American Music Project

Live At The Gerding Theater: Nothin’ But The Blues
PCS Records

AMP Live at the Gerding Theater CD coverThe American Music Program, under the guidance of Grammy winning trumpeter and educator Dr. Thara Memory recruits young musicians in 7th through 12th grade from throughout the Portland metro area and places them in a rigorous learning atmosphere. These are some of the finest young artists the city has to offer and their devotion to music can take them to greater heights as they study with well recognized and established musicians. Graduates of this program go on to receive scholarships at some of the country’s top music schools such as Juilliard and the Berklee College of Music, with perhaps the most recognized student of recent years being two-time Grammy winner Esperanza Spaulding. They have also gone on to capture many acclaimed competitions such as The Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, The Essentially Ellington at the Lincoln Center and the Monterey Jazz Festival.

This concert was recorded live at Portland’s Gerding Theater at the Armory and received so much notice that they were invited to perform at the 2014 Waterfront Blues Festival as the headline act on July 4th. The show was called “Nothin’ But the Blues” and covered a variety of musical approaches with music ranging from the early traditional number “Sweet Georgia Brown” from the 1920s to more modern classics by the likes of James Brown, Stevie Wonder and Al Green. All of the tracks here are covers of well-known pieces with the exception of “Confeddie,” an instrumental by Portland saxophonist and former student Hallie Niswanger.

The students in this performance are joined by many of Portland’s highest regarded musicians, many who studied under the tutelage of Thara Memory themselves. Among those included here are Louis Pain, Renato Caranto, Hallie Niswanger, Farnell Newton, the late Janice Scroggins and of course Thara Memory himself directing and playing trumpet. The vocalists for the night featured Tahirah Memory, LaRhonda Steele, Andy Stokes and student Sun Richter.

Nothin’ But The Blues is an entertaining listen that moves through jazz, blues and pop music. And it does your heart good knowing that there is a program like this within our town that nourishes young musicians to be the best that they can.

Total Time: 59:09

Your Love / Sweet Georgia Brown / Mornin’ Reverend / Take Me To The River / Lickin’ Stick / Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing / If You Don’t Know Me By Now / Signed, Sealed, Delivered / Confeddie / Man In The Mirror