBUT’S on FRIDAY Jan. 23rd to listen to the LIVEWIRES doing our best to bring it, 8 to 11pm. See ya soon-
AC

Bill Rhoades & the Party Kings
If you didn’t get enough music on New Years Eve, we’ll be starting out 2015 with a bang. There’s a two night blues show at Duff’s Garage on January 2, and January 3, that will feature two of the biggest names in Portland Blues.
On Friday, Jan. 2, “the Italian Chainsaw” guitarist Jim Mesi will appear, backed up by Bill Rhoades & the Party Kings. Jim has been one of the main fixtures of Portland Blues for over 40+ years. Having played in Brown Sugar, Paul deLay Band and his own Jim Mesi Band, he has been recognized as one of the leading guitarists in the Northwest and has received accolades from B.B. King, Les Paul and many other worldwide. He has also received numerous awards and is known among his peers as “one of the Best guitarists out there!”
On Saturday, Jan. 3, “the Boogie Cat” guitarist/vocalist Norman Sylvester will appear backed up by Bill Rhoades & the Party Kings. Norman is another local Bluesman, who has been responsible for for the resurgence of Blues, R&B, Soul and Gospel in the Northwest. Norman is also an award winning musician and fronts one of the tightest units in the area. With his “Musical Family” Norman has spread the word of good sounds and many of the top players in the Northwest have been through his bands. An added bonus on this night will be the addition of Norman’s longtime Bassman Rob Shoemaker.
On both nights, Bill Rhoades & the Party Kings will be playing their own Northwest sounds plus backing up the two special guests. Bill Rhoades is an award winning harmonica player and vocalist. With Newell C Briggs (formerly of Curtis Salgado & the Stillettos, African Kings and many others) on guitar; Katy “May” Angel (Alan Hager Group) on bass; and Jolie Clausen (Norman Sylvester Band) on drums, it will be two nights of “The Real Thing” blues music. Blues Revue magazine called their first recording Don’t Lose Your Kool, the “ultimate party album!”
So, right after New Years Eve, Friday & Saturday Jan. 2 & 3, kick off 2015 the right way with some of the best the Northwest has to offer. 9:00 pm to 12:00 midnight both nights with a$10.00 cover. Live at Duff’s Garage, 2530 NE 82nd St, Portland. Two blues greats, Jim Mesi and Norman Sylvester with Bill Rhoades & the Party Kings.

Tracey Fordice and the 8-Balls
Hello Blues Lovers,
All we can say is look out Memphis! We are on our way, representing the Ashland Blues Society in the International Blues Challenge. This will be a new, exciting, and rewarding experience, and we are looking forward to have a great time, hearing great music, meeting many new and old friends and networking! Oh yeah, our guitarist, Randy Yearout, wrote a new tune for Tracey to sing which will be part of our IBC set. It’s called “Left Us in Memphis”.
Here’s the lyrics, hope you like it:

I wanna tell you all a story
About this band of mine
And how we flew out from the west coast
Multnomah County line
Now that our feet’s down here in Memphis
We’ll have a real good time

We play the music of Chicago
And Mississippi too
Marched in the Jazz of Louisiana
They got the Mojo Krewe
But now we’re standing here in Memphis
Playing the Blues for you

You know we love the streets of Portland
Although the skies are grey
When the sun shines in the Northwest
That’s where we love to play
But if they left us in Memphis
Well that would be ok

Our work continues on our CD project, slow but sure! We want it to be a worthy contribution to the Blues music that is currently being produced, so we are taking our time. We’ll have EP demos available in Memphis though, so if you see us there, ask for one!
In addition we are still playing gigs around town, some new venues for us (Byno’s in Vancouver & Halibut’s in North Portland), as well as many long standing venues. Be sure to join us at one or more this month. The HOT JAM at the Lehrer is drawing record numbers of super talented jammers! Be sure to come out and support this great jam, as the players that appear are some of the best around!
Finally, we also want to mention that Randy Yearout and Tracey Fordice are now engaged to be married!
Blues to you!
Tracey Fordice and the 8-Ball

Greg Johnson

For anybody who may be headed to the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, here is an event you may be interested in. My photographer friend Jenn Ocken from Baton Rouge, LA and myself have collaborated on a new book titled Blues on Beale Street, Memoirs of the International Blues Challenge. This book documents the growth of the IBC over the past decade through photos and stories as told by the musicians, volunteers, fans and staff themselves. On Thursday, January 22nd, we will be holding a special VIP party and book release at a venue to be determined, beginning at 2:00 pm. Tickets to the event are $30.00 or a pair for $50.00, but this does not include the book, but you will be able to purchase a copy there. The event will include a special performance by IBC winners Sean Carney and Jonn Del Toro Richardson. This will be the only location and time that you will be able to have your books signed by both Jenn and myself. Tickets for this event, copies of the book and many other special perks to help us cover the printing expenses are still available at documentingblues.com. 20% of all pre-sales will be donated to The Blues Foundation’s Generation Blues program offering scholarships and educational opportunities for kids to attend blues camps and workshops at many events around the country.